Genetics company Phylos Bioscience is raising the cultivation bar with its latest proprietary seed varieties, set for release in October. The company’s F1 hybrid seeds were developed using marker-assisted selection and are designed for growers who are ready to move beyond clones. The seeds offer a range of benefits that make them stand out in the increasingly competitive genetics marketplace.
With the new F1 hybrid seed lines, Phylos is committed to replacing the industry’s reliance on clones with Production-Ready Seeds that offer clone-like uniformity, high yields, loud aroma profiles, bag-appeal the market desires, and consistent THC levels—reaching 30 percent in some varieties. Clones often carry the risk of pests and diseases such as hop latent viroid (HLVd), but Phylos’s parent breeding stock is meticulously tested before beginning hybrid seed production so the hybrid seeds start clean and grow strong, reducing the chance of crop failure and enhancing sustainability.
“Clones get infected with HLVd and become weaker over time, whereas cultivators start fresh every time they get a seed from us,” said Senior Director of Breeding Jared Reynbery.
Beyond the substantial increase in vigor, another major advantage of the new seeds is their uniform growth habit. Seed-grown plants have lacked the uniformity of clones; however, Phylos’s latest varieties exhibit consistent height, structure, and flower quality, rendering maintenance easier and allowing growers to optimize their operations without the high labor costs associated with clonal production.
Phylos’s seeds don’t just match the performance of clones—they often exceed it, according to Reynbery. Autoflower varieties are particularly popular, as they require less maintenance and have set growing cycles, increasing the number of cycles growers can produce annually and maximizing yields without expanding a facility’s footprint. Phylos also offers photosensitive seeds that thrive in indoor environments due to their stress tolerance and reduced risk of hermaphroditism.
“You shave off vegetation times with seeds versus clones,” said Amy Zents, director of cultivation at Progressive Plant Research, Phylos’s dedicated cultivation partner. “Some customers veg our seeds for one week less than they veg clones. This comes out to about a 25-percent to 30-percent time savings when you flip from clone to seed.”
At a time when cultivation businesses are grappling with falling prices and labor shortages, Phylos’s Production-Ready Seeds offer a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to clones without sacrificing quality, bag appeal, or unique and varied aromas. With new varieties released twice a year, cultivators can look forward to a growing product portfolio of improved genetics offering increased output, reduced operational costs, and improved product quality.
