Lucern

The Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Authority decides when, where and in what quantity and quality the seed material required for testing the variety is to be delivered. Applicants submitting material from a country other then India must make sure that all customs formalities are complied with. The minimum quantity of seed to be supplied by the applicant should be :

500 g (in one submission only)
The seed should meet the minimum requirements for germination capacity, moisture content and physical purity prescribed for certified seed in India. Especially for storage, which requires a higher standard, the applicant should state, the actual germination capacity which would be as high as possible. The seed supplied should be visibly healthy, not lacking in vigour or affected by any important pest or disease.
The seed material must not have undergone any treatment unless the competent authorities allow or request such treatment. If it has been treated, full details of the treatment must be given.

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III. Conduct of tests

The minimum duration of tests should normally be two independent similar growing seasons with reference to the ecosystem of the variety submitted for DUS test.
The test should normally be conducted at two test locations. If any important characteristic of the variety can not be seen at these places, the variety may be tested at an addition place.

The field tests should be carried out under conditions ensuring normal growth. The size of the plots should be such that plants or parts of plants may be removed for measurement and counting without prejudice to the observations, witch must be made upto the end of the growing period. Each test should include about 600 plants, which should be divided among three replications. Separate plots for observation and for measurement can only be used if they have been subjected to similar environmental condition.

Test plot design

Number of rows	: 6
Row length	: 5 m
Row to row distance	: 45 cm
Plant to plant distance	: 14 cm
Number of replications	: 3

Observation should not be recorded on border plants.
Addition test for special purpose may be established.

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IV. Methods and observations

1. The characteristics described in the Table of characteristics should be used for the testing of varieties for DUS.

2. For the assessment of distinctness and stability observations should be made on 60 plants or part of 60 plants which should be divided among 3 replications (20 plants in each replication).

3. For the assessment of uniformity of characteristics on the plot as a whole (visual assessment by a single observation of a group of plants or parts of plants), the number of aberrant plants or parts of plants should not exceed 5%.

4. For the assessment of colour characteristics, it is recommended that Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart should be used.

5. Observation on plants and leaf should be made after 60 days for the first growth and 45 days after first cut i.e., the time of flower bud stage on the 3^rd and 4^th leaf below the inflorescence.

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V. Grouping of varieties

The collection of varieties to be grown should be divided into groups to facilitate the assessment of distinctness. Characteristics which are suitable for grouping purposes, are those which are known from experience not to vary, or to vary only slightly, within a variety. Their various states of expression should be fairly evenly distributed throughout the collection.
It is recommended that the competent authorities use the following characteristics for grouping varieties:

i.                     Plant : height (before first cut) (characteristic 2)

ii.                   Leaf : shape (characteristic 6)

iii.                  Time of flowering (characteristic 7)

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VI. Characteristics and symbols

To assess distinctness, uniformly and stability, the characteristics and their states as given in the Tables of characteristics should be used.
Notes (1 to 9), for the purposes of electronic data processing, are given opposite the states of each characteristic.
Legend
(*) Characteristics that should be used every growing period for the examination of all varieties and should always be included in the description of the variety, except when the state of expression of a preceding characteristic or regional environmental conditions render this impossible.

(+)See Explanations on the Table of characteristics in Chapter VII.
The optimum stage of plant growth for assessment of the each characteristic is indicated in the sixth column of Table of characteristics.
Types of assessment of characteristics indicated in column seven of the table of characteristics is as follows:
MG : Measurement by a single observation of a group of plants or parts of plants

MS : Measurement of a number of individual plants or parts of plants

VG : Visual assessment by a single observation of a group of a plants or parts of plants

VS : Visual assessment by observation of individual plants or parts of plants

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VII. Table of characteristics

S.No.	Characteristics	States	Note	Example varieties	Stage of observat ions	Type of Assess ment
1.	Plant: initial vigour	low (< 5cm) medium (5-10cm) high (>10 cm)	3 5 7		25 days after sowing	MS
2. (*)	Plant: height (before first cut)	short(<30cm) medium(30-60cm) long(>60cm)	3 5 7	Anand 2, RL 88 Anand 8. Anand 12	60 days after sowing (before first cut)	MS
3.	Plant: foliage colour	light green green dark green	3 5 7		flower bud stage (after first cut)	VG
4. (*)	Leaf: length of central leaflet	short(<3cm) medium(3-3.5cm) long(>3.5cm)	3 5 7	T 9, RL 88, LCC 3 CO 1, Anand 2	3-4 nodes below the first flower bud (after 1^st cut)	MS
5. (*)	Leaf: width of central leaflet	narrow (<1cm) medium (1-1.25cm) broad (>1.25cm)	3 5 7	T 9, RL 88, LCC 3 CO 1, Anand 2	3-4 nodes below the first flower bud (after 1^st cut)	MS
6. (*) (+)	Leaf: shape	lanceolate ovate obovate	1 2 3	T9 Anand 2	3-4 nodes below the first flower bud (after 1^st cut)	VS
7. (*)	Time of flowering (50% of the plants with at least one open flower)	early (<50 days) medium (50-60 days) late (> 60 days)	3 5 7		after 1^st cut	VG
8. (*) (+)	Plant: growth habit	erect semi erect prostrate	1 3 9	LCC 3, T 9, Anand 2	at 50% flowering (after first cut)	VG
9. (*)	Flower: colour	white purple variegated	1 2 3	Anand 2, T 9, RL 88	50% flowering	VG
10.	Stipules: pubescence	absent sparse dense	1 5 7		50% flowering	VS
11.	Stipules: length	short(<1cm) medium(1-1.5cm) long(>1.5cm)	3 5 7		50% flowering	MS
12 (*)	Plant: height (after first cut)	short(<40cm) medium(40-70cm) tall(>70cm)	3 5 7	Anand 2 Anand 8, Anand12	45 days after first cut	MS
13.	Stem: thickness (of central 5^th internode)	thin (<3mm) medium (3-5mm) thick (>5mm)	3 5 7	LCC 3, CO 1 Anand 2, RL 88 T 9	after first cut	MS
14.	Stem: pithiness (2cm above 5^th node)	hollow solid	1 2	CO 1, Anand-2 Anand 8	After first cut	VS
15. (+)	Pod: number of coils	low (<2) medium (2-3) high (>3)	3 5 7	Anand 2, T 9	pod development (before drying)	MS
16. (*)	Pod: shape	round flat	1 2	T 9 Anand 2	pod development (before drying)	VS
17.	Seed: size (1000 seed weight)	small (<3 g) medium(3-4 g) large(>4 g)	3 5 7	Anand 2, T 9, RL 88	after threshing	MG

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VIII. Explanations on the table of characteristics

Character 6. Leaf : shape


1 lanceolate	2 ovate	3 obovate

Character 8. Plant : growth habit

Characteristic 15. Pod : number of coils

More then 80% of the plants observed should possess the stipulated number of coils

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IX. Technical questionnaire

Reference Number
(not to be filled in by the applicant)

Technical questionnaire
to be completed in connection with an application for plant breeders' rights

1. Species: Medicago sativa L.
Lucerne

2. Applicant (Name and address) :

3. Proposed denomination or breeder's reference

4. Information on origin, maintenance and reproduction of the variety

4.1 Type of material

(i) open-pollinated variety	( )
(ii) other (indicate formula)	( )

4.2 Formula (hybrid only)

4.3 Genetic origin and breeding method (source, crossing, mutation etc.)

4.4 Maintenance

4.5 Use

5. Characteristics of the variety to be indicated (the number in brackets refers to the corresponding characteristic in Test Guidelines; please mark the state of expression which best corresponds).

S.No.

Characteristics

States

Example varieties

Notes

5.1
(3)

Plant: height (before first cut)

short (<30cm)
medium (30-60cm)
long (>60 cm)

Anand 2, RL 88

Anand 8, Anand 12

3 [ ]
5 [ ]

7 [ ]

5.1
(6)

Leaf : shape

lanceolate
ovate
obovate

T 9

Anand 2

1 [ ]
2 [ ]
3 [ ]

5.2
(7)

Time of flowering (50% of the plants with at least one open flower)

early (<50 days)
medium(50-60 days)
late (>60 days)

3 [ ]
5 [ ]

7 [ ]

6. Similar varieties and differences from these varieties

Denomination of
Similar variety

Characteristic in
which the similar variety is different ⁰⁾

State of expression of similar Variety

State of expression of candidate variety

⁰⁾In the case of identical states of expressions of both varieties, please indicate the size of the difference.

7. Additional information which may help to distinguish the variety

7.1 Resistance to pests and diseases (indicate, if any)

7.2 Special conditions for the examination of the variety, if any

7.3 Other information

8. Authorization for release

(a) Does the variety require prior authorization for release under legislation concerning the protection of the environment, human and animal health?

Yes { } No { }

(b) Has such authorization been obtained?

Yes { } No { }

If the answer to that question is ‘Yes’, please attach a copy of such an authorization

[End of the document]

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