Variability for DUS characteristics in released varieties of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) in India

Abstract

The Indian legislation - Protection of Plant Varieties and Fanners' Rights (PPV & FR) Act was enacted in 2001. Under the Act, protection of plant varieties is based on the establishment of Distinctiveness (D). Uniformity (U) and Stability (S) of characteristics listed in the Crop specific guidelines. The guidelines for the conduct of the DUS test for safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) were finalized and published in 2009. A total of 26 traits which include 13 asteriskedlessential traits are included in the final version. Information on range of character expression in released cultivars is required for the grant of rights through the establishment of distinctiveness which should include at least one essential trait. With this perspective, twenty one released varieties of safflower were characterized in accordance with the guidelines to form the basic database for the selection of appropriate reference varieties during the conduct of DUS testing for candidate varieties. The frequencies for expression of different states of all characteristics in accordance with the safflower guidelines are discussed. The information generated on range of variability will be valuable for comparison of newly developed cultivars.