I am planning to induce polyploidy in a cannabis plant using colchicine. To do this, I will extract colchicine from 48 grams of dried saffron (Crocus sativus) root powder, which is known to contain colchicine, and dissolve it in 240 milliliters of water, resulting in a solution containing 0.5 milligrams of colchicine per milliliter. This solution will be sprayed evenly on the cannabis plant, specifically on the leaves and stems, to disrupt cell division and promote polyploidy by preventing proper chromosome separation during mitosis.
Before applying it to the cannabis plant, I will first test the solution on a few random plants to observe how they react. This initial test will help ensure that the solution does not cause significant harm or stress to the plants. If the test plants tolerate the treatment well, I will proceed with applying it to the cannabis plant. The goal is to increase the number of chromosome sets in the plant, which may lead to enhanced traits like size, flower production, or other genetic changes. Throughout the process, I will carefully monitor the plants for any negative reactions and adjust the concentration or stop the treatment if necessary.
That’s cool, I haven’t heard of this. There are a couple breeder sites that specializes in polyploidism. I got lucky and the last 2 strains I’ve started have slight triploid. Have them both growing now.
One is an auto and started as a triploid, and has been growing out of it. Her first set of branches came out as 2in1 on one side, with the 3rd growing normally. The 2in1 are separating into normal growth as she transitions into flower.
The other is a Northern Lights regular (sex currently unknown) that is growing three sets of normal branches at every node, and not displaying any polyism past the main. If it is a female, I want to try and clone her.
Let us know how your ventures grow, it seems pretty interesting!
Thanks, wow!
I would really like to see your triploid branches.
Yes, I’ve read about them. As an unstable mutation, they’re trying to develop a strain with a stable polyploid mutation.
I’ll keep you guys updated!
This is the auto flower. You can see the flatter branch is the poly branch. It has smaller flowering sites. The normal branch has 1. She started with 3 from her main, but I recently clipped those because they were almost in the cup…
This is the NL reg at 42 days. It started with 3 and has continued that way. It seems to only be at the main stem as each branch is growing normal. Or at least appears so. Tried to get a shot where you could see three branches from one node…
When a plant becomes polyploid (gains extra sets of chromosomes), it often grows larger, with bigger buds, stronger stems, and more robust roots. However, there’s no solid evidence that polyploidy directly increases THC production—it’s more about size and vigor.
If you cross a polyploid plant (e.g., tetraploid) with a normal diploid one, the offspring could be triploid (three sets of chromosomes). Triploids are often sterile or have reduced fertility, which could prevent seed formation. Combining this with feminized seed production method (which ensures nearly 100% female plants, with stressing a female to make it reproduce alone) might create seeds that are mostly female and less likely to produce seeds—ideal for certain farming needs. (Good business)
Another idea: graft a high-quality diploid clone onto a polyploid rootstock. The polyploid’s strong, oversized roots could boost growth and resilience. Grafting is a proven technique, but how well polyploid rootstocks work with diploid scions in cannabis isn’t fully studied yet.
These ideas are promising but would need testing. Polyploidy can be tricky to induce (e.g., using colchicine), and results can vary. Still, it’s an exciting area to explore for improving cannabis cultivation.
Correct. I haven’t had a true poly yet, just a branch here and there. In my experience with them, the buds are bigger, but there is tons more branch and leaf material in the buds. They are very hard to tame and trim.
Just be careful using colchicine…I heard that smoking the treated plants can kill you, colchicine is deadly. I was tempted to try to induce a few plants with it back in the late 80’s, but wasn’t prepared to sacrifice the grow for some seeds.
I have had 2 polyploids, one in 1989’ish that came up with 3 even branches. Managed to take 3 clones that lived, all weed formed pinecone buds that were super potent. The second was last year, a Sleepy Joe that came up with 3 branches. Many clones taken, but they grew out of it. Except one pant which grew 2 different phenos on the same branch, an indica-looking branch and a sativa-looking branch! The indica branch produced some tasty sold buds but the other branch was not a keeper. Different shaped and different coloured leaves too!
Indeed
it is deadly but at big doses, in less doeses it is used as a drug for gout and cancer patients.
Also it wont affect humans when the bud is smoken, but it’s not healthy to make anything edible with it by the way.
Wow this really interesting!
Look at that such a cool mutation!
Beautiful
I scrog pretty heavily and I usually have 1 or more that do it nearly every run. All different strains. Whether it’s 2 plants or 18 plants. But it’s only ever random branches. Not entire plants.
Usually they are cut out because they don’t keep up with stretch like all the other branches and turn to larf.
For 45 grams of colchicum root, using the same 10:1 solvent-to-plant ratio (480 mL per 48 grams), we need to adjust the volumes for 45 grams.
Calculating the required solvent volume for 45 grams:
So, for 45 grams of colchicum root, you will need 315 mL of ethanol and 135 mL of water.
But I have to work with what I have, so it’s not the perfect combination (alcohol, specifically ethanol, is forbidden in Iran).
So this is all I got: 70% ethanol.
Now, according to the article (https://jmums.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-14375-fa.pdf),
we need to use ultrasound to shake our solution at a molecular level to make the ethanol pass through the air gaps between and inside the powders to dissolve the colchicine alkaloid from the powder into our ethanol solution.
Since I’m a poor guy living in a third-world country, all I have is a speaker, and I hope this Persian rap remix: https://on.soundcloud.com/ZuKTFdhUutYWfRC39
has some ultrasound effects. Lol!
Now, as I’m writing this, I’m waiting for my speaker to charge fully so I can use its full power.
Wow look at that beauty!
It looks like a hand!
Did you top it? Or it did it by itself?
Auto topping and 3 branches looks like a common thing in polyploids.
I’m really existed to see that everyone has polyploidy branches and they are showing it here.
Also what’s the strain? It really looks familiar, catched my eyes.
Lovely house by the way, i have a tiny pothos in my house too (I’m cloning it)
Hey eric, it’s a mystery strain from Fast buds. It is an Autoflower and it has not been topped. The main is the second largest. The poly is a side branch. And yes I have many house plants as well as outdoor back patio plants. I’m sure there’s well over a hundred species between the indoors and Outdoors at my house. I’ve always been a plant man and it’s just crazy that this is my first grow. The pictures that show the stem are both from the poly. The front view of the stem is good and flat in the side view is skinny. My favorite plant by far
Crazy stem! How much did that nug weigh @plumbdand by itself? After I harvest and dry I’ll trim it down before the Cure so I can get some pics of my stem.
Lol!
