Just like you wouldn’t start a journey without knowing your destination, you shouldn’t start a breeding program without clear objectives. This week, we’ll explore how to set realistic, achievable breeding goals that align with your resources and market demands.

Market-Driven vs. Innovation-Driven Objectives

Breeding objectives generally fall into two categories: addressing current market demands or innovating for future opportunities. While we’ll focus on legal hemp breeding approaches, these principles apply across all cannabis improvement programs.

Market-Driven Objectives

The most straightforward path is to identify current market problems:

• Low disease resistance in popular varieties
• Poor yield under specific conditions
• Inconsistent cannabinoid profiles
• Unwanted flowering timing
• Harvesting difficulties

Innovation-Driven Objectives

These focus on creating something new:

• Novel terpene combinations
• Unique growth habits
• Better environmental adaptation
• Enhanced stress tolerance
• New end-use possibilities

Defining Clear Objectives

Your primary objectives should be:

1. Specific and measurable
2. Achievable within your timeframe
3. Relevant to your market
4. Compatible with regulations

For example, instead of “better yield,” specify “15% yield increase under drought conditions while maintaining current cannabinoid profiles.”

Understanding Trade-offs

Every breeding decision involves trade-offs. Common examples include:

• Earlier flowering often means reduced yield
• Higher cannabinoid content frequently correlates with lower vigor
• Dense flower structure can increase disease susceptibility
• Automating harvest might require compromising on other traits

Understanding these relationships helps set realistic objectives and plan appropriate strategies.

Resource Considerations

Your objectives must align with your available resources:

Time:

• How many generations can you grow per year?
• What’s your target timeline for release?
• How long can you maintain breeding populations?

Space:

• What’s your population size capacity?
• Do you have isolation areas?
• Can you conduct proper trials?

Technical:

• What testing capabilities do you have?
• Can you maintain proper records?
• Do you have necessary expertise?

Creating a Trait Priority List

Start by listing all desired traits, then prioritize them based on:

1. Economic importance
2. Genetic complexity
3. Testing difficulty
4. Resource requirements
5. Regulatory compliance

Example Priority Framework

Here’s how this might look for a hemp fiber breeding program:

Primary Traits (Must Have):

• THC content below legal threshold
• Stem yield above current market standards
• Disease resistance to major local pathogens

Secondary Traits (Important):

• Fiber quality metrics
• Uniform maturity
• Lodging resistance

Tertiary Traits (Nice to Have):

• Drought tolerance
• Early season vigor
• Dual-purpose capabilities

Timeline Planning

Different traits require different timelines. Consider:

Short-term goals (1-2 years):

• Selection within existing populations
• Simple trait improvements
• Variety maintenance

Medium-term goals (2-5 years):

• Complex trait improvement
• Population development
• Initial hybrid testing

Long-term goals (5+ years):

• Novel trait combinations
• Major architectural changes
• New market development

Documentation is Critical

For each objective, document:

• Current baseline performance
• Target performance levels
• Measurement methods
• Selection criteria
• Timeline milestones
• Resource requirements

Looking Forward

Next week, we’ll explore how to translate these objectives into an ideotype - your blueprint for the perfect plant. Until then, consider these questions:

1. What market problems could your breeding program solve?
2. Which traits are most important for your target environment?
3. How do your resources align with your ambitions?
4. What timeline makes sense for your primary objectives?

Remember: Well-defined objectives are the foundation of successful breeding programs. Take the time to get them right.

References

1. Barcaccia, G., Palumbo, F., Scariolo, F., Vannozzi, A., Borin, M., & Bona, S. (2020). Potentials and Challenges of Genomics for Breeding Cannabis Cultivars. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 573299. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.573299

2. Salentijn, E. M. J., Zhang, Q., Amaducci, S., Yang, M., & Trindade, L. M. (2015). New developments in fiber hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) breeding. Industrial Crops and Products, 68, 32-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2014.08.011

3. Small, E., & Marcus, D. (2002). Hemp: A new crop with new uses for North America. In J. Janick & A. Whipkey (Eds.), Trends in New Crops and New Uses (pp. 284-326). ASHS Press. https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-284.html

4. Schluttenhofer, C., & Yuan, L. (2017). Challenges towards Revitalizing Hemp: A Multifaceted Crop. Trends in Plant Science, 22(11), 917-929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2017.08.004

5. Smýkalová, I., Vrbová, M., Cvečková, M., Plačková, L., Žukauskaitė, A., Zatloukal, M., Hrbáčová, M., Pamánek, T., & Griga, M. (2019). The effects of novel synthetic cytokinin derivatives and endogenous cytokinins on the in vitro growth responses of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) explants. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 139, 381-394. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-019-01693-5

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[This post assumes legal hemp/cannabis breeding in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.]