Step aside clones! This study of Phylos Production-Ready Seeds™ challenges the long-held belief that seed-grown cannabis can’t be as uniform as clones.
The uniformity hurdle
“For seeds to serve as an acceptable replacement for clones, the plants must be uniform,” explains Phylos VP of Sales, Damon Hess. Phylos conducted a groundbreaking study to show just that—Phylos Production-Ready Seeds™ are indeed as uniform as clones.
Uniformity is a critical factor that has long hindered the adoption of seed-based production in cannabis in the modern agricultural landscape. Growing cannabis from clones has been the standard method of cultivation for decades because clones have historically exhibited the highest level of plant-to-plant trait uniformity. The reason clones have taken this precedence over seeds is mainly due to government restrictions—little work has been done to optimize traits related to agronomic efficiencies in seed-grown cannabis.
Download the full uniformity study report for free.
Phylos Production-Ready Seeds – As uniform as clones
Phylos seed-grown plants rival the uniformity of the clonal variety tested in this study for harvest height, wet biomass, and total THC.
In the box plots below, you’ll see each Phylos seed variety compared to the clonal variety for each trait. Statistical analysis showed there were no significant differences in variance for harvest height, wet biomass, or total THC.
Experimental Design
We grew three First Look Phylos seed photosensitive varieties: Purple Starfruit, Scotch & Soda, and Apricot Chem, alongside one clonal variety: GMO S-1 Clone, in the same standard greenhouse conditions. Each was measured for harvest height, wet biomass, and total THC. Box plots show the distribution of data and highlight the center, spread, and outliers. Level of variation is shown using coefficient of variation (CV) which measures data variation relative to the average for varying sample sizes.
Download the full uniformity study report for free.
Bringing cannabis into the modern agricultural space
9 of the top 10 commodity crops in the world are grown from seed. Phylos is on a mission to unlock the potential of cannabis genetics and bring cannabis into the modern agricultural space through the highest-quality genetics. While this level of uniformity is not unusual in other crops grown from seed, these new varieties are a major breakthrough for the cannabis industry.
The value of Phylos seeds
In addition to exceptional clone-like uniformity as seen in this study, Phylos Production-Ready Seeds offer efficiency, cost savings, and reduced disease risk.
Our purpose-driven science-based approach to breeding is supported by a team of incredible chemists, biologists, and data scientists. By optimizing the traditional breeding process for cannabis, we use genetic markers to screen more plants with fewer resources. We’ve removed the guesswork and trial and error of pheno-hunting to focus on development, not discovery. “Other breeders get a new variety, and they’re surprised about what they’ve found. We’re not surprised—we develop and breed plants for specific traits, and they have them,” says Hess. These seeds are, like the name says, Production-Ready.
Why uniformity matters
From the bloom room to bag, uniform plants mean easier growing, better extraction and batching, and consistency for consumers. Focusing on agronomic traits like harvest height, wet biomass, and total THC pays off in the long run when it comes to efficient and consistent productions.
A beautiful, dense, even canopy comes from that harvest height uniformity. When the canopy is uniform, it is not just a sight to behold, it’s a strategic advantage that translates into higher yields, better light dispersion, and a more efficient harvest experience.
With similar levels of wet biomass, the post-harvest process moves much more smoothly—think trimming, drying/curing time, extraction, and even reduced waste. Jeremy Welter, Director, Cultivation R&D, describes it like this, "Picture a symphony: when every musician plays in tune, the music flows effortlessly. Similarly, uniformity in wet biomass keeps the post-harvest process in harmony." With consistency, the post-harvest process becomes a smooth performance, minimizing waste and maximizing quality. In the world of cultivation, uniformity goes a long way in hitting all the right notes!
With THC uniformity, every plant is producing the same amount of cannabinoids which means flower can be batched or extracted together, and consumers can expect consistent potency with each new harvest delivered to their dispensary. Keep your customers returning by providing that consistent experience, every time.
See for yourself
The uniformity study report is available for free. Download the report. Purple Starfruit is coming soon in our Fall Seed Drop. To find out how you can get access to the First-Look varieties included in this study–Scotch & Soda or Apricot Chem–or to discuss the uniformity study, please contact Phylos at support@phylos.bio.
Phylos scientific leadership
Erica Bakker, PhD
DIRECTOR OF GENE DISCOVERY
Erica Bakker is a plant geneticist with expertise in computational biology. She worked at Dow AgroSciences on various crops and was Assistant Professor at OSU and postdoc at the University of Chicago, with a PhD in Plant Sciences from Wageningen University, the Netherlands.
Jared Reynbery, MS
HEAD PLANT BREEDER
Jared Reynbery has a MS in Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding from UC Davis, and was recognized as one of 2023 Seed World’s Top 10 Next Gen Leaders. He was previously a vegetable seed breeder for Bayer Crop Science.
Sarah Scott, PhD
LABORATORY DIRECTOR
Sarah is an Analytical Chemist with experience in anti-cancer drug development, clinical diagnostics, and cannabis analytics. At Phylos she has led the development of novel methods for high-throughput testing. She holds a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology from Purdue University.