Genetics & Breeding
A plant's underlying genetic code — the inherited blueprint that sets the range of traits it can express.
The genotype is the complete genetic makeup a plant inherits from its parents. It defines the potential range of traits, while the phenotype is what actually appears once environment acts on that potential. Identical genotypes (such as clones) can still produce slightly different phenotypes under different growing conditions. Breeders work at the genotype level to stabilize desirable traits across generations.