Terpene Expression Dominance

Terpene expression dominance refers to the tendency of certain volatile compounds to appear in notably higher concentrations within a cannabis cultivar's profile, often overshadowing secondary and tertiary terpenes. This pattern is influenced by genetics, environmental conditions, and plant maturity at harvest. Dominance isn't static—the same strain may express different leading terpenes across grow cycles, phenotypes, or cultivation methods. Understanding expression hierarchy helps breeders predict aromatic consistency and guides cultivar classification in lineage documentation.

Breeders track dominant terpene expression as a stability marker when selecting parent plants and developing F1 hybrids. Stabilizing which terpenes consistently express at the highest levels is a key goal in establishing reliable cultivar profiles across generations.