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New developments in the use of DNA techniques in Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing
Roelofarendsveen, The Netherlands
December 8, 2014
During the recent meeting of the UPOV BMT (Working Group on Biochemical and Molecular Techniques, and DNA-Profiling in Particular) in Seoul Korea developments were reported that may lead to a further application of DNA techniques in the DUS testing process for Plant Breeders’ Rights.
Genetic distances
 In a presentation by the colleagues from the USA a report was given to develop a system of genetic distances of an application to a number of fixed standards. In doing this the so far always relative genetic distances between varieties become fixed. This could eventually lead to specific characteristics. This would mean that they can become part of the variety descriptions.
More discussion is needed to see if eventually this may lead to an acceptable new approach for DUS testing.
Growing seasons
Korean experts presented an alternative of the actual system of DUS testing based on two years trials with comparing varieties that are chosen from the variety collection on the basis of the information in the Technical Questionnaire. In the Korean proposal in the first growing season the application is grown together with comparing varieties that are selected on the basis of molecular fingerprinting. In that first year the application is described and compared with the molecularly selected comparing varieties. If the application is morphologically clearly distinct from those comparing varieties, the morphological description that was made is used to look for possible other morphologically very close varieties. If these are found, they are used in the second growing cycle for comparison.
If this indeed could be introduced, it would mean a shift to a more molecular approach. It would be beneficiary for the applicants because the testing costs in the first growing cycle would be decreasing. Another possible advantage could be in the lower cost of reference collections as the DNA databases that would be needed for this approach could be shared between member states more easily than the physical reference collections.
Link to UPOV's DUS test guidelines
More solutions from:
. Naktuinbouw
. UPOV (International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants)
Website: http://www.naktuinbouw.nl Published: December 8, 2014 |
Species
