![Potato fruits from multiplication plots](/upload_mm/f/c/2/b3c3430c-c101-4c64-91d8-e70e5aac4f20_field_fruits_b5885f31_750x400.jpg)
Availability and plant health requirements
Within the European Union only potato germplasm screened for quarantine diseases can be distributed, to fulfill the requirements for an EU plant passport (EC, 1997). Otherwise the material has to pass a quarantine station.
![Potato fruit and seeds Potato fruit and seeds](/upload_mm/2/0/6/88d5ebe1-021a-494f-8c5f-86cb5ea6d53a_Potaseed2_86ce0bcc_239x191.jpg)
Within the EU, potato germplasm from CGN will be accompanied by a plant passport. Also the user needs to supply a plant passport, when distributing this germplasm or derived material to other users within the EU, according to Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (from November 28, 2019; see page 22). Outside the EU the limitations are set by the regulations of the receiving country.
Since 1986 the plants used for rejuvenation of the seeds are tested for (true-)seed borne diseases to meet the requirement of zero tolerance.
Distribution
The germplasm is freely distributed in a quantity of 50 seeds / sample. However, CGN will only send material when the SMTA has been signed (electronically by means of the click-wrap procedure).
Users are requested to return their evaluation results to CGN. An embargo on the availability of those results for a limited number of years can be agreed upon.
Subsequent distribution
For subsequent passing (and further subsequent passing) of the (derived) material to other users the SMTA has to be used.
In case the germplasm was received from CGN under the previous MTA, then the user is obliged to explicitly state to the new recipient/institution that he/she is also bound by the provision of that MTA (version1998, version20040628) and provide the recipient with all information on that germplasm as supplied by CGN. Also following recipients need to be informed by their material donor.
Dormancy
Due to dormancy it may be difficult to determine the germinability within the first two years after regeneration. Therefore, seed samples may be distributed to the users for which no reliable data on the germination are available yet.
The user is advised to treat the seeds with gibberellic acid (see regeneration of seeds). Because of its seed coat, germinating Solanum lycopersicoides seeds is a special case, see the info on seed treatment from the C.M. Rick Tomato Genetics Resource Center at the University of California (95° F. = 35° C.).
Additional info on germination methods is available from KEW's Seed Information Database (e.g. search for genus Solanum).
Timespan seed delivery
Seed delivery is delayed within the EU by requesting the obligatory Plant Passport from the Dutch Plant Health Service. As soon as these two documents are available, CGN collects the seeds from their storage and sends them to the user. The timespan between initial request and final delivery should be 4 weeks as a maximum.
How to order germplasm
An on line search facility is offered for accessions that received a CGN number so far. There you can select and order the germplasm (click 'Search and request seeds' and select Potato). Only samples that can be freely distributed (screened for quarantine diseases; enough seeds available; good germinability) are included in the regular CGN collections. The 'Procedures' page informs about the procedures CGN uses for seed distribution.
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