UNDISSEMINATED CULTIVARS

Introduction:

Cultivars submitted to the Trial Gardens (TG) and for Seedling Bench Evaluation (SBE) must comply with the eligibility rules for undisseminated dahlias. These cultivars must be
1) initially grown from seed and propagated for a total of three years, minimum, or
2) a mutation or sudden variation or change in color, form, size or other characteristic of a dahlia plant or plant part "sport" perpetuated by vegetative propagation rather than from seed in the first year and then propagated for a minimum of three years and during this period has demonstrated no reversion to the original variety. All sports, whether multicolored or solid, are eligible for submission to the SBE or TG as an undisseminated cultivar.

In order for cultivars, domestic or foreign, to qualify as undisseminated and be eligible for TG and or SBE, they must not be available to the public by any means. All stock of a cultivar within the confines of the United States or Canada must be controlled by one individual (originator, introducer, and/or grower) and be entered into competition by its cultivar identification, the name of originator and the name of the exhibitor.

Dissemination Practices and Rules:

Sports: Only tuber entries of a sport are acceptable for trial garden evaluation.

Naming and Exhibiting Undisseminated Cultivars: An undisseminated cultivar must be named with a two-digit numeric prefix and the originator's choice of an original name or possess a wholly numeric identifier. An undisseminated cultivar may compete in show competition for one or more years before it is submitted to a TG or SBE. Cultivars are eligible for SBE or TG competition for a period of two years provided the originator/introducer has notified the appropriate committee chairs. Thereafter, the cultivar is no longer "undisseminated" and the originator/introducer pledges to use best efforts to put the cultivar into commerce with the original name, minus the numerical prefix, if it scores 85 or more. An undisseminated cultivar may be given to another grower who may enter it in open competition without compromising the undisseminated status as long as the originator assigns the proper numeric prefix and variety name or number.

TG and SBE Competition Procedures: An originator may elect after receiving trial garden and/or seedling bench scores to hold a cultivar for further competition the following year; s/he must notify the Trial Garden Committee Chair and/or the Seedling Bench Evaluation Chair prior to October 10. After this notification, a numeric prefix will be added to the cultivar's name on all reports. It will then be listed in the following March Bulletin but not in the latest Classification and Handbook of Dahlias.

Examples of Open Horticultural Competition Procedures: Flashinpan (name of cultivar) entered in open horticultural competition in 2002 (the last two digits of the year entered in a show or some other numeric two-digit system of the originator's choosing) will be identified as 02-Flashinpan. If an originator does not wish to name a cultivar, a wholly numeric identifier, e.g. 97-008, may be used. Only a numeric prefix and cultivar name combination that wins a blue ribbon will be listed in the 2003 March Bulletin. Either the numeric method or numeric and name, however, will be eligible for trial garden and ADS seedling bench evaluation in 2003 if it has been grown for a minimum of three years.

DISSEMINATED CULTIVARS:

1. A cultivar that is offered for sale, whether it be through a catalog, advertisement, or by any other means.

2. A cultivar, otherwise undisseminated, that an originator distributes by tuber or cutting to other growers without providing an established numeric prefix and name by which the grower can show the seedling in ads sanctioned shows.

3. A cultivar that wins two or more blue ribbons without a name that complies with the rules of undisseminated cultivars.

4. All cultivars that score 85 or higher in a TG or SBE unless notice of delay is given by October 10.

5. A cultivar that is listed in the classification and handbook of dahlias.