Year Awarded 2022
FFAR award amount $51,627
Total award amount $103,254
Location Raleigh, NC
Matching Funders NC State University, Oregon CBD
Grantee Institution NC State University
Increased field production of grain and fiber hemp results in significant amounts of wind-dispersed pollen. Pollination of floral hemp grown for cannabinoids can result in reduced yield and unmarketable quality due to the presence of seeds, which is unacceptable in smokable flower. Consequently, farmers growing floral hemp require tools to minimize the threat of pollination. NC State University researchers are studying sterile varieties of hemp for their potential to retain sterility over multiple growing seasons, and gathering data on these varieties’ flowering and harvest, seed production, floral biomass and cannabinoid concentrations.
Grant OutcomeField trials showed that diploid hemp plants, which have the usual two sets of chromosomes, produced far more seeds under pollen exposure than triploid plants, which are bred with three sets of chromosomes. The research showed triploid hemp can reduce seed production under pollen pressure, helping farmers protect flower quality, maintain cannabinoid levels and reduce the risk of losing crop value.