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isa wel lconserve d specimen or, ifthi si s The Implications of for not available, an illustration. Illegitimate names do not satisfy the above Agricultural Research mentioned conditions and areno t taken into consideration in . In case several legitimate names exist for one \N. A. Brandenburg* and F. Schneider ## (synonymy), the principle of priority states that the first published name is the capablet oexchang e genes freely, resultingi n correct one for that taxon. In caseon e legiti­ Themain objectives ofplan t taxonomyar et o a fertileprogeny .Consequently ,evolutionar y mate name has been assigned tosevera l taxa describe the Vegetable ,an dt oclas ­ studies with respect to mutation, recombina­ (homonymy), the name must beattribute d to sify it in distinguishable unities (taxa, sing, tion, selection and isolation arc commonly that taxon for which it was first published. taxon). The resulting classification has to starting from the . In some cases, it is The priority does not date back further than reflect biosystematicrelationship sa sreveale d possible tosubdivide aspecie si n infraspecific May ist 1753,th epublicatio n dateo f Species between taxa by modern botanical research, taxa (, botanical and Plantarum ed. 1b y Linnaeus. In this book and unequivocal nomenclature rules havet o forma). binomials were consequently applied for the beapplied . Plant taxonomy hasthre easpects : Infraspecific taxaar ebase do n discontinuities first time to all included species names. identification, classification and nomencla­ in the species variation, but the species con­ ture. tinues to act as a genetic entity. Taxonomy of cultivated Cultivated plants are derived from wild or Identification Nomenclature weedy plants. This process, domestication, Plant taxonomy asa science ismakin gus eo f It is necessary to haveinternationall y agreed meansadaptatio n ofplant s to the man-made similarities anddifferences . Basedo n similar­ principles and rules for the nomenclature of habitat. The way in which domestication itiesplant sar egroupe d inon etaxon .Separat e taxa to warrant an unequivocal communica­ proceeds depends on different factors: taxa assuc h can be described by differences. tion about plants. -The duration and locality of in­ The distinction, recognition and, as aconse ­ These nomenclature principles and rules are fluence; quence, identification of taxa are thus made laid down in the International Code of -The mode of human influence (direct-plant possible by differences. Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN, latest edi­ breeding; indirect); tion 1983). E.g. a name has to be a - The human usage(s) of plants. Classification Latin or latinized substantif, starting with a Therefore, the domestication effect can be The process of comparison that will result in capital (e.g. Cucumis).Th e names of species expressed in a very different way and to a the hierarchical arrangement of all taxa belonging totha t genusar eforme d byaddin g very different extent. Some cultivated plants forming the Vegetable Kingdom is named a Latin epithet (e.g.Cucumis sativus), writte n somuc h resemblethei rwil do rweed yparents , classification. in lower case. that they can hardly be distinguished. The degree, in which differences determine In tob elegitimate ,botanica l namesar e Others, however, differ from their ancestors the distinction of a taxon, isindicate d byth e subject to a number of conditions laid down to such an extent that only detailed studies rank ofthat taxon, or-to put it otherwise- in the ICBN: can reveal their biosystematic relationships. byth esystemati cpositio n ofthat taxon inth e -Concerning and orthography, the Classification of cultivatedplants classification system.Som ewell-know nrank s name must be in accordance with the The classification of cultivated plants-and are: , genusan dspecies .Severa lgener a ICBN; consequently their nomenclature-is com­ can be attributed to a family; several species -The name must be validly published: plex, both because domestication effects can to a genus etc. a) it must beeffectivel y published (e.g.i na be interpreted in different ways and because The rank of species isbasal .Eac h individual well-distributed journal); they are subject to two essentially different plant can be assigned to a species. Although b) it must beaccompanie d bya description approaches of classification: ' or diagnosis (from January ist 1935on ­ it seemst o be almost impossible todefin e the -Botanical classification, reflecting biosys­ wards in Latin); term species,a specie si sgenerall y considered tematic relationships between cultivated asa population , within which individualsar e c) the author must haveindicate d anomen - plants and their relatives; clatural type (from January ist 1958on ­ -Agricultural classification, emphasizing wards this type must be cited in the •W. A. Brandenburg, Agricultural University, characteristics significant in cultivation. Dept. Plant Taxonomy, Wageningen. publication). **F. Schneider, Governmental Institute for Thetyp emetho dconnect splan t material and Nomenclature of cultivatedplants Research on Varieties of Cultivated Plants, its name. In case of the name of a family, a As far as not regulated by the ICBN, nomen­ Wageningen. genus, aspecie so r a taxon of lower rank, the clatureo f cultivated plants isgoverne d byth e

Chronica Horticulturae, Vol.25 Number 1 March 1985 Intenational Code of Nomenclature for Cul­ The namingo fcultiva r groups isnot yet une­ Registration trials tivated Plants (ICNCP, 1980). With respect quivocally regulated, and, moreover, iti sno t Registration trials describe, classify and to theter mcultiva rth eICNC Pread s(art .10) : clear whether groups should be names plant material; so it is taxonomie re­ 'The international term cultivar denotes an based on botanical characters, or on charac­ search, mainly of cultivated plants. The assemblage of cultivated plants which is ters important in agriculture. objective of this research isth e distinction of clearly distinguished by any character (mor­ Concerning nomenclature of cultivated assemblages of plants (). phological, physiological, cytological, chem­ plants, raised after interspecific or inter- An essential characteristic of acultiva ri stha t ical or others) and which, when reproduced generic hybridization, authors are let free it also conforms to its description after re­ (sexually or asexually) retains itsdistinguish ­ choice whether they use the relevant rules of production or propagation. In this way it is ing characters'. the ICBN, or of the ICNCP.Thi s means that possible to attach breeders's rightst o aculti ­ The term cultivar has been introduced after in taxonomically comparable situations dif­ var,whic h isa form ofpatenting .Onl yi fsuc h the desirability was felt to make a clear dis­ ferent systems of nomenclature can be used. rights are connected with a distinct cultivar, tinction between botanical varieties and Thisaspec t will haveou rattentio n inth enea r it can be limited and maintained, and the cultivars (cultivated varieties). future. duties connected with such rights can be Botanical varieties areo facertai n rank.The y Cultivated plants represent economic and defined and controlled. can be distinguished within a species, if the juridical interests. Therefore name changes Quality control of and plants requires infraspecific variation is discontinuous to caused by changed opinions as to classifica­ that the work of inspection services is based such an extent that naming of separate enti­ tion or by application of the principleo f pri­ on defined cultivars. ties within that species makes sense. ority, necessitating a replacement of world­ Finally alsoperformanc e trialsmak en osens e A cultivar is an assemblage of cultivated wide accepted names by older but unknown at alli fth econclusion s cannot beattache d to plants obtained after selection and/orfeven names,ar e bothersome.Severa l international describable and fixed cultivars. For many of Botanicalvarietie sdependen t onthei rdescen ­ organizations (EEC, ISTA, OECD, UPOV these activities registration is a necessity and dance.Tha t iswh ythe y haven ocertai n rank. etc.) are dealing with the stabilization of often even a legal condition as laid down in Anyhow, they are alwaysth e lowest ranking plant names. This has resulted in the ISTA national laws and EEC regulations. In these entity to be distinguished. The mode of re­ List of Stabilized Plant Names containing cases official examination trials are carried production of cultivars may differ per crop. species names of economically important out by the authorities. In thesetrial s distinct­ After reproduction the distinguishingcharac ­ plants.Name s on thelis tar efixed fo r aperio d ness, homogeneity and stability of varieties ters must not be changed. of six years. In 1982 the Sydney Botanical are studied. The many cultivars extant and the rapidly Congress allowed the possibility to conserve In the caseo f breeder's rights thenovelt y ofa changing assortments necessitate flexible species names. cultivar plays an important role.Th equestio n rules to name cultivars: These initiativesshoul d lead toa stabilizatio n is, whether the cultivar was not brought into - Since January ist of 1959moder n cultivars of plant names in one list, allowing changes circulation before the time of registration. have to be indicated by a fancy name con­ by exception. This will be an advantage in The investigation is usually restricted to the sisting of at most 3 words in a modern international trade, and eases the work in check on accounts in variety lists, and on language, every word starting witha capita l legal affairs. offers in advertisements or catalogues. In and attached to the . The Taxonomy of cultivated plants does play a cases of doubt more data are collected. This abbreviation cv., has to bepu t between the role inou r dailylif ea swell .Term slik egrains , part of registration research is in fact not a botanical name and the cultivar epithet or vegetables and are remnants of old form of taxonomy. Thereagainst investiga­ the cultivar epithet has to be put between classifications as can be found in tions with respect to distinctness, uniformity single quotation marks. from the Renaissance period. and stability (criteria laid down in legisla­ Older cultivar epithets are allowed in the In our daily we use crop names such as tions) are to be considered taxonomie re­ Latin form. cucumber, lettuce, tomato, etc., knowing in search. - Commercial synonyms of cultivar epithets these cases exactly what is meant. However, are allowed. common crop namesca n differ very much in Distinctness - The principle of priority will not be abso­ languages and can be interpreted in a com­ The term distinctness means that the con­ lutely applied. If instead of theoldes t culti­ pletely different way. Therefore, theconnec ­ cerning cultivar is clearly distinguished by var epithet a younger synonym isgenerall y ' tion between scientific botanical names and onemor eimportan t character froman yothe r known, that synonym has to be considered common crop names is sometimes hard to cultivar that was known at the time of regis­ correct. find, but has to be found! The Multilingual tration. In thisdefinitio n three complications - Acultiva r epithet islegitimat ei fth ecultiva r Glossary ofCommo n Plant Names,publishe d are hidden asking for further explanation. has been described and published. At the by the ISTA, is a compilation of common The question whether a character is impor­ same time descendance, breeder or winner crop names and their attached botanical tant, is usually approached as follows: It isa may be indicated. name. character which is important for identifica­ Theindicatio n of anomenclatura l typei snot tion.Thi sanswe r does nothel pu sver ymuch . needed. It is, however, desirable to connect Functions of plant taxonomy in agricultural Maybe it is better to say that it concerns a cultivar and cultivar name by meanso f living research character which showsclea rstates which can standard samples( so rplants) ,herbariu m So far a short survey has been given of the beproperl y described. This character should specimens, photographs, drawings etc. field of plant taxonomy. Now we may ask have played a role in the selection of thecul ­ Differences between cultivars are sometimes which role plant taxonomy plays in agricul­ tivar or should at least correlate with such hard to be observed. Therefore, apart from ture, and silviculture. Three characters. From this definition it is clear the description, information about descen­ situations are to be distinguished: that thegrou pimportan t charactersi ssubjec t dance, breeder or winner is important. Iden­ - Some agricultural research especiallyregis ­ to change and therefore has to be studied tification is facilitated if the original plant tration trials, is not only using taxonomy permanently. material (if it stillexists )ca n beconsulte d for but can even be considered to be afor m of How clear adifferenc e hast o bei ssomewha t comparison. taxonomy; more complicated, apart from qualitative - Taxonomy functions as an aid or starting characters showing discontinuous states. Problemsin naming cultivated plants point of various types of agricultural re­ Twocultivar s showinga differenc e for sucha The nomenclature of cultivated plants meets search; character are clearly distinguishable. This is with some problems, for which no generally -The results oftaxonomi einvestigation s are not the case with quantitative characters. accepted solutions are found yet. used in extension, education, trade and They show agradua l transition from state to According to the ICNCP, it is possible to commerce, so in all social situations in state. Although within-cultivar variation place similar cultivars into acultiva r groupi f which vegetable products are to be dealt must be smaller than between-cultivar varia­ one has alarg e assortment ofman y cultivars. with. tion, it is clear that the minimum distance between cultivars is questionable and often science hasbee n formulated earliera sa situa ­ depend on the identity of the plant material subject to different opinions! Therefore re­ tion distinct from registration trials which concerned. This identity must therefore be search on distinctness asks for investigators are in themselves taxonomie investigations. determined, described and connected with a of a comparable level of training and exper­ Theoretically thisdistinctio n iseas y to make, name and furthermore with voucher plant tise. Characters to be measured such assize s but in practice it is hardly possible. This is material tob estored .The n only arepeatabil ­ can be numerically analized. They are then illustrated by evaluation research which has ity of the results is warranted. influenced by the size of trials in place and registration as starting point, and which is time. International agreement onthi spoin ti s descriptive.Registratio n implies,a n objective Taxonomyin ourdaily life desirable and for that reason an important procedure, whereas evaluation is more sub­ Taxonomy isals oimportan t outside the field subject of study for the International Union jective.A tregistratio n onedeal swit hdescrip ­ of research. Man wants to give a name to for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants tive terms like height, size,etc. ,a t evaluation everything what heuses . He isals o forced to (UPOV).Furthermor e it hast o bestate d that with terms like beautiful or ugly, good and classify to find his way between so many of although the difference betweentw ocultivar s bad, and tasteful, etc. plant species and cultivars. is botanically obvious, their distance isa t the Taxonomy is obviously an auxiliary science Without names we cannot do much: plant same time so minimal that the legal effect of where it concerns her relations to plant products are asked andoffere d for saleunde r distinction can be doubtful. breeding: collecting, ordening and recogni­ crop names or cultivar names.A nameact sa s Another more practical difficulty concerns tion of crossing populations enlarge the an important bridge between plant and its the reference cultivars in the trials. Many possible variation which can be used by the performance. Therefore it seems logical that crops contain a huge worldwide assortment plant breeder. An exampleo f co-operation is legislations, which make possible to attach of cultivars of which the survey is not easy, provided by the research programs of the rights and obligations to cultivars, make apart from the fact that it is not easy to have Institute of Horticultural Plant Breeding regulations with respect to nomenclature to at one'sdisposa l alivin gcollectio n containing (IVT) and the AU Department of Plant protect consumer and user. allthes ecultivars . For such cropsa n effective Taxonomy, both at Wageningen. Wild and Nomenclature rules for botanical taxa,culti ­ cultivar classification should be designed. weedy relatives of lettuce, cucumber, varsan dcultiva rgroup sa swel lar eimportan t With effective is meant, that the limits of and lilies are studied taxonomically, before for the relatively small group of botanists, classes are clear, that these limits can be designing interspecific hybridization pro­ and bear a general effect on human society. maintained even after new developments in grams.A nexampl eo f interdisciplinary activ­ plant breeding, that the cultivars are equally ity between plant taxonomy and plant breed­ Conclusion divided over the classes and the number of ing is provided by the research in Genetic cultivars within classes is restricted. Such Taxonomy deals with identification, classifi­ Resources Centres. The main activities there cation and nomenclature. Parts of agricul­ classifications would ease registration work are collecting, conserving, describing and considerably. tural research like registration work must be ordening: typical taxonomie activities pro­ considered a special form of taxonomy. In For generatively reproduced crops,conserva ­ vidingplan t breeders withdat ao n whichthe y various other types of agricultural research tion is possible by means of seed storage. can rely for future breeding programs. dealing with plants,taxonom y actsa sa Vegetatively propagated crops areofte n con­ Concerning further agricultural research, it auxiliary science. can generally bestated , that inal lcase swher e served by means of descriptions, The taxonomy of cultivated plants is in need plants aresubjec t of investigations theresult s specimens, photographs, drawings, etc., al­ of further research and refinement. though it can never replace the storage of living plant material.

Uniformity andstability News from the ISHS Secretariat A cultivar must be uniform. This warrants the possibility to circumscribe the cultivar and it informs the user about the characteris­ New Individual Members F. Hughes, Gerald H. Verkade, D. W. tics of the cultivar. Uniformity is of impor­ Individual members who joined us by an Kretchman, S. G. Polies, Russell J. Balge, tance for the breeder too, because in caseo f application through the ISHS Secretariat: Mark Sherman, David Palzkill, Wayne S. heterogeneity it is relatively easy for his Australia: R. W. Skinner, Dr. M. Sedgley; Johnson, WilliamG .Chace ,Rober tM .Pool , competitors to develop newcultivar sfro m his Belgium: C. D. Slijkhuis; Brazil:Margre t K. Marvin Lee Baker, Frank T. Yoshikawa, cultivar. Mukai; Canada: A. Mackenzie, F. Bigras; Patrick Emeka Igbokwe, Robert L. Haynes, Moreover,uniformit y isa reasonabl ewarran t Denmark: Dr. L. B0gh-Sorensen, J. Lobe- Catherine G. Cavaletto. for stability of the cultivar: If a breeder is danz, S. Ramborg; Egypt: Samy Ismaiel capable to deliver a uniform sample to the Gaafar; France:Jean-Françoi s Grange, A. New Affiliated members registration office, he is mostly also capable Bailie;Germany. F.R.: Dr .Konra d Mackrofh; Denmark:Grodani a A/S,Hedehusene ;Italy: to keep the variety stable. Ireland: Tom O'Flaherty; Israel: Dr. Ehud Centro Ricerche Energia Casaccia, Rome; Dayan; Italy: Paolo di Lenna; Japan: Dr. USA: Haus Edelweis Ltd, Elma; New York Nomenclature Kenji Kurata; Korea: Mie Soon Lee Kim; State Agricultural Experiment Station, Naming isa typica l taxonomieactivit y and is Netherlands:Cecili a Stanghellini, A. P. M. Geneva. important for registration. In all cases in Den Nijs, A. M. G. v.d. Kieboom, E. M. which plant material ofcultivar s ist ob edeal t Nederhoff, C. M. M. Winden, Sheryl Ann Fromth e Financial Department with, names stand for an identifying descrip­ Tooze, D. Klapwijk, P. J. A. L. de Lint, To reduce costs of banking activities and to tion. Such names should not be confusing W. v.d. Arend; New Zealand:T . F. Day; facilitatepayment st oan dfro m our accounts, with respect to characters, provenance or Portugal: Ana Maria Silva; UnitedKingdom: the secretariat will in future open more origin of cultivars and should not resemble Dr. B.J . Baily;U.S.A.: William A. Cunning­ accounts in member-countries. Recently we names of other cultivars in a confusing way. ham,Prof .Dr .C .va nBavel ,Rand y Peterson, have opened an account with the Bank of An important task of registration research is Hong-Lim Choi, Ralph P. Prince, John D. America, Davis, California, USA. to screen the names on the mentioned condi­ Ridley, Kuo Jong Lin, Kirsten Zoeller, Please find below the accounts we have out­ tions.Thereb y data arecollecte dfro m catalo­ Cheryl A. Engelkes, Stephen G. Dewald, side the Netherlands: gues,registers ,variet y listsandothe r publica­ Frank William, Renee M. Harber, Jose Emilio Saudi, William S.Lanterman , Edwin tions. In the near future the computer will Australia:Th e National Bank-Parramatta- B.Oyer ,Rick yScaffidi , JamesF . Harrington, play an important role in this work. 83 Macquarie St. NSW 082-415, Australia. Robert L. Shewfelt, Richard T. Johnson, number0 0 145-0641. Guillermo J. Fornaris-Rullan, James E. Plant taxonomyas an auxiliary science Federal Republic of Germany: Bayerische Klett,Pau l L.Daum ,Marvi n P.Pritts ,Henr y The use of plant taxonomy as an auxiliary Vereinsbank, Untere Hauptstrasse 5, 8050

Chronica Horticulturae, Vol.25 Number I March 1985