New non-transgenic plants (including multicellular algae, multicellular fungi and lichens), plant varieties, plant tissue culture and breeding methods, methods for altering phenotypes.

Methods for promoting plant growth with electric lighting, magnetic treatments or acoustic treatments, without the purpose of creating a new plant or plant variety, are classified in A01G 7/04 – A01G 7/045.

A01H does not cover undifferentiated plant cells or plant cell lines, unicellular algae, or unicellular fungi.

Plant cells, plant tissues and plant cell lines that are not being reproduced or regenerated into new plants or new plant varieties are classified in C12N 5/04 or C12N 5/14.

Cell culture media therefor are classified in C12N 5/0025.

Apparatus and devices specifically adapted to ferment or grow plant cell or plant cell lines are classified in C12M 1/00 or C12M 3/00.

Measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acids are classified in C12Q.

A01H groups and subgroups are globally directed to tissue culture and classical breeding techniques and C12N 15/82 subgroups to transgenics. However, the two are not mutually exclusive. For example, traits which have been identified and used in transgenics may warrant classification in both areas, as may regeneration methods, which are part of a transformation protocol.

Main groups A01H 1/00 – A01H 4/00 are used for new methods or processes that bring a technical contribution over the prior art. Methods or processes representing the state of the art are not classified. Technical contributions may or may not be claimed and should be well characterised or preferably exemplified.

Main groups A01H 5/00 – A01H 17/00 are only used for new, non-transgenic plants (usually varieties).

Particular plant taxons must be cross-classified in the subgroups of A01H 5/00 – A01H 5/12 corresponding to the plant part and cross-classified in the subgroups of A01H 6/00 – A01H 11/00, A01H 17/00 according to plant taxons.

Breeding methods as further defined by the sub-groups.

Plants characterized by non-agronomic quality traits, agronomic yield or resistance aspects.

Creation of hybrids, interspecific crossing, genic (e.g. male or female A01H 1/022 – A01H 1/024) and nongenic (e.g. by using chemicals A01H 1/026) sterility systems. Apparatus for pollination in A01H 1/027.

Methods for preparing hybrid plant cells or cell lines by protoplast fusion of two or more cells without reproducing a new plant are classified in C12N 15/02.

Marker-assisted breeding; specific allelic combination. Methods of using phenotypic markers for selection, where the traits are outside of the scope of the output or input traits listed in A01H 1/10 – A01H 1/129.

Marker-assisted breeding includes selecting traits based on morphological (phenotypic), biochemical, cytological or DNA/RNA (genotypic) variation. When the process of selection includes chemical analysis of the marker, testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods or the immunological testing of plant cells, then it is also classified in G01N 33/5097.

Marker-assisted breeding using molecular markers described by a specific sequence.

Nucleic acid primers and probes used in marker-assisted breeding processes for detection or identification of plants, fungi or algae are classified in C12Q 1/6895.

Molecular breeding and marker-assisted breeding techniques for transgenic traits in plants are classified in C12N 15/8201 – C12N 15/8214.

Altering repair and recombination systems.

Methods for generating mutant plant cell lines without inserting foreign genetic material, e.g. by using chemical mutagens or specific culture conditions and do not result in producing new plants are classified in C12N 15/01.

Creation of haploids or doubled haploids.

Apparatus or devices specifically adapted for producing plants with changes in chromosome number, e.g. haploids or double haploids, and methods based on the use or operation of the apparatus or its parts.

Methods that take place within an apparatus adapted for producing plants with changes in chromosome number, which are not based on the use or operation of the apparatus or its parts, are classified in A01H 1/08.

Production of plants with modified non-agronomic traits, for instance traits associated with the production of biomolecules like nicotine or caffeine, or modification of lipid or pigment metabolisms.

Flower development or morphology, resistance to pathogens, climate, herbicide or hormone-influenced development.

Methods for modifying phenotypes without modifying genotypes.

Modification of the phenotypes by controlling duration, wavelength, intensity or periodicity of illumination are classified in A01H 3/02. But modification of the phenotypes by treatment with chemicals are classified in A01H 3/04.

Processes of treating unicellular algae, unicellular fungi, plant cells or plant cell lines, with electrical or wave energy, magnetism or sound waves are classified in C12N 13/00.

Processes of illuminating plants with electric lighting for the purpose of promoting plant growth are classified in A01G 7/045.

Tissue culture techniques, apparatus, culture media for plant reproduction; methods for micropropagation; methods for regeneration to complete plants.

Horticultural methods for soilless cultivation of plants, e.g. hydroponics, growing plants in gravel, vermiculite, rice hulls, coconut coir or foam fibres are classified in A01G 31/00.

Undifferentiated plant cells, plant cell lines or plant cell tissues, wherein no new plants are produced, are classified in C12N 5/04.

Apparatus or devices specifically adapted for reproducing or regenerating whole plants by plant tissue culture and methods based on the use or operation of the apparatus or its parts.

Apparatus or devices specifically adapted for fermentation or growth of unicellular algae or unicellular fungi, i.e. bioreactors and fermenters, are classified in C12M 1/00.

Apparatus or devices specifically adapted to culture plant cells, plant cell lines, i.e. bioreactors and fermenters, are classified in C12M 3/00.

Methods that take place within an apparatus adapted for tissue culture which are not based on the use or operation of the apparatus or its parts are classified in A01H 4/00 and A01H 4/005 – A01H 4/008.

Tissue culture media for plant reproduction.

Cell culture media for cultivating or maintaining plant cells or plant cell lines without reproducing a new plant are classified in C12N 5/0025.

Methods for influencing chemically the growth of plants without producing new plants are classified in A01N 25/00 – A01N 65/00.

Cutting apparatus or devices specifically adapted for plant tissue culture techniques and methods based on the use or operation of the apparatus or its parts.

Apparatus or devices for plant tissue disaggregation are classified in C12M 3/08.

Methods that take place within a cutting apparatus specially adapted for tissue culture, which are not based on the use or operation of the apparatus or its parts, are classified in A01H 4/00 and A01H 4/005 – A01H 4/008, e.g. reproducing plants by tissue culture techniques.

New non-transgenic angiosperms further sub-divided according to their plant parts.

It is mandatory to classify an A01H 5/00 symbol in addition to a symbol from A01H 6/00 – A01H 11/00 and A01H 17/00. A01H 5/00 symbols may not be assigned alone.

A01H 5/00 classification symbols are not listed first when assigned to patent documents, but are listed as invention information.

Plant parts are assigned based on the part having commercial or economic value. These parts may or may not be reflected by what is exemplified or claimed. In the event that the plant has multiple parts with commercial or economic value, classification is allocated based on the plant part or product to which a technical contribution is made.

When the entire plant has commercial or economic value or makes a technical contribution, it is classified in A01H 5/00.

New non-transgenic angiosperms. Those non-transgenic angiosperms with a new combination of genes, those described by phenotype or a single allele.

In all cases, allocation of the relevant plant part in A01H 5/00 is mandatory. A01H 6/00 symbols may be listed first when assigned to patent documents.

A01H 6/00 is allocated for new non-transgenic angiosperms that are not otherwise characterised by a further defined subgroup.

New non-transgenic gymnosperms, e.g. conifers.

New non-transgenic pteridophytes, e.g. ferns, club-mosses or horse-tails.

New non-transgenic bryophytes, e.g. mosses or liverworts.

New non-transgenic multicellular algae.

Horticultural methods for cultivating multicellular algae or seaweed are classified in A01G 33/00.

New natural isolates of unicellular algae, or mutants where the mutated gene is not known, are classified in C12N 1/125.

Culture media for unicellular algae, compositions comprising unicellular algae and processes of isolating, maintaining or propagating unicellular algae are classified in C12N 1/12.

Looping references between A01H 13/00 and C12N 1/12 have been identified.

Until this inconsistency is resolved in IPC, the current classification practice in CPC is as follows:

From the perspective of A01H 13/00, the reference C12N 1/12 is limiting. C12N 1/12 relates to unicellular algae and culture media therefor. From the perspective of C12N 1/12, the reference A01H 13/00 is application oriented.

New non-transgenic multicellular fungi or lichens.

New natural isolates of unicellular fungi, or mutants where the mutated gene is not known are classified in C12N 1/145.

Culture media for unicellular fungi, compositions comprising unicellular fungi, and processes of isolating, maintaining or propagating unicellular fungi are classified in C12N 1/14.

Looping references between A01H 15/00 and C12N 1/14 have been identified.

Until this inconsistency is resolved in IPC, the current classification practice in CPC is as follows:

From the perspective of A01H 15/00, the reference C12N 1/14 is limiting. C12N 1/14 relates to unicellular fungi and culture media therefor. From the perspective of C12N 1/14, the reference A01H 15/00 is application oriented.

New non-transgenic symbiotic or parasitic combinations including one or more new plants, e.g. mycorrhiza.