Applications for new varieties like the imperfect 'Mogwa' become easier

Easier Application for New Varieties Such as 'Mogwa'
Investigation Standards to Be Established and Revised for 16 Crops This Year

It will become easier to apply for new varieties such as the unattractive 'Mogwa' in the future.

The National Seed Management Office announced on the 24th its plan to establish and revise the "Crop-Specific Characteristic Investigation Standards (TG)" for 16 crops, which serve as the examination criteria for the development and application of new plant varieties.

Quince. (Stock photo)

The Crop-Specific Characteristic Investigation Standards are investigation criteria for new varieties applied for under the Plant Variety Protection Act, detailing the traits and investigation methods for each crop to describe the characteristics of the variety. Since joining the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) as a member country in January 2002, Korea has established characteristic investigation standards for a total of 422 crops by 2024, providing breeders with guidelines to describe the traits of newly developed plant varieties.

The process of establishing and revising the characteristic investigation standards involves the Seed Management Office drafting the establishment or revision proposals by referring to the examination standards of UPOV and member countries, followed by expert discussions with breeders of the relevant crops and collecting opinions from related organizations and associations before finalizing.

This year, new characteristic investigation standards will be prepared for three crops that have recently been newly applied for: Mogwa (fruit tree), Cephalantus occidentalis (flowering plant), and Myeongwolcho (specialty crop). Additionally, 13 crops including green onion, cherry, plum, orange, statice, Celosia argentea (flower name: Kkotbeom-ui-kkori), poinsettia, streptocarpus, rye, rapeseed, oyster mushroom, button mushroom, and enoki mushroom will have their standards revised to reflect the latest UPOV characteristic investigation standards and breeders' requests for additional investigation traits.

Yang Mi-hee, head of the Variety Protection Division at the Seed Management Office, stated, "We plan to continue actively developing characteristic investigation standards for new crops annually based on breeders' demand surveys, while also revising existing standards to reflect the latest international criteria and breeders' opinions, thereby enhancing both the reliability and usability of variety protection."

The currently established crop-specific characteristic investigation standards can be found on the Seed Management Office website.