Hi Doreen, >>BTW, I thought that OP varieties could not be patented, only hybrids. Has this changed or am I mistaken?<< Only hybrids can be patented but there is a PVP (Plant Variety Protection) program to protect O.P. breeders. It is much the same but I understand the length os shorter than the regular patents. Maybe our pepper visitor can jump in here. He seems to know something of this and in this case his pepper info should apply. CW