Review of the Protocols Used for Assessment of DUS and VCU in Europe – Perspectives

Abstract

The multipurpose function of turf and forage grasses and legumes makes determining Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) extremely complex and makes providing definitive assessments of Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) a multifaceted process. DUS testing of grasses and legumes is internationally harmonised and the principles, logistics and effectiveness of this system is reviewed. The outline procedures and characteristics involved in the VCU testing of both turf and forage varieties is explained and evidence of their effectiveness is evaluated against how well they meet the end-users requirements. The future challenges and prospects for all three systems are discussed, with particular reference to three issues varieties; the DUS challenge of providing protection for ever rising numbers of existing; the proposed pan-EU harmonised turf VCU testing scheme; the acute need for forage VCU to address serious issues concerning more specific evidence of ruminant production benefits from ‘improved’ varieties.