THE CONSEQUENCES OF TAXONOMIC REVISION - THE INTERFACE OF SCIENCE AND PRACTICE

Intellectual property rights for ornamental plants can be granted to new varieties¹ which meet the internationally agreed criteria of distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS). To assess whether varieties meet these criteria, test centres such as NIAB conduct growing trials on behalf of the Plant Variety Rights (PVR) Offices which actually grant the rights. For ornamental plants, the trials are generally organised on an international basis, with the testing of different genera being centralised in one or two countries. The organisation and operation of this centralised trial system involves working or liaising with, amongst others, statutory authorities, intergovernmental organisations such as the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), legislators, plant breeders, growers and nurserymen, botanic gardens, plant health inspectors, customs officers, import/export agents, International Cultivar Registration Authorities (ICRAs), lawyers, taxonomists, plant collection holders, auctions, database designers etc. In short, it gives a probably unique insight into the experiences of the cultivated plant trade in dealing with formal taxonomy and the situations which may follow taxonomic revision. Some of the practical difficulties which may result are described, and the consequent need for truly effective communication across the whole industry is emphasised.