Who owns a variety that no one registered?Dragon fruit: selection and varietal registration in Mexico

Abstract

México has a wide diversity of plant materials that farmers have selected and preserved for many years. However, these materials are not always formally described or registered. Pitahaya (Selenicereus spp.) is a clear example. Many plants are sold or exchanged in orchards, nurseries, and social media under local or commercial names, while only a small number appear in official variety records. This article explains why selecting and naming a plant is not enough to recognize it as a variety, and why characterization, registration and, when appropriate, certification of planting material are important. Information from the National Seed Inspection and Certification Service (SNICS) and the National Catalogue of Plant Varieties (CNVV) is used to explain concepts such as distinctness, uniformity, stability, variety identity, and traceability in simple terms. The article also discusses the risk farmers face when they establish orchards with cuttings whose identity depends only on the information provided by the seller. Proper documentation of plant materials selected in the field can help preserve their identity, make them easier to recognize, and provide greater confidence when they are propagated and sold. Building a stronger culture of plant variety documentation requires farmers, technicians, researchers, and public institutions to work together. This is an important step toward a more organized and professional pitahaya sector.