What is an example of a plant patent?

A plant patent is specifically granted for new and distinct varieties of plants that have been asexually reproduced. This means the plant must be propagated in a way that is not through seeds, allowing the patented traits to be consistently reproduced. The option of apple trees fits this definition, as they can be developed through grafting or other asexual methods, leading to a unique variety that exhibits desired characteristics.

Carrot seeds, wheat strains, and rose bushes derived from seeds do not meet the criteria for a plant patent, since seeds do not provide a way to demonstrate a distinct variety that is propagated asexually. Carrot seeds and wheat strains are agricultural products that typically fall under different forms of intellectual property, but not plant patents specifically, while rose bushes derived from seeds also imply a sexual reproduction method that is not patentable in this context.