Variety (plant)
Encyclopedia
Plant variety is a legal term, following the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
(UPOV) Convention. Recognition of a cultivated plant
(a cultivar
) as a "variety" in this particular sense provides its breeder
with some legal protection, so-called plant breeders' rights
, depending to some extent on the internal legislation of the UPOV signatory countries, such as the Plant Variety Protection Act
in the US.
This "variety" (which will differ in status according to national law) should not be confused with the international
taxonomic rank
of "variety" (regulated by the ICBN), nor with the term "cultivar
" (regulated by the ICNCP). Some horticulturists
use "variety" imprecisely; for example, viticulturists
almost always refer to grape cultivars as "grape varieties".
International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants or UPOV is an intergovernmental organization with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The current Secretary-General of UPOV is Francis Gurry....
(UPOV) Convention. Recognition of a cultivated plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
(a cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
) as a "variety" in this particular sense provides its breeder
Plant breeding
Plant breeding is the art and science of changing the genetics of plants in order to produce desired characteristics. Plant breeding can be accomplished through many different techniques ranging from simply selecting plants with desirable characteristics for propagation, to more complex molecular...
with some legal protection, so-called plant breeders' rights
Plant breeders' rights
Plant breeders' rights , also known as plant variety rights , are rights granted to the breeder of a new variety of plant that give him exclusive control over the propagating material and harvested material of a new variety for a number of years.With these rights, the breeder can choose...
, depending to some extent on the internal legislation of the UPOV signatory countries, such as the Plant Variety Protection Act
Plant Variety Protection Act
The Plant Variety Protection Act of 1970 , 7 U.S.C. §§ 2321-2582, is an intellectual property statute in the United States. The PVPA gives breeders up to 25 years of exclusive control over new, distinct, uniform, and stable sexually reproduced or tuber propagated plant varieties...
in the US.
This "variety" (which will differ in status according to national law) should not be confused with the international
taxonomic rank
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
of "variety" (regulated by the ICBN), nor with the term "cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
" (regulated by the ICNCP). Some horticulturists
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
use "variety" imprecisely; for example, viticulturists
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
almost always refer to grape cultivars as "grape varieties".