The Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) held a technical training meeting on rice, gathering experts from across Europe to discuss advancements in Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) testing.
The event took place from August 27 to August 28, 2024, at the CREA-DC, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, located in Vercelli, Italy. This meeting highlighted CPVO's ongoing efforts to refine plant variety protection technical protocols and brought together a range of experts in rice breeding and testing.
The event opened with introductions by key figures, including Pier Giacomo Bianchi from CREA-DC, who provided an overview of CREA-DC's activities, and Bronislava Batorova, a representative from CPVO, who set the stage for the technical training discussions. Batorova highlighted the ongoing work on revising the CPVO Technical Protocol for rice (document CPVO-TP-016/3), covering the results of ring tests conducted in 2022, 2023, and 2024, with participation from other European examination offices involved in rice testing. Notable speakers included Patrizia Titone (CREA), who delivered two insightful presentations on DUS, VCU testing and Seed Certification in Italy as well as the CPVO-TP-016/3 revision process and ongoing ring test, and Bistra Pavlovska (IASAS), who presented on the maintenance of reference collections for DUS testing in Bulgaria.
Also contributing were Alexandra Chatzigeorgiou (VARINST), who shared the findings from the Greece Rice Comparative Trial, and Gabriele Mongiano (CREA), who introduced Kora, a digital management tool for reference collections. The experts shared knowledge, discussed challenges, and explored innovations that are expected to shape the future of rice variety testing in Europe.
Field Evaluations and Technical Discussions
On the second day, participants visited the experimental fields and ring test plots to conduct a collective evaluation of visible characters and off-types in rice varieties. The field visit provided a practical demonstration of the rice DUS testing methods in action, where the experts collaborated to draft the final report on the ring test and the final version of the CPVO Technical Protocol.
These discussions and field evaluations are crucial for ensuring that new rice varieties introduced to the European market and granted Plant Variety Rights Protection meet the required standards of distinctness, uniformity, and stability—important key factors for plant breeders seeking to develop new varieties.
Exploring Innovation in Rice Testing
A important theme of the event was innovation. The use of molecular markers, presented by Chiara Delogu and Lorella Andreani (CREA), was particularly highlighted as a valuable supporting tool in describing rice varieties with greater precision. These molecular techniques, along with digital tools like Kora, are transforming DUS testing by enhancing its efficiency and reliability.
A Cultural Insight: Principato di Lucedio Abbey
Beyond the technical discussions, participants had the opportunity to visit the historic Principato di Lucedio Abbey, located near the event site. Founded in the 12th century, the abbey holds significant historical and cultural value in the region, having been an agricultural center for centuries. Today, it remains a hub for rice production and continues to be a prominent player in Italy's rice-growing sector. The visit offered attendees a glimpse into the deep-rooted traditions of rice farming in the Vercelli region, linking the past with the present advancements in agricultural science.
CPVO’s Ongoing Commitment
The technical training concluded with a review of findings and a discussion on the path forward for DUS testing in rice. CPVO’s efforts to gather experts and push the boundaries of rice variety testing underscore its commitment to improving plant variety protection across Europe. By incorporating innovative tools and methodologies, the organization is setting the standard for quality and precision in the assessment of new plant varieties.
As the work on refining the rice technical protocol continues, CPVO remains at the forefront of ensuring that European plant breeders have the resources and support they need to succeed.