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VALUE FOR CULTIVATION AND USE (VCU) ASSESSMENT |
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The concept of a value for cultivation and use has been defined in the seed
act from 24 of November 1995, amended on 15 of September 2000, as: “ … a benefit
resulting from contribution of variety, respecting the whole of characteristics
determining its value, which may improve crop cultivation, processing, trading
or/and using any product obtained from its crop; inferior characteristics may be
disregarded where other superior characteristics are present” (Article 2, p. 16
of act).
Satisfactory value of variety – together with requirements of
distinctness, uniformity and stability – determines the essential condition of
registration. Seed act from 26 of June 2003, which had been put into effect on
the day when Poland became the member of the European Union (1 May of 2004),
makes this requirement toward varieties of 69 species of agricultural plants and
grape. |
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As a variety of satisfactory value for cultivation and use the legislator
considers such variety “ … which in comparison to listed varieties possess the
characteristics and properties, which effect improvement in cultivation or in
utilization of the harvest or its products” (Article 7 of act). |
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Statutory definitions concerning value for cultivation and use, determine
principle guideline for activity of registration institution, which is
responsible for testing, estimating, listing and legal protection of varieties
in Poland. It is the Research Center for Cultivar Testing (COBORU). |
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Polish system of testing and VCU estimating, like in the other countries, is
based on results of field trials, carried out in conditions similar to those in
regular production, as well as on results of supplementary research concerning
quality, resistance to bio- and another stresses mainly. The field trials are
carried out in the network of 51 country stations deployed in different parts of
the country; they represent basic natural environments. The results of the
trials make possible to look up, if and in what extent, the varieties intended
to be listed, confirm their value for cultivation and use and reliability of
characteristics declared by the breeder (owner), as a results of growing in
diverse natural environments. Each variety is tested in a few to dozen or so
locations per year, depending on natural space-time fluctuation. |
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The trials are replicated in years. In a case of annual plants value for
cultivation and use is looked up within at least two seasons, when perennial and
multistage – within three or more seasons. The research is carried out against
another varieties of known value, making up the standard. |
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The basic factors deciding on value for cultivation and use are: |
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yielding ability (productivity, productive potential) |
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quality of a harvest as a product for fresh consumption or processing |
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yielding stability (as small as possible space-time fluctuation, so called faithfulness) |
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adaptability to different agricultural conditions and general usefulness |
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resistance to some bio- and another factors limiting yield and quality (diseases, pests, soil and weather factors) |
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reproductive ability |
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Criteria mentioned above have diverse weights, what is generally influenced
by specific features of individual cultivated plants. Those weights are modified
periodically, what depends on producer and consumer expectations as well as
processing industry demands, needs of seed market and methods or/and breeding
techniques. With regard to considerable species of cultivated plants the most
important meaning has yielding ability. Nevertheless, this criterion loses
significance to yield quality and resistance to different factors limiting
yield. |
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Detailed criteria are described in methodology of VCU testing; they differ
within the groups of species or even within individual species. |
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Polish cultivar testing system, apart from sparse exceptions, does not apply
numerical classification of characteristics of value for cultivation and use, in
order to compilation of comprehensive VCU index, as a tool for registration
decisions taking. These ones are consulted with experts outside Cultivar Testing
institution, within the confines of advisory and consultative groups. |