INDIA

ITG/16

22-1-2004

National Guidelines

for the Conduct of Tests for
Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability
Linseed 

(Linum usitatissimum 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

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I.   Subject

 These test guidelines apply to all varieties of Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

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II.   Material required

  1. 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 than India must make sure that all customs formalities are complied with.  The minimum quantity of seed to be supplied by the applicant should be :
      
    2000 gram (in one submission only)
      

  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. The seed supplied should be visibly healthy, not lacking in vigour or affected by any important pest or disease.
      

  3. 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

  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 characteristic of the variety can not be seen at these places, the variety may be tested at an additional place.
     

  3. 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 which must be made upto the end of the growing period. Each test should include about 1000 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 conditions.
     
    Test plot design

    Number of rows :  7
    Row length :  5cm
    Row to row distance :30cm
    Plant to plant distance :10cm
    Number of replications :  3

     

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

  5. Additional tests 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 30 plants or parts of 30 plants which should be divided among 3 replications (10 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 10 in 1000 plants
      

  4. All observations on flower characteristics should be recorded on fully developed flower.
      

  5. All observations on capsule characteristics should be recorded on the fully developed capsule.

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V.   Grouping of varieties

  1. The collection of varieties 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.            Flower: size of corolla (Characteristic 1)

    ii.            Flower: shape (sun rise to noon ) (Characteristic 

    iii.            Petal : color  of corolla (Characteristic 4)

    iv.            Seed: colour (Characteristic 15 )

    v.            Commercial use (oil, fibre, dual purpose )

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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 each characteristic.
      

  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 VII.

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

  5. Type of assessment of characteristics indicated in column seven 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 observation

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VII. Table of characteristics

S.No

Characteristics

States

Note

Example varieties

Stage of observation Type of assessment

  1.

Flower : size of corolla

small
medium
large

3
5
7

T 397
R 552
Neelum

beginning of flowering

VG

2.
(*)
(+) 

Flower : shape

( Sunrise to noon ).

funnel form
star
disk form
tubular

1
2
3
4

R 552
Surabhi
Meera

beginning of flowering

VG

3.

Flower : size (Petal to petal diameter )

small (< 15 mm)
medium(15-20 mm)
large (> 20 mm)

3
5
7

 

peak flowering

MS

4.
(*)

Petal : colour of corolla

white
tinge blue
lilac
blue
light violet blue
red-violet

1
2
3
4
5
6

J 23
Rashmi
Neelum
T 397
Shekhar
Gaurav

peak flowering

VG

5.
(*)
(+)

Petal : aestivation
(arrangement of petals)

twisted
semi-twisted
valvate

1
2
3

Shekhar
Rashmi
Surabhi

peak flowering

VG

6.
(*)

Petel : venation colour (fully developed flower)

colourless
light-violet
violet
blue

1
2
3
4

Surabhi
Sheela Jeevan
Padamini

peak flowering

VG

7.
(*)

Stamen : filament colour (immediately after flower opening )

colourless
violet
blue

1
2
3

Gaurav
NR
Kiran

peak flowering

VS

8.
(*)

Anther: colour  (immediately after flower opening )

cream
grey
violet
blue

1
2
3
4

Himalini
Laxmi 27
NL 97
Rashmi

peak flowering

 

VS

9.
(*)
(+)

Plant : growth habit

 

erect(top branching)
semi-erect(lateral branching)
bushy(bushy branching)  

3
5

7

Gaurav
Shubhra

 Surabhi

peak flowering

VG

10.
(*)

Plant : natural height including branches

short(<51cm)
medium(51-70cm)
long(>70cm)

3
5
7

JLS 9
J 23
Meera

harvest maturity

MS

11. i. 
 (*)

Oil purpose varieties only stem : length (excluding very short branches)

short
medium
long

3
5
7

T 397
Garima
Neelum

harvest maturity

VS

      ii.
    (*)

Dual purpose varieties only Stem: length (ground level to Ist node of secondary branches)

short (<60 cm)
medium (61-65 cm)
long (>65 cm)

3
5
7

Gaurav
Rashmi
Nagarkot

completion of flowering

MS

12.
(*)

Capsule: size of fully developed capsule(diameter)

small (<7.5mm)
medium(7.5-8.5mm)
bold(>8.5mm)

3
5
7

T 397
Garima
Laxmi 27

harvest maturity

MS

13.
(*)
(+)

Capsule : dehiscence

dehiscent
semi-  dehiscent
non - dehiscent

1
2
3

 
Laxmi 27
T 397

harvest maturity

VS

14.
(*)
(+)

Capsule :shape of tip

pointed
blunt

1
2

NR
NR

harvest maturity

VG

   15.
    (*)

Seed : colour

fawn
yellow
light brown
brown
dark brown

1
2
3
4
5

Gaurav
Surabhi
Sweta
Neelum
Laxmi 27

harvest maturity

VG

16.

Seed : size (length of seed)

small (< 4 mm)
medium (4-5 mm)
large (>5 mm)

 3
5
7

 

harvest maturity

MS

17.

Seed : weight (1000 seeds)

low  (< 6 g)
medium (6-8 g)
high (>8 g)

 3
5
7

 

harvest maturity

MG
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VII. Explanations on the table of characteristics

Characteristic 2. Flower : shape (sunrise to noon )

1
funnel form		 2
star

3
disk form

 4
  tubular

 

Characteristic 5. Petal : aestivation (arrangement of petals)

  1
twisted

2
semi-twisted

3
valvate

 

Characteristic 9. Plant : growth habit

3
erect (top branching)		 5
semi-erect (lateral branchng)		 7
bushy (bushy branching)

 

Characteristic 13. Capsule : dehiscence

1
dehiscent		 2
semi-dehiscent		 3
non-dehiscent

 

Characteristic 14. Capsule : shape of tip

1
pointed		 2
blunt
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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.    (a) Species:                                                            
                        

 

 Linum usitatissimum L.
Linseed (Flax) 
      (b) Commercial use

i.  Oil

ii. Fibre

iii. Oil & Fibre
2.      Applicant (Name and address) :  

 

 

 
3.  Proposed denomination or breeder's reference

  

 

  

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

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
(1)

 Flower : size of corolla

small
medium
large

T 397
R 552
Neelum

3 [   ]
5 [   ]
7 [   ]

5.2
(2)

 Flower : shape (sunrise to noon )

funnel form
star
disk form
tubular

R 552
Surabhi
Meera

1 [   ]
2 [   ]
3 [   ]
4 [   ]
5.3
(4)		 Petal : colour of corolla                   

white
tinge blue
lilac
blue
light violet blue
red violet

J 23
Rashmi
Neelum
T 397
Shekhar
Gaurav

 1 [  ]
2 [  ]
3 [  ]
4 [  ]
5 [  ]
6 [  ]
5.4.
(15)		 Seed  : colour

fawn
yellow
light brown
brown
dark brown

Gaurav
Surabhi
Sweta
Neelum
Laxmi 27

1 [   ]
2 [   ]
3 [   ]
4 [   ]
5 [   ]
5.5
 Commercial use

oil
fibre
dual purpose

        

      
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        {      }     


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

 

[End of the document]

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