LociScan,a tool for screening genetic marker combinations for plant variety discrimination

To reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of plant genetic marker fingerprinting for variety discrimination,it is desirable to identify the optimal marker combinations.We describe a marker combination screening model based on the genetic algorithm(GA)and implemented in a software tool,Loci Scan.Ratio-based variety discrimination power provided the largest optimization space among multiple fitness functions.Among GA parameters,an increase in population size and generation number enlarged optimization depth but also calculation workload.Exhaustive algorithm afforded the same optimization depth as GA but vastly increased calculation time.In comparison with two other software tools,Loci Scan accommodated missing data,reduced calculation time,and offered more fitness functions.In large datasets,the sample size of training data exerted the strongest influence on calculation time,whereas the marker size of training data showed no effect,and target marker number had limited effect on analysis speed.

Impact of Implementing 1991 Act of the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants in China

The Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants is abbreviated as UPOV. The Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants has 1961/1972 Act ,1978 Act and 1991 Act. China is member of UPOV and its regulations of protection of new varieties of plants conform to 1978 Act. At present, there is big debate whether China accedes to 1991 Act. This paper mainly discussed advantages and possibilities that China accedes to 1991 Act, and concluded that it is highly desirable that China should consider acceding to 1991 Act in order to contribute to development of system on protection of new varieties of plants.

Varied responses to copper for plant regeneration from calli of different rice varieties

Enrichment of copper to the culture mediumcould enhance the plant regeneration from cal-lus of indica rice variety Qiugui’ai 11. Westudied the effect of copper on plant regenera-tion of other rice varieties.Calli of 14 indica and 2 japonica varietieswere induced from disinfected mature embryoson an agar-gelled medium containing Nbasal

Preparation of the UPOV Guidelines for the Conduct of Tests for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability–Tea Plant [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze]

Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability （DUS） testing is the technical base of Plant Variety Protection （PVP） and the scientific basis for the approval of Plant Breeder＇s Rights （PBR）. DUS Test Guidelines are not only the technical manuals for the DUS testing authorities to conduct the testing, but also the technical standards for the competent authorities to examine the DUS of new varieties of plants. Tea plant, originated from Yunnan Province, China, is a very important woody cash species in the world. The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants （UPOV） DUS Test Guidelines for tea plant is the first Test Guidelines prepared by China for the UPOV. In this article, the subject, selection, and determination of characteristics, states of expression of characteristics and the selection of example varieties, assessment of the UPOV DUS Test Guidelines for tea plant were elucidated in detail. Finally, the proposal of PVP for tea plant in China was also proposed. The preparation of UPOV DUS Test Guidelines for tea plant will have important significance both for promoting the development of PVP and increasing the status of international PVP fields for China.

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.

Development Situations and Countermeasures of Gastrodia elata Industry in Zhaotong City

With the rapid development of technology,people's living standards have been greatly improved,and more and more people have started to care more about the theory and health preservation function of TCM.Gastrodia elata,as a precious Chinese herbal medicine,is harmless to human health.Due to the high economic benefits and real benefits for farmers,the G.elata industry has developed rapidly.Zhaotong is the hometown of G.elata f.glauca in China,but the current situation of the G.elata industry lags behind other producing areas.Through field survey and literature review,this paper comprehensively analyzed the development status of the G.elata industry in Zhaotong City.Combined with the natural conditions,policy conditions,and socio-economic conditions of the G.elata industry in Zhaotong City to find countermeasures and recommendations to promote the further development of the G.elata industry in Zhaotong and provide recommendations for the sustainable development of G.elata industry.

NEW PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION IN CHINA FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FOOD SECURITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

China is facing increasing challenges in food security and environmental protection, and the plant breeding has made enormous contribution to solving the problems. The legal protection of new plant varieties has the important function of encouraging innovations in the field of plant breeding. However, the widely use of modem biotechnology has caused great controversy in society, and some people propose to limit the scope of plant variety right, especially for Genetically Modified Organisms （hereinafter ＂GMOs＂）. When designing and interpreting the regulations on the protection of new plant varieties, we should keep in mind that the plant variety right is a private right aiming to encourage innovation, and take the principles and relationships in the field of innovation into consideration. Proper regulation and incentives for innovation are both the essential themes in the fields of modem technologies. Intellectural property （hereinafter ＂IP＂） laws should focus on encouraging innovation, while the law system, including the Seed Law, the Food Safety Law and the Environmental Protection Law, should provide systematic, scientific and strict regulations on the research, propagation and marketing of new plant varieties. The whole law system and the market can function together to guide the plant breeders to be committed to breeding new varieties that meet the needs of food security, food safety and environmental protection.