(a) Applicant means any person who files an application for participation in this program.

(b) Commissioner means the commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

(c) Department means the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

(d) Certified block means a planting of plant materials which may have originated from sources other than a nuclear block, foundation block or originated in a registered block. Plants designated “certified” may have known serious virus if so stated on the label or other approved manner at the discretion of the department.

(e) Foundation block (F2) means a planting of foundation plant material, originating in a foundation nursery block, producing plant materials for the propagation of registered plants.

(f) Foundation nursery block (F1) means a planting of plant materials, originating in a nuclear block, producing foundation plant material.

(g) Plant material means plants or trees, cuttings, grafts, scions, understock, buds and other plant parts.

(h) Index means to test for virus infection by making a graft with tissue from the plant to be tested to an indicator plant or by other means of inoculation.

(i) Inspector means an employee of the department who has been authorized by the commissioner to inspect and certify the production of virus-tested plant materials.

(j) Nuclear block means a planting of nuclear plant material producing plants for the propagation of foundation plant material.

(k) Nuclear plant means a plant which has been found to be free of serious plant viruses and used for the increase of a particular plant genus, species/variety.

(l) Off-types means plants of a variety apparently different from the variety stated on the application for participation in the program for the production of virus-tested plant materials.

(m) Registered block means a planting of plant materials, originating in a foundation block, producing registered plants.

(n) Serious virus means a virus that will cause economic damage/loss to plants or fruit production.

(o) Virus-infected means infected by a serious virus or other subcellular pathogens or manifesting symptoms or behavior characteristic of a virus disease.