INDIA 

ITG/05

Date - 1-5-2003

National Guidelines

for the Conduct of Tests for

Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability

Cotton

(Gossypium L.)
   

               Contents

I.            Subject

II.           Material required

III.          Conduct of tests

IV.          Methods and observations

V.           Grouping of varieties

VI.          Characteristics and symbols

VII.         Table of characteristics

VIII.        Explanations on the table of characteristics

IX.           Technical questionnaire

________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I.   Subject

These test guidelines apply to all varieties, hybrids and parental lines of Cotton  (Gossypium  L.)  

________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

II.   Material required

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

    Variety, hybrid and parental line      -           4000 grams (in only one submission)
        

  2. 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 should be as high as possible but not less than 75%.  
        

  3. The plant 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.

________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

III.   Conduct of tests

  1. 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.
      

  2. The test should normally be conducted at two test locations. If any important characteristics of the variety can not be seen at these places, the variety may be tested at an additional place.
      

  3. The test should be carried out under conditions ensuring normal growth.  The size of the plot should be such that plants or parts of plant may be removed for measuring and counting without prejudice to the observation which must be made upto the end of the growing period. Each test should include a minimum of 150 plants, which should be divided among 4 replications. Separate plots for observation and for measuring can only be used if they have been subjected to similar environmental conditions.

    Test plot design :

    No. of rows :   5
    Row length :   6 m
    Row to row distance :   90 cm
    Plant to plant distance :   60 cm
    No. of  replications :   4

     

  4. Observations should not be recorded on plants in border rows.
     

  5. Additional tests for special purpose may be established.

________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV.   Methods and observations

  1. The characteristics described in the table of characteristics should be used for the testing of varieties, inbred lines and hybrids for DUS.  
      

  2. For the assessment of distinctness and stability observations should be made on 40 plants or parts of plants which should be divided among 4 replications (10 plants per replication). The number of apparent plant should not exceed 4 in 40.
      

  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 8 in 150.
      

  4. All leaf characteristics should be observed on 4th leaf from the top.
      

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

________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V.   Grouping of varieties

  1. The collection to be grown should be divided into groups to facilitate the assessment of distinctness. Characteristics that are suitable for grouping purposes are those which are known from experience not to vary, or to vary only slightly, within a variety and which in their various states are fairly evenly distributed within the collection.
     

  2. It is recommended that the competent authorities use the following characteristics for grouping varieties.

    i)                    Leaf: shape (characteristic 5)

    ii)                  Flower: petal colour (characteristic 17)

    iii)                Boll:  shape(longitudinal section) (characteristic 23)

    iv)                Fibre : Length (characteristic 27)

________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI. Characteristics and symbols

  1. To assess distinctness, uniformity and stability, the characteristics and their states as given in the Table of Characteristics should be used.
     

  2. Notes (1 to 9), for the purposes of electronic data processing, are given opposite the states of the different characteristics.
     

  3. Legend:

    (*)        Characteristics that should be used every growing period for the examinations 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 VIII.
     

  4. The optimum stage of plant growth for assessment of each characteristic is indicated in the sixth column of table of characteristics.
      

  5. Type of assessment of characteristics indicated in column 7 of 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 plants or parts of plants

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

________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VII. Table of characteristics  

Sl. No

Characteristics

States

Notes

Example varieties

Stage of observation

Type of   assessment

1

Hypocotyl: pigment-ation

absent
present

1
9

 

seedling

VS

2

Plant : time of flowering (50% of plants with at least one open flower)

early( <45 days)  
medium(45-60 days)
late( >60 days)

3
5

7

 

50% of plants with at least one open flower

VG

3

Plant:  stem pigmentation

absent  
present  

1
9

 

peak flowering

VS

4

Plant: stem hairiness

absent
sparse  
medium  
strong

1
3
5
7

 

peak flowering

VS

5 (*) (+)

Leaf : shape

palmate(normal)  
semi-digitate(semi- okra)  
digitate(okra)  
lanceolate(super okra)

1
2

3
4

 

peak flowering

 

VS

6

Leaf : lobe number

one
three  
five  
seven

1
2
3
4

 

peak flowering

 

VS

7

(*)

Leaf : size (width at maximum point)

small
medium  
large

3
5
7

 

peak flowering

VG

8 (*)

Leaf: colour

light green
green
light red  
dark red

1
2
3
4

 

peak flowering

 

VS

9 (*)

Leaf : Pubescence

absent
medium
strong

1
5
9

 

peak flowering

VS

10

Leaf: appearance

cup
flat

1
2

 

peak flowering

VS

11

Leaf : gossypol glands

absent  
present

1
9

 

peak flowering

VG

12 (*)

Leaf : nectaries

absent  
present

1
9

 

peak flowering.

VG

13

Leaf : petiole pigmentation

absent  
present

1
9

 

peak flowering  

VS

14 (*) (+)

Bract: type

normal
frego

1
2

 

peak flowering

VG

15

Bract: number of serration

few
medium  
many

3
5
7

 

peak flowering

VS

16

Flower: sepal pigmentation

absent
present

1
9

 

peak flowering

VS

17 (*)

Flower : petal colour

white
cream  
yellow
pink
red
bicolor

1
2
3
4
5
6

 

peak flowering

 

VS

18 (*)

Flower: petal spotting

absent
present

1
9

 

peak flowering

VS

19 (*) (+)

Flower: position of stigma

embedded
exserted

1
2

 

peak flowering

VG

20

Flower: filament colouration          

absent
present

1
9

 

peak flowering

VG

21 (*)

Flower: anther colour

white
cream
yellow
purple

1
2
3
4

 

peak flowering

VS

22

Boll : bearing habit

solitary
cluster

1
2

 

first boll bursting

VS

23 (*)

Boll : size (width of boll at maximum point)

small
medium
large

3
5
7

 

before boll bursting

VG

24

Boll : colour

green  
red

1
2

 

before boll bursting

VS

25 (*) (+)

Boll : shape (longitudinal section)

rounded
ovate
elliptic

1
2
 3  

 

before boll bursting

VG

26 (*)

Boll : surface

smooth
pitted

1
2

 

first boll bursting

VG

27

Boll : prominence of tip

blunt  
pointed

1
2

 

first boll bursting

VG

28 (*) (+)

Boll : opening

open
semi-open  
close

3
5
7

 

first picking

 

VG

29

Boll : weight of seed cotton/boll

small (<3.0 g)
medium (3.1-5.0 g)
large (>5.0 g)

 

 

first picking

MS

30 (*)

(+)

Fibre : length

very short(<20 mm)
short (20.5-24.5 mm)  
medium(25-29 mm)  
long(29.5-33.5 mm)  
extra long (>33.5 mm)  

1
3

5

7
9

 

first picking

VS

31

Plant: growth habit

determinate
indeterminate  

1
2

 

final picking

VG

32

Plant : height

very short(<61cm)
short (61-90cm)
medium(91-120cm)
tall(121-150cm)  
very tall(>150cm)

1
3
5
7
9

 

final picking

 

MS

33 (*)

Seed: fuzz color

white
grey  
brown  
green

1
2
3
4

 

harvest maturity

VS

34

Seed : size(100 seed wt.)

very small(<5.1g)
small(5.1-7.0g)  
medium(7.1-9.0g)  
bold(9.1-11.0g)  
very bold(>11g)

1
3
5
7
9

 

harvest maturity

MG

35 (*)

Fibre : color

white
cream
brown
green

1
2
3
4

 

harvest maturity

VS

36 (*) (+)

Fibre : strength

weak (<20 g/ tex )
medium (20.1-25.0 g/ tex )
strong (>25 g/ tex )

3
5

7

 

harvest maturity

 

 

37 (+)

Fibre:   fineness (micronaire value)

very fine (<3.0)
fine (3.0-3.9)  
medium (4.0-4.9)
coarse (5.0-5.9)  
very coarse (>5.9)  

1
3
5
7
9

 

harvest maturity

 

 

38 (+)

Fibre: uniformity

poor(<40)  
average(40-45)
good(>45)  

3
5
7

 

harvest maturity

 

 

39 (+)

Fibre: maturity(%)

poor (<70)
average (70-80)
good (>80)

3
5
  7  

 

harvest maturity

 

 

40 (*)

Ginning %

low(<31)
medium(31-35)  
high(36-40)  
very high(>40)

3
5
7
9

 

harvest maturity

 

MG

41 (*)

Seed : density of fuzz

naked 
semi-fuzzy
fuzzy

1
2
3

 

after ginning

VG

________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VIII. Explanations and methods

Characteristic  5.  Leaf : shape

1 2 3  4
  palmate (normal) semi -digitate digitate (Okra) lanceolate
 (semi-okra) (super okra)

                                                                                                       

                 

 Characteristic 14.  Bract : type  

1 2
normal frego

 

Characteristic 19.  Flower : position of stigma

1 2
embedded exserted

                                                                                                               

Characteristic 25.  Boll : shape

1 2 3
rounded  ovate elliptic
 

Characteristic 28.  Boll : opening
3 5 7
open semi-open Close

Characteristic 30.  Fibre : length

Fibre length should be observed according to the method recommended by Central Institute of Research for Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai

Characteristic 36.  Fibre : strength

Fibre strength should be observed according to the method recommended by Central Institute of Research for Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai

Characteristic 37.  Fibre : finenss

Fibre fineness should be observed according to the method recommended by Central Institute of Research for Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai

Characteristic 38.  Fibre uniformity

Fibre uniformity should be observed according to the method recommended by Central Institute of Research for Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai

Characteristic 39.  Fibre maturity

Fibre maturity should be observed according to the method recommended by Central Institute of Research for Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai

________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:                                                                     Gossypium L.
                                                                                              Cotton

 
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)                  Variety

(ii)                Hybrid

(iii)               Parental line

 

      4.2  Pedigree of proposed variety/hybrid/line

 

     4.3  Other informations

 

 

 

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
(5)

 Leaf : shape

palmate (normal)
semi-digitate (semi- okra)
digitate (okra)
lanceolate (super okra)

 

1 [ ]
2 [ ]
3 [ ]
4 [ ]

5.2
(17)

 		 Flower : petal colour 

white
cream
yellow
pink
red
bicolor

 

1 [ ]
2 [ ]
3 [ ]
4 [ ]
5 [ ]
6 [ ]

5.3
(25)

 Boll : shape (longitudinal section)

rounded
ovate 
elliptic

 

1 [ ]
2 [ ]
3 [ ]

5.4
(30)

 Fibre : Length

very short (<20.5 mm)
short (20.5-24.5 mm)
medium(25-29 mm)
long(29.5-33.5 mm)
extra long(>33.5 mm)

 

1 [ ]
3 [ ]
5 [ ]
7 [ ]
9 [ ]
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

 

      7.2 Special conditions for the examination of the variety

 

           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        {      }                  

[End of document]

________________________________________________________________________________