The University of Guelph recently announced the release of four new polyploid cannabis varieties available for licensing. The varieties come from the lab of Dr. Max Jones and include three stable tetraploid varieties and one triploid seedless variety.

Three license types are available: breeding, production, and institutional research.

An unlimited number of non-exclusive breeding licenses are available for each tetraploid cultivar offered, with licence fees ranging from $5,000 for Canadian businesses to $10,000 for international businesses.

Rights under the licence include the right to cross and produce new cultivars, royalty-free internal use of new cultivars for production of flower and derivatives by licensee, royalty-bearing right to sell new cultivars, and reduced royalty rates for wholesale seed sales can be negotiated. 

There are also a limited number of production licenses available for each tetraploid and triploid cultivar offered, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000, and an unlimited number of non-exclusive, non-commercial institutional research licenses for $1,500.

Polyploidization is common in plants and can be a useful tool for increasing plant vigour and genetic diversity. Its use in non-hemp cannabis breeding is relatively new, although it has been used among some hemp breeders. 

Jones, an associate professor at the University of Guelph, was part of a research group that recently published a paper looking at polyploid cannabis plants.

The four varieties available through the University of Guelph are: 

• OAC Quadraploid #1 is a cross between a tetraploid GMO (Remix Genetics) mother and a tetraploid Super Lemon Haze father (Remix Genetics). 
• OAC Quadraploid #2 is a sister of #1
• OAC Merry Jones is a cross between a Tetraploid Higher Education mother (Remix Genetics) and a tetraploid Super Lemon Haze Father (Remix Genetics).
• OAC Quick Trip is a cross between a tetraploid Super Lemon Haze mother (Remix Genetics) and a diploid Sweet Island Skunk father (Remix Genetics).

Descriptions and additional information can be found here.

Related Articles

$600,000 in grants to help develop minor cannabinoids in Canada’s hemp crops

August 15, 2024

Hidden Harvest Inc. and Remix Genetics collaborate to introduce seedless cannabis genetics to the Maritimes

September 8, 2023

University of Guelph researcher says tissue culture samples offer opportunities for the cannabis industry

February 4, 2021