Sunflower

The Plant Variety Protection (PVP)Authority decides when, where and in what quantity and quality of the seed and 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 should be:

Variety and hybrid - 5000 grams

     In only one submission

Parental Line        - 2000 grams

The seed should meet the minimum requirements for germination capacity, moisture content and purity as prescribed for certified seed in India . The germination should be as high as possible.
The plant material must not have undergone any treatment unless the PVP Authority allows or requests 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 growing seasons with reference to the ecosystem of the variety submitted for DUS test.
The tests 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

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 up to the end of the growing period. Each test should include at least a total of 300 plants. Separate plots for observation and for measurement can only be used if they have been subject to similar environmental conditions.

Test plot design:

Number of rows	: 8
Row length	:6 m
Row to row distance	60 cm
Plant to plant distance	30 cm
Number of replications	: 2

Observations should not be recorded on plants in border rows
Additional tests for special purpose may be established

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IV. Methods and observations

The characteristics described in the Table of characteristics should be used for the testing of varieties and hybrids for DUS
All observations for the assessment of distinctness and stability should be made on at least 20 plants or parts of plants for inbreds/single cross hybrids and 50 plants for variety and multiple hybrids in 2 replications.
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 3% in case of hybrids/parental lines and 5% in the varieties.
For the assessment of colour characteristics, it is recommended that Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart should be used.
Unless otherwise indicated, all observations on the leaf should be made on fully developed leaves after bud stage but before flowering. The bud stage is reached when the diameter of the main bud is about 1 cm for branched types or 3 to 7 cm for not branched types.
All observations on the seed should be made at maturity of plants and not on seed sent in by the applicant.
When resistance characteristics are used for assessing distinctness, homogeneity and stability, records must be taken from tests made under conditions of controlled infection.
A difference in the formula of a sunflower hybrid is not enough by itself and the protection of a hybrid variety of sunflower requires that it be sufficiently different in its characteristics when compared with other varieties. If an application is filed for protection of a hybrid variety of sunflower which is based on a formula already existing, the applicant should be informed of the fact and given the possibility of withdrawing his application. If he does not withdraw his application, the authority should test the variety.

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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 do not 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 testing organisation/ centre use the following characteristics for grouping varieties :

i. Time of flowering (Characteristics 3)

ii. Leaf : fineness of serration (Characteristic 8)

iii. Plant : natural height (Characteristic 30)

iv. Plant : branching (Characteristics 31)

v. Seed : stripes (Characteristics 38)

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VI. Characteristics and symbols

To assess distinctness, uniformity and stability, the characteristics and their states as given in the Table of characteristics should be used.
In multiple hybrids characteristics sunflower segregate with the effect that several states of characters occur side by side in a variety.
Notes (1 to 9) should be given for each state of different characteristics for the purpose of electronic data processing.

Legend :

(*)	Characteristics should be used on all varieties in every growing season over which examinations are made and always be included in the variety descriptions, except when the state of expression of a preceding characteristic render this impossible.
(+)	Characteristic is illustrated by explanation or drawing in chapter VIII (Explanations on the table of characteristics)

The optimum stage of plant growth for assessment of each characteristic is indicated by a number in the sixth column
Type of assessment of characteristics indicated in column 7 of Table of characteristics is as follows

		Type of assessment
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 of individual plant or parts of plants

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VII. Table of characteristics

Sl.No.	Characteristics	States	Note	Example Varieties	Stage of observa-tion	Type of assess-ment
1.	Hypocotyl : anthocyanin coloration	absent medium strong	1 5 9		Seedling emergence	VG
2.	Leaf : anthocyanin coloration on margin of young leaves	absent present	1 9		Before flowering	VG
3. (*) (+)	Plant : time of flowering	early(<55 days) medium (55-75 days) late (>75 days)	3 5 7	Morden
4. (*)	Leaf : size	very small small medium large very large	1 3 5 7 9	RHA 274 234A, PKVSF27 Surya	Flowering	VG
5. (+)	Leaf : shape	oblong lanceolate triangular cordate rounded ovate	1 2 3 4 5 6	RHA 274 AK 1R 7-1A, PKVSH27 234A	Flowering	VG
6. (*)	Leaf : colour	light green medium green dark green	3 5 7	234A, LSH3 KBSH1, PKVSH2, NDSH15 7-1A	flowering	VG
7. (*)	Leaf : blistering	absent medium strong	1 5 9	234A	Flowering	VG
8. (*) (+)	Leaf : fineness of serration	fine medium coarse	3 5 7	6D-1 PKVSH-27 CMS2A, CMS 234A	Flowering	VG
9. (+)	Leaf : angle of lateral veins	acute right angle or nearly right angle obtuse	1 2 3		Flowering	VG
10. (+)	Leaf : height of the tip of the blade compared to insertion of petiole (at 2/3 height of plants)	very low low medium high very high	1 3 5 7 9		flowering	VS
11. (+)	Leaf : angle between lower part of petiole and stem	small medium large	1 5 9	HA 89 HA 290	Flowering	VS
12.	Leaf : hairiness	absent sparse dense	1 5 9		Flowering	VG
13.	Leaf : petiole pigmentation	absent present	1 9	PKVSH 27	flowering	VG
14. (+)	Stem : hairiness at the top	absent medium strong	1 5 9	HA 89 HA 303	flowering	VG
15.	Stem : pigmentation	absent weak medium dense	1 3 5 7		flowering	VG
16.	Stem : number of leaves on main stem	low<21 medium 21-25 high>25	3 5 7	HA 303	flowering	MS
17.	Ray flowers : number	very few (<16) few (16-30) medium(31-40) many (41-50) very many (>50)	1 3 5 7 9		flowering	MS
18.	Ray flower : shape	elongated ovoid rounded	1 2 3	RHA 266	flowering	VG
19. (*)	Ray flower : colour	ivory pale yellow yellow orange purple red brown multi coloured	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		flowering	VG
20.	Disk flower : colour	yellow red purple	1 2 3		flowering	VG
21. (+)	Disk flower : anthocyanin colouration of stigma	absent weak medium strong	1 3 5 7		flowering	VG
22.	Disk flower : pollen colour	white yellow	1 2		flowering	VG
23.	Head : number of bracts on the back	few medium many	1 5 9		Seed setting	MS
24.	Bract : shape	elongated rounded	1 2		Seed setting	VG
25.	Bract : anthocyanin colouration	absent present	1 9		Seed setting	VG
26. (+)	Plant : natural position of closest lateral head to the central head (end of flowering) - Branched	above below	1 2		Seed setting	VG
27. (+)	Head : attitude	horizontal inclined vertical half turned down turned down	1 3 5 7 9	Morden, MSFH 17 NDSH 15 MSFH 8	harvest maturity	VG
28. (*)	Head : diameter	small (<15 cm) medium (15-20 cm) large (>20 cm)	3 5 7	RHA 274 Morden	harvest maturity	MS
29. (*) (+)	Head : shape of grain side	concave flat convex mis-shape	1 2 3 4	EC 68414 Morden, KBSH 1, MSFH 17	Harvest maturity	VG
30. (*)	Plant : height	very short (<80 cm) short (80-110 cm) medium (111-140 cm) tall (141-170 cm) very tall (>170 cm)	1 3 5 7 9	Morden BSH 1 KBSH 1, KBSH 44 KBSH 42	Harvest maturity	MS
31. (*)	Plant : branching	absent present	1 9	Morden, KBSH 1 RHA 274	Harvest maturity	VG
32. (+)	Plant : type of branching	basal branching top branching fully branching with central head fully branched without central head	1 2 3 4	RHA 271, RHA 274	Harvest maturity	VG
33. (*)	Seed : length	Short (<1 cm) Medium (1-1.5 cm) Long (>1.5 cm)	3 5 7	234 A, KBSH 1	After harvest	MS
34. (+)	Seed : shape	elongate ovoid elongate ovoid wide rounded	1 2 3 4	RHA 274 CO 4 Morden	After harvest	VG
35.	Seed : weight (100 seeds)	low (<4 g) medium (4-6 g) high (>6 g)	3 5 7	RHA 274 KBSH 1 Surya	After harvest	MS
36. (*)	Seed : base colour	white grey brown black	1 2 3 4	6D 1 MSFH 17 Morden, KBSH 1, BSH 1, CO 2	After harvest	VG
37.	Seed : mottling	absent present	1 9		After harvest	VG
38. (*) (+)	Seed : stripes	absent present	1 9	RHA 274 Surya, MSFH 17	After harvest	VG
39.	Seed : colour of stripes	white grey violet grey brown	1 2 3 4	Surya	After harvest	VG
40.	Hull : percent (100 seeds)	low (<25%) medium (25-30%) high (>30%)	3 5 7	6D 1, TCSH 1 KBSH 1	After harvest	MS

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VIII. Explanations on the table of characteristics

Characteristic 3. Time of flowering

The time of flowering is reached when 50% of the plants are in flower. A plant is considered in flower when it shows at least one ray flower erected and opened.

Characteristic 5. Leaf : shap


1 oblong	2 lanceolate	3 triangular	4 cordate	5 rounded	6 ovate

Characteristic 8. Leaf : fineness of serration


	3 fine	5 medium	7 coarse

Characteristic 9. Leaf : angle of lateral veins


1 acute	2 right angle or nearly right angle	3 obtuse

Characteristic 10. Leaf : height of the tip of the blade compared to insertion of petiole (at 2/3 height of plants)


1 very low	2 low	3 medium	4 high	5 very high

Characteristic 11. Leaf : angle between lower part of petiole and stem

Characteristic 14. Stem : hairiness at the top (hairiness should be recorded 5 cm below the head, just before flowering


	1 absent		2 medium	3 strong

Characteristic 21. Disk flower: anthocyanin colouration of stigma

Characteristic 26. Plant : natural position of the closest lateral head to the central head (at end of flowering) - Branched


	1 above		2 below

Characteristic 27. Head : attitude


1 horizontal	2 inclined	3 vertical	4 half turned down	5 turned down

Characteristic 29. Head : shape of grain side


1 concave	2 flat		3 convex		4 mis-shapen

Characteristic 32. Plant : type of branching (at maturity)


1 basal branching	2 top branching		3 fully branched with central head		4 fully branched without central head

Characteristic 34. Seed : shape


1 elongate	2 ovoid elongate		3 ovoid wide		4 rounded

Characteristic 38. Seed : stripes


	1 absent	2 present

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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: Helianthus annuus L.
Sunflower

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) inbred line	( )
(ii) single cross hybrid	( )
(iii) three-way cross hybrid	( )
(iv) double cross hybrid	( )
(v) open-pollinated variety	( )
(vi) 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

i	Oil and cake
ii	Birds and direct human consumption
iii	Ornamental
iv	Other use (specify)

4.5 Other Information

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)

Time of flowering (quote mean date of flowering of variety as well as of two well-known comparable varieties)

Early
Medium
Late

Morden

3 [ ]
5 [ ]
7 [ ]

5.2
(8)

Leaf : fineness of serration

Fine
Medium
Coarse

6D 1
PKVSH 27
CMS 2A, CMS 234A

3 [ ]
5 [ ]
7 [ ]

5.3
(30)

Plant : height (quote height of variety as well as of two well-known comparable varieties)

Very short (<81 cm)
Short (81-110 cm)
Medium (111-140 cm)
Tall (141-170 cm)
Very tall (>170 cm)

Morden
BSH 1
KBSH 1,KBSH 44
KBSH 42

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

5.4.
(3.1)

Plant: branching

Absent
Present

Morden, KBSH 1
RHA 274

1 [ ]
9 [ ]

5.5
(38)

Seed: stripes

Absent
Present

RHA 274
MSFH 17

1 [ ]
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 (specific biotype, if any)

i. Downy mildew

ii. Rust

iii. Alternaria blight

IV. Other pests and diseases (specify)

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

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Variety and hybrid - 5000 grams
		In only one submission
Parental Line - 2000 grams