International Journal of Horticulture, 2015, Vol.5, No.21, 1-45
2
research institutes, acting on behalf of that authority or, in some cases, on the basis of growing tests carried out by
the breeder. The examination generates a description of the variety, using its relevant characteristics (e.g. plant
height, leaf shape, time of flowering), by which it can be defined as a variety in terms of Article 1(vi) of the 1991
Act of the Convention. UPOV has developed internationally recognized “Guidelines for the Conduct of Tests for
Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability,” or “Test Guidelines” for the harmonized examination of new crop specific
varieties for protection. The individual crop specific Test Guidelines have been prepared by the appropriate
Technical Working Party, which is composed of government appointed experts from each member of the Union
with invited experts from other interested States and observer organizations. The protocol describes the technical
procedures to be followed in order to meet the Council Regulation 2100/94 on Community Plant Variety Rights. A
very eventful development in India in Indian agriculture has been the clearance of the protection of Plant Varieties
and Farmer’s Rights Act 2001 by Lok Sabha on 9
th
August 2001. The act envisages the establishment of an
effective system for the protection of plant varieties and the rights of farmers and plant breeders. The legislation
was necessitated by the commitments that India made in the agreement on Trade Related Intellectual Property
Rights (TRIPS) when it ratified the Uruguay GATT Round in 1994. The formulation of rules and regulations is in
progress. Guidelines are being prepared for DUS testing - crop wise. Initially a list of 35 species was short-listed.
Under ornamentals following species were identified-Rose (Rosa spp.), Chrysanthemum spp., Jasmine (
Jasminum
spp.), Marigold (
Tagetes erecta
), Gladiolus sp. and Orchids (Anonymous, 2002; Ganguli, 1998; Prasad and
Bhatnagar, 1996; Datta, 2000; Datta, 2006; Brahmi et al., 2004) (Several genera).Author (S.K.Datta) has
developed more than 100 new promising ornamental varieties through conventional breeding and induced
mutagenesis. All have been registered to crop specific societies, reported to international data base at IAEA,
Vienna and patented.
Chrysanthemum
cv. “Mother Teresa” got US Patent (Patent No. PP13678). Gamma ray
induced four mutant rose varieties have been registered with the International Registration Authority For Roses
(IRAR), the American Rose Society, USA (Ref. American Rose Annual, 1985, pp. 197, 201, 205).Five gamma ray
induced bougainvillea mutant varieties have been registered to the International Bougainvillea Registration
Society, Division of Floriculture & Landscaping, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. New
Dahlia ‘NBRI’S PINKI’, developed through conventional breeding, has been registered with The Royal
Horticultural Society, International Registration Authority for the genus Dahlia. All the gamma ray induced new
ornamental varieties are available in Mutant Database, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna. All required
characterization information has been documented.
Every technique for characterization has its advantage, disadvantage and limitations. For the last three decades
one of the authors (S.K.Datta) applying a number of parameters like morphological (vegetative and floral
characters), cytological (chromosome number, chromosomal behavior, karyotype etc.), anatomical (number of
stomata and size, number of chloroplast per guard cell, hair structure etc.), palynological (pollen grain sterility,
size, ornamentation pattern, pollen grain germination etc.), biochemical (phenolic compounds in leaves and petals,
pigment composition studies using TLC, spectrophotometer etc.) and molecular (RAPD) for characterization of
germplasm and new varieties of ornamentals developed through conventional breeding, sport and induced
mutagenesis(Chatterjee et al., 2005; Chatterjee et al., 2006; Chatterjee et al., 2007; Chakrabarty et al., 2007; Datta,
1985; Datta, 1986; Datta, 1987; Datta, 1993; Datta, 1999; Datta, 2004; Datta and Banerji, 1995; Datta and
Chatterjee, 2006; Datta and Datta, 1998; Datta and Gupta, 1981a; Datta and Gupta, 1981b; Datta and Gupta, 1983;
Datta and Shome, 1994; Datta and Tandon, 1994; Datta and Singh, 1995; Datta and Singh, 1999; Datta and Singh,
2001; Datta and Singh, 2002; Datta and Singh, 2003; Datta and Singh, 2004; Datta and Singh, 2005; Datta and
Singh, 2006; Gupta and Datta, 2005; Singh and Datta, 1998; Singh and Datta, 1999; Singh and Datta, 2000;
Laxmi et al., 1984). Every character plays important role for proper identification of plant variety. A wide range of
ornamental crops i.e. Amaryllis, Bougainvillea, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Marigold, Rose,
Tuberose, Lily etc. were included in the crop improvement program in general and characterization in particular.
Attempt will be made to review the characterization work carried out by the authors on
Amarylis
,
Bougainvillea
,
Chrysanthemum
and rose. Citation of other related works on important ornamentals will be strictly restricted only
on those which are most essential to understand the importance of characterization studies.
