59th session of the UPOV Technical Working Group on Vegetable Species (TWV)
From 5 to 8 May 2025, UPOV held its working week on aspects related to vegetable crops. This TWV (Technical Working Group for Vegetable Species) brought together around 60 participants representing their respective countries or organisations.
In addition to reviewing general documents (UPOV activities and news, information on the PLUTO database, international cooperation, etc.), more technical presentations were shared. These included presentations by the CPVO on technical discussions arising from last autumn’s European working group (VEM_Vegetable experts’ meeting):
- DUS characteristics observed only once,
- project on new characteristics of varietal resistance.
Exchanges followed on the international harmonisation of protocols related to resistance characteristics.
GEVES led two sessions to revise guidelines: a complete revision of the UPOV garlic guidelines, which will continue next year, and a partial revision of the lettuce guidelines, which should be officially validated next autumn and published in 2026. GEVES was also heavily involved in other revisions (aubergine, asparagus, cucumber/gherkin, tomato and tomato rootstock and parsley, among others). Revisions were also proposed on characteristics of resistance to clubroot in certain cabbages. Ginger and shiitake were also on the agenda.
Our Austrian counterparts presented their specific work required for establishing the DUS in oil squashes: a complete revision of the TG courgette will therefore be initiated and presented at the next TWV scheduled in California in May 2026.
