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by ralusek 544 days ago
AFAIK they mostly grow from clones, and thus, would be completely unaffected by pollination. Unless I misunderstand plants, pollination impacts the seeds produced, and therefore the subsequent generation. So long as it keeps being cut and propagated, rather than grown from seed, you could be relatively certain of near identical genetics.
2 comments

Clones are good. But it is not possible to keep a clone line going indefinitely.

Periodically you need males and females doing their wonderful thing and mixing it all up from seed

For example, every apple variety out there. Every potato variety out there. Every garlic variety out there. Grape varietals. All gone because their clone lines expired. Not being able to propagate clone lines is why we can't have seedless oranges or watermelon or grapes.
What makes clone lines no longer able to propagate?
> But it is not possible to keep a clone line going indefinitely

What is the mechanism that prevents this?

I am no botanist

But I think the DNA degrades over time

Mēh! What we do not understand about genetics matters more than what we do....

I am no botanist

I think hemp farmers use seed more than clones, which are more popular in the THC supply chain