Cannabis is one of the few plants in nature that have distinct sexes, and the wide differences between male and female plants plays a significant role in cultivation. Click here to learn more about genetic sex testing. Female plants are typically the most desirable due to their production of “buds” that contain a high abundance of cannabinoids and terpenes, while male plants do not. Additionally, if a male plant is present in the same batch as a female, the male can pollinate the female plants, which then produce seeds that compete with buds for growth.

Smithers utilizes the Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), a highly sensitive and precise method, to detect a genetic marker on the male sex chromosome within the cannabis genome by taking DNA from the second set of true leaves. Using this method, we can accurately identify the male and female plants in a fraction of the time compared to visual sex detection and help growers reduce the number of resources used on unwanted plants.
 

Required Sample Amount: One primary or secondary leaf

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