Lets face it, the vast majority of cannabis seeds on the market are the product of pollen chucking. Breeders rarely take the time to create reliable, stable lines, and they rarely have a clue if their crosses will amount to anything more than a pile of hermaphrodites. But what exactly is pollen chucking, and why does it piss us off? Let's break it down.
What is Pollen Chucking?
Pollen chucking is when a breeder finds two plants they like and crosses them, without much care for the genetics or stability of the resulting offspring. Breeders move quick, without a comprehensive breeding plan or consideration for the long-term effects of those genetic combinations and spew out polyhybrids. In many cases, the goal isn't to create a high-quality variety, but rather to quickly produce seeds to make a quick buck. We on the other hand, pride ourselves on producing F1 hybrids.
Why Do Growers Pollen Chuck?
Several factors contribute to why some cannabis cultivators engage in pollen chucking, even though it’s considered controversial by many:
-
Speed and Ease: Traditional breeding practices, especially when aiming for desirable traits in cannabis plants, require patience, experience, and meticulous planning. We spend years refining our varieties, making small, thoughtful adjustments to ensure the final product has the right characteristics. Pollen chucking, on the other hand, is quicker and less complex, allowing growers to produce seeds without extensive breeding knowledge or planning.
-
Profit Motive: With the increasing demand for cannabis seeds, especially in markets where home cultivation is popular, some growers see pollen chucking as a shortcut to quickly produce and sell seeds. This approach can generate income faster, particularly if there’s a high demand for "exotic" or "novel" hybrids.
-
The Appeal of "New" Strains: In an era of Instagram and other social media platforms, showcasing new or unique cannabis strains has become a source of attention and influence. Pollen chucking offers a way to create a seemingly endless variety of "new" strains, which can attract customers looking for the next big thing in cannabis cultivation. The novelty of crossbreeding random genetics or even some of the most well-known cannabis strains can pique interest.
-
Lack of Experience: In some cases, pollen chucking occurs due to a lack of understanding or experience in responsible cannabis breeding. Breeding cannabis successfully requires knowledge of plant genetics, traits, and how to stabilize and select desirable characteristics over multiple generations. For those just getting into breeding, pollen chucking may seem like an easy entry point.
The Downsides of Pollen Chucking
While the practice of pollen chucking may seem appealing to some, it has significant drawbacks that can affect both the quality of the plants and the integrity of the cannabis breeding community.
-
Unpredictability: One of the primary issues with pollen chucking is the inherent unpredictability of the resulting plants. Since the breeder often doesn’t carefully select the male and female plants for specific traits, the resulting seeds can exhibit a wide range of characteristics. This can lead to inconsistency in the final product, with some plants potentially being less potent, more difficult to grow, or lacking desirable characteristics like flavor, aroma, or yield. Without inbreeding lines, the genetic expressions of each plant, and its parents can pop up, good or bad. This leads to large variances between plants. Think 1 keeper out of a 10 pack.
-
Genetic Instability: Unlike traditional breeding practices, where careful selection over many generations leads to stable and predictable traits, pollen chucking often results in unstable genetics. This means that the offspring may not grow consistently or may exhibit problematic traits such as hermaphroditism (the presence of both male and female reproductive organs in a plant) or poor resistance to pests and diseases. Traits such as hermaphroditism can hide at times and come out when you least want it.
-
Dilution of Quality: In the pursuit of novelty and quantity, pollen chucking can lead to the dilution of the quality of cannabis strains. Some argue that pollen chucking creates a situation where too many unstable and poorly bred seeds flood the market, diminishing the overall quality of cannabis genetics and creating confusion for consumers looking for reliable products.
-
Disrespect for Traditional Breeding Practices: For experienced and knowledgeable breeders, pollen chucking can be seen as a shortcut that disrespects the effort, time, and expertise involved in producing high-quality, stable cannabis varieties. The careful selection of parent plants, the creation of hybrids with desirable traits, and the process of stabilizing genetics over multiple generations are all crucial aspects of professional breeding. Pollen chucking bypasses these methods, potentially leading to subpar results.
Pollen Chucking: Good Or Bad For Cannabis?
On one side, proponents argue that it’s a form of creative experimentation, where breeders can explore new combinations and possibilities. In a rapidly growing market, they believe that new and novel genetics can bring fresh excitement and innovation.
On the other hand, critics argue that pollen chucking is driven by profit, often at the expense of quality and ethics. Many people see it as a practice that can flood the market with unreliable genetics, confusing consumers and damaging the reputation of the cannabis industry. There are also concerns that the practice could contribute to the degradation of cannabis genetics over time, as well as the perpetuation of substandard or poorly stabilized strains.
