California fruit breeder Sun World International has launched an extensive DNA profiling effort in a bid to properly catalogue and identify its seedless table grape, plum, peach and apricot varieties.
The company has built a library of genetic fingerprints that identify the proprietary fruit varieties it develops at its research and development centre, according to senior vice-president David Marguleas.
The varieties, which form the basis for Sun World’s own California fruit production as well as that of its international licences, are protected under either plant breeders’ rights or plant patent rights in the US, Europe, South Africa, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and other countries.
“DNA analyses are undertaken at leading DNA test facilities in North America and Europe, where Sun World is able to accurately catalogue and identify its varieties,” said Marguleas.
“Effective intellectual property protection remains critical to our long-term success as a breeder, producer, marketer and licenser of new fruit varieties,” he continued. “This new DNA testing programme - utilising well-established, recognised technology and involving initial fingerprinting as well as random market checks throughout the fruit season - provides Sun World with a powerful tool in the protection of valuable fruit varieties.”
The DNA of suspect fruit purchased in the marketplace can easily be extracted, tested and analysed to determine whether it originated from Sun World’s breeding programmes. “This fingerprinting capability, coupled with the expanded new legal protection that many countries’ plant variety rights legislation offers breeders by preventing the sale of infringing fruit, will bolster intellectual property rights and encourage added investment in variety development programmes,” Marguleas added.
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