Alkanes
Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons—simple carbon and hydrogen chains—found in cannabis resin and essential oil fractions. Unlike terpenes, which contain oxygen or other heteroatoms, alkanes lack functional groups and exist as straight or branched chains of varying lengths. In cannabis, alkanes like n-nonane, n-decane, and n-undecane appear as minor volatile components, often detected in headspace analysis or GC-MS profiles. Breeders and researchers identify alkanes as part of the broader volatile organic compound (VOC) profile when mapping cultivar chemistry. Their presence is generally considered a byproduct of plant metabolism rather than a primary aromatic driver, though they may contribute to subtle aspects of the overall volatile matrix.
Alkanes strains
No strains tagged into Alkanes yet — they'll appear here as breeders submit lineage records under this terpene.
Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons—simple carbon and hydrogen chains—found in cannabis resin and essential oil fractions. Unlike terpenes, which contain oxygen or other heteroatoms, alkanes lack functional groups and exist as straight or branched chains of varying lengths. In cannabis, alkanes like n-nonane, n-decane, and n-undecane appear as minor volatile components, often detected in headspace analysis or GC-MS profiles. Breeders and researchers identify alkanes as part of the broader volatile organic compound (VOC) profile when mapping cultivar chemistry. Their presence is generally considered a byproduct of plant metabolism rather than a primary aromatic driver, though they may contribute to subtle aspects of the overall volatile matrix.
Alkanes are tracked in detailed chemotype profiling and terpene/VOC databases to create comprehensive genetic fingerprints of cultivars. Breeders working with advanced analytical chemistry use alkane ratios alongside major terpenes to distinguish phenotypic expression and stability across generations.
Educational reference · Cultivar metadata only · No medical claims