BigMike’s Genetics by Gelato Seeds Breaking Down Trends in Cannabis Breeding

Cannabis genetics have come a long way over the past decade. Classic earthy cannabis cultivars and rudimentary hybrid strains have made way for strains focused on terpene flavor, resin production, bag appeal, and specialized breeding projects. Collectors and cannabis enthusiasts now routinely evaluate cannabis genetics based on factors beyond mere potency.

Flavor nuances, layered terpenes, flower structure, cannabinoid expression, and genetic stability also play important roles in determining how desirable a particular cannabis strain may be.

That’s part of the reason why Gelato Seeds‘ BigMike’s Genetics collection continues drawing attention from cannabis collectors. Auto options like Big Grape Dosa Auto, photoshoot favorites like Black Cherry Soap, Capricot, and Cheetah Runtz, along with regular strains GMOREO, Holy Grail Gelato OG, Kifflez, and Orelato 41 are only a few examples of how the BigMike’s Genetics collection reflects many of today’s biggest cannabis breeding trends.

Breeding Cannabis Genetics Core Concepts

Cannabis genetics are responsible for defining many of the plants most identifiable characteristics, including:

• Aroma
• Flavor
• Flower structure
• Resin production
• Plant height
• Branching factors
• Flowering time
• Coloration
• Cannabinoid ratios
• Disease resistance
• Reaction to environmental stressors

Breeding projects work to enhance certain desirable traits while reducing the presence of unwanted characteristics through carefully selected parent generations. Preserving terpenes, improving bag appeal, and reducing phenotype variation have all become major focuses among modern cannabis breeding projects.

“We started BigMike’s Genetics as a way to share some of our hand-selected premium genetics with the world,” the company’s website explains. “These strains have been carefully selected over years of plant research and professional horticulture.”

Among BigMike’s Genetics collection are auto strains, photoperiod strains, and specialty strains meant to appeal to a variety of cannabis collectors and growers.

Understanding Terpene-Based Breeding

Arguably one of the biggest shifts in modern cannabis breeding has been the industry-wide transition toward prioritizing flavor-based cannabis genetics. Old-school cannabis strains were commonly associated with skunky, earthy, or pine-heavy aromas and flavors. While these genetics continue to maintain followings of their own, many modern hybrid cannabis projects place larger emphasis on combining multiple terpenes to create complex flavors with sweet or dessert-like finishes.

Highlighting several of today’s most popular terpene trends are genetics like BigMike’s Gelato Beltz 41, which crosses Rainbow Belts and Gelato 41 to create what the seed company describes as a fruity candy smell with cream, earth, pine, and hints of lavender.

Popular terpene strains used in modern cannabis breeding include:

• Sweet cream
• Berry / grape
• Citrus candy
• Vanilla
• Cherry dessert
• Fuels and diesel
• Earthy gas
• Tropical fruit
• Herbal spice

Why Gelato Cannabis Genetics Became Popular

Besides dessert-like flavoring, gelato cannabis strains have gained popularity among consumers for their colorful flower development, dense amounts of resin production, and balanced hybrid qualities.

Flowers derived from modern Gelato descendants commonly feature:

• Dense layering of resin and trichomes
• Creamy dessert aroma
• Purple hues
• Compact flower structure
• Rich terpene expression
• High flavonoid concentration

Due to its stable inheritance of many desirable characteristics, Gelato cannabis genetics are commonly used in other breeding projects.

It’s no surprise then that several options within BigMike’s Genetics collection incorporate Gelato DNA. Holy Grail Gelato OG, Orelato 41, and multiple candy-infused hybrids highlight how today’s cannabis breeders continue to build upon the signature Gelato terpene structure by integrating new flavors while maintaining the cultivar’s original appeal.

Trichomes and Resin Production

Heavy trichome development is one of many desirable characteristics found in high-quality cannabis genetics. Cannabis trichomes are the small resin glands that develop across flower buds and nearby plant surfaces. These glands produce cannabinoids, terpenes, and other naturally occurring compounds responsible for determining a cannabis strain’s aroma and the texture of its resin.

Therefore, cannabis collectors today often look for strains that produce:

• Large amounts of resin
• Visible trichome coverage
• Frosty appearances
• Sticky textures
• Strong terpene profiles

Not only are resin-heavy cannabis genetics sought after by the collecting community, but certain breeder’s and cultivators focus on strains that produce large quantities of trichomes for extraction purposes.

You can find several examples of dense trichome production across the various strains within the BigMike’s Genetics collection just by browsing flower pictures on the product page.

What Are Auto Cannabis Strains

In recent years, auto cannabis genetics have gained increasing levels of popularity. As the name implies, auto cannabis plants automatically transition from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage based on age.

Big Grape Dosa Auto is one example of an auto cannabis strain included in the BigMike’s Genetics collection. Auto Seeds like Big Grape Dosa Auto are becoming more popular with not only novice cultivators but cannabis collectors.

The following are qualities commonly associated with auto cannabis strains:

• Quick life cycles
• Compact size
• Easy-to-manage light schedules
• Small indoor footprint
• Quick turnaround times

Since the introduction of the world’s first commercially successful auto cannabis strain, breeding programs have gotten much better at producing potent and highly aromatic auto-flowering strains.

“A quick life cycle with faster flowering times, but still retain many of the modern hybrid characteristics,” BigMike’s Genetics details about its auto and fast-flowering options.

Photoperiod Cannabis Strains

Traditionally grown cannabis strains are referred to as photoperiod strains. These cannabis plants require a shift in light exposure to begin flowering. Once exposed to roughly 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness each day, most cannabis plants will begin to flower.

“These are your traditional photoperiodic plants that most growers are familiar with,” BigMike’s Genetics states.

While auto cannabis genetics are gaining popularity, many growers still prefer photoperiod strains over aut flo genetics due to their ability to grow larger, vegetate for extended periods, and easily manipulate plant structure through advanced training techniques.

The following are benefits often associated with growing photoperiod cannabis strains:

• Extended vegetative state
• Larger overall size
• Advanced training potential
• More flower sites
• Greater cloning options

Many of the cannabis strains featured in BigMike’s Genetics collection are ideal for traditional photoperiod cultivation.

Purple Cannabis Genetics

Purple cannabis strains have been gaining popularity over the past several years. Deep purple hues, blackened coloring, silver shade, and dark-green cannabis flowers are often viewed as “exotic” among cannabis collectors.

The expression of these colors within cannabis flowers are due, in part, to genetic factors as well as environmental influences like cool nighttime temperatures during the flowering stage. Anthocyanins are the pigments responsible for darker shades of purple found in cannabis plants.

By browsing the BigMike’s Genetics collection, you’ll find several strains featuring dark purple cannabis flowers, sugar leaves, frost production, bright orange pistils, and even green and lavender contrast.

Non-THC Cannabis Cannabinoids

While THC dominates most conversations surrounding cannabis and its numerous cannabinoids, breeding projects have begun deviating away from traditional THC-centric cannabis strains and shifting focus to non-THC cannabinoids like CBD and CBG.

For example, Panakeia High Terpenes CBG by BigMike’s Genetics is described as a high CBG hemp strain featuring 0.00% THC and increased concentrations of CBG.

CBG is short for cannabigerol, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in hemp and cannabis plants. CBG has been receiving a lot of attention from both the hemp industry and cannabis research circles because it is considered a “parent” cannabinoid from which other cannabinoids are synthesized.

Breeding Projects Focused on Rare Genetics

While breeding season has only begun for the BigMike’s Genetics collection, the cannabis breeding industry as a whole continues to grow at rapid speeds. New cannabis hybrids are becoming available constantly as breeders continue developing unique terpene profiles, maximizing resin production, and focusing on speedy flowering times along with visual aesthetics.

You’ll find several rare cannabis strains highlighted in the BigMike’s Genetics collection that fit many of today’s cannabis trends such as candy infused terpene profiles, resin-rich hybrids, bold and colorful flower development, and new combinations of classic cannabis strains.

Modern cannabis breeders and collectors seem to love rare cannabis genetics almost as much as they love dropping puns about dispensaries being cannabis libraries. Here at Flower Media, we enjoy reading up on the latest cannabis genetics as much as we enjoy finding new strains to review on our blog.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about modern cannabis breeding by taking a closer look at the BigMike’s Genetics collection offered by Gelato Seeds.

Have you had any experiences with BigMike’s Genetics or Gelato Seeds? Let us know in the comments below!

Cannabis cultivation is highly rewarding, but it can also be complex. If you’re a cannabis grower just starting out or have run into issues with previous grows, consider subscribing to Leafly’s Weekly Grow Guide. Complete with care tips, gear recommendations, grower testimonials, and more – it’s a great resource for both new and experienced cultivators.

Are Cannabis Seeds Legal?

In most places, cannabis seeds are legal to buy/sell, but flower is not. Hemp-derived cannabis seeds with less than 0.3% THC are legal to buy online in all 50 states. Cannabis seeds with higher THC are legal where cannabis is legal for medical and recreational use.