The cereals market: how are new varieties named?

It is estimated that an average of 10 new varieties of cereals, vegetables, fruit and other plants are registered every day across the European Union (EU). While the most important selection criteria for farmers are predictable yields and resistance to natural challenges, the uniqueness of varieties is also highlighted by unusual names.

„Dominator“, „LG Academic“, „KWS Umberto“, „Croissant“ are just some of the rather distinctive names of winter oilseed rape varieties. As Dr Žilvinas Liatukas, Head of the Cereal Breeding Unit at the Institute of Agriculture of the Lithuanian Centre of Agrarian and Forestry Sciences (LAMMC), explains, some breeders are trying to create names that are catchy and memorable.

„On the other hand, a catchy name – is not the most important characteristic of a particular variety of cereals or other plants: what is much more important is how well the new variety adapts and the yield increase it can provide. It is good if a variety of oilseed rape or other cereals with a catchy name establishes itself among farmers and produces good results over a number of years. However, there are also cases where a variety with a distinctive name fails to live up to expectations," says Dr. Ž. Liatukas.

No specific rules for naming

While it may seem complicated to come up with a name for a new plant variety, the breeding expert says it is much simpler. There are no specific rules for naming – it's much simpler than that, he says.

„The only requirement – the new name should differ from the previous one by at least two characters. In addition, as names are entered in international catalogues, the Latin alphabet is used to compose them and the number of varieties with other letters – is very small. Breeders in Lithuania also create names that are suitable for the international market, avoiding the use of nasals and other letters typical of our language. However, sometimes varieties are also given names with a wider range of letters “, – comments Dr. Ž. Liatukas.

The specialist recalls that until a few decades ago, it was common to create names with 5 or more words.

„In the past, when fewer plant varieties were being developed, there were some really comical names. Now breeders try to create names that are 2–3, sometimes 4 syllables long, which are short and clear, and this is – normal, because the whole focus has to be on the qualities of the new variety“, – says Dr. Ž. Liatukas.

He believes that breeders normally try to develop complex varieties that are both resistant to pests, diseases and other challenges, as well as producing higher yields. If a variety has only one characteristic, one outstanding feature, but is weaker in other areas, it won't be popular because it simply won't pay to grow it, he says.

„There is no point in growing a disease-resistant cereal variety if it does not produce good yields. Of course, in some regions of the world, there is a need for very specific varieties that are resistant to droughts and lack of rainfall, but do not have high yield potential. However, Europe needs cereal varieties that are both resistant to the challenges of nature and have higher yields," says Dr. Ž. Liatukas.

The expert stresses that the agricultural sector is also facing another major challenge – a growing population. According to the breeding expert, this means that new cereal varieties will have to deliver even higher yields.

„But to produce even higher yields from existing varieties, quality may have to be sacrificed as yield premiums become harder to extract. Agricultural revolutions, the so-called great leaps – are in the past and progress is slow. It may take years or even 10 years for breeders to rebuild the plant gene pool. However, we will have to develop varieties with high biomass and even higher yields," says Dr. Ž. Liatukas.