OAKLAND,
Calif. and HALF MOON BAY, Calif., Jan. 31, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Dark Heart Industries, a California cannabis genetics
company, announced the world’s first seedless triploid cannabis for commercial
growers. Dark Heart’s PistilGuard technology produces triploid cannabis seeds
and clones that essentially cannot produce seed, even when directly exposed to
pollen. This technology innovation means that triploid cannabis can be grown on
the same scale as corn, wheat or industrial hemp.
“Our
cannabis genetics using PistilGuard triploid technology are an industry first,”
said Dan Grace, founder and CEO of Dark Heart Industries and Dark Heart
Nursery. “The ability to grow THC-rich cannabis from sterile, triploid seeds
and clones that are guaranteed to produce virtually seedless plants is a huge
win for the cultivators we support. Pollen-proof cannabis, and the advantages
it offers, will help move cannabis production from artisanal cultivation to
large-scale agriculture.”
“The
development of triploid seedless varieties has been a huge step forward in many
commercial crops including watermelon, banana and apples,” said Ken Owens, Ph.D.,
vegetable breeder and former president of Magnum Seeds. “This trait’s
introduction in cannabis is a real breakthrough that will allow higher yields,
reduced costs as well as improved aromatic and chemical qualities of the crop.
All this leads to higher profitability and control of your crop.”
Owens
added, “Now that scientists at Dark Heart have developed the core technology,
they’ll be able to introduce new seedless, triploid-based strains and cultivars
through traditional breeding that should bring cannabis production to a whole
new level very soon.”
Cannabis Genetics 1970s – 2022
The
presence of seeds in cannabis plants decreases the density of cannabinoids and
terpenes, leading to low-THC production, loss of yield and diminished bag
appeal. So, breeders have long sought ways to remove seeds from cannabis.
In
the 1970s, cannabis farmers produced the first breakthrough in the campaign to
produce seedless cannabis when they introduced Cannabis Sinsemilla—in
Spanish “without seeds”—by physically isolating female plants from the presence
of any pollen-producing males.
Further
advances were made in the 1990s with the introduction of feminized cannabis
seed, capable of producing overwhelmingly female plants. However, even plants
grown from feminized seed were still susceptible to accidental pollination from
within the greenhouse or from neighboring fields in outdoor grows. Feminized
seed can also still produce phenotypically male plants, albeit in very small
amounts.
Producing
seedless cannabis plants effectively solves this problem. Triploid seed-based
plants are practically incapable of setting seed, even when directly exposed to
male pollen. Male plants in the same field, same greenhouse or neighboring
field are not a problem for a triploid crop.
Availability
PistilGuard
branded seeds and clones will be available exclusively to Dark Heart customers
and partners this year through field trials, then will be generally available
for sale to all California commercial growers in 2023.
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