Choosing quality seeds is the first step to successful crops. But behind every stable variety is a series of sophisticated breeding techniques. If you are wondering what the initials IBL, S1, BX, RBX, R1 stand for, this article is for you.
The basic terms of cannabis breeding:
- IBL (Inbred Line)Inbred genetic line. This is a variety that has been genetically stabilized after several generations of crosses between plants with the same characteristics. The result is uniformity in genetics and stable expression of traits.
- S1 (Selfed F1)These are the seeds resulting from self-pollination of a female plant. They produce exclusively female plants (feminized seeds) and have relatively stable characteristics, but without the perennial stabilization of an IBL.
- BX (Backcross)Crossing a plant with one of its parents. For example, if you cross the F1 generation with the original "father", you get BX1. It's a way to bring back traits of the original parent and stabilize traits.
- RBX (Reversed Backcross)Similar to BX, but with a female plant that has been reversed to function as a male. It is most common in breeding for feminized seeds.
- R1 (Reversed F1)Feminized cross of two parent plants (females that have been reversed). Usually give seeds with broad phenotypic expression, because genetic divergence is greater.
- RBX1, RBX2, etc.Each additional backcrossing cycle increases stability. So, RBX2 means that it was reverse backcrossed twice. The higher the number, the more homogeneous the genetics.
Understanding these techniques can help you choose the right seeds based on whether you want stability, yield or unique phenotypic characteristics. At Shop We work with banks that use sophisticated breeding methods to provide top quality seeds.
