ST-470-20a Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd - Exhibit C

REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number and date on all reproductions.

Form Approved OMB NO 0581-0055

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The
valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0055. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 2 hours per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status,
parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program (Not all prohibited bases apply
to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600
(voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is
an equal opportunity provider and employer..

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION OFFICE
BELTSVILLE, MD 20705

Exhibit C

OBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION OF VARIETY
Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd (Cucurbita pepo L.)
NAME OF APPLICANT (S)

TEMPORARY OR EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNATION

VARIETY NAME

ADDRESS (Street and No. or RD No., City, State, Zip Code and Country)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
PVPO NUMBER

PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY:
In the spaces on the left, enter the appropriate numbers that describe the characteristics of the application variety. On the right, enter the appropriate numbers
that describe the characteristics of the most similar comparison variety. Right justify whole numbers by adding leading zeros if necessary. The variety that you
choose for comparison should be the most similar one in terms of overall morphology, background and maturity. Please follow the guidelines on page 1 for
conducting the trials. The comparison variety should be grown in field trials with the application variety for two independent growing cycles, at one or more
localities, in the region and season of best adaptability. In general, measurements of quantitative traits should be taken on at least 24 randomly selected plants or
plant parts to obtain averages and statistics that describe a typical field of the variety. (Form technical content last updated March 2007.)
General Descriptors:

Comparison Variety Name __________________________

___

01. Fruit Shape/ Variety Group (Figure 1; also see instruction 5b above):
1 = Acorn
2 = Cocozelle
3 = Crookneck
4 = Pumpkin
5 = Scallop
6 = Straightneck
7 = Vegetable marrow
8 = Zucchini
9 = None of the above, specify shape: ___________________
(e.g. pyriform, bottle, hourglass, fusiform, etc.)
10 = Gourd, specify shape: _____________________
(e.g. spherical, oblate, egg, pear, spoon, crown-of-thorns, star, winged, etc.)

___

01. Fruit Shape/ Variety Group

___

02. Expected primary usage:
1 = Culinary
2 = Ornamental

___

02. Expected primary usage

03. What parts of the plant provide expected primary usage (above):
1= Mature fruit
2 = Immature fruit 3 = Flowers
4 = Vegetation
5 = Seeds

___

03. Part of plant for #02 above

04. Cotyledons measured between full expansion of first and second true leaves:

04. Cotyledons:

__ . __ __

04a. Length to width ratio (example: 0.00)

__ . __ __

____

04b. Apex

1 = Notched

2 = Not notched

___

04b. Apex

____

04c. Veining

1 = Obscure

2 = Obvious

____

04c. Veining

___

3 = Both

Application Variety

ST-470-20a (2008) designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office

04a. Length to Width ratio

Comparison Variety

Page 1 of 12

Exhibit C (Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd (Cucurbita pepo))

Application Variety
Main Stem:

_____

Comparison Variety
Main Stem:

05. Main stem green color, when plants have 20 true leaves on the main stem:

05. Main Stem Color:

___

05a. Main color:
1 = Light (Cocozelle, Black Beauty, Ma’yan, Vegetable Spaghetti)
2 = Dark near base only (Early Prolific Straightneck)
3 = Dark spots at nodes (Sihi Lavan)
4 = Dark for nearly the entire length (Fordhook Zucchini,
Jack O’Lantern, Howden)

___

05a. Main color

___

05b. White marks at nodes:
1 = Absent
2 = Present

___

05b. White marks at nodes

___

05c. Yellow marks (associated with precocious yellow gene complex)
at nodes:
1 = Absent
2 = Present

___

05c. Yellow marks at nodes

___

06. Growth habit

___

07. Tendrils

06. Growth habit when plants have 20 true leaves on the main stem:
Bush
1 = True-bush (Fordhook Zucchini, Cocozelle, Ronde de Nice, Benning's Green Tint)
2 = Semi-bush (Taybelle, Table Ace, Jackpot)
Vine
3 = Moderate vine (Small Sugar, Spookie, Magic Lantern, Table Queen)
4 = Rampant vine (Howden, Connecticut Field)

____

07. Tendrils when plants have 20 true leaves on the main stem:
1 = Absent or rudimentary
2 = Present and elongated
th

08. Main stem internode dimensions when observed after the 20 internode
has developed:

08. Internode dimensions

____

08a. Length
th
th
1 = Internode length constant from 5 to 15 internode
th
th
2 = Internode length increases from 5 to 15 internode

___

08a. Length

____

08b. Width
th
th
3 = Internode width constant from 5 to 15 internode
th
th
4 = Internode width decreases from 5 to 15 internode

___

08b. Width

Petioles:

Petioles:
th

09. Petioles derived from main stem when observed after the 20 node
has developed:
th

__ . __ __ 09a. L:W ratio of 10 petiole

th

__ . __ __ 09b. L:W ratio of 15 petiole

__ . __ __ 09a. Length to medial width ratio of 10 petiole (example: 0.00)
__ . __ __ 09b. Length to medial width ratio of 15 petiole (example: 0.00)
th

____

10. Petiole spininess (prickles) when observed after the 20 internode
has developed:
0 = Smooth (Spineless Beauty)
1 = Slightly spiny (Goldy, Fordhook Zucchini)
2 = Moderately spiny (Cocozelle) 3 = Noticeably spiny (Early Prolific Straightneck)
4 = Very spiny (Clarita)
5 = Extremely spiny

____

11. Petiole angle of 6 through 15 petioles on main stem (between ground
th
and petiole) after the 20 internode has developed, measured when the
main stem is at a 90-degree angle with the ground:
1 = Horizontal (Caserta, less than 10 degrees)
2 = Nearly horizontal (Goldy, Fordhook Zucchini, 10 to 30 degrees)
3 = Intermediate (30 to 45 degrees)
4 = Vertical or nearly vertical (45 degrees or greater)

th

09. Petiole measurements:

th

Application Variety

ST-470-20a (2008) designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office

th

th

___

10. Petiole spininess

___

11. Petiole Angle

Comparison Variety

Page 2 of 12

Exhibit C (Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd (Cucurbita pepo))

Application Variety

Comparison Variety

Laminae:
____

Laminae:
th

th

12. Lobing of 10 and 15 laminae on main stem (Figure 2):
0 = Not lobed
1 = Shallowly lobed
2 = Medium lobed
3 = Deeply lobed 4 = Very deeply lobed
th

13. Dimensions of leaf laminae after the 20 internode has developed (length
measured from the point of petiole attachment to the apex of the lamina;
maximal width measured at 90-degree angle to the length of the lamina):

13. Leaf laminae dimensions:

__ . __ __ 13a. L:W ratio of 10 true leaf

__ . __ __ 13b. Length to maximal width ratio of 15 true leaf (example: 0.00)

th

__ . __ __ 13b. L:W ratio of 15 true leaf

14. Silver blotching or mottling (genetic, not leaf-silvering disorder) of adaxial
th
surface of laminae after the 20 internode has developed:
1 = Silver blotching completely absent over time (Costata Romanesca, Early Prolific
Straightneck)
2 = Silver blotching present early in development, then disappearing
3 = Silver blotching over a small amount of the surface
4 = Silver blotching over a moderate amount of the surface
5 = Silver blotching over much of the surface (Caserta)

___

Flowers:
___

12. Lobing

th

__ . __ __ 13a. Length to maximal width ratio of 10 true leaf (example: 0.00)

____

___

th

th

14. Silver blotching

Flowers:
15. Number of flowers per node:
1 = Averaging clearly less than one
2 = One (almost always) (Fordhook Zucchini, Cocozelle)
3 = Often more than one
4 = Consistently more than one (Yellow Summer Crookneck)

___

16. Staminate flower on day of anthesis on main stem between nodes
11 and 20 (Figure 3):

16. Staminate flower measurements:

__ __ __ mm 16a. Length from base of calyx to tip of corolla

__ __ __ mm 16a. Length of petal

__ __ __ mm 16b. Exterior width at top of calyx cup

__ __ __ mm 16b. Width of petal

__ __ __ mm 16c. Pedicel length

__ __ __ mm 16c. Pedicel length

__ __ __ mm 16d. Length of anther column

__ __ __ mm 16d. Length of anther column

___

17. Dominant color of corolla of staminate flower, on day of anthesis:
1 = Orange-yellow
2 = Light yellow
3 = Nearly white

___

17. Dominant staminate flower color

___

18. Ring at base of interior of staminate corolla:
1 = Absent
2 = Yellow
3 = Green and yellow
4 = Light green
5 = Dark green

___

18. Ring at base of staminate corolla

___

19. Ring at base of interior of pistillate corolla:
1 = Absent
2 = Yellow
3 = Green and yellow
4 = Light green
5 = Dark green

___

19. Ring at base of pistillate corolla

20. Pistillate flower on day of anthesis:

20. Pistillate flower measurements:

__ __ __ mm 20a. Length from base of calyx to tip of corolla

__ __ __ mm 20a. Length of petal

__ __ __ mm 20b. Pedicel length

__ __ __ mm 20b. Pedicel length

21. Ovary color on day prior to anthesis:
1 = Green (Black Beauty, Fordhook Zucchini, Cocozelle, Clarita)
2 = Green turning yellow (Yellow Summer Crookneck)
3 = Yellow (Goldy, Gold Rush, Multipik)
4 = Bicolor green and yellow (Zephyr, Flying Saucer)

___

___

Application Variety

ST-470-20a (2008) designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office

15. Number of flowers per node

21. Ovary color

Comparison Variety

Page 3 of 12

Exhibit C (Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd (Cucurbita pepo))

Application Variety

Comparison Variety

Immature Fruit:

Immature Fruit:

22. Immature fruit size (3–5 days past anthesis) (Figure 4):

22. Immature fruit size

__ . __ __ 22a. Length (through the axis) to medial width ratio (example: 0.00)

__ . __ __ 22a. L:W ratio (to medial width)

__ . __ __ 22b. Length (through the axis) to maximal width ratio (example: 0.00)

__ . __ __ 22b. L:W ratio (to maximal width)

23. Immature fruit color (3–5 days past anthesis):

23. Immature fruit color

___

23a. Main color:
1 = Intense green (Fordhook Zucchini, Black Beauty, Jack O’Lantern,
Senator, Spineless Beauty, Raven)
2 = Light green (Arlika, Clarita, Small Sugar, Ronde de Nice)
3 = Intense yellow (Goldy, Gold Rush, Golden Rod)
4 = Light yellow (Early Prolific Straightneck, Yellow Summer Crookneck,
Multipik, Dixie, Gentry)
5 = Intense bicolor (Sunburst, Nova)
6 = Light bicolor
7 = Striped green (Cocozelle, Costata Romanesca, Caserta)
8 = Striped yellow
9 = Striped bicolor, or quadricolor (Zephyr, Flying Saucer)

___

23a. Main color

___

23b. If striped, the darker stripes are:
1 = Broad and contiguous (Cocozelle, Costata Romanesca)
2 = Narrow and not contiguous (Caserta, Verte d’Italie)

___

23b. Description of darker stripes

____

24. Immature fruit flecks:
1 = Small (Nero di Milano, Raven, Magic Lantern)
2 = Medium (Fordhook Zucchini, Nano Verde di Milano)
3 = Large (Ortolano di Faenza, Striato Pugliese, Costata Romanesca,
Grey Zucchini OP, Clarita, Spineless Beauty, Howden, Ronde de Nice)

___

24. Immature fruit flecks

____

25. Immature fruit warting:
1 = Absent (Cocozelle, Fordhook Zucchini, Ronde de Nice, Gentry)
2 = Present (Early Prolific Straightneck, Yellow Summer Crookneck,
Early Summer Crookneck)

___

25. Immature fruit warting

Mature Fruit:

Mature Fruit:

____

___

26. Mature fruit surface topography (fill in the blank with the
most appropriate choice) (Figure 5):
Ribbing present (swelling above vascular tracts):
1 = Prominent and along entire length (Costata Romanesca)
2 = Slight, more prominent near peduncle (Fordhook Zucchini)
3 = Slight, near peduncle (Grey Zucchini OP, Small Green Algerian)
Furrowing (angularly depressed above vascular tracts) and/or ridging (angularly raised
between vascular tracts)
4 = Prominent, along nearly entire length (Taybelle, Mammoth Table Queen)
5 = Moderate (Sweet Dumpling)
Scalloping (roundly lobed between vascular tracts):
6 = Prominent, at equatorial region (Benning's Green Tint)
7 = Not so prominent, at equatorial region (Scallopini)
8 = Prominent, at peduncular region (Sunny Delight)
9 = Not so prominent, at peduncular region
10 = Prominent, at stylar region (Sunburst)
11= Not so prominent, at stylar region
Lobing (broadly and roundly protruding between the vascular tracts and
shallowly depressed along the vascular tracts, along nearly the entire
length of the fruit)
12 = Prominent (Jack-Be-Little)
13 = Not so prominent
Grooving (very narrow, shallow depressions along vascular tracts and
midway in-between)
14 = Distinct (Howden)
15 = Not so distinct (Winter Luxury)
Wrinkling (irregular surface)
16 = Distinct
17 = Indistinct
18 = Completely smooth

Application Variety
ST-470-20a (2008) designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office

26. Mature fruit topography

Comparison Variety
Page 4 of 12

Exhibit C (Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd (Cucurbita pepo))

Application Variety

Comparison Variety

Mature Fruit (continued):

Mature Fruit (continued):

27. Mature fruit dimensions (at least 40 days past anthesis) (Figure 4):

27. Mature fruit dimensions:

__ . __ __ 27a. Length (through the axis) to medial width ratio (Example: 0.00)

__ . __ __ 27a L:W ratio (to medial width)

__ . __ __ 27b. Length (through the axis) to maximal width ratio (Example: 0.00)

__ . __ __ 27b. L:W ratio (to maximal width)

___

28. Mature fruit warting:
1 = Absent (Cocozelle, Fordhook Zucchini, Ronde de Nice)
2 = Sparse, small (Gentry)
3 = Sparse, large (White Bush Scallop)
4 = Many, small
5 = Many, large (Orange Warted, Yellow Summer Crookneck)

___

28. Mature fruit warting

___

29. Mature fruit rind:
1 = Lignified (when cutting mature fruit, little cracks form)
2 = Not lignified (when cutting mature fruit, they slice smoothly and easily)

___

29. Mature fruit rind lignified

___

30. Mature fruit stylar scar:
1 = Protruding
2 = Flat

___

30. Mature fruit stylar scar

3 = Depressed

___

31. Mature fruit stylar end:
1 = Depressed (Howden)
2 = Nearly Flat (Fordhook Zucchini, True French)
3 = Convex (Yellow Summer Crookneck)

___

31. Mature fruit stylar end

___

32. Mature fruit peduncle end:
1 = Depressed
2 = Nearly flat

___

32. Mature fruit peduncle end

___

3 = Convex

33. Mature fruit peduncle (Figure 6):

33. Mature fruit peduncle dimensions:

__ . __ __ 33a. Length (through the axis) to medial width ratio (Example: 0.00)

__ . __ __ 33a. L:W ratio (to medial width)

__ . __ __ 33b. Length (through the axis) to maximal width (near fruit attachment) ratio
(Example: 0.00)

__ . __ __ 33b. L:W ratio (to maximal width)

34. Mature fruit surface:
1 = Netted (Winter Luxury)

___

34. Mature fruit surface

___

35a Main fruit exterior color

2 = Cracked (Golden Zucchini)

3 = Neither

35. Mature fruit exterior color:
___
35a. Main color:
1 = Light green
2 = Dark green (Table Queen)
3 = Black green (Fordhook Zucchini, Taybelle)
4 = Grey green
5 = Grey
6 = Light orange
7 = Pale orange
8 = Medium orange (Winter Luxury, Grey Zucchini OP)
9 = Intense orange (Jack O’Lantern, Howden)
10 = Yellow orange
11 = Light yellow orange
12 = Light yellow (Vegetable Spaghetti)
13 = Intense yellow (Early Prolific Straightneck)
14 = Nearly white (White Bush Scallop)
Complex colors (give combination of choice above with color covering most of the
fruit surface first)

___, ___ 35b. Striped pattern
___, ___ 35c. Bicolor pattern
___, ___, ___, ___ 35d. Quadricolor pattern

___, ___ 35b. Striped (Cocozelle 1, 8; Delicata 11, 2)
___

36. Mature fruit flesh color

___

37. Mature fruit placenta color

___, ___ 35c. Bicolor (Sunburst 10, 1)
___, ___, ___, ___ 35d. Quadricolor (Carnival 2, 4, 6, 11)
___

36. Mature fruit mesocarp (flesh) color:
1 = Intense Orange (Winter Luxury)
2 = Light Orange (Connecticut Field, Fordhook Zucchini)
3 = Intense Yellow (Mongogo)
4 = Light Yellow (Early Prolific Straightneck)
5 = White (White Bush Scallop)
6 = White tinged green

___
37. Mature fruit endocarp (placenta) color:
1 = Orange
2 = Yellow
3 = White
Application Variety
ST-470-20a (2008) designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office

Comparison Variety
Page 5 of 12

Exhibit C (Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd (Cucurbita pepo))

Application Variety

Comparison Variety

Seed:

Seed:

___

____

____

38. Seed cavity:

38. Seed cavity measurements:

__ . __ __ 38a. Length (through the axis) to medial width ratio (Example: 0.00)

__ . __ __ 38a. L:W ratio (to medial width)

__ . __ __ 38b. Length (through the axis) to maximal width ratio (Example: 0.00)

__ . __ __ 38b. L:W ratio (to maximal width)

39. Seed hull (from mature fruit harvested on candidate variety):
1 = Absent
2 = Present but rudimentary 3 = Present with normal appearance

___

40. Seed dimensions (average for 12 mature seeds from open-pollinated fruit
harvested on candidate variety):

40. Seed measurements

__ . __ __ 40a. Length to width ratio (Example: 0.00)

__ . __ __ 40a. L:W ratio

__ . __ __ 40b. Length to thickness ratio (Example: 0.00)

__ . __ __ 40b. L:Thickness ratio

__ . __ __ 40c. Width to thickness ratio (Example: 0.00)

__ . __ __ 40c. W:Thickness ratio

41. Resistance to biotic or abiotic stresses:
1 = None
2 = Yes, as qualified In Exhibit B or D (specify disease resistance/tolerance):
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

___

42. Unique features that are not listed in the current 'Exhibit C' and/or are
strongly environmentally dependent or occur sporadically (i.e.: peduncle
characteristics, immature or mature fruit length or contents, width, or weight,
stylar scar size, pollen color, seed-coat characteristics, branching, etc.):
1 = None
2 = Yes, as described herein: __________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

___

39. Seed hull

41. Resistance to biotic or abiotic stresses

_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

42. Unique features not listed elsewhere in the
application

________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

43. On additional pages, attach photographs of mature fruits of both the application variety and the comparison variety, showing external
and internal coloring, with a ruler in the photograph to indicate scale.
Additional photographs of the plant, flowers, immature fruits, or other plant parts could also be helpful in providing a full description of the
variety to readers. Please provide such photographs if you believe they would be helpful.

References:
Goldman, A. 2004. The compleat squash. Artisan, New York
Missouri Botanical Garden. 2007. Plant Science. Tropical Botanical Science Database. http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/vast.html
Paris, H.S. 1986. A proposed subspecific classification for Cucurbita pepo. Phytologia 60: 133–138.
Paris, H.S. 1989. Historical records, origins, and development of the edible cultivar groups of Cucurbita pepo (Cucurbitaceae). Econ. Bot. 43: 423–443.
Paris, H.S. 1996. Summer squash: history, diversity and distribution. HortTechnology 6: 6–13.
Paris, H.S. 2000. History of the cultivar-groups of Cucurbita pepo. Hort. Rev. 25(2001): 71–170, 4 pl.
Paris, H.S. 2001. Characterization of the Cucurbita pepo collection at the Newe Ya’ar Research Center, Israel. Plant Genet. Resources Newsl. 126: Cover, 41–45.
Paris, H.S. and R.N. Brown. 2005. The genes of pumpkin and squash. HortScience 40: 1620–1630.
Paris, H.S. and H. Nerson. 2003. Seed dimensions in the subspecies and cultivar-groups of Cucurbita pepo. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 50: 615–625.
U.S.D.A. 1969. Growing pumpkins and squashes. Farmers’ Bull. No. 2086, Agricultural Research Service, Washington, DC.
ST-470-20a (2008) designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office

Page 6 of 12

Exhibit C (Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd (Cucurbita pepo))

Figure 1. Fruit shapes

ST-470-20a (2008) designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office

Page 7 of 12

Exhibit C (Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd (Cucurbita pepo))

Figure 2. Leaf lobing

ST-470-20a (2008) designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office

Page 8 of 12

Exhibit C (Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd (Cucurbita pepo))

Figure 3. Flower measurements

Figure 4. Fruit measurements

ST-470-20a (2008) designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office

Page 9 of 12

Exhibit C (Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd (Cucurbita pepo))

Figure 5. Fruit cross-sections

ST-470-20a (2008) designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office

Page 10 of 12

Exhibit C (Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd (Cucurbita pepo))

Figure 6. Peduncle measurements

ST-470-20a (2008) designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office

Page 11 of 12

Exhibit C (Pumpkin/Squash/Gourd (Cucurbita pepo))

INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION OF VARIETY
Pumpkin, Squash, Gourd (Cucurbita pepo L.)
1. Subject & Purpose of these Guidelines
These Guidelines for testing apply to all varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds for those belonging to
the species Cucurbita pepo L. Their purpose is to tabulate many characteristics in order to establish the
distinguishing phenotypic features of various cultivars of this species.
2. Material Required
a. The applicant, upon receiving a PVP application number and seed-depository letter from the PVP
Examiner, will deposit 3000 (three thousand) seeds at the institution indicated on the depository form.
b. The seed sample should meet normal commercial requirements for germination, which should be stated
by the applicant.
c. The sample must not have undergone any treatment unless the competent authorities allow or request
such treatment. If the seed sample has been treated, full details of the treatment must be given.
3. Conduct of Testing
a. The minimum duration of the test of the variety shall be two independent growing cycles and the test may
be done at one or more localities.
b. The test should be conducted under conditions ensuring satisfactory growth of the plants and normal
expression of the characteristics of the variety under examination.
c. The size of the plots must be large enough to allow the plants to realize their potential. The plots also
must be large enough to allow removal of plants or parts of plants for measurement or counting, if
necessary, without jeopardizing later observations, such as those to be made at the end of the growing
cycle. Each characteristic for testing should be based on a total of at least 24 plants (12 per growing
cycle). Separate plots for observations and for measurements can be used but only if they have been
subjected to similar growing and environmental conditions.
d. Testing for special purposes (disease resistance, vitamin content, etc.) may be established.
4. Methods and Observations
a. All observations determined by measurement or counting should be made on at least 12 plants or parts
taken from each of 12 plants.
b. For the assessment of uniformity, a population standard of 3% should be applied. Where the test is
conducted on 24 plants, the maximum number of off-types allowed would be 2.
5. Grouping of Varieties
The applicant should correctly classify the variety to species together with citation of the botanical authority
(for example: Cucurbita pepo L.). The applicant should suggest, upon submitting the variety for testing, the
market type to which the variety belongs and suggest control varieties of the same species and type.

ST-470-20a (2008) designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office

Page 12 of 12