So this is not my primary goal and while it would be interesting in the future it is not what most grabs my attention right now.
Here is my rough idea:
There is some gene or much more likely series of genes that are expressed in a population of lets say Durban Poison that account for the highest percentage of THCV in the cannabinoid mixture.
You grow out a population of let's say 10. Test them all for THCV.
You will have a data set with a min, a max, and a mean. Given that this is an IBL, you should not expect much of a distance above the mean for the population because it should mostly breed true. You take a girl from there. Let's say you get one with 2% THCV on a 20% total cannabinoids or 10% of the cannabinoids are THCV.
You do the same with the Ethiopian. Get that same 2 percent number.
You cross these.
When growing the F1s, I would expect you to find phenotypes with THCV numbers above that 2% number because of hybrid vigor. Here is one discussion of hybrid vigor.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5210733/
However, where the real fun would come in is in the F2 generation. The reason for this is the expression of potential good double recessives along with the genetic material to cover up potential bad double recessive expressions ALONG WITH the potential other vigor factors one finds in hybrid vigor plants.
So you find a unicorn in that F2 generation. THERE IS NO POINT IN GOING BEYOND F2 FOR JUST FINDING ONE SPECIAL PLANT. This is at least according to my understanding.....but the best you will do with those F1 parents will be found in F2 imo and further breeding is for stabilization within the population, not for individual freak plants.
So if you find a freak in your F2 generation, then what?
Then you do this whole song and dance with another two strains (let's say Hawaiian and another South African) and cross two F2 freaks to get hybrid vigor again and see if you can drive it up that way.
The numbers you need to statistically find the perfect freak at the F2 generation get into the 100s very quickly the more genes you assume contribute to THCV.
That is, roughly speaking, I think what one would do.
Now, you may ask, what is my focus then?
More or less, I am doing the same thing, but not focused on one set of genes applying to a cannabinoid so much as effects that fall along three categories: Functional energy (which has serious overlap with THCV I suspect), meditative (this is code for trippy), and narcotic (pain relief/sleep).
Right now, tbh, my interest is on the meditative/trippy side. Hence I am exploring cultivars from Colombia, Malawi, Thailand, Panama, and whichever country Bangi Haze is from (one of the Congos....I do not know how to specify this correctly because I am ignorant). I do expect to find some more functionality as well, especially from the Panamanian and Colombian.
However, in the future I do plan to look for more clear-headed highs. At that point I will be popping Durban Poison from Authentic Genetics (technically by Mel Frank) and that will begin my hunch of where to find THCV. And I will be testing my cultivars throughout, especially with the awesome help you are providing with your posts and videos!
