ZOM-THA-PHU-1220240005
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| Ban Bua General Population 2024 | |
|---|---|
| ZOM-THA-PHU-1220240005 | |
| At a Glance | |
| Classification | Landrace |
| Photoperiod | Short-day |
| Botanical Characteristics | |
| Growth Pattern | Christmas tree |
| Leaf Shape | Narrow |
| Leaflets | 9 |
| Flower Structure | Foxtailed |
| Hierarchy | |
| Growing Region | Northeastern Thailand |
| Growing Area | Isan |
| Location | |
| Country | Thailand |
| Province/State | Sakhon Nakhon Province |
| District | Kut Bak |
| Locality | Ban Bua |
| Elevation | 200 m |
| Traditional Names | |
| Translation | Kạỵchā |
| Collection | |
| Method | Seeds |
| Sourcing Type | Point of Origin |
| Date | 2025-01-10 |
| Collector | Éloïse,Isabella |
| Conservation | |
| Priority | High |
| Legal Threats | Legal cultivation permitted |
| Population Est. | 10000 |
| Introgression | Minimal |
| Cultivation | |
| Status | Active |
| Preservation | |
| Seed Storage | Zomia Genetic Library |
| Seed Quantity | 10000 |
Ban Bua General Population 2024 is a domesticate landrace cannabis accession originating from Ban Bua on the Kut Bak plateau in the Phu Phan Mountains of Sakhon Nakhon Province, Isan, Thailand. The accession represents the broader open population maintained by farmers through traditional open-pollination practices and reflects the genetic diversity of the Lao-Isan cannabis gene pool present in the region.
This population includes several recognizable phenotypic expressions, most notably the locally named “Tiger Tail” (Hang Suea) and “Squirrel Tail” (Hang Krarok) types. Plants are cultivated for both recreational and medicinal purposes and are part of a long-standing ganja farming tradition in Northeastern Thailand. Seeds were collected at point of origin by Éloïse and Isabella as part of the Zomia Collective’s ethnobotanical documentation and landrace preservation work.
Geography
Ban Bua is located on the Kut Bak plateau within the Phu Phan Mountains of Sakhon Nakhon Province in Isan, Thailand. The region lies within the upland agricultural zone of Northeastern Thailand at an elevation of approximately 200 meters.
The plateau environment experiences a tropical monsoon climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. Farmers typically plant cannabis during the rainy months and harvest during the dry season. The geographic isolation of the Phu Phan uplands has historically contributed to the preservation of locally adapted landrace populations.
Collection Details
Ban Bua General Population 2024 was collected from a farmer in Bua village who showed us his farm where he practices traditional open-pollination. This accession represents the general population rather than a specific phenotype, capturing the full spectrum of variation present within the Ban Bua landrace population. This includes both the robust “Tiger Tail” plants and the more delicate “Squirrel Tail” forms commonly observed in the area. Seeds were collected at point of origin and archived as part of the Zomia Collective’s seed preservation program.
Botanical Characteristics
Plants belonging to the Ban Bua population are tall narrow-leaf drug type cannabis plants reaching approximately 2–3 meters in height. Growth follows a Christmas tree structure with strong apical dominance and lateral branching.
Leaves are narrow with typically nine leaflets. Flowering occurs under a short-day photoperiod and may extend for 18–24 weeks under natural seasonal conditions. Flowers frequently display foxtailed structures and produce large quantities of seeded floral clusters typical of traditional ganja cultivation systems.
Two prominent phenotypic expressions occur within the population. The Tiger Tail phenotype is characterized by thicker colas, stronger branching, and a heavier trichome coating, while the Squirrel Tail phenotype produces longer, more delicate, often foxtailed flowers with whispier morphology and sweeter aromatic profiles.
Conservation Status
The Ban Bua cannabis population remains widely cultivated by local farmers, with an estimated population size of approximately 10,000 plants across the surrounding farms. Despite its continued cultivation, several emerging pressures threaten the long-term genetic stability of the landrace.
Recent shifts toward seedless flower production have led to increased removal of male plants, reducing effective pollination and contributing to a genetic bottleneck. In some cases, hermaphroditic plants have begun to replace male plants as pollen sources. Additional risks include the introduction of foreign genetics and changing agricultural practices throughout Isan.
Conservation efforts led by the Zomia Collective aim to document and preserve these traditional populations by supporting farmers who maintain healthy male populations and by archiving seeds representing the full diversity of the Ban Bua landrace.
Context
The Phu Phan Mountains of Sakhon Nakhon Province have long been a center of traditional cannabis cultivation. Local farmers in Ban Bua have preserved the Lao-Isan landrace through generations of careful selection and open-pollination, maintaining both cultural and genetic continuity. Historically, cannabis from this region was part of the famed Thai Stick trade, prized for its potent effects and complex terpene profiles.
Today, Ban Bua remains a vital cultivation area on the Kut Bak plateau, though modern agricultural practices and shifts toward seedless flower production are creating genetic pressures. Maintaining diverse male populations is critical for preserving the long-term stability and integrity of this landrace.
Current Status
Seed stock from Ban Bua General Population 2024 remains plentiful, though conservation efforts are essential to maintain genetic diversity in the face of modern cultivation pressures. The Zomia Collective continues to support farmers by encouraging open-pollination practices, preserving males, and archiving seeds representing the full phenotypic range of the landrace.
Participation in ongoing conservation programs helps ensure this important Lao-Isan gene pool remains viable for future generations, sustaining both cultural heritage and the unique characteristics of Phu Phan cannabis.