Males – Not As Useless As We Think!

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jumpincactus

jumpincactus

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MALES
The vast majority of cannabis growers destroy any males the second they display signs of gender, and now that feminized seeds are available, many will never see a male in their room. But male cannabis plants have a surprising array of uses, beyond simply providing pollen to make new seeds. Here, we take a look at what they are.

Good males make good fathers
Good-quality male specimens are essential for any cannabis breeding program. In providing pollen to females, the males are also contributing half of the DNA that will make up the subsequent offspring. Thus, selecting males which display advantageous traits can produce offspring that will retain those traits. Some traits can be distinguished relatively easily, such as growth rate, overall health, and resistance to mould, hermaphroditism and pests; while characteristics that may have an effect on flavour and potency are less obvious, expert breeders can spot various subtle clues as to a male’s potential as a breeding father. Males are also important in breeding autoflowering strains, as their growth pattern traits can be passed down while the flavour and potency profile of the female can be retained—with a little skill and perseverance.



In typical controlled breeding programs to select males, identical female clones are bred with a variety of males and the results compared. Thus, males are selected on the basis of the quality of their female offspring; their own phenotype may not correspond exactly with that of the female offspring, as male and female phenotypic expression vary greatly in cannabis, but it does appear that certain inherited traits are expressed. It has not been empirically proven that the potency of a male cannabis plant affects that of its female progeny, although breeders have found it to be the case in the course of their experiments.

Of course, a large degree of trial and error is often involved in selective breeding programs, as until the female offspring have produced a harvest, it is impossible to discern the impact the chosen male had on resultant phenotype with any degree of precision. However, both males and females begin to produce cannabinoids and terpenes early in the flowering period, and clues to their final potency and flavour can be discernible. Typically, growers will squeeze or pinch flowers and leaves to release their aroma; while this is a rudimentary technique, the information it yields can be valuable.

Males do serve an evolutionary purpose
Cannabis and most other species in the Cannabaceae family are dioecious, with males and females existing as separate plants; very few flowering plants possess this characteristic. The vast majority (over 80%) of flowering plants are hermaphroditic, meaning that each individual flower is comprised of both male and female sexual organs. Monoecy (where separate male and female flowers exist on the same plant) and dioecy are both rare, each comprising around 6% of flowering plant species. The remnant is made up of variations or mixtures of the three main types, including gynomonoecy and andromonoecy—where plants express both hermaphroditic flowers and female or male, respectively.


In breeding programs, identical female clones are bred with a variety of males in order to select the best father
It is thought that dioecy confers a selective advantage in certain plant populations as it maximises the chances of genetic recombination. In hermaphrodite or monoecious plants, both male and female sexual organs are produced by the same plant, and if it self-pollinates it will produce offspring whose DNA is identical to the parent. This lack of variation can very quickly lead to inbreeding and weakened genetic health in a population. However, many hermaphroditic species have built-in genetic mechanisms that preclude self-pollination, a condition known as self-incompatibility.

It appears that monoecy and dioecy evolve in plants if the genetic mechanism for self-incompatibility has been lost (although they are each only present in around 6% of species, the capability has evolved independently in around 38% of all genera). There are several examples of dioecious plants expressing monoecious phenotypes in response to environmental pressures, but where those populations have again spread to more favourable locations they gradually tend more towards dioecy, as it is an effective mechanism to ensure cross-pollination and genetic diversity in the absence of self-incompatibility.

This is borne out by cannabis, which has several monoecious strains and a great tendency to produce monoecious plants in dioecious populations, particularly in times of stress, and is entirely capable of self-pollination. In cannabis, numbers of males can drastically diminish for short periods in adverse conditions, but a strong and healthy male population is the default method to ensure long-term health and viability of the species.

Males are not always lacking in potency
While most people believe that male cannabis contains no cannabinoids, this is well-established to be untrue. A study from 1971 compared the cannabinoid content of males and females found in several locations including Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, Turkey, and Morocco, and found that while cannabinoid concentration was generally higher in female plants, males nonetheless exhibited significant concentrations. Overall cannabinoid content of male flowers was generally lower than that of female flowers but higher than that of female leaves. In one instance, Hizzine 3.9.1969, overall cannabinoid content in male flowers was actually higher than in female flowers from the same locale.

When looking at THC and CBD separately, the results are even more interesting. Generally, CBD was consistently higher in female plants than in males, although there are several exceptions. However, the results for THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, were somewhat surprising. The Bekaa 26.6.1969 and the Hizzine 3.9.1969 types both exhibited higher concentrations of THC in all parts of the male plant compared to the female. At 0.2% against 0.04%, the THC content of Bekaa 26.6.1969 males was five times that of females. At 1.2%, the male upper leaves of the Hizzine 3.9.1969 actually represented the single highest THC concentration of all plants in the sample. Ratios of THC to CBD were highly variable.

More recently, a study into Thai landrace varieties found that males contained0.722% to 0.848% THC, with a THC:CBD ratio of 1.9 (usually, ratios of higher than 1 are classed as drug types and those with lower ratios are classed as hemp). A UNODC bulletin from 2005 also stated that gas chromatography analysis indicated that THC content of male

plants in Morocco was comparable to that of females; in the leaves, THC content was recorded at 0.4% for both male and female plants, while flowers displayed a range of 0.4-0.7% for females and 0.2-0.5% for males. Males express resin glands most abundantly on the sepals, the anthers and the small upper leaves.

Hashish & concentrates from male cannabis plants
Depending on the origin of a specimen of hashish, it is possible that it contains resin from males that were not removed from the field. Although most growers in traditional hash-making areas such as Morocco and Lebanon remove the male plants from the field early to prevent pollination, this is not always the case, and males are sometimes harvested and processed along with the females.

There are many anecdotal reports of growers and breeders using their male flowers, leaves and stems to make hashish and concentrates, with varying degrees of success. As

overall resin content is likely to be fairly low, it is usually preferable to use large numbers of plants, or to use methods which extract the maximum from the plant, such as QWISO or butane extraction.

As well as hashish, it is possible to use male cannabis plants to make cannabutter and various other oils and infusions. Although there is little definite evidence on the psychoactive effects of male plants compared to that of females, there are various anecdotal reports indicating that the effect is more ‘high’ than ‘stoned’, and can be enjoyably cerebral.


Hops are dioecious, like cannabis and most other Cannabaceae species
Males can also be used to produce juice
Another potential use for male cannabis plants is in making raw juice. Although the evidence for juicing is sparse, there are indications that cannabinoids in their acid form may have some pharmacological benefits, similar to their familiar non-acid form but without the potential disadvantage of psychoactivity. As males contain the same cannabinoid acids as females, although in differing concentrations and ratios, they may also be juiced to derive their benefit.

Male cannabis plants should be juiced in much the same manner as females. All parts of the plant can be used save for the toughest stalks; it is generally advisable to also omit the largest and most fibrous fan leaves, as their high chlorophyll content can impart an unpleasant, bitter taste to the juice.

Fibre from male hemp plants
A Hungarian study from 1996 investigated the respective properties of male and female hemp, and found that male hemp fibres differed from female in several important aspects—so much so that traditional peasant farmers were reported to go to great lengths to separate the males from the females in the fields, as well as conducting all stages of the retting, decorticating, spinning and weaving process separately. Chinese texts from the 16th century BCE also apparently attest to the belief that “the fibre of the male hemp plant is the best”.

According to traditional wisdom, male hemp fibres are considerably finer and softer than female fibres, and as a result they were reserved to make the finer grades of cloth, while the females were used to make rougher textiles such as canvas and sackcloth. These fine textiles made from male hemp fibres were then used to make a variety of household items such as tablecloths, towels and bed linens.


The fibre of the male hemp plant is significantly finer and softer than that of the female, although it is not as strong
The study found that female fibre was stronger than male fibre, but that male fibre exhibited higher torsional resistance and flexibility. The overall fineness of a fibre is influenced by its torsional resistance and flexibility, and thus male fibre was concluded to be significantly finer than female. Male plants were also noted to contain a greater percentage of fibre, at 31.5% to 29.6%.

Males can often make good companions
Cannabis has been used as a pesticide and repellent in a variety of ways throughout history. Its dried flowers and leaves have been used to make pesticide and repellent extracts, and pure cannabinoids have been demonstrated to exert antibacterial and antimicrobial effects. As well as this, cannabis can be used as a companion plant.



Various studies have been performed over the years that attest to the ability of cannabis to ward off unwanted pests. It has been grown alongside cotton to ward off cotton worms, surrounding vegetable fields to ward off cabbage caterpillar, interplanted with potatoes to protect against potato beetle and potato blight fungus, alongside wheat to repel root maggot, and as a general repellent against European chafer larvae. Cannabis also suppresses plant growth of unwelcome species in the surrounding area, such as noxious chickweed, as well as repelling harmful nematodes such as the potato cyst nematode, the root knot nematode, and the soybean cyst nematode.

It is thought that it is the terpenes produced by cannabis that are largely responsible for repelling insects and pests, particularly limonene and pinene. Both male and female cannabis plants produce terpenes in abundance, with the levels produced seeming to roughly correlate with their cannabinoid concentration, and some growers will interplant their males among their vegetables rather than consigning them to the compost heap.

Some growers who are fortunate enough to live in a country where outdoor cultivation is a possibility actually maintain males and females in the same garden, though far enough away that male pollen will not affect the females too seriously. If one or two males are situated a few metres away from females, preferably in a sheltered spot so that the wind does not have too much effect, the result is more likely to be a light scattering of seeds in occasional flowers rather than a fully seeded crop. In this way, growers can produce smokeable female flowers while also guaranteeing a supply of fresh, healthy seeds for next season’s crop.
 
Freshone

Freshone

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Your more than welcome to all my males and herms,I'll send them to you instead of the compost pile.It always sucks trashing plants so I'd rather you make some hash and a pair of pants out of them.
 
jumpincactus

jumpincactus

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Your more than welcome to all my males and herms,I'll send them to you instead of the compost pile.It always sucks trashing plants so I'd rather you make some hash and a pair of pants out of them.
You Sir are just too kind. The post was for general overall reading........ Certainly not promoting any of the data.

Peace
 
MIMedGrower

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I find it funny that the article says identical females are bred with many males to determine the best one.

But in our modern cannabis industry "breeders" are actually skipping this important and time consuming step to bring you the new strain of the week along with the other 30 versions they made in the last 3 months with one supposedly elite borrowed male plant.

They like to advertise this shortcut to cash as a "collaboration" with a famous more popular and well known breeder.
 
Dunge

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I find it funny that the article says identical females are bred with many males to determine the best one.
So once they identify the best male, have they got clones of it?
And then keep it alive through cloning, as a breeder male?

I found the OP very interesting.
 
jumpincactus

jumpincactus

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I find it funny that the article says identical females are bred with many males to determine the best one.

But in our modern cannabis industry "breeders" are actually skipping this important and time consuming step to bring you the new strain of the week along with the other 30 versions they made in the last 3 months with one supposedly elite borrowed male plant.

They like to advertise this shortcut to cash as a "collaboration" with a famous more popular and well known breeder.
LOL Well said brother.Well said!!!
 
Dunge

Dunge

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Has anybody heard of reversing a male and forcing female flowers to demonstrate breeding quality?
I have, but don't know how it's done, or even if it's possible.
 
incogneato

incogneato

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Has anybody heard of reversing a male and forcing female flowers to demonstrate breeding quality?
I have, but don't know how it's done, or even if it's possible.
I was high one time and so feed that same thing. Then I forgot all about it.
 
King Julien

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I've made bubble hash and edibles from male plant matter before many times. It's just weak and/or took tons of material and processing to get anything. Definitely not worth taking the time to do commercially with what else is out there.

Regardless of that the medium sized leaves do make for a decent salad. It's loaded with vitamins and fiber and tastes pretty good to boot with a light dressing. It's also good for the raw chlorophyll, which is known to detoxify the body along with other health benefits, and the small amounts of thc-a and cbd-a have a list of benefits too long to bother listing.

Besides, why throw away something you can eat that's actually good for you?
 
jumpincactus

jumpincactus

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I've made bubble hash and edibles from male plant matter before many times. It's just weak and/or took tons of material and processing to get anything. Definitely not worth taking the time to do commercially with what else is out there.

Regardless of that the medium sized leaves do make for a decent salad. It's loaded with vitamins and fiber and tastes pretty good to boot with a light dressing. It's also good for the raw chlorophyll, which is known to detoxify the body along with other health benefits, and the small amounts of thc-a and cbd-a have a list of benefits too long to bother listing.

Besides, why throw away something you can eat that's actually good for you?
Agreed my son makes smoothies with the leaves. He swears by em.
 
Organikz

Organikz

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My point was that the article is about the proper way to choose and breed plants and many of the popular breeders don't do the work. They take shortcuts and then take your money.
Where do you think the heat mats and shit came from? Is it a constant 78 degrees early to middle spring? Hell no it's cold. When i have a question I follow nature. She is never wrong. I had 11 of 12 beans break dirt in 5 days with no heat mat. Matter of fact I made sure the container was on the floor.
 
MIMedGrower

MIMedGrower

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Where do you think the heat mats and shit came from? Is it a constant 78 degrees early to middle spring? Hell no it's cold. When i have a question I follow nature. She is never wrong. I had 11 of 12 beans break dirt in 5 days with no heat mat. Matter of fact I made sure the container was on the floor.


Huh? Were we talking about heat mats or nature?

But since you brought it up. Why would I want to copy nature when I can grow a plant to a higher potential more consistently than she can?
 
Organikz

Organikz

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Huh? Were we talking about heat mats or nature?

But since you brought it up. Why would I want to copy nature when I can grow a plant to a higher potential more consistently than she can?
You were mentioning slacker breeders. Now there are some top quality breeders but there are basement breeders too. They convince folks that their seeds didn't pop because of them. It was in the genetics all along. Weakling.
 
MIMedGrower

MIMedGrower

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You were mentioning slacker breeders. Now there are some top quality breeders but there are basement breeders too. They convince folks that their seeds didn't pop because of them. It was in the genetics all along. Weakling.


Oh I get ya now. I mis understood what you were saying.

And I agree. I have had over 98% of my seeds go to harvest the last 4 years.
 
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