The germination capacity of an identity sample for the purpose of DUS testing must be as such that, when sowing a small surplus of seed, sufficient vital plants will emerge to meet the requirements of national protocols, CPVO protocols and UPOV guidelines.
In case of parent lines, a lower germination can be allowed. If less than 70% is expected, it can be decided to sow a small amount of seeds extra.
At the time of receipt identity material must be:
In general, the seed must not have been subjected to any chemical or other treatment, unless this is specifically permitted or required. Treatments can mask the characteristics of the seed, can influence the germination and therefore subsequently the crop development. But, they can also influence the storability of the seed and (a part of) the DUS testing, as in the case of resistance tests.
Examples of seed treatments that are not permitted:
Identity samples that do not meet the requirements will not be accepted.
An overview of permitted and not permitted seed disinfections and seed treatments by Variety Testing can be found below:
At the time of receipt identity material must be vital, free of diseases or pests, in good condition, and suitable for testing and storage. The identity material may not have been subjected to any chemical or other treatment, including growth regulators.
As part of the test, crops in which viral diseases occur can be routinely tested prior to testing. Specific requirements of delivering identity material apply for each crop. These requirements can be found on the website of the CPVO. Identity material that is not virus free or has had an undesired treatment may result in a rejection of the application.
Crops that are susceptible to quarantine diseases, the applicant must deliver material of which it can be shown that it is free of quarantine diseases (for example through a PD declaration). In case of agricultural crops, the determination can be shown through a plant passport.
Identity samples that do not meet the requirements will not be accepted. Each crop can be subjected to certain additional conditions depending on the overview.
In addition to the general conditions on health of plants as stated above, certain special demands relating to virus diseases apply to potatoes. If virus diseases lead to clear symptoms in the plants to be tested, the presence of the virus can have negative consequences for identity determination. A too high number of plants infected with a virus will lead to the rejection of the application.
All submitted samples must be free of brown rot, ring rot and other quarantine diseases (Potato spindle tuber viroid, South American viruses and non-European strains of indigenous viruses). The identity material to be submitted must therefore be accompanied by a phytosanitary declaration (NAK certificate or plant passport) stating that the material is free of quarantine diseases.
Material that is not accompanied by a NAK certificate or plant passport will not be accepted and the application will be considered to have been withdrawn.