National Plant Trials Results DatabasePhase I Overview

September 2, 2011

National Plant Trials Database Purpose Statement

The purpose of the National Plant Trials Database is to provide one central repository for trial data and scores of the plants from the breeders who choose to participate.

The trials grounds that choose to participate agree to adopt a standardized trialing protocol and a minimum set

of standardized scoring procedures.

Standardized Trialing Protocol

• Trial Grounds will:– Provide a healthy and well-maintained growing environment– Fertilize as needed and/or directed by the breeder’s culture

sheets– Spray for pests and diseases at the discretion of the trial

manager. It is neither mandatory nor banned.– Not dead-head????– Provide drip-irrigation if possible. Manual watering as an

alternative.– Conduct trials in-ground, in containers or in hanging baskets;

the specifics must be noted in the online database

Minimum Standard Trialing Requirements

• Trial Managers will:– Take a visual evaluation/score at least 3x per season– Note the first score two weeks after planting and then at least two reasonable times later in

the season– Use a 1-5 scale for scoring

• 5 = excellent• 4 = above average• 3 = average• 2 = below average• 1 = poor

– All the following traits will be judged and considered when giving the overall score:• Height appropriateness• Spread• Flower characteristics (length of bloom time, beauty and holding power of bloom, etc.)• Disease resistance• Uniqueness

– Provide at least one photo from the peak growing time

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Trial GardensUpdating Trial Results

• Via an Excel template.– The template will be downloaded from the Clarity Console AFTER

selecting a location. This will limit the download to plants associated with the location (Evaluators won’t have to ignore non-relevant plant records).

• Online Via the Clarity Console– From a computer – The user will login to the Clarity Console and

update the records after selecting their location.– From a mobile device – If the evaluator has a smart phone or I-pad

with Internet Access, they can access the plant record and submit the data from the field. We will build an input form that has been optimized from mobile devices so it will be quick and easy to use.• QR codes can be added to plant signage to allow the smart phone to quickly

access the proper plant record

Images

• 1-4 marketing images for each plant attached to the ‘master’ plant record– Supplied by breeder/sponsor

• Trial Gardens will upload at least one image for each variety they trial each year.

Online Breeder Reports

• Secure Breeder Login• By Plant– View results for a single variety from all trial

garden locations • By Trial Location– View all results by trial location

Finances

• Initiation fee of $3,000• Annual participation fee of $1,200– Payable annually starting w/2nd year in program

• Breeders still pay Trial Gardens as per their agreements

Only the plants from the breeders that pay the initial participation fee, plus the yearly maintenance fee will be entered into the National Trials Database

Timeline• September 2011– Breeders Pay Initiation fee to AAS– AAS Contracts w/Clarity Connect

• October– Clarity Connect starts to build new website

• November– Clarity completes Beta Version of website– Clarity trains select beta Trial Gardens and Breeders

on complete use of site– All Breeders add plant information for 2012 trials

Timeline (continued)

• December 2011– Clarity completes site taking into account

feedback from beta users– Breeders finishing adding plant information for

2012 trials• January 2012– Clarity trains all participating trial gardens on how

to submit results

Phase I Site Map