Feminized

Feminized seeds are cannabis achenes genetically programmed to yield (near-)exclusively female (XX) progeny, produced by crossing a normal female plant with pollen derived from a chemically masculinized female. Because the pollen donor carries no Y chromosome, all resulting zygotes inherit XX (Mohan Ram & Sett 1982; Lubell & Brand 2018). Induction of staminate flowers on a genetically female plant is achieved by applying an ethylene-action inhibitor — most commonly silver thiosulfate (STS) at 0.3–3 mM as a foliar spray, colloidal silver, or gibberellic acid (Mohan Ram & Sett 1982; Lubell & Brand 2018; Flajšman et al. 2021). Lubell & Brand (2018) achieved 95–100% inflorescence conversion to male flowers in four hemp cultivars with three weekly 3 mM STS applications under short-day conditions. Feminized seed dominates the craft and medical markets but carries elevated hermaphrodite risk in stressed environments. Etymology: Latin femina ("woman") + -ized. Synonyms/slang: fem seeds, fems, all-female seed, S1 (when self-pollinated). → See also: Seed, Hermaphrodite, Female plant, STS / Colloidal Silver (Industry).