1. DUS Testing Guidelines for Maize
Ph.D. (Genetics & Plant Breeding)
Reg. No. : 04-00899-2011
Course Code: GP 691
Presented by: K. Satish

2. CONTENTS
Maize
• Introduction
• Production constraints
• Importance of maize
PPV & FR Act, 2001
• Objectives
• Criteria for protection
• Benefits
DUS Testing
• Assessment of DUS
• Characteristics and Symbols
• Technical questionnaire
• Table of characteristics of maize
Conclusions
Future thrust

3. Introduction
1
 Taxonomically, Zea mays L. belongs to tribe Maydeae, family Poaceae and genus
Zea (Doebley et al., 2004).
 The center of origin of Zea mays L. (2n=20) is reported to be Mexico and Central
America (Chopra et al., 2002)
 The main maize growing countries include U.S.A., China, Brazil, European Union,
Ukraine, Argentina, India and Mexico.
 Maize is the third most important cereal crop in India after rice and wheat. It
accounts for 9 per cent of total food grain production in the country.
 Nine states viz. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra,
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat account for 85 per cent of
India’s maize production and 80 per cent of area under cultivation (FAO, 2013)

4. Table: 1 Comparison of Area, Production and Yield of Maize, 2013-14
Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, GOI (2013-14)
USDA (2013-14)
State Area under
cultivation
Million Hectare
Production
Million tonnes
Yield
Kg / Hectare
World 177.4 960.2 5508
India 9.43 23.35 2583
Gujarat 0.46 0.69 1501
2

5. • Maize is a monoecious plant.
• Male inflorescence called tassel
• Female inflorescence known as silk
• Generally protandrous
• Each floret contains three anthers and each
plant produces about 3-5 million pollen
grains.
• Wind borne nature of the pollen and protandry
leads to cross pollination but, there may also
be reported 5 % self pollination.
Plant Morphology of Maize
Chopra et al., 20023

6. Importance of Maize
 Top ranking cereal in terms of production and productivity globally
 Highest potential of carbohydrate production per unit/day (62.2 %)
 Great significance as human food, animal feed and industrial products
 Grown in unmatched diversity of environments
 Queen of cereals
4

7. Maize Utilization for Various Purposes
 Source of human food (24%), animal feed (11%), poultry feed (52%), starch (11%),
brewery (1%) and seed (1%)
 In addition more than 500 industrial products like starch, oil, protein, alcohol, acetic
acid, sucrose, glucose, paper, rayon, dyes, synthetic rubber, resin etc. are being
manufactured from it.
5 Ranum et al., 2014

8. PPV & FR Act, 2001
 Government of India enacted the Plant variety protection & Farmer’s Rights
Act on Oct. 30th 2001
 Plant variety protection under PPV & FR Act, provides legal protection to the
plant variety
 Article 27.3(b) – Member country to provide protection either by a patent or Sui
generis system or in combination
 To a breeder in the form of Plant Breeder’s Rights
 To a farmers in the form of Farmer’s Rights
 To a Researcher in the form of Researcher’s Rights
 PPV & FR Act, 2001 was enacted by Indian Government based on UPOV
Convention Act.
PPV & FR Authority, India
6

9. Conti…
 Objectives
 Registrable plant varieties
 New Variety
 Extant Variety
 Farmer’s Variety
 Essentially Derived Varieties (EDV)
 Criteria for protection
 Novelty– [(Article 15.3(a)] variety was not sold out before 1 year of registration
 Distinctness- [(Article 15.3(b)] at least one essential character
 Uniformity- [(Article 15.3(c)] sufficiently uniform
 Stablilty- [(Article 15.3(d)] not susceptible to change after repeated propagation
 Who can apply?
 Benefits
7

10. DUS Test
Why?
 Essential requirement for registration of new variety(s) under PPV & FR Act, 2001
 Variety be examined for compliance with Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability
criteria needed for registration.
Sujay et al., 2001
8
How?
Involves comparison of new (candidate) variety against existing varieties
for recording a number of morphological/physiological characters, by
growing new and existing varieties side-by-side.
What is DUS Test?
Plant variety protection can only be granted in respect of a new plant variety after
examination, for that UPOV Convention Acts laid down criteria viz. novelty (N),
distinctness (D), uniformity (U) and stablity (S) ‘DUS’ or ‘NDUS’ in short.

11.  Must be clearly distinguishable for at least one essential
character from the varieties of common knowledge in India
and out side.
 Essential character is a heritable trait which is determined
by one or more genes or other heritable determinants that
contribute to the principal features, performance or value of
the plant variety.
DISTINCTNESS
9

12. Uniform, when subjected to the variation that
may be expected and allowed due to the specific
nature of the reproduction of the crop such as
vegetative, self- and cross-pollinated.
UNIFORMITY
STABILITY
Stable when all essential characters remain
unchanged after repeated propagation or a
specified cycle of propagation.
10

13. Guidelines
for Conduct of Test for
Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability
On
Maize
UPOV Species Code: ZEAAA_MAY
(Zea mays L.)
Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmer’s Rights Authority
(PPV & FRA)
Department of Agriculture & Co-operation
Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India
11

14. Requirements for DUS Testing
Planting material
 Candidate Variety
 Reference Collection
Staff
 Scientific/Technical/Secretarial/Field
Facilities
 Land/Gardens(flowers)/Orchard(trees)
 DUS Test Guidelines
 DUS test centres
 Laboratory with equipments
 RHS colour Chart
 Data base of Extant/Notified varieties
(NORV and IINDUS)
 Software for database / analysis
(OOS, PLOD_PLAN, ANALIST 3.1, DUSTNT)
12 source: www.plantauthority.gov.in

15. Rice Wheat Maize Sorghum Pearlmillet
DRR, Hyderabad DWR, Karnal DMR, New Delhi
(Kharif)
NRCS,
Hyderabad
MPKV,
Rahuri
CRRI, Cuttack IARI, Indore ANGRAU, Hyderabad
(Kharif and Rabi)
MPKV,
Rahuri
Mandore
IARI, Karnal CSUAT, Kanpur RAU, Dholi (Kharif
and Rabi)
GBPUA&T,
Pantnagar
AAU, Jorhat UAS, Dharwad VPKAS, Almora,
Uttarakhand (Hill
region Kharif )
TNAU,
Coimbatore
PAU, Ludhiana
DUS testing centre in India for cereals
source: www.plantauthority.gov.in
Table: 2 DUS test centres
13

16. Planting material for DUS testing
Crop Quantity (g)
Maize 3000(varieties & hybrids)
1500 (parental lines)
Wheat 3000(varieties & hybrid)
Rice 3000 (varieties & hybrids)
1500 (parental lines)
Sorghum 1500 (varieties & hybrids)
500 (parental lines)
Pearl millet 1000 (varieties & hybrids)
500 (parental lines)
Annonymous, 2007
A. Germination capacity
i Inbred line & single
cross hybrids
80%
(minimum)
ii Varieties & double cross
hybrids
90%
(minimum)
B. Moisture content 10-12%
(maximum)
C. Physical purity 98%
(minimum)
Table - 3: Seed Quantity for Test Table - 4: Seed Standards, Moisture and Physical
purity
14

17. Table - 5: Test plot design for Maize
● Number of rows
i) Inbred line & single cross hybrids 4
ii) Varieties & other hybrids 8
● Row length 6 m
● Row to row distance 75 cm
● Plant to plant distance 20 cm
● Number of replication 3
Number of growing cycle
Test location
Condition favoring normal growth and expression.
Observations should not be recorded on plants in border rows.
Additional test for special purpose may be established.
New Delhi PPV & FR Authority
Conduct of Test
15

18. Assessment of DUS
Distinctness
 Distinctness is established by comparing the candidate variety with existing varieties/reference
collections.
Consistent differences
Clear differences
If similar state of expression - variety is not distinct
Uniformity
 Population standard of 3 % and an acceptance probability of at least 95 % should be
applied.
 In sample size of 100 plants, 3 off-types are allowed.
 Same should applied to clear case of out-crossed plants in inbred lines as well as single cross
hybrids.
 For visually assessed characteristics, the uniformity of the candidate variety is checked against
known comparable varieties.
UPOV, 200916

19. Conti…
Stability
 Require 2-3 years to perform a test of stability which leads to the same certainty as
the testing of the distinctness and homogeneity.
 Submitted sample to be homogenous during the test, the material can also be
considered to be stable.
 In case of doubt inbred and open pollinated varieties may tested by growing a
further generation, or by testing a new seed stock.
 All observation on ear should be made on the upper well-developed ear.
 Latest Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart should be used.
17
Selvi et al.,2013

20. 1. Reference collection
 Similar to Candidate variety
2. Grouping of varieties
 To facilitate the assessment of distinctness, varieties to be divided into groups
based on grouping characteristics.
 It is recommended that the testing organizations / centers use the following
characteristics for grouping varieties (Maize):
a) Tassel: Time of anthesis (cha # 4)
b) Ear: Time of silk emergence (cha # 11)
c) Ear: Anthocyanin coloration of silks (cha # 12)
d) Plant: Length (cha # 15.1/15.2)
e) Ear: Type of grain (cha # 22)
UPOV, 200918

21. Characteristics and Symbols
 To assess distinctness, uniformity and stability, the characteristics and
their states should be used.
1. Notes (scale 1 to 9) should be use for the purpose of electronic data
processing.
2. Legend :
 (*) Characteristics that should be observed during every growing
season on all varieties, included in the variety descriptions, except
when the state of expression of a preceding characteristics show this
inappropriate.
 (+) Characteristics is illustrated by explanation or drawing.
 (S) Possible segregation in three way cross and double cross hybrids.
PPV & FRA, 2007
19

22. Table - 6: Range of characters as per PPV & FR Act
Crop No. of characters Characters with * mark
Wheat 33 20
Rice 30 5
Sunflower 40 13
Peas 58 27
Maize 31
(41- as per UPOV)
8
(16)
Onion 27 12
* Mandatory characters to record.
20

23. Table - 7: Decimal code for the growth stage
Stage code General Description
00 Dry seed
12 2 leaves unfolded
14 4 leaves unfolded
51 Inflorescence just visible
61 Beginning of anthesis
65 Anthesis halfway
71 Caryopsis watery ripe
75 Medium milk
85 Soft dough
92 Caryopsis hard ( can no longer be dented by thumbed nail)
93 Caryopsis loosening day time.
New Delhi (Anonymous 2007)
The optimum stage of plant growth assessment of each characteristics is indicated by decimal
code.
21

24. Technical Questionnaire
A Performa containing technical questionnaire about the candidate variety is to be
submitted by the applicant seeking plant variety protection.
The applicant is asked:
1. Name of species
2. Applicant (name and address)
3. Proposed denomination or breeder’s reference
4. Information on origin, maintenance and reproduction
5. Type of material
6. State of expression for each of the grouping characteristics
7. Most similar varieties and the difference of candidate variety from these varieties
8. Any additional information which can help to distinguish the variety
9. Resistance to pests and disease
10. Any special condition required for examination of the variety
11. Any other useful information
Cont….
22

25. Cont……
IX. Technical Questionnaire
Reference Number
(Not to be filled in by the
applicant.)
To be completed with every application
made on candidate variety in accordance with
specific Indian dust test guidelines for
registration under PPVFR&FR Act, 2001.
1. Species
Zea mays L.
Maize
2. Applicant (Name and address):
( In concurrence with column 3 of
form no 1.)
3. Proposed denomination of the
(candidate variety as given in form
no 1)
4. Information on origin, maintenance and
reproduction of the variety.
4.1 Type of variety
Inbreed line . [ ]
Single cross hybrid. [ ]
Three way cross hybrid [ ]
Double cross hybrid [ ]
Open pollinated variety [ ]
4.2 Variety details
Field corn [ ]
Pop corn [ ]
Baby corn [ ]
Waxy corn [ ]
Quality Protein Maize [ ]
High oil corn [ ]
Fodder corn [ ]
4.3 Pedigree of proposed variety/line
4.4 Other information
5. Characteristics of the candidate variety to be given
(The number in note column refers to the different
states of given characteristics described in column 3.
Tick out within the brackets, which based corresponds
to the character expression of the candidate variety):
23

26. 6. Similar varieties and difference from these varieties:
Characteristics in which
similar variety is
different*
Denomination of
similar variety
State of expression of
candidate variety
*: in the case of identical states of expression of both varieties, indicate the difference in grade of
expression.
7. Additional information , which may help to distinguish the variety
a. Resistance to pests diseases (indicate the race etc.)
b. Produce quality
c. Special conditions for the examination of the variety
d. Other Information
8. Authorization for release
State of
expression of
similar variety
UPOV 2009
Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
7. Tassel: anthocyanin
coloration of anthers (in
middle third of main axis
on fresh anther )
Absent 1 CM 400 65
Anthesis
halfway
VG
(visually in
a group)Present 9 CM 145
HKI 161
24

27. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
variety / line
Stage Assessment
1.
(+)
Leaf: angle between
leaf blade and stem
(on leaf just above
upper ear)
Narrow
(<45o )
1 HHM 2 61
Beginning of
anthesis
VG (visually
in a group)
Wide
(>45o )
9 Vivek 5
Table -8: Characteristics for Leaf: Angle between leaf blade and stem (on leaf just above upper ear)
Narro
w
25
Wide
1 9

28. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
2.
(+)
Leaf: Attitude of
leaf blade (on leaf
just above upper
ear)
Straight 1 HHM 2 61
Beginning
of anthesis
VG (visually in
a group)Droopy 9 HKI 323
Table - 9: Characteristics for Leaf: Attitude of leaf blade (on leaf just above upper ear)
Straight
Droopy
26
1 9

29. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
3. Stem:
Anthocyanins
colouration of brace
roots
Absent 1 HKI 163 65-75
Anthesis halfway
Caryopsis watery
ripe, Medium milk
VS (visually in a
single)
Present 9 HKI 327T
Table -10: Characteristics for Stem: Anthocyanins colouration of brace roots
27
1 9

30. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 7)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
4.
(*)
Tassel: Time of
anthesis (on middle
third of main axis,
50 % of plant)
Very early
(<45 D)
1 HKI 335 65
Anthesis
halfway
VG (visually
in a group)
Early
(45-50 D)
3 HKI 1025
Medium
(50-55 D)
5 HKI 323
Late
(>55 D)
7 HKI 1126
Table -11: Characteristics for Tassel: Time of anthesis (on middle third of main axis, 50 % of plant)
28

31. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
variety/line
Stage Assessment
5.
(+)
Tassel : Anthocyanin
colouration at base of
glume
Absent 1 HKI 1344 65
Anthesis
halfway
VS (visually in
a single)
Present 9 HKI 161
Table -12: Characteristics for Tassel: Anthocyanins colouration at base of glume
29
1 9

32. Sr.
No
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
6. Tassel: Anthocyanin
colouration of glumes
excluding base (in middle
third of main axis )
Absent 1 HKI 209 65
Anthesis
halfway
VS (visually
in a single)Present 9 CM 300
HKI 161
Table -13: Characteristics for Tassel: Anthocyanin colouration of glumes excluding base (in middle third
of main axis )
9
30
1 9

33. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
7. Tassel: Anthocyanin
colouration of anthers (in
middle third of main axis
on fresh anther )
Absent 1 HKI 209 65
Anthesis
halfway
VG
(visually in
a group)Present 9 CM 145
HKI 161
Table -14: Characteristics for Tassel : Anthocyanin colouration of anthers (in middle third of main axis on
fresh anther)
91
31
1 9

34. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
8. Tassel: Density of spikelet
(in middle third of main
axis )
Sparse 3 HKI 1126 65
Anthesis
halfway
VG (visually in
a group)Dense 7 HKI 288-2
Table -15: Characteristics for Tassel: Density of spikelet (in middle third of main axis)
91
32
3 7

35. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
9.
(*)
(+)
Tassel: Angle between
main axis and lateral
branches (in lower third of
tassel)
Normal
(<45o )
1 CM 145 65
Anthesis
halfway
VG (visually in
a group)
Wide
(>45o )
9 CM 140
Table -16: Characteristics for Tassel : Angle between main axis and lateral branches (in lower third
of tassel)
33
1 9

36. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
10.
(*)
(+)
Tassel: Attitude of
lateral branches (in
lower third of tassel )
Straight 1 HKI 193-1 65
Anthesis
halfway
VG
(visually in
a group)
Curved 5 HKI 323,46
Strongly
curved
9 HKI 163
Table -17: Characteristics for Tassel : Attitude of lateral branches (in lower third of tassel)
34
1 95

37. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 7)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
11. Ear: Time of silk
emergence
(50 % plants)
Very early
(<48 D)
1 HKI 335 65
Anthesis
halfway
VG (visually
in a group)
Early
(48-53 D)
3 HKI 1025
Medium
(53-58 D )
5 HKI 323
Late
(>58)
7 HKI 1126
Table - 18: Characteristics for Ear: Time of silk emergence (50% plants)
35

38. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
12.
(*)
Ear: Anthocyanin
coloration of silks
(on day of emergence)
Absent 1 HKI 1025 65
Anthesis
halfway
VG (visually
in a group)Present 9 HKI 323
Table - 19: Characteristics for Ear: Anthocyanin coloration of silks (on day of emergence)
36
1 9

39. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
13. Leaf: Anthocyanin
coloration of leaf
sheath (below ear)
Absent 1 HKI 163 71
Caryopsis
watery ripe
VS (visually in
a single)Present 9 CM 300
Table - 20: Characteristics for Leaf: Anthocyanin coloration of leaf sheath (below ear)
37
1 9

40. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 7)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
14. Tassel: Length of
main axis above
lowest side
branch
Short (< 20 cm) 3 HKI 1128 71
Caryopsis
watery ripe
MS
(measurement
s in single)
Medium (20-30 cm) 5 HKI 327 T
Long (>30 cm ) 7 V 25
Table - 21: Characteristics for Tassel: Length of main axis above lowest side branch
38

41. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 9)
Example
Variety / line
Stage Assessment
15.1
(*)
Inbred line only :
Plant Length
(up to flag leaf )
Short (<120cm) 3 HKI 1348-6-2 75
Medium
milk
MS
(measurements
in single)Medium (120-150 cm ) 5 HKI 323
Long (>150 cm) 7 HKI 1128
15.2
(*)
Hybrids and open
pollinated varieties
only : Plant length
(up to flag leaf)
Short (<150cm) 3 Vivek 75
Medium
milk
MS
(measurements
in single)
Medium (150-180 cm ) 5 Prakash
Long (180-210 cm) 7 HQPM 1
Very long (>210 cm) 9 African Tall
Table - 22: Characteristics for Plant Length (up to flag leaf)
39

42. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(3 to 7 )
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
16. Plant: Ear
placement
Low 3 HKI 1011 75
Medium
milk
MS
(measurements
in single)
Medium 5 HM 4
High 7 HQPM 1
Table - 23: Characteristics for Plant: Ear placement
40

43. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(3 to7)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
17. Leaf : Width of leaf
blade
(leaf of upper ear)
Narrow(<8cm) 3 HKI 323 75
Medium
milk
MS
(measurements
in single)
Medium(8-9cm) 5 HKI 295
Broad (>9 cm) 7 HKI 1126
Table - 24: Characteristics for Leaf : Width of leaf blade (leaf of upper ear)
41

44. Sr. No. Characteristics States Note
(3 to 7)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
18.
(*)
Ear: Length without
husk
Short (<10cm) 3 HKI 536 92
Caryopsis
hard
MS (measurements in
single)
Medium (10-15 cm) 5 HKI 163
Long(>15 cm) 7 HQPM 1
19. Ear: Diameter
without husk
(in middle)
Small (<4 cm) 3 HKI 323 92
Caryopsis
hard
MS (measurements in
single)
Medium (4-5 cm) 5 HKI 327
Large (>5 cm) 7 THQPM 1
Table - 25: Characteristics for: Ear length without husk and Ear diameter without husk (in middle)
42

45. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 3)
Example
Variety / line
Stage Assessment
20.
(+)
Ear shape Conical 1 HKI 1344 92
Caryopsis
hard
VG (visually in
a group )Conical-
Cylindrical
2 HKI 295
Cylindrical 3 HKI 1105
Table - 26: Characteristics for Ear Shape
43
1
3
2

46. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(3 to 7)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
21. Ear : Number of
row of grains
Few (≤ 8) 3 - 92
Caryopsis
hard
MS
(measurements
in single)Medium (10-12) 5 HKI 163
Large (≥ 14) 7 HM 5
Table - 27: Characteristics for Ear : Number of row of grains
44
L-16 row, R-14 row

47. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 3)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
22.
(*)
Ear : type of grain
(in middle third of
ear)
Flint 1 HKI 1105 92
Caryopsis
hard
VG (visually
in a group )Semi flint/
Semi dent
2 HKI 1344
Dent 3 HM 5
Table - 28: Characteristics for Ear : Type of grain (in middle third of ear)
45
1 32

48. Table - 29: Characteristics for Ear : Colour of top of grain
Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 7)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
23.
(*)
Ear: Colour of top
of grain
White 1 CM 300 92
Caryopsis
hard
VG
(visually in
a group )
White with cap 2 HKI 1344
Yellow 3 HKI 1050
Yellow with cap 4 HKI 209
Orange 5 HKI 323
Red 6
Variegated 7
2
3
5
6
46
41

49. Table - 30: Characteristics for Ear: Anthocyanin colouration of glumes of cob
Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 3)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
24.
(*)
Ear: Anthocyanin
colouration of
glumes of cob
White 1 HKI 163 93
Caryopsis
loosening
day time
VG (visually
in a group )Light purple 2 SUWAN
Dark purple 3 HKI 161
1 2 3
47

50. Table - 31: Characteristics for Kernel : Row arrangement (middle of corn)
Sr. No. Characteristics States Note
(1 to 3)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
25.
(*)
Kernel : Row
arrangement
(middle of corn)
Straight 1 HM 2 93
Caryopsis
loosening
daytime
VG
( visually in
a group )
Spiral 2 HM 5
Irregular 3 HKI 1344
48
1 2 3

51. Table - 32: Characteristics for Ear : Type of grain
Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 5)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
26-29. Ear : Type of grain Field corn 1 CM128 92
Caryopsis
hard
VG (visually
in a group )Pop corn 2 VL. Popcorn
Waxy / opaque 3 Vivek Hy.4
Opaque tinge 4 Vivek Hy.5
Sweet corn 5 Madhuri
1
5
49
1
2
3
4

52. Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 5)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
30.
(+)
Kernel shape Shrunken 1 Madhuri 93
Caryopsis
loosening
day time
VG (visually
in a group )Round 2 HKI 1342
Indented 3 HM 5
Toothed 4 HKI 1348-6-2
Pointed 5 -
Table - 33: Characteristics for Kernel shape
PPV & FRA, 2007550
3
421

53. Table - 34: Characteristics for Kernel size (1000 kernel weight)
Sr.
No.
Characteristics States Note
(1 to 7)
Example
variety/ line
Stage Assessment
31. Kernel size
(1000 kernel
weight )
Very small
(<100g)
1 Madhuri 93
Caryopsis
loosening
day time
MG
(measurements
in a group )
Small
(100-200 g)
3 HKI 1025
Medium
(200-300g)
5 Prabhat
Large
(>300g)
7 V.HY.-9
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54. Conclusions
 India has the largest reservoir of the genetic material and accounts for the largest
skilled population in the world, it gives several opportunities to the Indian
agricultural research and development.
 To validate the claims distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) tests will have to
be conducted as per the National Test Guidelines.
 PPV & FR Act protects breeders varieties from unauthorized infringement, ensure
farmers rights on seeds and encourage growth of seed industries by making seeds of
protected varieties available to the farmers.
 DUS Testing is one of the key feature of plant variety protection.
 For easy identification and preservation DUS test is very important .
52

55. Future thrust
• DUS test should be modified according to need, cropping pattern and
environmental conditions.
• More emphasis should be given on DUS testing by scientists / technical qualified
persons .
• The institutes/ research organization engaged in plant breeding should stream line
their maintenance breeding programme so as to make available pure seed, which
shall be used for DUS tests and kept as reference sample for at least 7 years.
• A well conceived programme of training of staff for conduct of DUS tests, data
compilation, analysis and its interpretation should be organized.
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56. 54 Thank You