ARI REVIEW FOR 2016-2017

VARIETY EXAMINATION CENTRE According to EU legislation, commercialisation of seeds for sowing is only allowed for varieties that are registered to the National Catalogues of the Member States and/ or to the Common European Catalogue. Research activity at the Variety Examination Centre focused on the execution of field trials required for the registration of varieties to the National Catalogue. For the purposes of registration, an application must be submitted to the Designated Authority (Department of Agriculture) by the breeder, the maintainer or their authorised legal representative residing in Cyprus. The procedure followed for examining varieties prior to their registration in the National Catalogue is described below. Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability trials The Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) trials take at least two years to complete and include observations on morphological, physiological and agronomic characteristics of varieties according to the protocols of the Community Plant Varieties Office (CPVO) and the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV). During the growing season of 2015/16, one barley variety (Myrtou) was subjected to trials for the first year. In the 2016/17 growing season, the barley variety was tested for the second year and a peanut variety was tested for the first year. The results were reported to the competent Authority (Department of Agriculture). ( K. Mina ) Value for Cultivation and Use trials The Variety for Cultivation and Use (VCU) trials are conducted at several sites representing the environments where the main rainfed crops are grown. They last for at least two consecutive growing seasons wherein grain yield, yield related characteristics and quality traits are examined. During the 2015/16, was tested for the first growing season. In the 2016/17, the barley variety Myrtou was tested for the second growing season but because of drought conditions the results were not adequately and the trials will be repeated next year. In 2016/17 the peanut variety was tested in two locations for the first year. The results were reported to the competent Authority (Department of Agriculture). ( K. Mina ) 77 Variety Examination Centre