If the auto-flowering gene is dominant in the variety you’re introducing, crossing it with a photoperiod strain will indeed lead to interesting potential outcomes. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:
Dominant Auto-flowering Trait:
- All offspring will be auto-flowering: Since the auto-flowering gene is dominant, its expression will override the photoperiod gene in the non-auto parent. This means regardless of the other parent’s genetic makeup, all the offspring will inherit the auto-flowering characteristic and flower automatically regardless of light cycles.
- Faster turnaround times: Compared to photoperiod strains, auto-flowering plants take a shorter time to reach maturity and harvest, making them attractive for growers seeking quicker turnaround times.
- Potential changes in other traits: While all offspring will inherit the auto-flowering trait, other characteristics like yield, cannabinoid profile, aroma, and flavor may vary depending on the genetic makeup of both parent strains. You might see a blend of features from both parents, with the dominant traits likely more pronounced.
Considerations:
- Less control over flowering: With auto-flowering plants, you lose the ability to manipulate their flowering cycle through changes in light exposure. This can be limiting for growers who prefer finer control over their plants’ growth and development.
- Potentially lower yields: Compared to some photoperiod strains, auto-flowering plants typically produce lower yields. This may not be a deal breaker for all growers, but it’s worth considering if maximizing yield is your primary goal.
- Variation in offspring: Even though the auto-flowering trait will be dominant, there can still be some variation in other characteristics among the offspring due to the remaining genetic differences. Selecting plants with desirable traits and crossing them further can help stabilize the desired characteristics in future generations.
Overall, introducing a dominant auto-flowering variety into your breeding project can offer the benefits of faster harvests and convenient automatic flowering. However, be prepared for less control over flowering timing and potentially lower yields, along with some variation in offspring characteristics. Experimenting and selecting desirable traits over generations can help refine your breeding goals and potentially create unique and interesting new strains.
Remember, there’s always an element of chance and surprise in plant breeding. Enjoy the process, observe the results, and have fun trying out different crosses!