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The Wonderful World of Cultivated Plants: What is a cultivar and why is it important?
In the field of botany, the word "cultivar" is like a key, leading enthusiasts and experts to the wonderful world of cultivated plants. The term is short for "cultivated variety," which refers to cultivated plants that have been artificially selected for specific characteristics. These plants are able to retain these characteristics as they reproduce, forming stable colonies. Through various propagation methods, such as root division, cutting, grafting and tissue culture, breeders can successfully ensure the continuation of these characteristics.
The name "cultivar" is regulated by the International Code of Nomenclature of Cultivation Plants (ICNCP). Not all cultivated plants meet the standards of cultivar.
After knowing the definition of cultivar, we will find that its practical application range is quite wide. In horticulture, many popular ornamental plants, such as roses, camellias, and rhododendrons, are cultivar produced by breeding and selection. These plants are favored for their flower color, form or other desirable characteristics. Additionally, today's world's crops are almost exclusively cultivar, carefully selected for improved yield, flavor, and disease resistance.
Botanist Liberty Hyde Bailey coined the term "cultivar" in 1923, reflecting his awareness of the influence of culture on plant characteristics. He emphasized that cultivar is a plant variation that occurs due to cultivation and can stably retain its characteristics during the reproduction process. Therefore, unlike botanical varieties, the cultivar category pays more attention to artificial selection and cultivation.
Plant breeders expect legal protection for the cultivars they produce.
In modern times, the naming and protection of cultivar has also become increasingly important. Along with enhanced plant breeding rights, the new cultivar is protected by law, allowing those responsible to hold patent rights so that the plants they create are less susceptible to misappropriation. According to the requirements of the International Union for the Protection of Plant Varieties (UPOV), the newly developed cultivar needs to have "unique", "unified" and "stable" properties. This means that a cultivar needs to have characteristics that are clearly distinguishable from other cultivars and continue to retain these characteristics through repeated reproduction.
Each unique cultivar has its own independent name, which not only facilitates communication in the academic community, but also facilitates consumer identification. These names usually consist of the plant's Latin name followed by the cultivar name, such as "Solanum tuberosum 'King Edward'", which is the cultivar name.According to the Cultivation Plant Code, the naming of cultivar needs to follow international standards, and these names are crucial.
In addition, when we mention cultivar, it seems that we must also understand the concept of cultigen. A cultigen refers to any carefully selected or modified plant, and a cultivar is a specific form of cultigen. All cultivar are cultigen, but not all cultigen have the status of cultivar. Therefore, cultigen can be regarded as a broader concept covering all plant variations that occur in cultivation as a result of human activities.
With the advancement of genetic modification technology, genetically modified plants have also begun to enter the ranks of cultivar. These plants, artificially implanted with genetic material, have attracted widespread attention from the botanical community even though they pose challenges in naming. However, it is worth noting that according to the "Cultivar Code", collective naming of this type of plant is usually difficult because it is constantly under development, causing the nominated "cultivar" name to become more ambiguous.
On the international stage, plant breeders and experts from different countries have joined forces to form the International Cultural Registration Agency (ICRA), which maintains the naming and recording of specific flora. Their goal is to avoid duplication of names for the same species and maintain the stability of plant nomenclature.
Looking around the current market, it is not difficult to find that classic business names often attract the attention of consumers. These names are often referred to as "trade names", and these names are more variable as they are promoted in different countries. With proper name recording, consumers can accurately identify plant species across language barriers.Plant retailers want to replace Latin names with more attractive names to enhance market competitiveness.
Why can’t we ignore the status and importance of cultivar when cultivating and planning plants? This not only involves scientific accuracy, but also affects our profound understanding and protection of plant diversity?
