How Breeders Turned Ruderalis Into Modern Autoflowers
Autoflower cannabis has come a long way from its origins in wild ruderalis plants. What was once a small, low-potency weed growing in the harsh climates of Russia and Central Asia is now a staple in commercial and home cultivation. But how did breeders take a plant with almost no THC and transform it into the high-yielding, terpene-rich strains we see today?
The answer lies in decades of selective breeding. By crossing ruderalis with elite indica and sativa genetics, breeders developed autoflowers that rival traditional photoperiod strains in potency and complexity. This article explores how that transformation happened, from early experiments with wild ruderalis to the high-performance autoflowers now dominating the market.
Early Breeding Efforts
For most of the 20th century, ruderalis was ignored by cannabis breeders. The plant was too small, lacked resin production, and had THC levels below one percent. However, some breeders recognized its unique trait—autoflowering—and began experimenting with ways to introduce it into commercial genetics.
The first significant breakthrough came in the 1980s and 1990s when small-scale breeders began crossing ruderalis with high-THC strains to improve potency. These early hybrids had mixed results. Many plants retained the auto-flowering trait but were still weak in cannabinoids and yield. Others lost the auto-flowering ability entirely, reverting to photoperiod dependence.
The Creation of Lowryder
The real game-changer arrived in the early 2000s with the release of Lowryder, the first commercially successful autoflower. Developed by a breeder known as Joint Doctor, Lowryder resulted from multiple generations of selective breeding.
The strain was created using a North American ruderalis crossed with Northern Lights #2 and Mexican Sativa. The result was a compact plant that fully flowered in around nine weeks from seed, regardless of light schedule. While the THC content was lower than traditional strains, Lowryder proved that autoflowers had commercial potential.
Lowryder’s success led to widespread interest in autoflowers, and from that point on, breeders began working to refine their genetics.
The Rise of High-Potency Autoflowers
By the 2010s, autoflowers had improved dramatically. European seed banks like Dutch Passion, Dinafem, and FastBuds began breeding autoflowers that could match both potency and yield photoperiod strains. The key was stabilization, selecting only the highest-performing autoflowering plants over multiple generations.
One of the most significant improvements was the introduction of “super autos,” which had longer life cycles (up to 100 days) and produced much larger yields than early autoflowers. Around the same time, the first genuinely high-THC autoflowers appeared, with some strains reaching 20 to 25 percent THC.
Today, autoflowers have shed their reputation as weak, low-yielding plants. Strains like Gorilla Glue Auto, Amnesia Haze Auto, and Gelato Auto have proven that autoflowers can be as powerful and flavorful as their photoperiod counterparts.
Conclusion
The transformation of ruderalis into modern autoflowers is one of the most impressive breeding achievements in cannabis history. Through decades of selection and refinement, breeders have taken a plant that was once written off as useless and turned it into a significant category of commercial cannabis.
Autoflowers are now a mainstream option for growers looking for fast cycles, resilience, and ease of cultivation. In the next part of this series, we’ll explore the future of autoflower breeding, including innovations in genetics, potency, and yield optimization.
