The hermaphrodite test section, any and all hermaphrodite chatter welcom here!!
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GoAuto6
Galactic Travler
[h=1]he Occurrence of Hermaphroditism in Cannabis Plants[/h] By nevash
A plant is said to be a hermaphrodite when it starts to exhibit both male and female characteristics and/or sex organs. This trait has been witnessed and is common in cannabis plants warranting the separation of males from females once they start to flower. This transformation tends to occur as a survival tactic to ensure the existence of the plants and continuation of the species. A hermaphroditic plant pollinates itself and consequently reproduces when it flowers which reduces the yield of seedless buds that growers get to harvest. The ideal result is as many seedless buds as possible unless the grower is looking to get seeds to start another grow with.
Several factors encourage the transformation of marijuana plants into hermaphrodites. These range from overwatering or under watering the plants, changes in PH levels of the mediums they grow in, unsteady lighting schedules, extreme changes in temperature (either too high or too low), using too much fertilizer amongst many others. Hermaphroditism affects both male and female plants and is not easily detected because most inexperienced growers don’t know what changes to look for exactly. Also, most of them can’t even tell the male and female flowers apart let alone differentiate which ones are exhibiting which characteristics. If you are keen, you can see male flowers on female plants and vice versa. It is preferable that you know how the normal plants look like and what hermaphrodites look so as to be able to know the difference.
Sometimes, cannabis plants are genetically wired to turn into hermaphrodites whereby regardless of the changes in the weather, temperature, lighting or PH levels they eventually transform and intersex. This means that no matter what efforts the grower undertakes to try and prevent this occurrence from happening, it is beyond his/her control and is inevitable. The offspring of hermaphroditic plants tend to turn to hermaphrodites themselves because it is in their nature to do so. If a hermaphroditic plant is bred with a non hermaphroditic, the general rule is that half of the consequent offspring will be hermaphrodites regardless of growing conditions. In the case where marijuana plants intersex as a result of environmental changes and stressful conditions, growers can somewhat limit the outcome by avoiding these situations. It has been documented that moving plants from outdoors to indoors or vice versa has greatly promoted hermaphroditic traits because of the stress and hormonal changes the plants undergo in trying to adapt to the environment.
There is no known method to prevent this change from occurring except to take precautions while the plants are growing in all stages. However, growers are always advised to remove any male flowers from their grow rooms before their male flowers pollinate the females. In line with this step, it is important that all growers, whether first timers or experienced ones, to be able to sex their plants appropriately. Being able to tell the difference between female and male plants allows you to easily separate them when the time comes and eventually avoid cases of plants transforming to hermaphrodites.
A plant is said to be a hermaphrodite when it starts to exhibit both male and female characteristics and/or sex organs. This trait has been witnessed and is common in cannabis plants warranting the separation of males from females once they start to flower. This transformation tends to occur as a survival tactic to ensure the existence of the plants and continuation of the species. A hermaphroditic plant pollinates itself and consequently reproduces when it flowers which reduces the yield of seedless buds that growers get to harvest. The ideal result is as many seedless buds as possible unless the grower is looking to get seeds to start another grow with.
Several factors encourage the transformation of marijuana plants into hermaphrodites. These range from overwatering or under watering the plants, changes in PH levels of the mediums they grow in, unsteady lighting schedules, extreme changes in temperature (either too high or too low), using too much fertilizer amongst many others. Hermaphroditism affects both male and female plants and is not easily detected because most inexperienced growers don’t know what changes to look for exactly. Also, most of them can’t even tell the male and female flowers apart let alone differentiate which ones are exhibiting which characteristics. If you are keen, you can see male flowers on female plants and vice versa. It is preferable that you know how the normal plants look like and what hermaphrodites look so as to be able to know the difference.
Sometimes, cannabis plants are genetically wired to turn into hermaphrodites whereby regardless of the changes in the weather, temperature, lighting or PH levels they eventually transform and intersex. This means that no matter what efforts the grower undertakes to try and prevent this occurrence from happening, it is beyond his/her control and is inevitable. The offspring of hermaphroditic plants tend to turn to hermaphrodites themselves because it is in their nature to do so. If a hermaphroditic plant is bred with a non hermaphroditic, the general rule is that half of the consequent offspring will be hermaphrodites regardless of growing conditions. In the case where marijuana plants intersex as a result of environmental changes and stressful conditions, growers can somewhat limit the outcome by avoiding these situations. It has been documented that moving plants from outdoors to indoors or vice versa has greatly promoted hermaphroditic traits because of the stress and hormonal changes the plants undergo in trying to adapt to the environment.
There is no known method to prevent this change from occurring except to take precautions while the plants are growing in all stages. However, growers are always advised to remove any male flowers from their grow rooms before their male flowers pollinate the females. In line with this step, it is important that all growers, whether first timers or experienced ones, to be able to sex their plants appropriately. Being able to tell the difference between female and male plants allows you to easily separate them when the time comes and eventually avoid cases of plants transforming to hermaphrodites.
GoAuto6
Galactic Travler
By Dutch Passion,
One subject that tends to annoy the cannabis community is that of hermaphrodite plants, sometimes called ‘hermies’ on the home-grown circuit.
Hermies are typically females that develop male, pollen-producing staminate features at some stage in the female flowering process. Many garden plants, fruits and vegetables also show hermaphroditism and so does Cannabis. If you don’t really understand the male/female cannabis details then get yourself a smoke and a coffee and read the grow info/FAQ on our website.
Joe cuts out male flowers in order to obtain 100% quality bud.
In a frantic last effort to produce seeds for the following spring, the female cannabis plants may produce pollen. Often this may happen at the very end of the flowering cycle. Even though this maybe too late to turn any of it’s own delicious bud into seed, the hermie produces pollen in the hope that it will find its way to immature female flowers on another plant nearby. Hermies are an occasional natural survival mechanism, one last shake of the evolutionary dice to procreate before death. Hermies can also be encouraged by small stress stimuli in the plants environment.
The best way to deal with the occasional male flowers on a female plant is to nip them off and flush them down the sink. If male parts do appear on a female plant it is often too late to impact the crop being grown. A bit of male pollen around harvest time is far too late in the cycle to affect your precious bud.
If male flowers appear early on in the flowering process then it may point to a problem in the growroom. Modern feminised seed, at least from the better seed suppliers, is these days unlikely to be the reason for hermie problems during the grow. Some of the early feminised seeds did have hermie tendencies, having said that it is also fair to say that feminised seed has improved a lot since the early days and feminised seed has simply never been as good as it is today.
It still surprises many to know that around 80% of Dutch Passion varieties are at their most potent and most uniform when grown from feminised seed. Feminised seed now accounts for the overwhelming majority of the seeds we sell. Nowadays the feminisation techniques used to produce feminised seeds is pretty sophisticated and based on a lot of experience. If you have been avoiding feminised seed due to hermie concerns then it may be time for a re-think.
Here on the Dutch circuit, feminised seed has been the only way to go for many years despite the occasional poor reputation of the early first generation feminised seeds. Even today there are some strains that may show hermie tendencies if grown in below-standard conditions. Blueberry is one such strain, we have never promoted this as an easy strain to grow, it suits the experienced grower who can really get optimised conditions. Blueberry is a strain which is thought to have a have had ancestory which included a plant with slight hermie tendencies. These tendencies can reappear today when something small stresses the plant. So Blueberry is perhaps not the best choice for rookie growers, I know people who only ever grow this variety but do so with the benefit of many years experience and have never seen hermie issues. At the same time I am aware of first-time growers who have bought a pack of Blueberry seeds and had hermie issues, they may have been better off with a more bullet-proof strain such as Skunk #11 for a first grow.
So don’t be put off buying feminised seeds from one of the better seed companies. Feminised seed should give rise to more uniform plants with the highest potency if you are giving the plants the right growing environment. Remember the other advantages of feminised seeds – no males ever, which allows your growroom or garden to be smaller, more efficient and easier to manage. More people than ever are saying goodbye to the dealer and growing their own stash. With good quality seed selected for your growing requirements, modern home grown is better than that sold on the streets. Feminised seeds and Autofem seeds have made it easier than ever to be self sufficient.
[h=2]September[/h][h=2]19th[/h][h=2]2011[/h]
One subject that tends to annoy the cannabis community is that of hermaphrodite plants, sometimes called ‘hermies’ on the home-grown circuit.
Hermies are typically females that develop male, pollen-producing staminate features at some stage in the female flowering process. Many garden plants, fruits and vegetables also show hermaphroditism and so does Cannabis. If you don’t really understand the male/female cannabis details then get yourself a smoke and a coffee and read the grow info/FAQ on our website.
Joe cuts out male flowers in order to obtain 100% quality bud.In a frantic last effort to produce seeds for the following spring, the female cannabis plants may produce pollen. Often this may happen at the very end of the flowering cycle. Even though this maybe too late to turn any of it’s own delicious bud into seed, the hermie produces pollen in the hope that it will find its way to immature female flowers on another plant nearby. Hermies are an occasional natural survival mechanism, one last shake of the evolutionary dice to procreate before death. Hermies can also be encouraged by small stress stimuli in the plants environment.
The best way to deal with the occasional male flowers on a female plant is to nip them off and flush them down the sink. If male parts do appear on a female plant it is often too late to impact the crop being grown. A bit of male pollen around harvest time is far too late in the cycle to affect your precious bud.
If male flowers appear early on in the flowering process then it may point to a problem in the growroom. Modern feminised seed, at least from the better seed suppliers, is these days unlikely to be the reason for hermie problems during the grow. Some of the early feminised seeds did have hermie tendencies, having said that it is also fair to say that feminised seed has improved a lot since the early days and feminised seed has simply never been as good as it is today.
It still surprises many to know that around 80% of Dutch Passion varieties are at their most potent and most uniform when grown from feminised seed. Feminised seed now accounts for the overwhelming majority of the seeds we sell. Nowadays the feminisation techniques used to produce feminised seeds is pretty sophisticated and based on a lot of experience. If you have been avoiding feminised seed due to hermie concerns then it may be time for a re-think.
Here on the Dutch circuit, feminised seed has been the only way to go for many years despite the occasional poor reputation of the early first generation feminised seeds. Even today there are some strains that may show hermie tendencies if grown in below-standard conditions. Blueberry is one such strain, we have never promoted this as an easy strain to grow, it suits the experienced grower who can really get optimised conditions. Blueberry is a strain which is thought to have a have had ancestory which included a plant with slight hermie tendencies. These tendencies can reappear today when something small stresses the plant. So Blueberry is perhaps not the best choice for rookie growers, I know people who only ever grow this variety but do so with the benefit of many years experience and have never seen hermie issues. At the same time I am aware of first-time growers who have bought a pack of Blueberry seeds and had hermie issues, they may have been better off with a more bullet-proof strain such as Skunk #11 for a first grow.
So don’t be put off buying feminised seeds from one of the better seed companies. Feminised seed should give rise to more uniform plants with the highest potency if you are giving the plants the right growing environment. Remember the other advantages of feminised seeds – no males ever, which allows your growroom or garden to be smaller, more efficient and easier to manage. More people than ever are saying goodbye to the dealer and growing their own stash. With good quality seed selected for your growing requirements, modern home grown is better than that sold on the streets. Feminised seeds and Autofem seeds have made it easier than ever to be self sufficient.
[h=2]September[/h][h=2]19th[/h][h=2]2011[/h]
GoAuto6
Galactic Travler
[h=1]Marijuana and hermaphroditism[/h] [h=3]What is a hermaphrodite marijuana plant?[/h]
Hermaphrodite marijuana plant
Hermaphrodite marijuana plants develop both male and female flowers. While it is a natural feature of the cannabis plant, it is an undesired trait when growing marijuana for consumption, since there is a great chance to obtain a plant full of seeds, what seriously reduces the quantity and quality of the final product.
Hermaphroditism can have 2 origins: genetic and environmental.
Genetically, some marijuana strains are more sensitive to hermaphroditism than others. This can be explained by the genetic origins of the strain – Thai sativas, for example, usually reach a high percentage of hermaphrodite plants – or also by the technique used when producing seeds (GA3,…).
Regardless its genetic sensitivity, a marijuana plant can also become hermaphrodite by the influence of stress. When it feels that the flowering conditions are too hard, hermaphroditism is an effective and natural way to shorten this period, pollinating its female flowers with the pollen of a few male clusters (usually called “bananas”).
Stress, that highly increases the risk of hermaphroditism, may have several causes, such as:
Detail of a hermaphrodite marijuana bud
[h=3]How to avoid hermaphrodite plants?[/h]
Hermaphrodite marijuana bud
To avoid hermaphrodite marijuana plants, the main rule is avoiding any kind of stress during their flowering period, so we limit the risks as far as possible. Pruning and staking of the plants should be performed during their growth and/or pre-flowering stage (stretch), before the buds start developing.
In order to lower the chances to get hermaphrodite plants, you should: mantain good environmental conditions in your growing space, a perfect hygiene, regularly monitor your timers , check your plants for insects and mites, water them regularly with a balanced nutrient solution. At the end of flowering, carefully check the trichomes so you don’t miss the harvest deadline.
When you have to decide which marijuana strains to grow on your next crops, carefully read any comments from other growers on the chosen strains, as well as seedbank advices and recommendations on them, so you have all the information about these seeds and can better avoid those strains with hermaphrodite traits in their genepool. Actually, if there are too many comments about the hermaphroditism of a specific strain, the breeder him/herself often withdraws it from the market.
Regular cannabis seeds are known for being less sensitive to hermaphroditism than feminized seeds, although this is not an axiom, we must carefully chech our plants for male flowers whatever the type of seed we are growing.
[h=3]What to do when we find hermaphrodite marijuana plants?[/h]
Cannabis hermaphroditism
As we mentioned before, it is very important to carefully check our plants for male flowers from the beginning of flowering. During the flowering period, these male flowers are easily observed due to their yellow colour and banana shape. We will also check for mites or insects, as well as molds, so we avoid the most common cannabis pests .
If a plant shows male and female flowers from the beginning of flowering, unfortunately we will have to eliminate it immediately from the growing space. Otherwise, it could pollinate the entire crop, transmitting the hermaphrodite trait to the offspring.
When the plant becomes hermaphrodite at full flowering, we have 2 options:
Detecting a hermaphrodite marijuana plant
[h=3]Did you find seeds in your cannabis harvest?[/h]
Marijuana seeds developing
If you find seeds in your harvested buds and there is not any male plant near your growing spot, it is because there was at least one hermaphrodite plant in your crop. Those male flowers that were not removed released their pollen next to the female plants. Unfortunately, once pollinated the plant focuses its energy on producing seeds, instead of producing new flowers.
As we already mentioned, these seeds coming from hermaphrodite pollen will mantain this undesirable trait, so it is recommended not to grow them.
We hope that these tips will help you to efficiently detect hermaphrodite plants, so you can get the most out of your sinsemilla marijuana crop!!
Hermaphrodite marijuana plants develop both male and female flowers. While it is a natural feature of the cannabis plant, it is an undesired trait when growing marijuana for consumption, since there is a great chance to obtain a plant full of seeds, what seriously reduces the quantity and quality of the final product.
Hermaphroditism can have 2 origins: genetic and environmental.
Genetically, some marijuana strains are more sensitive to hermaphroditism than others. This can be explained by the genetic origins of the strain – Thai sativas, for example, usually reach a high percentage of hermaphrodite plants – or also by the technique used when producing seeds (GA3,…).
Regardless its genetic sensitivity, a marijuana plant can also become hermaphrodite by the influence of stress. When it feels that the flowering conditions are too hard, hermaphroditism is an effective and natural way to shorten this period, pollinating its female flowers with the pollen of a few male clusters (usually called “bananas”).
Stress, that highly increases the risk of hermaphroditism, may have several causes, such as:
- Changes in the photoperiod, specially interruptions of the dark period during flowering
- Too much heat (>27°C aproximately), wrong environmental conditions
- Harvesting too late, when the grower misses the deadline for harvesting his/her plants
- Mechanical stress: broken branches, damaged roots, pruning during flowering,…
- Irrigation issues (lack or excess)
- Over-fertilisation
- Insects, mites, diseases…
- Thermal stress (irrigating plants with cold water…)
- Use of phytotoxic products (pesticides, fungicides…)
[h=3]How to avoid hermaphrodite plants?[/h]
To avoid hermaphrodite marijuana plants, the main rule is avoiding any kind of stress during their flowering period, so we limit the risks as far as possible. Pruning and staking of the plants should be performed during their growth and/or pre-flowering stage (stretch), before the buds start developing.
In order to lower the chances to get hermaphrodite plants, you should: mantain good environmental conditions in your growing space, a perfect hygiene, regularly monitor your timers , check your plants for insects and mites, water them regularly with a balanced nutrient solution. At the end of flowering, carefully check the trichomes so you don’t miss the harvest deadline.
When you have to decide which marijuana strains to grow on your next crops, carefully read any comments from other growers on the chosen strains, as well as seedbank advices and recommendations on them, so you have all the information about these seeds and can better avoid those strains with hermaphrodite traits in their genepool. Actually, if there are too many comments about the hermaphroditism of a specific strain, the breeder him/herself often withdraws it from the market.
Regular cannabis seeds are known for being less sensitive to hermaphroditism than feminized seeds, although this is not an axiom, we must carefully chech our plants for male flowers whatever the type of seed we are growing.
[h=3]What to do when we find hermaphrodite marijuana plants?[/h]
As we mentioned before, it is very important to carefully check our plants for male flowers from the beginning of flowering. During the flowering period, these male flowers are easily observed due to their yellow colour and banana shape. We will also check for mites or insects, as well as molds, so we avoid the most common cannabis pests .
If a plant shows male and female flowers from the beginning of flowering, unfortunately we will have to eliminate it immediately from the growing space. Otherwise, it could pollinate the entire crop, transmitting the hermaphrodite trait to the offspring.
When the plant becomes hermaphrodite at full flowering, we have 2 options:
- If the plant only produces few male flowers, we can remove them with a pair of tweezers (sterilized with alcohol), spraying water on them – water sterilizes pollen – and then watching for new bananas.
- If the plant produces numerous male flowers, we should eliminate it from the growing space.
[h=3]Did you find seeds in your cannabis harvest?[/h]
If you find seeds in your harvested buds and there is not any male plant near your growing spot, it is because there was at least one hermaphrodite plant in your crop. Those male flowers that were not removed released their pollen next to the female plants. Unfortunately, once pollinated the plant focuses its energy on producing seeds, instead of producing new flowers.
As we already mentioned, these seeds coming from hermaphrodite pollen will mantain this undesirable trait, so it is recommended not to grow them.
We hope that these tips will help you to efficiently detect hermaphrodite plants, so you can get the most out of your sinsemilla marijuana crop!!
GoAuto6
Galactic Travler
Royal Queen Seed's
Generally, when you grow from regular seeds, you’ll end up with around half of the plants turning out as female, the other half male. This can mean a lot of wasted space in the grow room, which is especially a problem for home growers with little space to begin with. Feminized seeds help with this problem by offering growers seeds that are 99.99% female. However, there is a chance of the plant turning male or becoming a hermaphrodite a.k.a. hermi. A hermi plant is a female plant that produces male flowers, causing the same issues that a male plant would cause in the grow room.
The vast majority of feminized seeds will not turn hermi, however there seem to be a few common factors that can influence this. We have generally found that growers with smaller set-ups are more likely to have this problem. Heat can be a major issue in smaller grows, because it can stress the plant. There are also other factors that can cause a plant to turn hermi, but they can all be controlled. The temperature in the grow room should be below 30°C, with 20-25°C being the ideal temperature, especially during the first few weeks.
Light is another major factor; both the strength/amount of light and the type of light. Generally we advise no more than 40,000 lumens per square metre, this works out to one 400 watt per metre, roughly 60 cm from the plants. When your plants start flowering, you can increase the amount of light to help the buds develop more.
We have also found that too much red light can cause hermis; we recommend Son-T Agro or Green Power, which are used for growth and bloom, and have less red light and more blue. We advise against using Son-T Plus bulbs as they have too much red light; they are good for flowering but not so good for growing feminized plants.
The quality of the soil or grow medium is also important. Soil with an NPK of 12-14-24 are best for growing female plants. The soil or grow medium should also never become too dry as this can also stress the plant.
In short, when growing feminized seeds, you want to avoid too much light; especially red light, high temperatures, dry grow mediums and low nitrogen or high potassium nutrients.
http://www.royalqueenseeds.com/content/51-male-and-hermaphrodite-plants
Generally, when you grow from regular seeds, you’ll end up with around half of the plants turning out as female, the other half male. This can mean a lot of wasted space in the grow room, which is especially a problem for home growers with little space to begin with. Feminized seeds help with this problem by offering growers seeds that are 99.99% female. However, there is a chance of the plant turning male or becoming a hermaphrodite a.k.a. hermi. A hermi plant is a female plant that produces male flowers, causing the same issues that a male plant would cause in the grow room.
The vast majority of feminized seeds will not turn hermi, however there seem to be a few common factors that can influence this. We have generally found that growers with smaller set-ups are more likely to have this problem. Heat can be a major issue in smaller grows, because it can stress the plant. There are also other factors that can cause a plant to turn hermi, but they can all be controlled. The temperature in the grow room should be below 30°C, with 20-25°C being the ideal temperature, especially during the first few weeks.
Light is another major factor; both the strength/amount of light and the type of light. Generally we advise no more than 40,000 lumens per square metre, this works out to one 400 watt per metre, roughly 60 cm from the plants. When your plants start flowering, you can increase the amount of light to help the buds develop more.
We have also found that too much red light can cause hermis; we recommend Son-T Agro or Green Power, which are used for growth and bloom, and have less red light and more blue. We advise against using Son-T Plus bulbs as they have too much red light; they are good for flowering but not so good for growing feminized plants.
The quality of the soil or grow medium is also important. Soil with an NPK of 12-14-24 are best for growing female plants. The soil or grow medium should also never become too dry as this can also stress the plant.
In short, when growing feminized seeds, you want to avoid too much light; especially red light, high temperatures, dry grow mediums and low nitrogen or high potassium nutrients.
http://www.royalqueenseeds.com/content/51-male-and-hermaphrodite-plants
jackmc
Killing them softley
Hey GoAuto, Whacha doing here? Interesting subject. I have to admit that I've never seen a male plant. I've got some regular seeds that I want to sprout and see if I can find a male. Thanks for sharing!
:Sharing One:
:Sharing One:
Last edited:
So basically......anything is possible and expect to encounter the unexpected. Just the way it is.........and a good event to illicit a healthy debate on forums, except no so good for the instigator of the debate.....!!!!
You could have a perfectly grown plant, Nutes, Watering, Light, Humidity, Temperature, pH.......the position of the Moon, Sun and Stars relative to the 3rd node.......everything in perfect harmony as StevieW & PaulM waxes lyrically about.........AND this BUGGER......ermmm, plant, was genetically programmed to blow smoke up my a.. because of my perfectness.......I know it's a tiny bit far out......... but what a........
You could have a perfectly grown plant, Nutes, Watering, Light, Humidity, Temperature, pH.......the position of the Moon, Sun and Stars relative to the 3rd node.......everything in perfect harmony as StevieW & PaulM waxes lyrically about.........AND this BUGGER......ermmm, plant, was genetically programmed to blow smoke up my a.. because of my perfectness.......I know it's a tiny bit far out......... but what a........
GoAuto6
Galactic Travler
MaryJanes Garden,
[h=1]What Is A Hermaphrodite Marijuana Plant[/h] The Marijuana or Cannabis plant can either be a male or a female, however in rare occasions, it may contain both sexes. This is called a hermie or a hermaphrodite. A hermaphrodite cannabis plant has two sexes; it contains both the male and the female organs of a cannabis plant.
Male marijuana plants pollinate the flowers the female marijuana plants have. After pollination, the female marijuana plant produces seeds. However if the female marijuana plant was not able to receive pollen from the male marijuana plant, the female continues to grow and begins to develop flowers and buds—sinsemilla meaning ‘without seeds’. This produces THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol., the chemical substance that gives human that ‘high’ feeling.
Male and Female Marijuana Plant
Male marijuana or cannabis plants cover 30 to 50% of the marijuana plant production. Usually the stems have tall height with stout, branching at irregular intervals, and fewer leaves than female cannabis plants. For people to whom their purpose of growing marijuana is breeding, this male plant is pulled out before it sheds its pollen. During harvest time, careful shaking should be observed to prevent accidental pollination. When the male marijuana plant reaches the flowering stage, the grower may notice the development of buds on branch tips. It will look like little balls, and it will be without white hairs.
What is a harmaphrodite marijuana plant?
Female marijuana plants will not develop little buds; however, it will have white hair development unlike the male marijuana plant. They are intended mainly for seed production, which is why male marijuana plants are pulled out to prevent its pollen from getting into the female marijuana plant’s flowers. It is differentiated from the male marijuana plant by its characteristic V-shape pistils. Its flowers bloom 3 weeks later than the male cannabis plant.
Hermaphrodite Marijuana Plant
As mentioned earlier, hermaphrodite cannabis plants are produced in rare occasions. It is usually noticeable after a female marijuana plant is grown—the male marijuana plant starts to pollinate the sinsemillia within the plant and when the pollen sac tries to inbreed the crop. This signals the production or formation of seeds, making the plant use its resources in seed production rather than calyxes and pistils. Calyx is the term for the cannabis plant’s flower.
It is believed that the cause of hermaphrodite cannabis plant production is due to stressors in the environment of cultivation. A dark environment is essential in triggering hormone production that is important for beginning the flowering stage of the cannabis plant. If even the slightest light leaks, it alters the normal process of the plant’s growth.
Hermaphrodites are generally not favored by growers because once it releases pollen, it will destroy a sinsemillia crop and will self-pollinate. Sinsemilla crops are very potent plants—the best kind of marijuana according to reviews of growers and users. It will also pollinate any other female crop in the room. Another disadvantage would be the seeds’ worthlessness—it has the tendency to produce hermaphrodite plants as well.
[h=1]What Is A Hermaphrodite Marijuana Plant[/h] The Marijuana or Cannabis plant can either be a male or a female, however in rare occasions, it may contain both sexes. This is called a hermie or a hermaphrodite. A hermaphrodite cannabis plant has two sexes; it contains both the male and the female organs of a cannabis plant.
Male marijuana plants pollinate the flowers the female marijuana plants have. After pollination, the female marijuana plant produces seeds. However if the female marijuana plant was not able to receive pollen from the male marijuana plant, the female continues to grow and begins to develop flowers and buds—sinsemilla meaning ‘without seeds’. This produces THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol., the chemical substance that gives human that ‘high’ feeling.
Male and Female Marijuana Plant
Male marijuana or cannabis plants cover 30 to 50% of the marijuana plant production. Usually the stems have tall height with stout, branching at irregular intervals, and fewer leaves than female cannabis plants. For people to whom their purpose of growing marijuana is breeding, this male plant is pulled out before it sheds its pollen. During harvest time, careful shaking should be observed to prevent accidental pollination. When the male marijuana plant reaches the flowering stage, the grower may notice the development of buds on branch tips. It will look like little balls, and it will be without white hairs.
What is a harmaphrodite marijuana plant?
Female marijuana plants will not develop little buds; however, it will have white hair development unlike the male marijuana plant. They are intended mainly for seed production, which is why male marijuana plants are pulled out to prevent its pollen from getting into the female marijuana plant’s flowers. It is differentiated from the male marijuana plant by its characteristic V-shape pistils. Its flowers bloom 3 weeks later than the male cannabis plant.
Hermaphrodite Marijuana Plant
As mentioned earlier, hermaphrodite cannabis plants are produced in rare occasions. It is usually noticeable after a female marijuana plant is grown—the male marijuana plant starts to pollinate the sinsemillia within the plant and when the pollen sac tries to inbreed the crop. This signals the production or formation of seeds, making the plant use its resources in seed production rather than calyxes and pistils. Calyx is the term for the cannabis plant’s flower.
It is believed that the cause of hermaphrodite cannabis plant production is due to stressors in the environment of cultivation. A dark environment is essential in triggering hormone production that is important for beginning the flowering stage of the cannabis plant. If even the slightest light leaks, it alters the normal process of the plant’s growth.
Hermaphrodites are generally not favored by growers because once it releases pollen, it will destroy a sinsemillia crop and will self-pollinate. Sinsemilla crops are very potent plants—the best kind of marijuana according to reviews of growers and users. It will also pollinate any other female crop in the room. Another disadvantage would be the seeds’ worthlessness—it has the tendency to produce hermaphrodite plants as well.
GoAuto6
Galactic Travler
f
Two From One: Evolution Of Genders From Hermaphroditic Ancestors Mapped Out
Research from the University of Pittsburgh published in the Nov. 20 edition of the journal Heredity could finally provide evidence of the first stages of the evolution of separate sexes, a theory that holds that males and females developed from hermaphroditic ancestors. These early stages are not completely understood because the majority of animal species developed into the arguably less titillating separate-sex state too long ago for scientists to observe the transition.
However, Tia-Lynn Ashman, a plant evolutionary ecologist in the Department of Biological Sciences in Pitt's School of Arts and Sciences, documented early separate-sex evolution in a wild strawberry species still transitioning from hermaphroditism. These findings also apply to animals (via the unified theory) and provide the first evidence in support of the theory that the establishment of separate sexes stemmed from a genetic mutation in hermaphroditic genes that led to male and female sex chromosomes. With the ability to breed but spared the inbred defects of hermaphrodites, the separate sexes flourished.
“This is an important test of the theory of the early stages of sex chromosome evolution and part of the process of understanding the way we are today,” Ashman said. She added that the study also shows that plants can lend insight into animal and human evolution. “We have the opportunity to observe the evolution of sex chromosomes in plants because that development is more recent. We wouldn't see this in animals because the sex chromosomes developed so long ago. Instead, we can study a species that is in that early stage now and apply it to animals based on the unified theory that animal and plant biology often overlaps.”
Ashman reported in the journal Science in 2004 that animals and flowering plants employ similar reproductive strategies to increase reproductive success and genetic diversity. These methods include large numbers of sperm cells in males, mate competition and attraction through fighting or natural ornamentation, aversion to inbreeding, and the male inclination to sire as many offspring as possible.
For the current study, Ashman and Pitt postdoctoral research associate Rachel Spigler worked with a wild strawberry species in which the evolution of separate sexes is not complete, so hermaphrodites exist among male and female plants. Sex chromosomes in these plants have two loci-or positions of genes on a chromosome-one that controls sterility and fertility in males and the other in females. Offspring that inherit both fertility versions are hemaphrodites capable of self-breeding. Plants that possess one fertility and one sterility version become either male or female. Those with both sterility versions are completely sterile, cannot reproduce, and, thus, die out.
The single-sex plants breed not only with one another but also with hermaphroditic plants and pass on the mutation, which can result in single-sex offspring. (Sterile plants also can result, but plants with genes that favor the production of fertile offspring will be more successful.) When inbreeding depression in hermaphrodites is also considered, Ashman said, a gradual decline in the number of hermaphroditic plants is to be expected. Consequently, fewer chromosomes with both fertility versions of the loci will be passed on and the frequency of single-sex individuals will increase.
Two From One: Evolution Of Genders From Hermaphroditic Ancestors Mapped Out
Date:
November 27, 2008Source:
University of PittsburghSummary:
Research could finally provide evidence of the first stages of the evolution of separate sexes, a theory that holds that males and females developed from hermaphroditic ancestors. These early stages are not completely understood because the majority of animal species developed into the arguably less titillating separate-sex state too long ago for scientists to observe the transition.Research from the University of Pittsburgh published in the Nov. 20 edition of the journal Heredity could finally provide evidence of the first stages of the evolution of separate sexes, a theory that holds that males and females developed from hermaphroditic ancestors. These early stages are not completely understood because the majority of animal species developed into the arguably less titillating separate-sex state too long ago for scientists to observe the transition.
However, Tia-Lynn Ashman, a plant evolutionary ecologist in the Department of Biological Sciences in Pitt's School of Arts and Sciences, documented early separate-sex evolution in a wild strawberry species still transitioning from hermaphroditism. These findings also apply to animals (via the unified theory) and provide the first evidence in support of the theory that the establishment of separate sexes stemmed from a genetic mutation in hermaphroditic genes that led to male and female sex chromosomes. With the ability to breed but spared the inbred defects of hermaphrodites, the separate sexes flourished.
“This is an important test of the theory of the early stages of sex chromosome evolution and part of the process of understanding the way we are today,” Ashman said. She added that the study also shows that plants can lend insight into animal and human evolution. “We have the opportunity to observe the evolution of sex chromosomes in plants because that development is more recent. We wouldn't see this in animals because the sex chromosomes developed so long ago. Instead, we can study a species that is in that early stage now and apply it to animals based on the unified theory that animal and plant biology often overlaps.”
Ashman reported in the journal Science in 2004 that animals and flowering plants employ similar reproductive strategies to increase reproductive success and genetic diversity. These methods include large numbers of sperm cells in males, mate competition and attraction through fighting or natural ornamentation, aversion to inbreeding, and the male inclination to sire as many offspring as possible.
For the current study, Ashman and Pitt postdoctoral research associate Rachel Spigler worked with a wild strawberry species in which the evolution of separate sexes is not complete, so hermaphrodites exist among male and female plants. Sex chromosomes in these plants have two loci-or positions of genes on a chromosome-one that controls sterility and fertility in males and the other in females. Offspring that inherit both fertility versions are hemaphrodites capable of self-breeding. Plants that possess one fertility and one sterility version become either male or female. Those with both sterility versions are completely sterile, cannot reproduce, and, thus, die out.
The single-sex plants breed not only with one another but also with hermaphroditic plants and pass on the mutation, which can result in single-sex offspring. (Sterile plants also can result, but plants with genes that favor the production of fertile offspring will be more successful.) When inbreeding depression in hermaphrodites is also considered, Ashman said, a gradual decline in the number of hermaphroditic plants is to be expected. Consequently, fewer chromosomes with both fertility versions of the loci will be passed on and the frequency of single-sex individuals will increase.
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