About data and sources
Where the reference book gets information about varieties, what it does, and what it does not.
The reference book aggregates records from official registries and catalogs into a single variety profile. In the registries themselves, a variety is separated by jurisdiction: the same maize is listed as a separate entry in the Polish catalog, a separate one in the Ukrainian, and a separate one in the EU plant variety registry. Bringing them together can only be done manually, and we do this for the reader.
Each field in the profile traces back to a specific publication: not just "according to registry data," but to an issue with a date. If there is no information in the source, the field remains empty—we do not infer missing details.
What statuses mean
Admission — the variety is entered into the national catalog, and its seeds are permitted for sale in that country. Plant breeders' rights — a breeder's patent is in effect, and propagation requires a license. These are independent concepts: a variety may be admitted but not protected, or protected but not admitted.
The expiration date of protection is estimated: the term is calculated from the date of grant according to the jurisdiction's rules. Early termination upon the right holder's request is not always reflected in public announcements, so please check the primary source before entering into a transaction.
Names
The variety name is a proper noun recorded in the registry and is not translated. Crop names have been translated into Russian and Ukrainian: the search supports both alphabets, and "Кукурудза" finds the same results as Zea mays.
A single variety is often registered under multiple designations—a breeder's reference, a trade name, or a synonym. All known variants are shown in the profile and are included in the search.
Data sources
Full list of sources-
Common Catalogue of varieties
Official Journal of the EU / EUR-Lex
Primary source for EU admission. Use this, not the aggregator.
-
CPVO Official Gazette
Community Plant Variety Office
Official gazette. Not to be confused with CPVO Variety Finder, which aggregates PLUTO and is not accessible to us.
-
State Register of Plant Varieties
Мінагрополітики України
Key source for the Ukrainian market: admission to circulation and plant breeders' rights for Ukrainian varieties.
-
Descriptive variety list
ILVO, Flanders (Belgium)
Source class for search-driven traffic: variety comparison scales.
-
Beschreibende Sortenliste
Bundessortenamt, Germany
Admission records are provided as a general export; parsing of descriptive characteristics has not been initiated.
-
National catalogues
COBORU (PL), Bundessortenamt (DE), GEVES (FR)
Admission records are provided as a bulk dump; parsing of descriptive characteristics has not been implemented.
What this directory does not do
Does not replace the official register
Only official publications are legally binding. The directory serves as a navigator, not a source of law. Verify with the primary source before entering into any transaction.
Does not publish restricted databases
We only use data from open publications and registries that permit reuse. Information available only through a paid subscription from the rights holder is not included in the directory.
Does not fabricate characteristics
If a variety lacks a description in the source, the field remains empty. An empty field is more reliable than plausible fiction — it informs sowing decisions.
Found an error in the record?
Registries contradict each other more often than we would like: one company may be listed in a dozen ways, and a variety appears under different names. If you see an inaccuracy, please let us know; we will correct it and cite the source.
Found an error in the record?
The directory replicates the primary source. If an entry differs from the official publication, please specify the discrepancy and provide a link if possible. Corrections are added to the moderation queue.