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growing trial
Comparative growing trial
The applicant and the accredited Qualified Person are responsible for all aspects of the comparative growing trial including the selection of comparator varieties for inclusion in the trial. It is absolutely essential that the most similar varieties which are common knowledge at the time of making the application be included. After an application is accepted the variety is regarded as existing and any varieties applied for later must be shown to be distinct from it.
In examining applications involving the first named variety within a species, we ask for a comparative trial in which the new variety is compared with one or more existing forms of the same species with similar characteristics to the new variety. The results of the trial are examined in the usual way to determine whether the new variety is distinct from the most similar existing form as well as being uniform and stable. In selecting the comparator(s), forms which have been in commerce or are recognised by taxonomists are of greater importance than less-known forms.
The number of plants of each variety to be included in the testing is determined by the mode of propagation. The relevant UPOV technical guideline will indicate the number of plants required and may include a recommended number of replications. If the species is one for which no guideline is available, the following is offered as a guide:
- For cloned ornamental and fruit tree varieties, each plant may be treated as a replicate. Analysis should be based on at least 5, and preferably 10, plants of each variety.
- For cloned horticultural and vegetable varieties, between 30 and 60 spaced plants of each variety, arranged in 2 or more replicates will usually be sufficient.
- In self-pollinated, seed propagated varieties, 30 spaced plants of each variety and generation, arranged in 3 replicates of 10 will usually be sufficient to demonstrate distinctness. Additional plants may be required to demonstrate uniformity.
- In partly self-pollinated, seed propagated varieties, between 30 and 60 spaced plants of each variety and generation, arranged in 2 or more replicates will usually be sufficient to demonstrate distinctness. Additional plants may be required to demonstrate uniformity.
- In open pollinated, seed-propagated varieties, 100 spaced plants of each variety and generation, divided over an appropriate number of replicates, will usually be sufficient. Additional plants may be required to demonstrate uniformity.
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