Polyploidism underlies the phenomenon of hybrid vigour, where crosses of two closely related species display higher yields and improved resistance to drought or disease. Polyploids are individual organisms that possess a greater number of of chromosomes than is normal for the species they belong to. However, in reality it is probably better to remove these leaves as soon as they are observed, as buds yielded from these sites are usually tiny, and take up nutrients that could be put towards developing your main flower sites. This mutation is unusual and interesting in appearance, and is often thought to be advantageous due to the extra bud sites.
The hardiness and cold tolerance of the ABC was, however, evident in the crosses. The challenge for breeders is that the characteristic leaf shape was found to be highly recessive, and therefore hard to pass on to its progeny. The ABC made ripples in growing circles when it first appeared around a decade ago, but despite initial promise with breeding programs, it appears that no strains have been made commercially available. The original ABC was low in cannabinoids, but some underground breeders who experimented with the strain managed to produce plants that looked like the ABC but had significantly greater THC levels. When the plant was introduced to the rest of the world in the 1990s it was dubbed Australian Bastard Cannabis, or ABC for short. The unusual leaf shape is associated with improved hardiness and cold tolerance, making it well adapted to its territorial range in southern New South Wales and Victoria, both of which are among the cooler parts of Australia. Along with the extra leaf or leaves, an extra branch is also generated at each node, meaning that plants with whorled phyllotaxy often grow extra bushy!Ĭannabis Mutations – Australian Bastard Cannabis Whorled phyllotaxy is a relatively common cannabis mutation, and causes three or more leaves to grow from each node rather than the usual two. Young cannabis plants display opposite phyllotaxy, with alternate phyllotaxy becoming evident as the plant nears sexual maturity. Whorled phyllotaxy is an interesting variant where several leaves arise from the same point on the stem. In the case of opposite phyllotaxy, two leaves originate from the same position on the stem, while in alternate phyllotaxy each leaf originates from a unique point on the stem. The basic leaf arrangements are opposite and alternate (also known as spiral). Phyllotaxy is the botanical term for the arrangement of leaves on a plant stem. This article covers both one-off mutations of the type that might pop up occasionally in a single plant, and mutations that have been stabilised through natural selection or selective breeding. Exceptional strains can result from random, beneficial mutations. Such traits can often be stabilised through selective breeding or natural selection. But desirable or neutral traits sometimes arise through random mutations. Often these DNA alterations are detrimental to the plant and are not passed on to subsequent generations. Higher rates of mutation occur when the DNA is damaged by a mutagenic agent such as a chemical, like colchicine, caffeine or mustard gas, or by UV, X-ray or gamma ray radiation. Gene and chromosome mutations occur naturally, generally at a low frequency. The number of chromosomes can also increase in a mutation known as polyploidity (discussed in more detail below). A chromosome mutation may take several forms: the order of the genes on the chromosome can change genes can be duplicated or deleted and genes can even break off of one chromosome and join onto another. In a gene mutation, the order of bases on a strand of DNA is changed. There are two types of DNA mutations, gene mutations and chromosome mutations.
Mutations arise when a plant’s DNA is altered.
A single DNA molecule, or chromosome, contains hundreds of individual genes, each of which is made up of thousands of base pairs. DNA is a helical molecule, composed of two spiral strands that are connected by ‘rungs’ called base pairs. But this article is all about DNA mutations, which can give rise to even stranger looking plants!Īll the genetic information needed to make a plant is found in its DNA. Diseases, pest infestations, poor environment and deficiencies can all make cannabis plants look a bit weird.
0 kommentar(er)
