ST 470 B Application for Plant Variety protection Certificate, Ex

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APPLICATION FOR PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION CERTIFICATE

EXHIBIT B – STATEMENT OF DISTINCTNESS

Based on overall morphology, _________________________ is most similar to _____________________________.

Applicant’s new variety Most similar comparison variety(ies)

_______________________ most clearly differs from _________________________________ in the following traits:

Applicant’s new variety Most similar comparison variety(ies)

Name the specific trait. Then list the value of that trait for each variety in the comparison. Submit appropriate supporting evidence (see the Guidelines for Presenting Evidence in Support of Variety Distinctness in the instructions below).

Eg. Leaf Pubescence Eg. Leaf Color Eg. Plant Height	heavy pubescence Dark Green (5GY 3/4) 200 cm +/- 10 cm (N=25)	glabrous Light Green (2.5GY 8/10) 250 cm +/- 15 cm (N=25)	photograph attached Munsell Color Chart statistics attached
1. Qualitative traits:	Applicant’s New Variety _________	1st Comparison Variety _________	Location of Evidence
2. Color traits:
3. Quantitative traits:
4. Other:

** Use additional tables to present clear differences for additional comparison varieties. Use additional pages to present supporting evidence.

Instructions for Completing Exhibit B – Statement of Distinctness

To produce a Statement of Distinctness the applicant can follow the below steps:

(1a) State the most similar previously existing variety, varieties, or identifiable group of varieties; or,

(1b) State all the previously existing varieties known for a crop. Generally, this can only be one for a newly identified crop.

(2) State the character or characters that clearly distinguish the applicant's variety from the varieties stated in step 1 (i.e., the most similar variety or varieties).

(3) State the qualities or quantities of the character(s) referenced in step 2. Note the character state must be provided for the application variety and the most similar variety or varieties. Please see Example of how to insert data.

General Requirements for a Distinguishing Character

Differences in quantitative characters such as plant size, seed size, and maturity that are not obvious and detectable without a direct comparison must be supported by evidence provided by the applicant. The evidence must be given as numerical data obtained from at least 2 trials. (Please see the Guidelines for Presenting Evidence in Support of Variety Distinctness.)

Distinction based on differences in color needs to be referenced with a standard such as the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart or the Munsell Book of Color, unless dramatic (i.e., red vs. green). Color chart measurements must be conducted in two or more localities or growing seasons.

Distinction based on differences in disease reaction needs to be supported with data or results from at least 2 trials that were conducted in two or more localities or growing seasons, unless dramatic (i.e., immune vs. highly susceptible); or the presence or absence of a gene known to elicit the reaction must be stated. When the causal agent has been demonstrated or identified, the source of the disease must be provided. Also, the disease reaction needs to be referenced to the causal agent or organism including the race, strain, or pathotype where appropriate. If the causal agent has not been demonstrated or identified, the source of the disease or inoculant must be provided.

Differences in yield cannot be used as a basis for distinction because yield is a highly complex character. Sub-characters that contribute to differences in yield can be used as a basis for distinction.

Improvements in uniformity (by reducing the standard variation) are not sufficient to assess distinction.

The PVPO will accept differences using molecular techniques (DNA fingerprinting) only if:

• The molecular marker locus is publicly disclosed and cited (cites to URLs such as Soybase or MaizeGDB are acceptable),

• the molecular marker locus is clearly identified,

• the specific differentiating data is cited,

• if photographic copies are provided, they contain sufficient resolution of scientific publishable quality gels or other molecular data with sufficient resolution and labeling to resolve the individual data in question are provided, and

• the molecular marker locus can be detected by a third party.

For example, in the case of:

SNPs - the locus is defined by the SNP sequence showing the substitution or indel

SSRs - the locus may be defined by primer pairs or sequence

AFLPs - the locus is defined by primer pairs

RAPDs - the locus is defined by primer pairs

Guidelines for Presenting Evidence in Support of Variety Distinctness

Differences in quantitative characters such as plant size, seed size, maturity and any difference not obvious must be given as numerical data obtained from similar comparisons with a statistical analysis showing the degree of significance. The comparison must be conducted in at least two locations or two growing periods.

The following information is required as part of the statistical analysis:

(1) Provide data or results from at least 2 trials for comparison of a differentiating characteristic, conducted in two or more localities or growing seasons with the results analyzed separately clearly demonstrating repeatability (do not pool your data);

(2) The location of each trial; planting, harvesting, and comparison dates for each trial; number of plants in each trial; sample size or number of plants (or plant parts) for each comparison;

(3) Mean or average value of the differentiating characteristic for each variety in the comparison.

(4) Some measure of the range of observed values for each variety in the comparison, such as the standard deviation, 95% confidence intervals, the actual range observed values from minimum to the maximum, or a histogram or box plot, which are helpful in determining the validity of any comparisons;

(5) Name of the specific statistical analysis used (e.g., T-test, specific "LSD" procedure, ANOVA, or the like);

(6) Citation of the actual statistic and the probability value (if a T-test was used, provide the actual T-value, as well as the probability value corresponding to it);

(7) Evidence that the analysis is appropriate in this case (e.g. if the distribution was not a normal distribution, that the analysis was non-parametric, e.g. Mann-Whitney U-test, or that the data were appropriately transformed), include any factors that prevented the normal distribution and/or confidence of the data.

ST 470 – B (3-15-2010) (Designed by the Plant Variety Protection Office) Page 3 of 3