Selection of Example Varieties Used in the DUS Test Guideline of Tagetes L.

[Objective] Taking the characteristic of flower diameter of Tagetes L.as an example,this study aimed to select example varieties used in the DUS Test Guideline of Tagetes L.[Method] Two continuous years of measurements of flower diameter of 25 varieties were collected and then analyzed by using the box plot to illustrate the uniformity and stability of flower diameter of each variety.[Result] According to the information of variability,distribution symmetry of measurements and outliers of flower diameter of varieties provided by box plots,variety 16,2 and 4 were selected as the example varieties for the three expression states with respective flower diameter of 3.0-4.4,6.0-7.4 and 9.0-10.4 cm.[Conclusion] The box plot is an efficient method for the general analysis of varieties,which provides information covering the actual and possible expression range,median and outliers of measurements of flower diameter of each variety.It also provides references for selecting example varieties for other quantitative characteristics and evaluating the quality of varieties.

Application of Statistic Analysis on the Selection of Quantitative Characteristics Listed in the DUS Test Guideline of Tagetes L.

[Objective] This paper researched how to use specific approach to select quantitative characteristics which would be listed in the DUS Test Guideline of Tagetes L. [Method] With the aid of statistic analysis, the uniformity, stability and correlation of 14 pre-selected characteristics were analyzed. [Result] The expression of peduncle length of terminal flower had low uniformity within a variety; the expres- sion of main stem thickness was not stable in continuous growing cycles; there were four pairs of quantitative characteristics which are （very） significantly correlated, namely, leaf length and leaf width, diameter of flower head and length of outer ligu- late floret, number of ligulate floret whorls and number of ligulate floret, leaf width and width of terminal leaflet of pinnate leaves. Based on the requirements of char- acteristic selection and the results of statistic analysis, five characteristics including peduncle length of terminal flower, thickness of the main stem, leaf width, length of outer ligulate floret and number of ligulate floret were deleted. [Conclusion] For the first time, this paper introduced the application of statistic analysis on the selection of quantitative characteristics.

Analysis on the Functions and Properties of the Preliminarily Determined Characteristics Listed in DUS Test Guideline of Tagetes L.

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the functions and properties of the preliminarily determined characteristics listed in DUS test guideline of Tagetes L., and explore the representativeness and comprehensiveness of this group of characteristics in DUS test. [Method] Based on the functions and properties of the characteristics, the described plant part （s）, observation stage, expression pattern and observation method of each characteristic were analyzed to illustrate the representativeness and comprehensiveness of the combination of this group of characteristics in above functions and properties. [Result] As for described plant part（s）, there are 5 characteristics describing plant as a whole, 3 characteristics describing stem, 6 characteristics describing leaf, 23 characteristics describing flower and 1 characteristic describing physiological feature. As for observation stage, there are 1 characteristic needing to be observed in the stage of seedling, 1 characteristic in the stage of beginning of flowering and other 36 characteristics in the stage of fully flowering. As for the expression pattern, there are 10 qualitative characteristics, 9 pseudo-qualitative characteristics and 19 quantitative characteristics. As for the observation method, there are 30 characteristics using VG as the observation method, and 8 characteristics using MS. [Conclusion] In view of the variation and morphological properties of marigold, this group of characteristics are representative and comprehensive, and ensure the accuracy and easiness of DUS test of Tagetes L., thereby achieving the reasonable combination of characteristics in described plant parts, observation stages, expression patterns and observation methods.

Application of Filming Technique in the DUS Test for PVP Information

As the great progress has appeared in the field of protection of new varieties of plants, the standardization of the DUS （Distinctness, Uniformity, Stability） test procedure has become more important. However, the specification of filming technique plays an important role in the DUS test of new varieties of plants. In this paper, we analyzed the status quo and significance of the application of filming technique in the PVP （Plant Variety Protection） system, and provided an introduction about the application of filming technique in DUS test in China.

Comparison of DUS testing and SNP fingerprinting for variety identification in cucumber

Variety identification plays an important role in protecting the intellectual property of varieties,ensuring seed quality,and encouraging breeding innovation.Currently,morphological evaluation in the field,such as distinctness,uniformity,and stability(DUS)testing,and DNA fingerprinting in the laboratory using molecular markers are two dominant methods used for variety identification.Few studies have compared the results of these approaches,and the relationship between the two methods is obscure.In this study,134 dominant cucumber varieties were evaluated using 50 DUS testing traits and genotyped by 40 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs).The 40 SNPs were developed in our previous study and arewell suited for variety identification.In the DUS testing,significant positive or negative correlations among 50 DUS traits were observed,and 20 core traits,including 15 fruit traits,were further selected to increase field inspection efficiency.This suggested that fruit shape plays an important role in variety identification.The ratio of fruit length/diameter was themost important trait,explaining 9.2%of the phenotypic variation.In the DNA fingerprinting test,the 40 SNPs were highly polymorphic and could distinguish all of the 134 cucumber varieties,and 14 core SNPs were selected to improve the identification rate.Interestingly,the population structure analysis of 134 cucumber varieties by phenotypic data in the DUS test was in accordance with the genotypic data from the DNA fingerprinting,indicating that all varieties could be divided into the same four subgroups:European type,North China type,South China type,and hybrids of the North China and South China types.Moreover,linear correlativity of distinguishment for each pair of varieties was observed between the DUS test and the DNA fingerprinting.These results indicated that these two methods have good application in future research,especially for the scaled-up analysis of hundreds of varieties.

Plant Variety Protection and DUS Testing Technique

DUS testing technique used for plant variety protection was reviewed in the paper, and some suggestions were made on how to establish the appropriate technology system in China. Meanwhile, the potential exploitation of the technique was discussed.

Statistic Analysis on Quantitative Characteristics for Developing the DUS Test Guideline of Ranunculus asiaticus L.

Selection of quantitative characteristics, division of their expression ranges, and selection of example varieties are key issues on developing DUS Test Guidelines, which are more crucial for quantitative characteristics since their expressions vary in different degrees. Taking the development of DUS Test Guideline of Ranunculus asiaticus L. as an example, this paper applied statistic-based approaches for the analyses of quantitative characteristics. We selected 9 quantitative characteristics from 18 pre-selected characteristics, based on within-variety uniformity, stability between different growing cycles, and correlation among characteristics, by the analyses of coefficient of variation, paired-samples t-test and partial correlation. The expression ranges of the 9 selected quantitative characteristics were divided into different states using descriptive statistics and distribution frequency of varieties. Eight of the 9 selected quantitative characteristics were categorized as standard characteristics as they showed one peak in distribution frequency of 120 varieties in various expressions of the characteristics, whereas, plant height can be categorized as grouping characteristic since it gave two peaks, and can group the varieties into pot and cut varieties. Finally, box-plot was applied to visually select the example varieties, and varieties 7, 12, and 28 were determined as the example varieties for plant height. The methods described in this paper are effective for the selection of quantitative characteristics, division of expression ranges, and selection of example varieties in Ranunculus asiaticus L. for DUS test, and may also be interest for other plant genera.

Advances in DUS Test Technique for Coconut

As great progress has been made in the field of protection of new plant varieties, more attention is paid to the standardization of DUS(Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability) test procedure. For further studies of tropical plants as their importance in agriculture and germplasm, protection of coconut becomes more significant and thus DUS test technique of coconut is needed. In this essay, we analyzed the status quo of the DUS test guidelines by International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants(UPOV proj.3) and national DUS test guidelines in China, and provided some suggestions or promotions for improving the guidelines of DUS test in coconut.

Minimal descriptors for tests on distinctness, uniformity and stability of sesame

To set a distinction method for sesame cultivars, 110 sesame （Sesamum indicum L.） germplasms were collected from China, Cuba, the former Soviet Union, Mozambique, Japan, and the United States. Materials were characterized for various agro-morphological traits at 3 locations in China （Wuhan, Zhumadian and Shijiazhuang） during 2005 and 2006. 34 traits were observed. Yield-related traits showed wide range of phenotypic variability. Number of nodes to the first flower, initial flowering, leaf length, leaf width, leaf length/ width ratio at initial flowering, lobe incision of basal leaf, petiole length of basal leaf, branch number, plant height, capsule length, capsule width, 1000-seed weight, seed oil content, and seed crude protein content were scored according to grades 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Stem hairiness, leaf color, flower hairiness, color on outer side of corolla, pink color on inner side of lower lip, anther filament color, and capsule hairiness ranged from few （light） to more （heavy） and were scored according to the minimal descriptors 1, 2 and 3. Number of flow-ers per leaf axil, pink color on inner side of corolla, enations on back side of a leaf, petiole color, number of carpels per capsule, plant growth type, stem branching, main stem color at maturity, capsule color at maturity, capsule dehiscence at maturity, seed shape, and seed coat texture varied little and were scored according to two grades, either 1 and 2 or 1 and 9. The 5 seed coat colors white, yellow, brown, grey and black, were scored as 1,2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively. Based on traits variability, a set of 34 minimal descriptors was suggested for characterization of sesame for distinctness, uniformity and stability （DUS）, and was recom-mended in national agriculture standard NY/T 2434-2013.