A01H NEW PLANTS OR PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING THEM; PLANT REPRODUCTION BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES
Introduced: September 1968
Last revised: January 1990
Classification Context
- Section:
- HUMAN NECESSITIES
- Class:
- AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- Subclass:
- NEW PLANTS OR PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING THEM; PLANT REPRODUCTION BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES
Description
A01H covers the development of new plant varieties and the methods used to create them, including conventional breeding, genetic modification, and plant tissue culture techniques. This classification encompasses plant propagation through in vitro culture systems, somaclonal variation, and the selection or hybridization of plants with improved traits. It applies to both ornamental and agricultural plants where novel characteristics are intentionally developed or enhanced. Related but distinct biotechnological processes (such as genetic engineering at the molecular level) may be classified elsewhere depending on the specific technical focus.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass A01H recorded 86,394 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 7,440 in 2013 to 8,109 in 2023 (+9%), peaking at 8,498 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class A01 are CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (6,725 applications), JOHN DEERE (6,555 applications) and MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY (6,280 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
A01H ranks 9th of 12 subclasses with filings in A01, with 86,394 applications between 2013 and 2023, 4.6% of the class. Annual filings grew 9% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+78%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A01G, Horticulture; Cultivation of Vegetables, Flowers, Rice, Fruit, Vines, Hops or Seaweed; Forestry; Watering | Horticulture; Cultivation of Vegetables, Flowers, Rice, Fruit, Vines, Hops or Seaweed; Forestry; Watering | 500,856 | 26.6% |
| 2 | A01K, Animal Husbandry; Aviculture; Apiculture; Pisciculture; Fishing; Rearing or Breeding Animals, Not Otherwise Provided for; New Breeds of Animals | Animal Husbandry; Aviculture; Apiculture; Pisciculture; Fishing; Rearing or Breeding Animals, Not Otherwise Provided for; New Breeds of Animals | 349,334 | 18.6% |
| 3 | A01N, Preservation of Bodies of Humans or Animals or Plants or Parts Thereof; Biocides, e.g. as Disinfectants, as Pesticides or as Herbicides; Pest Repellants or Attractants; Plant Growth Regulators | Preservation of Bodies of Humans or Animals or Plants or Parts Thereof; Biocides, e.g. as Disinfectants, as Pesticides or as Herbicides; Pest Repellants or Attractants; Plant Growth Regulators | 218,351 | 11.6% |
| 4 | A01C, Planting; Sowing; Fertilising | Planting; Sowing; Fertilising | 176,270 | 9.4% |
| 5 | A01M, Catching, Trapping or Scaring of Animals; Apparatus for the Destruction of Noxious Animals or Noxious Plants | Catching, Trapping or Scaring of Animals; Apparatus for the Destruction of Noxious Animals or Noxious Plants | 149,359 | 7.9% |
| 6 | A01P, Biocidal, Pest Repellant, Pest Attractant or Plant Growth Regulatory Activity of Chemical Compounds or Preparations | Biocidal, Pest Repellant, Pest Attractant or Plant Growth Regulatory Activity of Chemical Compounds or Preparations | 125,575 | 6.7% |
| 7 | A01D, Harvesting; Mowing | Harvesting; Mowing | 120,447 | 6.4% |
| 8 | A01B, Soil Working in Agriculture or Forestry; Parts, Details, or Accessories of Agricultural Machines or Implements, in General | Soil Working in Agriculture or Forestry; Parts, Details, or Accessories of Agricultural Machines or Implements, in General | 103,827 | 5.5% |
| 9 | A01H | New Plants or Processes for Obtaining Them; Plant Reproduction by Tissue Culture Techniques | 86,394 | 4.6% |
| 10 | A01F, Threshing; Baling of Straw, Hay or the Like; Stationary Apparatus or Hand Tools for Forming or Binding Straw, Hay or the Like Into Bundles; Cutting of Straw, Hay or the Like; Storing Agricultural or Horticultural Produce | Threshing; Baling of Straw, Hay or the Like; Stationary Apparatus or Hand Tools for Forming or Binding Straw, Hay or the Like Into Bundles; Cutting of Straw, Hay or the Like; Storing Agricultural or Horticultural Produce | 44,933 | 2.4% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Unicellular algae Fungal microorganisms Specific mutations prepared by genetic engineering on plant cell or plant tissues
Related Keywords
11 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- A01H 1/00 Processes for modifying genotypes
- A01H 11/00 Bryophytes, e.g. mosses, liverworts
- A01H 13/00 Algae
- A01H 15/00 Fungi; Lichens
- A01H 17/00 Symbiotic or parasitic combinations including one or more new plants, e.g. mycorrhiza
- A01H 3/00 Processes for modifying phenotypes
- A01H 4/00 Plant reproduction by tissue culture techniques
- A01H 5/00 Angiosperms, i.e. flowering plants, characterised by their plant parts; Angiosperms characterised otherwise than by their botanic taxonomy
- A01H 6/00 Angiosperms, i.e. flowering plants, characterised by their botanic taxonomy
- A01H 7/00 Gymnosperms, e.g. conifers
- A01H 9/00 Pteridophytes, e.g. ferns, club-mosses, horse-tails
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class A01, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 6,725
- JOHN DEERE US 6,555
- MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY US 6,280
- DOW AGROSCIENCES US 5,260
- BASF (BADISCHE ANILIN & SODA FABRIK) DE 5,106
- PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL US 4,609
- KUBOTA CORPORATION 4,458
- SYNGENTA PARTICIPATIONS CH 4,341
- BAYER CROPSCIENCE DE 4,305
- CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA US 4,024