Corn Patent Information System
Searchable Maize and Corn Patent Data

Obtaining Seed

Two common ways of acquiring seed of corn germplasm are:

  1. The USDA North Central Plant Introduction Station, Ames, IA
  2. The American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, VA
  3. National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA), East Boothbay, ME 04544

Some inbred lines may be available from multiple sources, especially if the inbred was both patented and PVP-protected.

The North Central Plant Introduction Station possesses a large germplasm collection of corn accessions from around the world. Many PVP-protected corn inbreds and/or PVP-expired inbreds are part of this germplasm collection. Seeds can be ordered, if available, from the North Central PI station. Their web site provides detailed information regarding procedures for ordering seed of accessions. Seed can be ordered on-line through the GRIN Global system, or by contacting the corn germplasm curator.

The ATCC or NCMA possess samples of patented biological materials, including seeds of patented corn inbreds, hybrids, and synthetic populations. It is possible to order seeds of patented or patent-expired corn varieties from them. Their respective web sites provide detailed information regarding ordering procedures for patented seed samples.

Some seed samples may also be available from other sources such as:

4.  National Collection of Industrial, Food, and Marine Bacterial, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA, Scotland, United Kingdom

5.  The Patent Assignee or Originator

The location in which a patented seed sample is deposited is listed in the details section of various CPIS searches.  Details regarding seed acquisition from these institutions may be found on their respective web sites.