MPEP § 2403.02 — Plant Material (Annotated Rules)

§2403.02 Plant Material

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2025-12-31

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2403.02, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Plant Material

This section addresses Plant Material. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 101, 35 U.S.C. 161, and 35 U.S.C. 162. Contains: 2 requirements, 1 guidance statement, 2 permissions, and 1 other statement.

Key Rules

Topic

Deposit of Biological Materials

3 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2403-02-6ba79c1b4bba542d4c8639ef]
Seeds Must Be Deposited After Growing Season
Note:
Seeds can only be reproduced after a growing season and must meet the deposit requirements of the IDA where deposited.

As with some types of reproducible biological material, seeds can be reproduced only after a growing season which may be relatively long. Although the rules do not specify a specific number of seeds to be deposited to meet the requirements of these rules, so long as the number of seeds deposited complies with the requirements of the Budapest Treaty International Depositary Authority (IDA) where the deposit is made, the USPTO would consider such a compliant submission as satisfying the rules under 37 CFR 1.801 through 1.809. Note that the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), a Budapest IDA, requires a minimum deposit of 625 seeds; other IDAs may have different minimum requirements. Accordingly, any depositor should confirm that the number submitted to a specific IDA complies with that IDA's requirements for seed deposits.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.801Deposit of Biological MaterialsBudapest Treaty DepositsReference to Deposit in Specification
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2403-02-67ef4e00b7619d12d7556a9c]
Minimum Seed Deposit Required for Plant Material
Note:
The American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), a Budapest IDA, requires at least 625 seeds; other IDAs may have different minimum requirements.

As with some types of reproducible biological material, seeds can be reproduced only after a growing season which may be relatively long. Although the rules do not specify a specific number of seeds to be deposited to meet the requirements of these rules, so long as the number of seeds deposited complies with the requirements of the Budapest Treaty International Depositary Authority (IDA) where the deposit is made, the USPTO would consider such a compliant submission as satisfying the rules under 37 CFR 1.801 through 1.809. Note that the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), a Budapest IDA, requires a minimum deposit of 625 seeds; other IDAs may have different minimum requirements. Accordingly, any depositor should confirm that the number submitted to a specific IDA complies with that IDA's requirements for seed deposits.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.801Deposit of Biological MaterialsBudapest Treaty DepositsReference to Deposit in Specification
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2403-02-5cd668c822cbbb95f4b6fcd7]
Deposit Number Must Comply With IDA Requirements
Note:
Depositors must ensure the number of seeds submitted to a specific IDA meets that IDA's minimum deposit requirements.

As with some types of reproducible biological material, seeds can be reproduced only after a growing season which may be relatively long. Although the rules do not specify a specific number of seeds to be deposited to meet the requirements of these rules, so long as the number of seeds deposited complies with the requirements of the Budapest Treaty International Depositary Authority (IDA) where the deposit is made, the USPTO would consider such a compliant submission as satisfying the rules under 37 CFR 1.801 through 1.809. Note that the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), a Budapest IDA, requires a minimum deposit of 625 seeds; other IDAs may have different minimum requirements. Accordingly, any depositor should confirm that the number submitted to a specific IDA complies with that IDA's requirements for seed deposits.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.801Deposit of Biological MaterialsBudapest Treaty DepositsReference to Deposit in Specification
Topic

Plant Patent Practice

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2403-02-55ddbb5c9c4e0d6495993497]
Deposit Not Required for Plant Patents
Note:
The deposit of plant material is not required for applications filed under the Plant Patent Act, even though plant material falls within biological material definitions.

Although plant material is included within the scope of the definition of biological material for purposes of patents for plant inventions under 35 U.S.C. 101, the rules on deposits are not applicable to applications filed under the Plant Patent Act (35 U.S.C. 161 – 164). The Office is of the view that a deposit is not required under the present provisions of 35 U.S.C. 162. Thus, a deposit is not necessary for the grant of a plant patent under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 161 – 164. See also MPEP § 1605. As with other biological material deposited for purposes of patents for inventions under 35 U.S.C. 101, the deposit of plant material together with the written specification must enable those skilled in the art to make and use the claimed invention, in accordance with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112.

Jump to MPEP SourcePlant Patent PracticeOptional Specification Content35 U.S.C. 112 Standard for Plants
Topic

Optional Specification Content

1 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2403-02-d00e3187b6980127b080b9be]
Deposit Not Required for Plant Patents
Note:
The Office has determined that a deposit is not necessary for the grant of plant patents under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 161-164.

Although plant material is included within the scope of the definition of biological material for purposes of patents for plant inventions under 35 U.S.C. 101, the rules on deposits are not applicable to applications filed under the Plant Patent Act (35 U.S.C. 161 – 164). The Office is of the view that a deposit is not required under the present provisions of 35 U.S.C. 162. Thus, a deposit is not necessary for the grant of a plant patent under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 161 – 164. See also MPEP § 1605. As with other biological material deposited for purposes of patents for inventions under 35 U.S.C. 101, the deposit of plant material together with the written specification must enable those skilled in the art to make and use the claimed invention, in accordance with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112.

Jump to MPEP SourceOptional Specification ContentPlant Patent Practice35 U.S.C. 112 Standard for Plants
Topic

35 U.S.C. 112 Standard for Plants

1 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2403-02-e845a6170bfa9a10750518a4]
Deposit of Plant Material Required for Invention Description
Note:
The deposit of plant material along with the written specification must enable those skilled in the art to make and use the claimed invention, in accordance with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112.

Although plant material is included within the scope of the definition of biological material for purposes of patents for plant inventions under 35 U.S.C. 101, the rules on deposits are not applicable to applications filed under the Plant Patent Act (35 U.S.C. 161 – 164). The Office is of the view that a deposit is not required under the present provisions of 35 U.S.C. 162. Thus, a deposit is not necessary for the grant of a plant patent under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 161 – 164. See also MPEP § 1605. As with other biological material deposited for purposes of patents for inventions under 35 U.S.C. 101, the deposit of plant material together with the written specification must enable those skilled in the art to make and use the claimed invention, in accordance with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112.

Jump to MPEP Source35 U.S.C. 112 Standard for PlantsSpecificationPlant Patent Specification
Topic

Budapest Treaty Deposits

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2403-02-c37e8c4a37fbf0960bcd7350]
Budapest Treaty Seed Deposit Requirement
Note:
The USPTO requires seed deposits to comply with Budapest Treaty International Depositary Authority requirements, regardless of specific numbers.

As with some types of reproducible biological material, seeds can be reproduced only after a growing season which may be relatively long. Although the rules do not specify a specific number of seeds to be deposited to meet the requirements of these rules, so long as the number of seeds deposited complies with the requirements of the Budapest Treaty International Depositary Authority (IDA) where the deposit is made, the USPTO would consider such a compliant submission as satisfying the rules under 37 CFR 1.801 through 1.809. Note that the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), a Budapest IDA, requires a minimum deposit of 625 seeds; other IDAs may have different minimum requirements. Accordingly, any depositor should confirm that the number submitted to a specific IDA complies with that IDA's requirements for seed deposits.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.801Budapest Treaty DepositsReference to Deposit in SpecificationDeposit of Biological Materials

Citations

Primary topicCitation
35 U.S.C. 112 Standard for Plants
Optional Specification Content
Plant Patent Practice
35 U.S.C. § 101
35 U.S.C. 112 Standard for Plants
Optional Specification Content
Plant Patent Practice
35 U.S.C. § 112
35 U.S.C. 112 Standard for Plants
Optional Specification Content
Plant Patent Practice
35 U.S.C. § 161
35 U.S.C. 112 Standard for Plants
Optional Specification Content
Plant Patent Practice
35 U.S.C. § 162
Budapest Treaty Deposits
Deposit of Biological Materials
37 CFR § 1.801
35 U.S.C. 112 Standard for Plants
Optional Specification Content
Plant Patent Practice
MPEP § 1605

Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP

This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.

BlueIron Last Updated: 2025-12-31