W. Va. Code R. § 61-39-15

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 61-39-15 - Standards for Handling Experimental Lines

15.1. The Experimental Line Program provides guidelines for seed increase using published AOSCA field and seed standards during the final stages of testing an experimental line so that classes of certified seed may be available in the event of the line being released as a variety. The program is to be used for seed production of an experimental line that has not been reviewed or accepted into certification. Seed produced using this program cannot be sold or represented as a class of certified seed, nor should it be included in a certified seed mix or blend the experimental line has been accepted as a variety for certification.

15.1.1. The following definitions apply to this section:

15.1.1.a. Experimental Line: A germplasm that has not been released and/or recognized as eligible for certification and is being tested with the possibility of release as a variety at some point in the future.

15.1.1.b. Classes of Experimental Lines

15.1.1.b.1. Exp-F: Eligible for Foundation seed upon variety acceptance.

15.1.1.b.2. Exp-R: Eligible for Registered seed upon variety acceptance.

15.1.1.b.3. Exp-C: Eligible for Certified seed upon variety acceptance.

15.1.2. The Experimental Line applicant should provide documentation that includes the following information prior to field inspection:

15.1.2.a. The experimental line owner.

15.1.2.a.1. If the applicant is an entity other than the experimental line owner, the applicant shall provide documentation stating the owner's approval of seed productions by the applicant using this program;

15.1.2.b. The experimental line identification or the proposed name of the experimental line;

15.1.2.c. A brief description with sufficient morphological, physiological, and/or other characteristics of the plants and seed to identify the experimental line during field and/or seed inspection;

15.1.2.d. A statement of the generations through which the experimental line may be multiplied; and

15.1.2.e. Documentation of the generation of the stock seed used to plant the field. Acceptable generations are Breeder Seed, Experimental Line-F, or Experimental Line-R.

15.1.3. Standards.

15.1.3.a. The requirements of section (2) shall be met.

15.1.3.b. All land requirements, isolation standards, field standards, and seed standards for the crop and corresponding class of certified seed shall be met.

15.1.3.c. All inspections required for that crop shall be performed.

15.1.3.d. The limited generation system should be maintained, with a maximum of three generations, those being the equivalent of Foundation (Experimental Line-F), Registered (Experimental Line-R), and Certified (Experimental Line-C) classes.

15.1.3.e. Seed meeting documentation, field and seed standards is eligible for seed stock tags or documents that identify it as eligible under the Experimental Line Program.

15.1.4. Labels

15.1.4.a. Tags, labels, or official documents provided by the department for seed produced using the Experimental Line Program shall be clearly marked with the words "Experimental Line" and "Pending Certification".

15.1.4.b. "Foundation", "Registered", or "Certified" shall not appear on tags, labels, or official documents for seed produced using the Experimental Line.

15.1.4.c. Buff-colored tags shall be used for seed produced under this program.

15.1.5. Completing Certification of Seed Produced Using the Experimental Line Program

15.2. In the event that the experimental line meets AOSCA variety eligibility requirements and is accepted for certification, Experimental Line seed stock tags or documents may be replaced by AOSCA tags or documents for the appropriate class of certified seed.

W. Va. Code R. § 61-39-15