France
April 2026
At its meeting on 17 March 2026, the “Vegetable Species” Section of the CTPS approved the proposal to include 13 varieties (cauliflower, cucumber, shallot, endive, melon and chilli) and, subject to confirmation of characteristics to be observed during the spring 2026 growth period, will propose the registration of several varieties of carrot and cauliflower on List A this summer. In addition to the annual review of the official variety inspections carried out last year, this March meeting of the Vegetable Section was notable in particular for discussions on evolving DUS methodologies (coded field trials, molecular markers replacing biotests, vegetable races) as well as several presentations and discussions regarding contributions from the Section and the Official Catalogue to vegetable production (Vegetable Operational Programmes, Seeds & Plants Plan for Sustainable Agriculture).
As regards DUS studies, as is customary, the Section’s March meeting examines the dossiers finalised since the Section’s December meeting; for this March 2026 meeting, more than thirty varieties (cauliflower, cucumber, shallot, endive, spinach, lettuce, melon and chilli), of which 13 have been proposed for registration. The Section is also informed of all the results of the maintenance checks carried out in 2025. This type of check on registered varieties serves to validate their stability and thus their continued listing in the Catalogue. This type of check, outsourced to GEVES, validates the quality of maintenance carried out by seed establishments, whether for recently created varieties or for old varieties, the definition of which is sometimes wider than for contemporary varieties.
With regard to coded field trials conducted outside GEVES stations, these are permitted in DUS studies for the purposes of entry into the Catalogue, in order to fully demonstrate the distinction between two varieties under conditions known to and selected by the applicant. As vegetable production is becoming increasingly segmented, with growing conditions and practices not always replicated at GEVES stations, it can sometimes be difficult to sufficiently validate the differences between certain varieties in such trials. Noting that the observation of preliminary indications of differences between varieties at GEVES stations remains an essential prerequisite, and based on feedback on this matter in 2025, the Section has agreed to initiate discussions through a dedicated working group regarding a possible adaptation of the procedures for conducting these coded field trials.
With regard to the use of molecular markers to predict phenotypes of resistance or susceptibility to pests, the Section continued the discussions on this subject that had begun at the meeting on 17 December 2025. For the record, this concerns the quasi-routine use of molecular markers to validate resistance or susceptibility to three pests in tomatoes (Fusarium oxysporum lycopersici:1, ToMV and TSWV). If the results obtained do indeed validate these markers, the Section has approved the routine use of these markers, together with two others to be added (most likely Passalora fulva and Fusarium oxysporum lycopersici: 2), for the registration of tomato varieties in late 2026.
With regard to vegetable cultivars – a specific feature of the Vegetable Catalogue – the Section was informed of the work being carried out by a dedicated working group. For the record, a vegetable breed is a selection within an old variety (known before 1 July 1970 as defined in Directive 2002/55) characterised by a lower level of uniformity compared to that of the original old variety. Commonly developed in the 1970s–1990s, these races made it possible to begin adapting the vegetable varieties of the time to market gardeners’ innovative production methods. Although they are less common in vegetable crops today, they remain significant, as evidenced by the commercial catalogues of some fifteen seed companies. For certain varieties, the availability in GEVES cold rooms of seeds from a single race for half of the heritage varieties in question could lead GEVES to validate a DUS characteristic for a deposited accession, even though it might be a race of one of these heritage varieties, a race for which seeds are not available at GEVES. A collaborative approach, such as that currently in place for the provision of seeds from genetic resources or differential hosts (MATREF), was proposed. The Section approved the continuation of this working group’s deliberations, in particular to better identify the scope of the work for a future collaborative initiative to be proposed.
With regard to the Section’s and the Official Catalogue’s contributions to sustainable vegetable production, the Section has been informed by the DGPE (Ministry of Agriculture) that it has been asked to update lists of varieties that help reduce the use of crop protection products. As the Fruit CTPS Section has already begun this work with the same objective in mind, a working group from the Vegetable CTPS Section is invited to propose ways of contributing to this request.
Finally, the 2019–24 Seed and Plant Plan for Sustainable Agriculture and the Vegetable Section’s contributions to this initiative were presented to the Section. A review of the 2019–24 SPAD’s activities will be prepared for the May 2026 CTPS Plenary Meeting, and discussions regarding a future 2028–32 SPAD will take place in the coming months.
Topics
Species
