Washington, DC
May 6, 2003

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued certificates of protection to developers of 24 new varieties of seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants. They include corn, lettuce, muskmelon, pumpkin, soybean and squash.

The 24 certificates are being issued under the Plant Variety Protection Act. The certificates require that the varieties be new, distinct, uniform and stable. The owners will have the exclusive right to reproduce, sell, import and export their products in the United States for the duration of protection.

The 24 certificates are:

• the JCR503, CI9805, and W60028 varieties of field corn, developed by The J. C. Robinson Seed Company, Waterloo, Neb.;
   
• the PH36E, PH3AV, PH6WR, PH4V6, and PH7CH varieties of field corn, developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Johnston, Iowa;
   
• the Seville variety of lettuce, developed by Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Inc., Woodland, Calif.;
   
• the WS24 and PM24 varieties of muskmelon, developed by Abbott & Cobb, Inc., Feasterville, Pa.;
   
• the Mini Treat variety of pumpkin, developed by Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Inc., Oxnard, Calif;
   
• the Nannonatto* and Nornatto* varieties of soybean, developed by NDSU Research Foundation,
  Fargo, N.D.;
   
• the DP 5806 RR, DP 5960 RR, SG 567 RR, SG 597 RR, SG 617 RR, DP 5354, DP 7731, and DP 7375 RR varieties of soybean, developed by D&PL Holding Technology Corp., Scott, Miss.;
   
• the Boggs variety of soybeans, developed by University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.,
  (UGARF), Athens, Ga.; and
   
• the One BallF variety of squash, developed by Hollar & Company Inc., Rocky Ford, Colo.

* In the United States seed of this variety (1) shall be sold by variety name only as a class of certified seed and (2) shall conform to the number of generations specified by the owner of the rights (84 STAT.
1542, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2321 ET SEQ).

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service administers the Plant Variety Protection Act, which provides time limited marketing protection to developers of new and distinct seed- reproduced and tuber-propagated plants ranging from farm crops to flowers.

For additional information contact the Plant Variety Protection Office at telephone (301) 504-5518, fax (301) 504-5291 or the Internet at www.ams.usda.gov/science/PVPO/pvp.htm.