Purple Phenotypes and Potency

[Ktaadn]

The pics show up.

There are good purple phenotypes and ones that are not as potent as their green counterparts.

I've, like BrownTrout, also noticed their terpene profiles to be slightly different.

Perhaps the terpene differences can account for variation in potency observed by some people.

Or maybe it's like TomHill says (I think) that the purple plants don't always live up to their full potential due to lack of chlorophyll.

You just might be onto something there! Definite difference in terps between the different colored phenotypes in the lines I've seen. The green tend to be more bland tasting but have more "punch" or body to them, and the purple tend to be more flavorful with some subtle nuances to the high. Similar to what many people consider the difference between "sativa" and "indica".

I wonder if there was a green pheno to be found in say - Peyote Purple for example, how it would compare to it's sister?

 

[Ktaadn]

The terps are almost always different in my opinion.
BT

Yes indeed!

 

[dank.frank]

For comparison sake:

These are different phenos from CannaVenture LA Affie x Chem D Bx2. The green was gym sock and strong garlic with slight musty kush notes...and the purple pheno was exotic sweet kush with faint floral hints and faint garlic.

The purple pheno in this line was the winner by far. Much more exotic and complex flavor and a high to go with it. The green phenos had a more muddy high - strong but very basic. Just straight stoned. Video game weed. The purple pheno had more head to it - but the high was also more complex and creative.

Now of course, comparing different phenos you will expect different results - but my simple point being, the keepers in that seed line are absolutely, without question, the Affie leaning purple plants.



dank.Frank

 

[Ktaadn]

Nice example Frank! I like your descriptions of "muddy" and "basic". Puts me in mind of Herijuana, which has the raw indica body buzz power, but lacks taste and complexity. I know there are some purple phenos of Heri that are rumored to be tastier but with less of the intense indica punch.

You mention Affie - one of the lines I'm very familiar with was a local heirloom Affie that showed both purple and green types. The purple was probably more impressive overall (smell, taste, high), but in terms of raw power everyone agreed the green was more of a knockout.

I suppose it all comes down to what one considers "potent".

 

[dank.frank]

Well, the purple had a more complex terpene profile, contributing to effects of her high. She had a higher trich field density...ie simply put out more resin to being with.

I'm not going to say such an example will hold true across all strains - but I wanted to provide a contrasting example to the status quo assumption.



dank.Frank