Terpene Suppression

Terpene suppression refers to cultivars or breeding lines that produce notably lower volatile aromatic compound profiles compared to their parent genetics or strain family averages. This trait can occur through selective breeding, environmental stress responses, or recessive genetic expressions that reduce terpene biosynthesis. Breeders have documented this phenomenon across multiple chemotype backgrounds, though the underlying genetic mechanisms remain an active area of cannabis cultivation research. Terpene-suppressed phenotypes often display minimal aroma intensity despite otherwise stable cannabinoid production, making them notable for lineage documentation and preservation studies.

Breeders working with terpene suppression typically use these lines as research subjects for understanding aromatic trait inheritance patterns and for developing cultivars suited to environments where discrete odor profiles are valued. Selection against volatile terpene expression has been documented in breeding programs aiming to isolate cannabinoid-focused chemotypes.