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Seed sample requirements for plant breeders' rights application

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Quantity of seed sample required by crop type

Quantity of seed has been determined based on the relative size and weight of seed. If the crop kind for which a plant breeders' rights application is being filed is not included in the following list, either determine the quantity of seed based on a crop kind of similar seed size or contact the Plant Breeders' Rights Office for more information.

Agricultural crops
Agricultural crops Quantity of seed
Bentgrass / Redtop / Tobacco 1 gram
Black Mustard / Bluegrass / Clover – Alsike, Hop or Yellow, Large, Small or Suckling, White, Ladino / Crested Dogtail / Fescue – Chewing's, Hard, Red, Creeping Red, Sheep's / Meadow Foxtail / Orchardgrass / Reed Canarygrass / Timothy 10 grams
Canola / Oilseed Rape (inbreds) 10 grams
Canola / Oilseed Rape (other than inbreds) 40 grams
Fescue - Meadow, Tall / Ryegrass / Wheatgrass / Wildrye 50 grams
Alfalfa / Bird's-foot Trefoil / Black Medick / Bromegrass / Clover – Crimson, Red, Strawberry, Subterranean, Sweet / Crownvetch / Kidneyvetch/ Millet / Mustard – White, Indian / Switchgrass / Tall Oatgrass 75 grams
Canarygrass / Flax / Hemp / Quinoa / Sorghum 125 grams
Barley / Borage / Buckwheat / Emmer / Lentil / Oat / Rye / Safflower / Sainfoin / Spelt / Sunflower / Triticale / Wheat / Vetch 250 grams
Corn / Cowpea / Lupine / Pea / Soybean 500 grams
Bean – Field, Broad, Horse, Lima, Runner, Tick or Faba / Chickpea 1000 grams
Fruit, vegetable and herb crops
Fruit, vegetable and herb crops Quantity of seed
Strawberry 1000 seeds
Celeriac / Celery / Chicory / Water Cress / Savory / Sorrel / Thyme / Husk Tomato 5 grams
Tomato 10 grams
Cornsalad / Garden Cress / Lettuce / Parsnip / Pepper / Sage 25 grams
Carrot / Celtuce / Dill / Endive / Parsley 50 grams
Artichoke / Asparagus / Broccoli / Brussel Sprouts / Cabbage / Cauliflower / Collards / Chives / Eggplant / Kale / Kohlrabi / Leek / Onion / Pak-choi / Pe-tsai / Spinach / Spinach Mustard / Turnip 75 grams
Beet / Mangel / Swiss Chard / Cantaloupe / Cucumber / Gerkin / Muskmelon / New Zealand Spinach / Okra / Radish / Rhubarb / Salsify 125 grams
Citron / Squash / Watermelon 250 grams
Pumpkin / Vegetable Marrow 500 grams
Ornamental flowers
Crop kind Quantity of seed
Seed Reproduced Ornamental Flowers 1000 seeds

Submitting a reference sample to the Plant Breeders' Rights Office

The reference samples are legal samples which may be used in the event a holder's right is challenged. The submission of a non-representative sample for a variety could result in the loss of a right.

All reference samples submitted to the Plant Breeders' Rights Office must meet the following requirements.

  1. When submitting the sample, ensure you sign a statement certifying that the reference sample is representative of the variety.
  2. All reference samples originating from outside Canada must be sent via the Canadian agent.
  3. The seed sample should be untreated. It is illegal to send treated seed in the mail and seed treatments may cause problems with certain types of laboratory analysis.
  4. Samples submitted should be fastened in a tamper-proof manner. The container should be one of the following types of material:
    1. Cotton or polyjute bags (most desirable)
    2. Manilla seed envelopes
    3. Paper bags (double bagged)
    4. Plastic bags (least desirable)
  5. Sample bags or envelopes should contain a label on the inside and on the outside with the following information:
    1. proposed denomination
    2. crop kind
    3. name of the applicant
    4. signature of the applicant or agent
    5. the date the sample was drawn

For import requirements, consult the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS).

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