The
Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity
Building (GIPB) brings you:
PLANT BREEDING NEWS
EDITION 197
30 January 2009
An Electronic Newsletter of Applied Plant Breeding
Clair H. Hershey, Editor
chh23@cornell.edu
Sponsored by FAO/AGPC
and Cornell University,
Dept. of Plant Breeding and Genetics
-To subscribe, see instructions here
-Archived issues available at: FAO Plant Breeding
Newsletter
1. NEWS,
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESEARCH NOTES
1.01 New FAO report highlights crop prospects and
food situation
1.02 Agricultural R&D key to preventing food
crises
1.03 Harnessing
crop technologies to alleviate hunger and poverty in Africa
1.04 Iowa Soybean Association honors Iowa State University
soybean scientist Walt Fehr with a Lifetime Achievement Award
1.05 Hernan
Ceballos, CIAT cassava breeder, receives highest award from the Colombian Association
for the Advancement of the Science
1.06 GFU
and ICUC merge to form “Crops for the Future”
1.07 Sharpening
the focus of GCP: Introducing the Challenge Initiatives
1.08 Brazil and China to partner on new technologies
1.09 New agreement opens avenues for strengthening
Indian rice research
1.10 $6.8 million grant to speed development of new
wheat varieties at UC Davis
1.11 MARDI (Malaysia) developing new varieties of
rice that are resistant to flood, drought, and high temperatures
1.12 Plant breeders join forces to boost the “poor
person’s meat,” raise incomes and combat hunger
1.13 Winners
of the GCP-WACCI PhD scholarships in plant breeding
1.14 Improved maize varieties and partnerships welcomed
in Bhutan
1.15 The
Development and Regulation of Bt Brinjal in India (Eggplant/Aubergine)
1.16 USDA/ARS plant geneticists develop world's first
leafminer-resistant green leaf lettuce
1.17 WineCrisp -- new apple was more than 20 years
in the making
1.18 Biotechnology is helping the fight against climate
change, according to Australian BRS report
1.19 Social and economic impacts of biotechnology
1.20 Balancing the views on GM crops - Special Issue
of the European Commission DG Environment newsletter
1.21 Global Crop Diversity Trust reaches important
milestones in 2008
1.22 Peruvian region outlaws biopiracy
1.23 Waterproof rice passes international field tests
1.24 Drought
tolerant maize research update
1.25 Novel crop-cooling technique could mitigate
climate change
1.26 Technology to reduce the spread of rice tungro
virus
1.27 Experimental soybeans sabotage soybean cyst
nematode with its own gene
1.28 Potato
resistance to phytophthera via cisgenics
1.29 Bean angular leaf spot disease
resistance
1.30 Kansas State University, Texas A&M researchers
boost lettuce calcium content
1.31 Re-engineering rice photosyntheses
1.32 European starch industry demands swift approval
of genetically optimized potatoes
1.33 Purdue University researchers find nature's
shut-off switch for cellulose production
1.34 U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute
completes soybean genome
1.35 Tool helps identify gene function in soybeans,
could lead to better crop performance, say University of Missouri researchers
1.36 Plants display 'molecular amnesia'
1.37 New technology platforms for molecular breeding:
KeyGene’s Whole Genome Profiling method
1.38 Gene's past could improve the future of rice
1.39 Update 7-2008 of
FAO-BiotechNews
2. PUBLICATIONS
2.01 The role of policy in the conservation and extended
use of underutilized plant species: a cross-national policy analysis
2.02 The
Project Development Guide (PDG)
2.03 New
ISAA Publications
2.04 Announcing
A New Video: Proper Methods For Pruning Grapevines
2.05 ECO-PB newsletter on organic seeds and plant
breeding, Issue IV / 2008
2.06 New
Light on a Hidden Treasure: potatoes in the developing world
2.07 The
Survey of Gene Modified (GM) Crops in China
2.08 Tomorrow's Table: Organic farming, genetics
and the future of food
2.09 The
Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science (JPBCS)to
be launched in March 2009
2.10 SEARICE. 2008. Revisiting the streams of participatory
plant breeding: Insights from a meeting among friends
3. WEB
RESOURCES
3.01 New
issue of Geneconserve
3.02
SINGER and EURISCO: Worldwide
web catalogues on plant collections
4 GRANTS
AVAILABLE
4.01 CSREES
announces agriculture and food research initiative funding opportunity
4.02 Scholarships
offered from the Asian Rice Foundation USA
5 POSITION ANNOUNCEMENTS
5.01 Two
faculty positions in Crop Breeding and Genetics, Washington State University
5.02 Department
Head in Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University
5.03 Agricultural
Officer (Plant Genetic Resources Use), FAO
5.04 Three openings: research on Jatropha in genomics,
molecular biology, proteomics, phytopathology and tissue culture
5.05 NAS, Science and Technology for Sustainability Program Director Sought
5.06 Scientist, Genetics Resource Expert at IRRI
6
MEETINGS, COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
7 EDITOR'S NOTES
=========================
1. NEWS,
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESEARCH NOTES
1.01 New FAO report
highlights crop prospects and food situation
Rome, Italy
FAO’s latest estimates confirm that a new record high level of global cereal
production was achieved in 2008, sufficient to cover the expected increase
in utilization in 2008/09 and also allow for a moderate replenishment of world
reserves.
- Most of the increase in production this year has been among the developed
countries, with that in the developing countries rising just marginally.
In the developing group, outputs rose somewhat more among the Low-Income Food-Deficit
Countries, especially in countries where agriculture production support was
provided by governments.
- International cereal prices have continued to fall over the past months.
In the first two weeks of December, the prices for wheat and coarse grains averaged
respectively 40 percent and 20 percent less than the December average last year.
For rice, however, the price of the benchmark Thai variety, although well down
from its peak in May, remained 54 percent above the December average last year.
- Despite the decline of international cereal prices, food prices remain
at high levels in developing countries and in several continue to increase,
affecting the food security of large numbers of vulnerable populations.
In Afghanistan, Eritrea and Ethiopia prices of food staples are twice or more their levels of a year earlier.
- Smaller winter wheat plantings for the 2009 harvest are reported in several
major producing countries in Europe and North America, in response
to lower international prices and prospects of reduced demand in view of the
global economic crisis, and the high cost of inputs.
- In Southern Africa, where the food situation is tight following last year’s
reduced harvest in several countries and persistent high food prices, the
late start of the 2008/09 rainy season and anticipated lower plantings in the
largest producer South Africa may negatively affect 2009 production.
- In Western Africa, a bumper 2008 cereal harvest is being gathered, particularly in the
Sahelian countries where the aggregate output is estimated to have increased
by one-third from 2007. This reflects good weather and production support measures.
- In Eastern Africa, the "short-rains" season from October
has been very favourable for pastoral and agro-pastoral areas including central
and southern Somalia, north-western Kenya and south-eastern Ethiopia where millions
have suffered severe food problems after repeated poor seasons.
- Notwithstanding an improved outlook for global cereal supplies in 2008/09,
33 countries around the world are estimated to be in need of external assistance
as a result of crop failures, conflict or insecurity and high domestic food
prices. In Zimbabwe,
where the number of food insecure is estimated at 5.1 million, a recent outbreak
of cholera poses an additional serious threat to health and nutrition of the
vulnerable population. In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, an estimated
8.7 million people, or around 40 percent of the population, urgently need food
assistance.
Read: http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/ai476e/ai476e00.htm
Source: SeedQuest.com
18 December 2008
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1.02 Agricultural
R&D key to preventing food crises
Agricultural research can help reduce
cereal prices
IRRI
Doubling agricultural research and development (R&D) in developing countries
over the next five years could lift more than 250 million people out of poverty
by 2020, says Joachim von Braun.
An International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) model predicts that
a global recession, coupled with a decline in agricultural investment, could
result in cereal price increases of 30 per cent above what is expected without
a recession — leaving 16 million more children malnourished by 2020.
But if R&D investment is maintained, cereal prices in 2020 will be 15 per
cent lower than the non-recession baseline, says von Braun.
Action is also needed to cope with price bubbles and crisis situations. IFPRI
recommends that an emergency reserve of 300,000 tonnes of grain, managed by
the UN World Food Programme, be strategically placed in the developing world,
with a global intelligence unit that can advise on market intervention.
Von Braun says that biofuel subsidies should also be eliminated and the money
invested instead in R&D for innovative biomass use.
Link to full article in Nature
Source: Nature via SciDev.net
17 December
2008
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1.03 Harnessing crop technologies to alleviate
hunger and poverty in Africa
We are very pleased to publicly the Free-publications
of the African Crop Science Society. The proceedings of the Sixth African Crop
Science Conference held 12-17 October 2003, Nairobi, Kenya. The
theme of the Conference was ‘Harnessing crop technologies to alleviate hunger
and poverty in Africa’. The papers published
herein were included on merit subsequent to a rigorous peer review process.
Proceedings Editors: M.P. Nampala, J.S. Tenywa, A.W. Mwangombe, M.Osiru, R.
Kawuki & M. Biruma.
Click on the follow link to access the different sections of the proceedings:
http://www.acss.ws/?t=a_conf&s=4
CONTENTS
Crop Improvement
Crop Physiology and Agronomy
Crop Protection
Entomology
Nematology
Post Harvest Utilisation
Socio economics
Soil Fertility Management
Sustainable Agriculture
Weeds
Index by Author
We encourage you to visit the ACSS web-site periodically and check our continuous
updated information and resources.
All comments and suggestions are more than welcome! Please, send them to acss.acss.ws
or ahmed_kz@yahoo.com.
.
Contributed by Kasem Zaki Ahmed
President, African Crop Science Society
acss@acss.ws,
acss8@yahoo.com,
ahmed_kz@yahoo.com
Website:hppt://www.acss.ws
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1.04 Iowa Soybean
Association honors Iowa State University soybean scientist Walt Fehr with a
Lifetime Achievement Award
Urbandale, Iowa
The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) honored
Dr. Walter R. Fehr with the association’s first Lifetime Achievement Award at
ISA’s annual policy conference and 45th anniversary kickoff in Ames on Dec. 19.
John Heisdorffer, ISA president and a soybean farmer from Keota, made the presentation,
recognizing Fehr for his contribution to soybean plant breeding. “ISA very happy
to present Dr. Fehr with our first lifetime achievement award” Heisdorffer said.
“We’ve worked with Walt for many years, and we appreciate his tireless work
for soybean farmers and his visionary leadership in soybean research.”
Dr. Fehr came to Iowa State University (ISU) in 1964, the year that ISA was
begun. He is a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture and
Life Sciences, the highest academic honor at ISU, and he teaches and conducts
research in plant breeding, specializing in soybean breeding and genetics, in
the Department of Agronomy.
Dr. Fehr has been a long-time friend of the Iowa Soybean Association. ISA CEO
Kirk Leeds noted, “Dr. Fehr has received checkoff funding for his soybean research
since the inception of the soybean checkoff 37 years ago.”
Since then, Leeds said, Dr. Fehr has developed an extremely innovative plant breeding
program that utilizes traditional plant breeding methods along with biotechnology
to enhance the genetic traits of soybeans. In the past two decades he has focused
on the discovery and development of novel traits to improve soybean yield and
enhance quality.
Dr. Fehr’s research has produced more than 200 food grade soybean varieties
that are grown in Iowa and throughout
the U.S. The
soybeans are sold at a premium price and marketed throughout the world. He was
also the first to develop heart-healthy soybeans that contain no trans fat.
During his career, Dr. Fehr has also directed 77 graduate student programs,
and many of those graduates are now soybean breeders in public and private plant
breeding programs throughout the United States.
In addition to his other responsibilities, Fehr is the director of the ISU Office
of Biotechnology, which assists departments with the hiring of biotechnology
faculty, provides graduate fellowships for outstanding students, operates state-of-the-art
instrumentation facilities for research, conducts an innovative education program
for K-12 teachers and Extension personnel, coordinates technology transfer with
industry and supports an active bioethics program.
Recalling all of Fehr’s accomplishments, Leeds said, “We at the Iowa Soybean Association are proud to have had the
opportunity to have such a long working relationship with Dr. Fehr.”
ISU President Gregory Geoffroy was on hand to congratulate Fehr, calling him
“one of the great faculty at ISU, having the highest title in the department.”
“Dr. Fehr is a lead researcher in the industry and a great educator,” Geoffroy
said. “He is also a great ISU citizen. In directing the ISU biotechnology program,
he unselfishly promotes biotechnology and the careers of fellow researchers.”
For Dr. Fehr, the recognition led him to recall that his work with soybeans
and ISA has truly been “a family affair,” noting that his children grew up with
the soybean association and with soybeans. “The entire family got involved in
helping with soybean work in the field, and our family vacation destinations
were wherever there was a soybean conference being held.”
“One of the most significant developments during the years has been the checkoff,”
Fehr said. He recalled that the checkoff enabled research to become mechanized
and less labor intensive. It also made research in South Amercia possible so that
new varieties could be developed in six years, rather than 15. The checkoff
has made information available to the public regarding the management of disease,
for instance, and it also made possible the internship of 250 students, many
of whom are now experts in the industry.
Referring to research in food grade soy, Dr. Fehr, said, “All roads lead back
to ISU.”
Certainly, that is a legacy that can be credited, in large part, to Dr. Fehr
and helps make him a deserving recipient of ISA’s first Lifetime Achievement
Award.
The Iowa Soybean Association develops policies and programs that help farmers
expand profit opportunities while promoting environmentally sensitive production
using the soybean checkoff and other resources. The Association is governed
by an elected volunteer board of 21 farmers.
Photo credit: Iowa State University
Source: SeedQuest.com
22 December 2008
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1.05 Hernan Ceballos,
CIAT cassava breeder, receives highest award from the Colombian Association
for the Advancement of the Science
On 11 November 2008 the Colombian Association for the Advancement of the
Science awarded Dr Hernan Ceballos, a cassava breeder at CIAT for the past ten
years, the 2008 National Award on Technological Innovation for his scientific
contributions in cassava breeding for Colombia and the world. The award recognizes
the outstanding breakthroughs in the improvement of the nutritional quality
of the root and the identification of starch mutants, among several other achievements.
The starch mutant discovery tracks back to a 2006 harvest at the Cali, Colombia reseach center. Ceballos and his team discovered
an S1 plant with roots that stained brownish-red when treated with an iodine
solution, suggesting that it had lower-than-normal levels of amylose in its
starch. Colorimetric and DSC measurements indicated low levels (3.4%) and an
absence of amylose in the starch, respectively. The finding was confirmed with
additional testing. This was the first report of a natural mutation in cassava
that drastically reduces amylose content in root starch. The mutant has now
been used extensively in breeding and has caught the interest of the starch
industry world-wide.
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1.06 GFU and ICUC merge to form “Crops for the
Future
As of 1 December
2008, the GFU and ICUC (International Centre for Underutilised Crops)
began to operate under the common name of Crops for the Future, and the
two organizations will now merge their respective news services. Thus, we hope
that like us, you too are looking forward to a "new look" news service
in the new year. We will do our best to provide an uninterrupted service to
you so you could expect "Crops for the Future News" towards the beginning
of February.
For early bookmarking: The new website will be www.cropsforthefuture.org
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1.07 Sharpening the focus of GCP: Introducing the
Challenge Initiatives
In response to the EPMR as well as internal priority-setting to streamline and
bring more focus to our work, beginning 2009, GCP will pay particular attention
to seven selected trait-crop combinations, dubbed Challenge Initiatives (CIs)
The finer details of the CIs are still being worked out, but you can meantime
see the list ofthe seven CIs here <http://www.generationcp.org/gen.php?da=08128238#gcp_challenge_initiatives>
Source: GCP News--Issue 35, December 2008
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1.08 Brazil and China
to partner on new technologies
Catarina Chagas
[RIO DE JANEIRO] Brazil and China have agreed to collaborate on developing technologies
to tackle energy problems and climate change.
The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (UFRJ), and the University
of Tsinghua, China, have announced the creation of the Brazil–China Center for
Innovative Technologies, Climate Change and Energy (14 January).
The centre, to be based at the University of Tsinghua, in
Beijing, will receive
almost US$1 million in initial investment from the Brazilian innovation
agency, Research and Projects Financing (FINEP). The Brazilian part of the centre
will be headed by the Graduate Engineering Project Coordination (COPPE) of the
UFRJ.
Segen Estefan, chair of technology and innovation for COPPE said that the seeds
of cooperation were sown when Chinese scientists visited his institution in
Brazil and
witnessed projects in fields such as biofuels, prospecting for oil in deep waters,
and clean energy sources, all of which overlapped with Chinese interests.
One of the centre's first goals will be to map biofuel sources in Brazil and
China to
develop common approaches to their exploitation. Another will be to estimate
greenhouse gas emissions by both countries and provide their respective governments
with technical information to help them develop mitigation policies.
"We expect to multiply the number of projects and the funding as the centre
begins to operate," said Estefan. "The physical infrastructure will
be ready by the middle of the year and then we can increase activities and the
exchange of researchers." He anticipates exchanges of PhD and post-doctoral
students between the two countries.The projects will aim to produce practical results for Brazilian and
Chinese industries as well as yielding high quality information on science and
technology for governments.
"Both countries are considering this not only a cooperation between two
universities, but a collaboration between Chinese and Brazilian governments,"
added Estefan.
Source: SciDev.net
22 January 2009
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1.09 New agreement
opens avenues for strengthening Indian rice research
Short- and long-term projects promise to boost production and raise farmer income
New Delhi, India – An international agreement signed today (20 January 2009)
between the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Indian Council
of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will support and facilitate India's rice research
for the next 3 years, helping the nation's rice production at a time of unprecedented
price volatility and subsequent need for the revitalization of food production.
The work plan includes agreements on three major projects supported by the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation: Stress-tolerant rice for poor farmers in
Africa and South Asia (STRASA), the Cereal systems initiative for South
Asia (CSISA), and Creating the second green revolution by supercharging
photosynthesis: C4
rice.
STRASA aims to develop and distribute improved varieties of rice that can
be grown in rainfed ecosystems, where farmers have little or no access to irrigation,
and that can withstand environmental stresses such as drought, submergence,
and salinity.
CSISA's 10-year goal is to produce an additional 5 million tons of grain annually
and increase the yearly incomes of 6 million poor rural households by at least
US$350. The initiative will employ innovative public-private partnerships for
delivery of technology to farmers.
By converting rice from so-called C3 photosynthesis to the more efficient
C4 photosynthesis, the C4 project aims to develop rice
plants that can produce 50% more grain using less fertilizer and less water.
“The agreement will develop, promote, and accelerate rice research and training
efforts between IRRI and ICAR,” said Dr. Robert S. Zeigler, IRRI director general.
“The renewed collaboration will also provide important support for India's
other investments in agriculture and help India strengthen
its science capacity.”
“The work plan focuses on conserving, evaluating, and enhancing genetic resources,”
added Dr. Mangala Rai, ICAR director general, “as well as enhancing the productivity
and sustainability of intensive cereal systems; improving productivity and livelihood
for fragile environments; assessing the impact of, mitigation of, and adaptation
to climate change; and strengthening linkages between research and development,
including training.”
Contriubted by Chrisanto Quintana
IRRI
20 January 2009
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1.10 $6.8 million
grant to speed development of new wheat varieties at UC Davis
Davis, California
Thanks to a three-year $6.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation,
UC Davis researchers are working on a groundbreaking
plant genome project that could speed up the development of wheat varieties
with improved grain quality and nutrition, higher yield, resistance to pests
and diseases, and tolerance of adverse climate conditions.
Led by geneticist Jan Dvorak from the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences,
the project received the largest award from the NSF Plant Genome Program this
year. It seeks to construct a physical map of one of the three genomes making
up the chromosome complement of wheat -- a task far tougher than mapping the
human genome.
"Unlike the mammalian genomes, genomes in higher plants differ enormously
in size," Dvorak said. "Each of the three wheat genomes, for example,
is an order of magnitude larger than the genome of rice.
We have never had the technology to physically map and sequence huge genomes
such as those of wheat."
A physical map is a representation of the order of genes and other landmarks
along a chromosome. To construct a physical map, genomic DNA is fragmented,
and fragments are cloned and "fingerprinted."
Overlaps between fingerprints are used to identify neighboring DNA fragments,
arranging them into a contiguous sequence corresponding to the DNA sequence
in the chromosome. Scientists can then determine the location of genes and other
markers in these fragments and sequence them.
"Instead of producing a physical map of wheat chromosomes directly, the
chromosomes of Aegilops tauschii, one of the three ancestors of wheat and the
source of its D genome, will be mapped first," Dvorak said. "These
maps will then be used as templates in physical mapping of individual chromosomes
of the wheat D genome, which is one of the specific objectives of this project."
While it will take years and further studies before the full wheat genomic sequence
will be available to the research community, NSF funders say this project is
a vital first step. The project will include sponsoring student internships
and workshops for other scientists in fingerprinting and physical mapping as
well as creating a public repository of all the data and its analysis.
"The knowledge from this project will be helpful in all aspects of wheat
breeding and biotechnology because it will accelerate the discovery and isolation
of economically important genes," Dvorak said. "The project will also
advance understanding of the evolution and the global organization of large
plant genomes."
The project includes UC Davis investigators Ming-Cheng Luo and Patrick McGuire,
and Olin Anderson from the U.S. Department of Agriculture/ARS in Albany, Calif., who also
holds an adjunct appointment at UC Davis. It also involves Bikram Gill from
Kansas State University, Doreen
Ware from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, and Jaroslav
Dolezel from the Institute of Experimental Botany in the Czech Republic.
The NSF began in 1998 making annual grant awards through its Plant Genome Research
Program, dedicated to advancing understanding of the structure, organization
and function of plant genomes that are important to agriculture, the environment,
energy and health.
Source: SeedQuest.com
17 December 2008
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1.11 MARDI (Malaysia) developing new varieties of rice that are resistant to flood,
drought, and high temperatures
The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI)
has acknowledged the effect of climate change in rice cultivation and production
in Malaysia. Director General Datuk Dr. Abdul Shukor Abdul Rahman says MARDI
is developing new varieties of rice that are resistant to flood, drought, and
high temperatures.
Climate change has rendered several areas in Malaysia
unsuitable for rice cultivation, especially the ‘rice bowl’ area in Kedah and
this has caused losses in millions of Ringgit. With the new rice varieties,
farmers would have better choices and could plant different rice varieties according
to the environmental conditions such as too much or too little water, extreme
and unfavorable temperatures, acidic soil, and increase in carbon dioxide. The
director general further stressed that the current seeds in use which are MR219
and MR232 are not able to thrive under unfavorable conditions.
For more information on biotechnology in Malaysia
email Mahaletchumy Arujanan of the Malaysia Biotechnology Information Center at maha@mabic.org.my.
Other news from
MARDI
Source: CropBiotech Update via
SeedQuest.com
23 January 2009
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1.12 Plant
breeders join forces to boost the “poor person’s meat,” raise incomes and combat
hunger
Africa’s best-kept secret: beans, peanuts and other pods
KIGALI, RWANDA (12 January 2009)—Beans, cowpeas, peanuts
and other legumes are referred to as the “poor man’s meat” and provide an essential
source of protein for millions of Africans. Legumes are considered
a “perfect food”: rich in vitamins, minerals, oils and energy. Yet the
production has stagnated to only about 600 kilograms per hectare while the real
potential is 5,000 kilogram per hectare. The high demand for legumes has
also been stirred up by the rising food prices for other sources of animal protein
like meat, fish and eggs, and therefore there is a rising demand for legumes
both for home use and for consumers in rural and urban markets.
Today, crop breeders, farmers and seed merchants from 12 countries launched
a network aimed to target high-yielding, disease-resilient beans that taste
better and cook in a shorter time to respond to the household needs. The
discussions focused on the genetic improvement of legumes and improving the
seed delivery systems in Africa through farmer groups or
organizations and therefore combating malnutrition and hunger and raising the
incomes of Africa’s smallholder farmers,
most of whom are women.
The crop breeders reported significant advances in the fight against a host
of plagues—from root-rots to drought—and zeroed in on the most pressing challenges
to legume production.
“Both science and society present challenges to increasing production,” said
plant breeder Dr. Jane Ininda, a program officer with the Alliance for a Green
Revolution in Africa (AGRA). “The support for research has dwindled and
some of these crops have received perhaps one-ten-thousandth of the research
attention. But beans, cowpea and groundnut are meat for rural Africa.”
The meeting was sponsored by AGRA, a partnership-based organization that targets rural poverty and hunger
through improving smallholder farming. AGRA supports a comprehensive
program to transform everything from seed development and distribution, to soil
health and agricultural education, to markets and infrastructure.
Speaking at the meeting, the Hon. Agnes Matilda Kalibata, Rwanda’s
Minister of Agriculture, said, “We must work to realize the incredible potential
of beans and other legumes in ending hunger and malnutrition. Rwanda has
the highest bean consumption in Africa, but still our farmers
are thwarted by pests and diseases that keep yield depressed well below global
levels.”
Participants pointed out that in addition to providing vital protein and calories,
increasing legume production can benefit the environment.
“Legumes naturally enrich the soil by converting nitrogen in the air into soil
nitrogen,” Ininda explained. “AGRA is also proposing
use of legumes as an intercrop and also a cover crop to conserve soil moisture
and also keep away the weeds. We find that in areas where drought is a
problem, legumes’ leafy ground cover helps preserve moisture.”
The inaugural meeting of the Legume Breeders Network brought together crop breeders,
researchers and seed companies from Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. The meeting highlighted efforts to develop improved legume varieties
and to overcome the barriers that prevent those varieties from reaching farmers
and improving food security.
Beans that Root out Rot
Beans provide vital protein and calories for over 100 million people in rural
and poor urban communities in Africa. Grown mostly by
women and known as a “women’s crop,” beans rank high in diets in Kenya, Tanzania,
Malawi,
Uganda and
Zambia.
They are also rich in iron and folic acid, which are important to pregnant women.
But varieties grown in sub-Saharan Africa are low-yielding and subject
to a host of stresses, from poor soils to disease to root rots.
According to Ugandan plant breeder Annet Namayanja, all commercial varieties
of bean currently grown in Uganda are
susceptible to root rot, while varieties known to resist the fungus have undesirable
qualities. They do not have the taste that farmers require, are late to
maturity, and have an undesirable small seed size. To increase yield,
farmers need varieties that are both disease resistant and early maturing, and
have the size, color and cooking qualities that consumers want.
In a breakthrough for bean breeding, the National Agricultural Research Organisation
(NARO) of Uganda with
support from AGRA has released
three bean varieties that are now being promoted for farmers to grow.
Farmers are very particular about the bean varieties they grow, and the improved
varieties will require better soil fertility management, as poor soil can aggravate
root rots and other problems like bean stem maggots, said Annet.
Other researchers reported on efforts to grow higher-yielding climbing beans.
Rather than spreading out, these varieties grow straight up, requiring less
land to produce a greater yield. Climbing beans could therefore greatly
benefit areas with lots of people and little farm land. With AGRA’s support, breeders
in Rwanda have
identified new climbing and bush varieties with resistance to angular leaf spot,
root rot and anthracnose. The bush beans will yield up to 2.5 tons per
hectare, while the climbing beans can yield up to 5.0 tons per hectare.
Gains for Groundnut
Africa’s
second-most important legume is peanut, commonly known as groundnut. It provides
a good source of plant protein, vitamins and oil. But groundnut production in
Africa suffered a devastating
blow almost 35 years ago, when Rosette disease, transmitted by aphids—small
plant-eating insects—wiped out regional trade worth about US$250 million.
While exports of groundnut increased elsewhere, Africa’s export share declined
by about one-third from the 1970s to the 1990s. Small-scale farmers still
routinely lose up to 30 percent of their crop, and losses can be 100 percent
when Rosette rages out of control.
In Uganda, farmers harvest about 800 kilograms per hectare, compared to a potential
yield of 3,000 kilograms per hectare, a problem being tackled by plant breeder
David Kalule Okello, with Uganda’s
National Agricultural Research Organization. Okello reported on progress
in his work with farmers to develop Rosette-resistant varieties, some of which
can produce a white peanut butter.
Cowpeas Coping with Heat
African farmers domesticated cowpea more than 3,500 years ago, and today it
can be cultivated under a range of extreme agricultural conditions that would
challenge most other crops. Some 200,000 million people living across half of
sub-Saharan Africa depend on cowpea, making
it a daily part of the diet whenever it is available. Yet in most cases
it remains low yielding, limiting its benefit.
In Mozambique, cowpea production is a bare 300 kilograms per hectare, although the
potential yield is 2000 kilograms per hectare, according to the breeder Rogèrio
Marcos Chiulele. Intensified droughts pose one challenge. Noting
the lack of high-yielding varieties able to grow in extremely hot, dry conditions,
Chiulele has screened some 216 farmer-bred varieties known as landraces and
already identified a number with increased drought tolerance. Meanwhile,
on the other side of the continent, seed breeders in Mali are
also adapting cowpea to thrive with high yield under the harsh conditions of
the dry Sahel.
Scaling Up and Branching Out
Breeders are tackling production constraints in crops such as soybean in Tanzania,
Uganda and Nigeria; pigeon pea in Malawi; cowpea in Burkina Faso and Uganda;
and bean breeding across East Africa.
Many presenters noted that the breeding of improved varieties is just a first
step. For new varieties to make a real difference in people’s lives, they
must both be widely disseminated and utilized in a variety of ways. For
example, increased cultivation of soybean, combined with building domestic processing,
could help African countries overcome their dependence on imported cooking oils.
Dissemination is also key. “It is not enough to develop new varieties;
we must also be prepared to expand production and dissemination,” Ininda said.
“In some countries, government monopoly of seed production has become an obstacle
to progress.”
According to Ininda, governments must come up with policies that support delivery
of quality seed to farmers and create an enabling environment for emerging seed
companies and give seed producers the freedom to operate. The competition
is healthy because this will lower the cost of seed. Bean prices, for
example, are twice the price of maize across Tanzania,
said a breeder from Tanzania.
“Monopoly in seed supply tends to slow the release of new varieties, and this
denies the farmers better seeds,” Ininda explained.
####
About the Alliance for a Green Revolution
in Africa (AGRA)
AGRA is a dynamic partnership working across the African continent to help
millions of small-scale farmers and their families lift themselves out of poverty
and hunger. AGRA programmes
develop practical solutions to significantly boost farm productivity and incomes
for the poor while safeguarding the environment. AGRA advocates for policies
that support its work across all key aspects of the African agricultural value
chain from seeds, soil health and water to markets and agricultural education.
AGRA's Board of Directors is chaired by Kofi A Annan, former Secretary-General
of the United Nations. Dr Namanga Ngongi, former Deputy Executive Director of
the World Food Programme, is AGRA's president.
With support from The Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
the UK's
Department for International Development and other donors, AGRA works
across sub-Saharan Africa and maintains offices
in Nairobi, Kenya, and Accra, Ghana.
Source: www.agra-alliance.org/
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1.13 Winners of the GCP-WACCI PhD scholarships
in plant breeding
http://www.generationcp.org/latestnews.php?i=1386
We are also pleased to announce that Ruth Thompson and Dramane Sako are the
first awardees of a new PhD scholarship programme funded by GCP and implemented
by the West African Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) at the University of
Ghana.
Ruth is from the Crop Research Institute-Kumasi, Ghana, and
she will work on cassava, while Dramane, who will study sorghum, is from Institut
d'économie rurale (IER), Mali. These
two pioneers begin their PhD studies in January 2009, and we wish them every
success in their endeavours.
Source: GCP News--Issue 35, December 2008
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1.14 Improved maize
varieties and partnerships welcomed in Bhutan
Sandwiched between China and India, the Kingdom of Bhutan is a small country that relies on maize in a big way. But maize yields
are typically low due to crop diseases, drought, and poor access to seed of
improved varieties, among other reasons. CIMMYT is committed to improving Bhutan’s food security by providing high-yielding, pest-resistant maize varieties
to farmers and capacity-building for local scientists.
“If there is no maize there is nothing to eat,”
says Mr. S. Naitein, who farms maize on half a hectare of land in Bhutan.
But it’s not easy to grow, he says, citing challenges such as animals (monkeys
and wild boars), insects, poor soil fertility, drought, poor access to improved
seed varieties, and crop diseases like gray leaf spot (GLS) and turcicum leaf
blight (TLB).
But since planting Yangtsipa—an improved maize variety derived from Suwan-1,
a variety introduced from CIMMYT’s former regional maize program in Thailand—Naitein
has seen a real improvement in his maize yields. The local maize variety yielded
1,700 kilograms per hectare, whereas Yangtsipa gave him 2,400 kilograms per
hectare, a 40% yield increase.
“It’s no wonder that Yangtsipa is by far the most popular improved variety among
Bhutanese farmers,” says Guillermo Ortiz-Ferrara, CIMMYT regional
cereal breeder posted in Nepal. “Nonetheless,
many local varieties of maize still occupy large areas of the country and don’t
yield well.”
Maize is a staple food in Bhutan.
Many people eat Tengma (pounded maize) as a snack with a cup of tea and Kharang
(maize grits) are also popular. “Among the food crops, maize plays a critical
role in household food security, especially for the poor,” says Ortiz-Ferrara.
About 38% of the rural Bhutanese population lives below the poverty line and
some 37,000 households cultivate maize. It’s estimated that 80% of this maize
is consumed at the household level, according to Bhutan’s
Renewable Natural Resources Research Center (RNRRC).
Leaf us alone: CIMMYT maize varieties help combat foliar diseases
Many farmers in Bhutan have been struggling with crop diseases that cut maize yields. “The
recent outbreak of gray leaf spot and turcicum leaf blight affected 4,193 households
and destroyed over 1,940 hectares of maize crop,” says Thakur Prasad Tiwari, agronomist with CIMMYT-Nepal.
He estimates that maize is grown on 31,160 hectares in the country.
Gray leaf spot is a devastating leaf disease that is spreading fast in the hills
of Bhutan and
Nepal. To
deal with this threat, CIMMYT sent more than 75 maize varieties with possible
resistance to GLS and TLB to Bhutan in
2007. Tapping into the resources of its global network of research stations,
CIMMYT sent seed from Colombia,
Zimbabwe,
and Mexico that
was planted in GLS and TLB ‘hot spot’ locations in the country.
Ortiz-Ferrara and Tiwari then worked with Tirtha Katwal, national maize coordinator-Bhutan,
and his team to evaluate these materials for their resistance.
“Together we identified the top performing lines for gray leaf spot and turcicum
leaf blight which will be excellent candidates for Bhutan’s
maize breeding program,” says Ortiz-Ferrara. “We are now combining their disease
resistance with Yangtsipa, because we know it is high-yielding and well-adapted
to Bhutan.”
Kevin Pixley, associate director of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program, helped to
develop a detailed breeding scheme or work plan for Bhutan’s
national GLS breeding program. “We want to provide capacity-building for local
maize scientists so they themselves can identify and breed varieties that show
resistance to crop diseases,” he says.
“We feel more confident in moving forward with the next steps in our breeding
program,” said Katwal. He and his team also attended a training course on seed
production, de-tasselling, and pollination given by Dr. K.K. Lal, former CIMMYT
maize trainee and former chief of the Seed Quality Control Center at the
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) in Nepal.
That’s what friends are for: CIMMYT, Nepal, and Bhutan collaboration
In 2001, Bhutan began
collaborating on maize research with CIMMYT-Nepal, the National Maize Research
Program (NMRP) of Nepal, and
the Hill Maize Research project (HMRP) funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation
(SDC) in Nepal. The
terrain and agro-climatic conditions of Bhutan and
the Nepalese highland are similar, meaning that technologies adapted for Nepal will
likely work well in neighboring Bhutan.
CIMMYT aims to facilitate regional and national partnerships that benefit farmers.
For instance, during the past 7 years CIMMYT-Nepal has worked with NMRP and
RNRRP to introduce 12 open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) to Bhutan.
These modern varieties yield more than the local varieties whose seed farmers
save to sow from year to year. Included in these 12 OPVs were several quality
protein maize (QPM) varieties; these have nearly twice as much usable protein
as other traditional varieties of maize.
“Our CIMMYT office in Nepal has assisted Bhutan with
maize and wheat genetic material, technical backstopping, training, visiting
scientist exchange, and in identifying key consultants on research topics such
as grey leaf spot and seed production,” says Tiwari.
Simply put, CIMMYT has useful contacts. For example, at the request of Bhutan’s
Renewable Natural Resources Research Center (RNRRC), CIMMYT-Nepal put forward
Dr. Carlos De Leon, former CIMMYT regional maize pathologist, to conduct a course
on identifying and controlling maize diseases in February 2007. In September
2008, CIMMYT and HMRP also recommended two researchers (Dr. K.B. Koirala and
Mr. Govinda K.C.) from Nepal’s
NMRP to give a course on farmer participatory research that has been successful
in the dissemination of new technologies.
“Ultimately, our goal is to improve the food security and livelihood of rural
households through increased productivity and sustainability of the maize-based
cropping system,” says Thakur Prasad Tiwari.
Source: SeedQuest.com
5 December 2008
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1.15 The Development and Regulation of Bt Brinjal
in India (Eggplant/Aubergine)
ISAAA Brief 38-2009
Today, ISAAA has released its new Brief 38-2009, known as Brinjal Brief on “The
Development and Regulation of Bt Brinjal in India (Eggplant/Aubergine)”.
This ISAAA Brief 38 is a comprehensive review of all aspects of the cultivation
in India of
the important vegetable brinjal. Importantly, the Brief summarizes the development,
status and content of the extensive regulatory dossier in India for
biotech Bt brinjal. This is 120 pages Brief is designed as primer and the subjects
covered in this are divided into four parts:
-the first part describes the biology, production and significance of brinjal
as a vegetable crop in India;
-the second focuses on biotech crop development and its relevance to India;
-the third highlights the current efforts to develop Bt brinjal- the first biotech
food crop in India, and
-the fourth part explains the regulatory framework being applied to Bt brinjal.
The full Brief is made available, free of charge on ISAAA main website and ISAAA
Knowledge Centre website: www.isaaa.org and www.isaaa.org/kc
The print copies will be available in a week time. Please let me have your feedback
on the content of this Brief.
www.isaaa.org and www.isaaa.org/kc
Contributed by Bhagirath Choudhary
ISAAA, C/o ICRISAT
b.choudhary@cgiar.org
16 January 2009
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1.16 USDA/ARS plant
geneticists develop world's first leafminer-resistant green leaf lettuce
Washington, DC
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
By Marcia Wood
Green leaf lettuces bring the rich color and pleasing texture of their crinkly
leaves to any garden salad. Besides being a favorite with salad lovers, this
kind of lettuce is also a top choice for destructive insects known as leafminers,
or Liriomyza langei.
To combat leafminers, Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) plant geneticists Beiquan
Mou and Edward Ryder
(now retired) developed the world's first leafminer-resistant green leaf lettuce.
Adult leafminers, which are shiny black flies with a yellow triangle on their
backs, ruin leaves when they puncture them to feed on sap. Females add to the
damage when they lay tiny oval eggs inside the leaves. Wormlike larvae hatch
from the little eggs and, as they feed, create the mine-like tunnels for which
the pest is named.
In addition to its leafminer resistance, the attractive, robust new lettuce
can shrug off attacks by the virus that causes lettuce mosaic. This disease,
spread by green peach aphids (Myzus persicae), gives leaves a sickly
mottled or mosaic appearance, rendering the lettuce unmarketable.
Mou and Ryder, based at the ARS Crop
Improvement and Protection Research Unit in Salinas, Calif., screened more
than 100 kinds of lettuce from ARS' Pullman, Wash.-based world collection of
lettuces, and from elsewhere, before selecting ARS' own "Salinas 88"
lettuce and a red leaf lettuce as parents for the new green leaf offspring.
They put it through seven years of laboratory, greenhouse and field tests, then
made it available to plant breeders and researchers earlier this year.
The lettuce, known as MU06-857, is the newest in a series of first-rate iceberg,
romaine, and leaf lettuces--and spinach--from the internationally known plant-breeding
program at Salinas. The lab's
crisp, crunchy iceberg lettuces, for example, have made iceberg the best-selling
lettuce in America.
Nearly every iceberg lettuce grown in the United States today owes at least some of its parentage to ARS' lettuce-breeding
research.
ARS is a scientific research agency of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
Source: SeedQuest.com
1 December 2008
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1.17 WineCrisp --
new apple was more than 20 years in the making
A new, late-ripening apple named WineCrisp™ which carries the Vf gene for
scab resistance was developed over the past 20 plus years through classical
breeding techniques, not genetic engineering. License to propagate trees will
be made available to nurseries through the University of Illinois.
Being resistant to apple scab is a big plus for growers, said University of Illinois plant
geneticist Schuyler Korban, as it significantly reduces the number of chemical
fungicide sprays. "Apple scab is the number one disease that growers have
to spray for – 15 to 20 times per season – so not having to spray for apple
scab lowers the cost for the grower and is better for the environment."
Why does it take over 20 years to make an apple? "It takes a long time
to develop an apple because you want to test it in different locations, you
want to observe it over a number of years, and it takes awhile for an apple
to get noticed," said geneticist Schuyler Korban. "I liked it the
first time I saw it and I liked the flavor. It has an excellent mix of sugar
and acid and a very pleasant flavor, but I was hesitant because of the finish
– it's not glossy."
Korban thought the finish might pose a problem because consumers are accustomed
to seeing waxed fruit in stores and may not like the matte finish that Korban
calls "scarfy" or dull. "Red Delicious is a very good looking
apple, but has no flavor, very bland. It's still ranked as the number one apple
in the industry; however, there are more new apple varieties available now."
After some time, Korban decided that the crispness and the flavor would be more
important factors to consumers than the finish and continued to develop the
new apple.
His research, in collaboration with breeders at Rutgers and Purdue Universities,
will be published in a 2009 issue of the journal of HortScience, and
a U.S. patent
is currently pending. The apple is available now to nurseries who want to apply
for a license to propagate trees and make them available to apple growers nationwide.
"There is a nursery in the southeastern part of the United States that
really liked the apple and feel that there is a market for it in the south so
they're getting a license to grow it."
It also takes time for a new orchard or even for an existing orchard to plant
new apple varieties. But when WineCrisp™ cuttings are grafted into a fast-growing
root stock, Korban says there could be fruit on the tree in as little as three
years.
Korban said that the tree is extremely productive and the fruit is firm, but
it's not a bright red color. "It's more of a dark red and looks like a
deep red wine so we wanted to include 'wine' in the name. It also resembles
an older variety that consumers are familiar with called Winesap. "When
you pick it up and squeeze it, it's very firm," he said. "We used
to call it 'the Rock.' We wanted that characteristic to be in the name so we
added 'crisp' and named it WineCrisp™.
"There's a market for apples with different flavors, different textures,
different ripening and maturity dates – you don't know what the likes and dislikes
of the consumer will be," said Korban. "Some of our recent releases
are varieties that focus on late ripening which would prolong the apple-growing
season and WineCrisp™ matures two weeks after Red Delicious. They can be harvested
all the way through to the end of October. And in good cold storage, they'll
keep for eight to nine months. That's another important trait of this variety
– it keeps very well in cold storage."
The original cross in the breeding process was done at Rutgers in 1989. The seeds were
grown into seedlings and inoculated with apple scab at Purdue. Those seedlings
that demonstrated resistance to apple scab were split between the three universities
as a part of the Purdue-Rutgers-Illinois (PRI) Cooperative Breeding Program,
which has been very successful in naming and releasing over 25 disease-resistant
apple varieties, some with other collaborating partners around the world. Because
the University of Illinois made
the selection, U of I will be the primary licensing institution.
Contact: Debra Levey Larson
dlarson@illinois.edu
217-244-2880
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Source:EurekAlert.org
22 January 2009
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1.18 Biotechnology
is helping the fight against climate change, according to Australian BRS report
Canberra, Australia
Biotechnology can help Australian farmers to remain viable despite the effects
of a changing climate.
Karen Schneider, Executive Director of the Bureau
of Rural Sciences (BRS), today released the report "Australia’s
crops and pastures in a changing climate: can biotechnology help?"
“There are a number of plant traits likely to be important for adapting to climate
change, including heat tolerance, water and nitrogen use efficiency, and pest
and disease resistance,” Ms Schneider said.
“Biotechnology techniques, such as genetic modification (GM), are increasingly
playing an important role in the development of new crop and pasture varieties
with these traits.
“The adoption of GM insect-resistant cotton has proven very effective in controlling
insect pests.
“This technology will become increasingly important when addressing altered
pest distributions expected under climate change,” Ms Schneider said.
Biotechnology can also assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated
by agriculture.
“GM insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant crops grown by Australian farmers
already help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cropping by reducing the fuel
use associated with pesticide applications and encouraging no-till or conservation
tillage practices.
“New varieties developed using biotechnology may help to reduce methane and
nitrous oxide emissions. For example, nitrogen-use efficient crops could lead
to reductions in the use of nitrogenous fertiliser,” said Ms Schneider.
Biotechnology can also indirectly mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by facilitating
the adoption of farm management practices that reduce carbon dioxide emissions
and increase carbon sequestration activities.
In Australia, GM organisms are regulated by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator,
and are assessed for risks to human health and safety and the environment.
For further information, visit www.brs.gov.au.
Download "Australia’s crops and pastures in a changing climate: can biotechnology help?"
http://affashop.gov.au/PdfFiles/final_for_printing_ccandbiotech_041208.pdf
Source: SeedQuest.com
16 December 2008
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1.19 Social and economic
impacts of biotechnology
Washington, DC
Biotechnology has the potential to substantially increase agricultural productivity,
influence markets, and in some cases invent new uses for traditional crops.
However, concerns accompany these potential benefits. A group of scientists
from Virginia examined
the benefits, costs, and risks associated with agricultural products arising
from biotechnology research.
With funding from USDA’s Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), George Norton and colleagues
at Virginia Polytechnic Institute focused their study on two crops: tobacco
and rice. They chose tobacco because research is underway to discover
pharmaceutical uses for the crop. Rice was chosen because it is the subject
of a large biotechnology program, with significant implications for U.S. producers,
as well as for producers and low-income consumers in the developing world.
Norton’s team assessed the costs and benefits of biotechnologies using economic
models. Analyses for tobacco focused on three pharmaceutical products: glucerebrosidase
(an enzyme for treating Gaucher Disease), human serum albumin (used as a substitute
for blood plasma during surgery), and secretory IgA antibody (important in preventing
tooth decay). The project team determined that pharmaceutical companies and
patent holders would benefit from biotechnology research in tobacco crops, but
the outcome for farmers and the public would be limited.
A world trade model was used to project the economic consequences of Asia and the United States implementing biotechnology to adopt cost-reducing genetically modified
rice. The model considered the potential impacts of insect-, drought-, and herbicide-resistant
genetically modified rice technologies. Projected total benefits from these
three technologies was around $2 billion per year, but varied regionally; Asian
countries benefited from genetically modified rice, while the United States experienced a small net loss.
Using a telephone survey, the project team assessed the perceived social impact
from genetically modified crops, specifically insect-resistant rice and pharmaceutical-producing
tobacco. Results suggest most people had strong feelings, positive or negative,
toward biotechnologies. Willingness to support genetically modified crops varied
with the levels of benefits—consumer support was greater for plant-based pharmaceuticals
than for genetically modified food products.
Focus groups in the United
States, the Philippines, and Bangladesh elicited stakeholder views or concerns about the potential benefits
and costs of obtaining pharmaceutical products from genetically modified crops.
The focus group also interviewed tobacco manufacturers, tobacco and rice producers,
private biotech firms, environmentalists, government regulators, clergy, students,
World Bank representatives, university and government researchers, and consumers.
The project team found most citizens of Asian countries were unaware of biotechnology
risk or benefit. U.S. farmers
are open to the idea of genetically modified crops, but fear a backlash that
could negatively affect crop prices.
Educational materials and fact sheets with more details about project findings
are available at http://www.agecon.vt.edu/biotechimpact/.
This project provides beneficial information about the public’s view of genetically
modified agricultural crops in the United States and abroad. It also explored impacts on these crops of U.S policies
and regulations, and provides greater clarity on the appropriate roles of the
public versus the private sector in biotechnology research and development.
CSREES funded this research through the Initiative for Future Agricultural
and Food Systems program. Through federal funding and leadership for research,
education and extension programs, CSREES focuses on investing in science and
solving critical issues affecting people’s daily lives and the nation’s future.
For more information, visit www.csrees.usda.gov.
By Stacy Kish
Source: SeedQuest.com
21 January 2009
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1.20 Balancing the
views on GM crops - Special Issue of the European Commission DG Environment
newsletter
Brussels, Belgium
Balancing the views on GM crops - Special Issue of the European Commission DG
Environment newsletter
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/10si.pdf
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Editorial: Balancing the views on GM crops
Public participation in the GM debate: the case for sustainability reporting
A recent study advises how public dialogue on GM policy issues could be conducted
to enable better decision-making.
Bee behaviour helps us understand transgene escape
A study which tracked the flight patterns of bees sheds light on how pollen
from GM crops could spread.
The bigger picture: GM contamination across the landscape
GM crops may need bigger isolation distances to prevent cross-contamination
with conventional crops, according to recent research.
GM rapeseed can mix with weeds
Researchers have found that a transgene from hybridised rapeseed can persist
in wild populations for up to six years in a small number of plants.
Earthworms decompose GM maize
Earthworms can help break down toxins in the soil produced by pest-resistant
GM maize, according to a recent study.
GM crops could reduce need for herbicides
Energy and economic savings can be made by using herbicide-resistant GM crops,
but wider changes to agricultural practice may be needed.
Related articles
- GM rapeseed could reduce fertiliser usage
- Genetic engineering could cut the cost of biofuels
- GM seeds can remain in fields longer than previously thoughtDownload the newsletter: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/10si.pdf
Source: SeedQuest.com
December 2008
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1.21 Global Crop
Diversity Trust reaches important milestones in 2008
Dear Friends,
Some years are better than others. 2008 was such a year for the Trust. But this
is not an annual report. – I don’t write that often! However, I do want to inform
you of a few important milestones, as well as significant work in progress.
For a short, colourful and interactive overview, please visit http://www.croptrust.org/GlobalSupplyFood/
The big underlying question is are we making progress in achieving the Trust’s
goal of ensuring the conservation of crop diversity to meet the challenges of
the future such as climate change and population growth? I’ll let you answer
that question for yourself.
-The Trust initiated what is probably the quantitatively largest biological
rescue project in history. Over the course of the next 3 years, the project,
carried out mainly by developing country partners around the world financed
and backstopped by the Trust, will rescue 100,000 distinct crop varieties that
otherwise would face extinction. Who knows what valuable traits for heat tolerance,
disease and pest resistance and nutritional qualities will be saved as a result!
Additionally, we are working on improved techniques for conserving certain crops,
particularly root and tuber crops.
-We now have long-term (essentially never-ending) contracts with the
holders of some of the largest and most important collections of banana, barley,
bean, cassava, chickpea, faba bean, forages, grass pea, lentil, pearl millet,
rice, sorghum, wheat and yam. These contracts are a beginning – they don’t cover
all crops or every important collection, nor do they defray all conservation
costs. But we are now providing close to $2 million a year to underpin globally
unique and critical crop diversity collections. These collections are the most
diverse, most accessible and best-managed collections in the world, and are
the main source of genetic resources for the world’s plant breeders. But none
are financially secure. Eventually, we need to have an endowment sufficiently
large to protect all the diversity of all the crops, forever.
-The Svalbard Global Seed Vault opened in February 2008. This is the
world’s agricultural insurance policy, offering protection against loss of diversity
(due to natural disasters, wars, equipment failures, accidents) that can plague
even the best of genebanks. Discovery Channel listed it as one of the
world’s nine biggest science projects. Time Magazine hailed it as one
of 2008’s greatest inventions. CBS 60 Minutes had a segment on the Vault
with great film footage. See it at: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/20/60minutes/main3954557.shtml.
Additional print and visual media stories about the Trust and the Seed Vault
can be accessed at: http://www.croptrust.org/main/articles.php
-The purpose of conserving diversity is to use it! If we want crops to
be adapted to new climates, then we’ll have to search through genebank collections
to find the appropriate genetic traits and begin the process of integrating
them into new varieties for use by farmers. We have initiated a competitive
grants system to finance screening of collections for traits useful for
climate change adaptation. Currently we’re supporting projects involving
a dozen different crops.
-Working with partners such as Bioversity International and USDA, the Trust
is catalyzing the development of non-proprietary software to help genebanks
oversee and organize their operations. The beta version is due out this month.
In addition, a “one-stop shop,” a “Google.com” for plant breeders is in the
works. This will enable plant breeders to search, find, and acquire needed traits
from genebanks around the world, rather than interact with them one-by-one,
navigating different systems and languages.
-During 2008 we made good progress towards our financial goal: we received
the largest grant in our history from an individual, $1 million from Amy Goldman
through the Lillian Goldman Charitable Trust. The Grade 4 Class of Colombia Grammar School in New York City did their part with a contribution raised through various activities.
And, significantly, a new US Farm Bill was signed into law authorizing
a $60 million contribution to the Trust’s endowment. Will Congress now appropriate
the funds? We hope to see positive news in 2009.
Looking Forward: Will 2009 be the year in which we completely endow
a crop, when we secure the entire diversity of a crop forever, and announce
for the first time that the job is done for wheat or chickpea, or…? Maybe. If
it happened with the panda bear the trumpets would blare. But it may be more
important if it happens with wheat. We’ll need a particularly far-sighted donor
to step forward and make it possible. What would it take? Depending on the crop,
less than the proportional amount that Princeton University has
in its endowment for 3 of its students. Remarkable, isn’t it?
The Trust is spearheading the formulation of an exciting, even “revolutionary,”
strategy for the collection and conservation of the wild botanical relatives
of our food crops. These biological resources contain a huge amount of untapped
and endangered diversity of inestimable utility in helping agriculture cope
with climate change. We have also outlined a methodology for conserving the
world’s root and tuber crops, which are so important to food security of the
poor, and yet so often neglected by both the public and private sector.
In both cases, our goals are concrete, the benefits are stupendous, the costs
are reasonable, and the strategy is passionately pragmatic. For a fraction of
the funds that it would take to attempt to save a wild animal species, we can
guarantee the conservation of hundreds of wild crop species, critical to future
agricultural productivity and food security. Forever. Or we can secure the diversity
of “orphan crops” such as cassava, taro or yam. Forever. (I hope potential donors
are listening!)
We know for sure we will be rescuing tens of thousands of crop varieties in
the coming months. We’ll be securing their conservation in genebanks managed
according to international standards, with a safety duplicate copy in the Svalbard
Global Seed Vault. The Trust will provide critical operating funds to key genebanks
and the Seed Vault, and we will work steadily to fashion these efforts into
a global system capable of protecting the biological foundation of agriculture
for at least as long as we’ll need food and agriculture. That’s a long, long
time.
As always, we appreciate your support and welcome your ideas, comments and even
your criticisms.
With best regards,
Cary Fowler
Executive Director
The Global Crop Diversity Trust
14 January 2009
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1.22 Peruvian region
outlaws biopiracy
Zoraida Portillo
[LIMA] A region of Peru is claiming to be the first in the world to enact a
law outlawing biopiracy and protecting indigenous knowledge at a regional level.
Cusco
— in the Peruvian Andes, once the capital of the Inca Empire — has outlawed
the plundering of native species for commercial gain,including patenting resources
or the genes they contain.
Corporations or scientists must now seek permission from, and potentially share
benefits with, the local people whose traditions have protected the species
for centuries.
Indigenous communities can now implement ways to protect local resources, including
creating registers of biodiversity and protocols for granting access to it.
"I know of no other local or regional laws similar to this one that brings
a legal framework for access to the genetic resources and traditional knowledge
and practices — I think this is a significant precedent," said Michel Pimbert
of the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development.
Local scientists and activists believe the law's value lies in the fact
that for the first time a regional government will be empowered to challenge
its national government on biopiracy.
"The new law is a good example of how local governments can create the
appropriate legal and institutional framework, as well as the mechanisms to
implement it, to ensure that biopiracy does not prey on the creativity of indigenous
peoples and local communities," Alejandro Argumedo, director of Asociacion
ANDES, a Cusco-based indigenous organisation, told SciDev.Net.
But while the law is an important precedent, it could come into conflict with
national laws regarding the recording of indigenous knowledge, said María Scurrah,
a Peruvian scientist specializing in farmer's rights.
The National Institute for the Protection of the Consumer and Intellectual Property
has created a National Register of Indigenous Knowledge. But the Cusco law says that native communities
of the region will make their own records and share them only according to certain
rules.
"I believe that ancient knowledge should be kept by the community and be
brought to a national registry to ensure payment to each community for each
variety and species registered," said Scurrah. "That is the only way
to pay for each community to be the guardian of biodiversity."
Pimbert said that the most significant aspect of the law is that it shows progress
can be made at a regional level, rather than working through "central governments
that have become increasingly distant and unaccountable to citizens in many
countries throughout the world".
Source: SciDev.net
21 January 2009
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1.23 Waterproof rice
passes international field tests
A new type of rice that can survive total submersion for more than two weeks
has passed its field tests with "flying colours," say researchers,
and is now close to official release.
Scientists hope that the rice can make a major difference in Bangladesh and India where up to four million tons of rice per year — enough to feed 30
million people — are lost because of flooding.
'Sub1' rice is identical to the high-yielding varieties popular with both farmers
and consumers across Asia, except that it contains
a single gene that gives it 'waterproof' qualities.
The enabling gene, 'sub1A', was discovered 13 years ago in a traditional Indian
rice variety by David Mackill — now head of the plant breeding, genetics and
biotechnology division of the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines
— and Xu Kenong, his then graduate student.
Scientists inserted the gene into other rice varieties and found that it became
switched on when a plant was submerged. It acts to make the plant dormant, allowing
it to conserve energy until the floodwaters recede.
It also countermands the rice plant's normal strategy when submerged — to extend
its stem and leaves in an attempt to escape the water.
"The potential for impact is huge," said Mackill, who collaborated
on the project with the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, India's
Central Rice Research Institute and Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and
Technology, also in India.
"Submergence-tolerant varieties could make major inroads into Bangladesh's annual rice shortfall and substantially reduce its import needs."
Crop scientists estimate that annual flooding leads to losses worth US$1 billion
across South and South-East Asia.
Mackill said flooding is even beneficial to the rice, which produces five tons
for each hectare submerged for up to two weeks. He added that an ordinary rice
variety without the 'sub1A' gene produces less than one ton per hectare.
"Climate change will most likely result in more extreme weather events,
including storms or heavy rainfall that causes flooding. We are continuing our
research to increase the level of tolerance to flooding to a higher level,"
he said.
"Within the next two years, the varieties will be disseminated to small
farmers in flood-prone areas."
The field trials mark the completion of a project funded for the past five years
by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
by Imelda V. Abano
Source: SciDev.net
5 December 2008
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1.24 Drought tolerant maize research update
Limburgerhof, Germany, and St. Louis, Missouri
- BASF and Monsanto frontrunners in making crops more tolerant to drought through
biotechnology
- First-ever drought tolerant corn (maize) expected to be available for farmers
early next decade
- Yield advantages of up to 10 percent in dry seasons
BASF Plant Science and Monsanto Company today announced that they
are a major step closer to delivering the world’s first drought-tolerant corn
product to farmers. According to the companies, the product has moved into the
final phase prior to an anticipated market launch early next decade. They also
reported that Monsanto has submitted the product to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) for regulatory clearance.
“This product is the first result of BASF and Monsanto’s plant biotech collaboration,”
said Hans Kast, President and CEO of BASF Plant Science. ”Our joint product
pipeline has many high-performing drought-tolerant genes, which make us confident
that the two companies can live up to their commitment of delivering successive
generations of ever more drought-tolerant crops.”
Drought-tolerant corn is just one of the products currently under development
as part of BASF and Monsanto’s collaboration in plant biotechnology, first announced
in March 2007. The two companies are jointly contributing $1.5 billion (~ €1.0
billion) over the life of the collaboration, which is aimed at developing higher-yielding
crops and crops more tolerant to adverse environmental conditions such as drought.
“In the almost 25 years I have been with Monsanto, the advancement of our drought-tolerant
corn product into Phase 4 is one of our most significant R&D milestones,
making this one of the most exciting times ever for our R&D pipeline,” said
Steve Padgette, Monsanto Biotechnology Lead. Phase 4 is the final phase before
market launch. “We are now intensively selecting the best trait-germplasm combinations
to deliver excellent drought-stress performance and value to our customers upon
launch. This product and other yield improvements that we are developing for
farmers will reset the bar for on-farm productivity.”
Drought-tolerant corn is designed to provide farmers yield stability during
periods when water supply is scarce by mitigating the effects of drought – or
water stress – within a corn plant. Field trials for drought-tolerant corn conducted
last year in the Western Great Plains in the United States have met or exceeded the 6–10 percent target yield enhancement over
the average yield of 70-130 bushels per acre (equivalent to approximately 4.4
– 8.1 metric tons per hectare) in some of the key drought-prone areas in the
United States.
BASF – the Chemical Company – consolidated its plant biotechnology
Source: SeedQuest.com
7 January 2009
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1.25 Novel crop-cooling
technique could mitigate climate change
Wagdy Sawahel
Planting crop varieties that better reflect sunlight back out to space could
reduce summertime temperatures by more than one degree Celsius in some parts
of the world, researchers announced yesterday (15 January).
The reduction, they say, would at certain latitudes be equivalent to a seasonal
offset of about 20 per cent of the regional warming expected by the end of this
century due to the build-up of carbon dioxide.
Researchers from the United
Kingdom say that such a plan could be achieved without disrupting food production,
either in terms of yield or the types of crops grown.
Their paper, published in Current Biology, argues that by choosing between
different varieties of the same crop species, it would be possible to increase
solar reflectivity without changing the type of crop. Strains would be selected
for their leaf "glossiness" or the arrangement of their leaves to
provide a canopy.
"Biogeoengineering" would be less expensive and audacious than some
projects that have been proposed and would require less global cooperation,
said Andy Ridgwell, lead researcher of the project, from the School of Geographical
Sciences at the University of Bristol.
Global agriculture already produces a cooling of climate because crop plants
generally reflect more sunlight back out to space than the natural vegetation
they have replaced — a property known as albedo.
Further regional cooling could be achieved through selective breeding of plants
with even greater reflective properties or by genetically modifying crop plants
to optimise their albedo.
"Our proposal cannot provide a full solution to climate change, but it
can reduce the severity of agricultural and health impacts of heat waves as
well as droughts in much of central North America and mid-latitude
Eurasia," said Ridgwell.
But, he told SciDev.Net, "our initial research suggests relatively limited
potential for climate mitigation outside of the mid latitude Northern Hemisphere".
He said that the density of arable land — suitable for growing crops — and the
greater distances between major arable regions appeared to be important factors.
Cloudiness in the summer months also appears to lessen the impact of crop plant
reflectivity changes in India and
China.
"Higher resolution analysis and, particularly, regional-scale modelling
would help better identify the potential for biogeoengineering in these regions,"
he added.
But the potential for benefit for developing countries will grow as arable agriculture
develops.
Magdi Tawfik Abdelhamid, plant biotechnologist at Egypt's
National Research Centre, welcomed the study. He called for an open access database
for plant varieties with morphological traits that maximise solar reflectivity.
Link to abstract in Current Biology
Source: SciDev.net
16 January 2009
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1.26 Technology to reduce the spread of rice tungro virus
St. Louis, Missouri
Danforth Center scientists identify technology to
reduce the spread of rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTVB). The discovery may
lead to increased rice crop yields
Building on plant virus research started more than 20 years ago, researchers
at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
have discovered a technology that reduces infection by the virus that causes
Rice Tungro Disease, once referred to as a limiting factor of rice production
in Asia. Danforth Center President
Dr. Roger N. Beachy and Research Scientist Dr. Shunhong Dai demonstrated that
transgenic rice plants that overexpress either of two rice proteins are tolerant
to infection caused by the rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTVB) which is largely
responsible for the symptoms associated with Rice Tungro disease. The two proteins,
RF2a and RF2b were discovered in Beachy’s lab several years ago and are transcription
factors known to be important for plant development; the new data suggest that
they may be involved in regulating defense mechanisms that protect against virus
infection. The discovery, published in the December 22, 2008 issue of the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, may open new avenues in the search for disease resistance
genes and pathways in plants and other organisms.
Plant viral diseases cause serious economic losses in agriculture, second only
to those caused by fungal diseases. Rice Tungro disease is prevalent primarily
in South and Southeast Asia and accounts for
nearly $1.5 billion annual loss in rice production worldwide. Preventing the
occurrence and spread of this virus could result in increased yields ranging
from five and 10 per cent annually in affected areas.
“Rice Tungro disease is complex and requires interactions between two different
viruses, an insect vector and the host. It has taken a great deal of research
effort through the years to gain sufficient information and knowledge about
the virus and the host to come to the point of developing a type of resistance
to the disease. Hopefully, the results of these studies will lead to improved
yields of rice in areas of the world most affected by the disease,” said Roger
N. Beachy, president, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.
Beachy and Dai’s research laboratory and greenhouse findings conducted in St. Louis were confirmed
in a greenhouse trial conducted in partnership with the Philippine Rice Research Institute. This
breakthrough provides a clearer understanding of how these two specific transcription
factors ‘turn on’ specific genes in rice plants as well as which proteins help
the virus complete the cycle of infection. Understanding the development of
disease symptoms is critical for engineering plants that can resist the biological
effects of viral pathogen infection.
Virus infections alter gene expression and physiological status in the host,
resulting in disease symptoms. Although viruses are relatively simple genetically
speaking, little is known about the mechanisms that underlie the development
of disease symptoms caused by viral pathogens.
A major challenge for the treatment or prevention of viral infections is the
identification of specific factors in host organisms that contribute to disease
susceptibility and symptoms. Some of these factors include genetic and biochemical
pathways and gene expression that influence multiple aspects of host biology.
In this case of Rice Tungro disease, viral infection is commonly transmitted
by the green leaf hopper. Combining genes that overexpress RF2a and RF2b with
genes that provide resistance to the insect vector could generate new rice varieties
with significantly improved resistance to Rice Tungro disease in vulnerable
regions in the world.
Source: SeedQuest.com
6 January, 2009
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1.27 Experimental
soybeans sabotage soybean cyst nematode with its own gene
Washington, DC
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
By Jan Suszkiw
Using biotechnology, Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) scientists have fortified the defenses of soybean plants against
tiny but destructive pests called soybean cyst nematodes (SCN).
The wormlike pests live in the soil, where they can wriggle into soybean roots
to feed, mate and lay eggs. The damage they cause to root cells obstructs the
flow of nutrients and water to the rest of the plant, weakening it.
Such attacks cost U.S. soybean farmers up to $1 billion in losses annually. Although SCN-resistant
soy varieties are available, the nematodes can eventually overcome the resistance
by evolving into virulent new races. Fumigating soils before planting can diminish
the pest's numbers, but such chemical control is costly.
As an alternative, ARS plant physiologist Ben Matthews
and colleagues in Beltsville, Md., are exploring
the use of genetic engineering to bolster SCN resistance in soybeans using novel
or existing genes.
Earlier this year, for example, Matthews' team completed greenhouse trials of
soybean plants whose roots had been engineered with a DNA copy of one of the
nematode's own protein-making genes. When nematodes ingest the DNA copy, the
DNA "deactivates" the expression of the pest's corresponding gene,
so it stops making the protein.
In greenhouse trials at the ARS Soybean
Genomics and Improvement Laboratory in Beltsville, 80 to 90 percent of juvenile
female nematodes that fed on the engineered soybean roots died or failed to
mature by 30 days.
Matthews' team, together with a Towson University
bioinformatics expert, used comparative genomics and genome sequence information
from another nematode species, Caenorhabditis elegans, to identify the
SCN protein gene they targeted.
According to Matthews, a second round of greenhouse studies is planned to confirm
the initial results. Similar studies with other resistance-conferring genes
are under way.
Commercial soybeans derived from the team's research are at least eight years
away. That's contingent upon successful field tests, further refinement, regulatory
approval, propagation and other requirements, notes Matthews.
ARS is a scientific research agency of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
Source: SeedQuest.com
18 December 2008
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1.28 Potato resistance to phytophthera via cisgenics
Wageningen, The Netherlands
Plant Research International (PRI), part
of Wageningen UR, carried out a successful field test in the summer of 2008
with potatoes that were made resistant to phytophthora by means of cisgenics.
This was announced by Professor Willem Stiekema at the conference ‘The Future
of Food and Agriculture’ in Wageningen.
Stiekema showed picture of a field of green, modified potatoes next to a field
of ordinary potatoes that were completely infested with the potato disease phytophthora.
The scientists had infected both fields with the Phytophthora infestans pathogen
to test the resistance of the GMO potato.
PRI implanted the potato with a resistance gene from wild potatoes. “We decided
to use cisgenics, which involves genetic modification, using genes from the
species of interest or related, crossable species ,” explains project leader
Anton Haverkort of PRI. Next year the scientists are looking to perform a field
test with multiple resistance genes in the potato. “By stacking multiple resistance
genes we hope to be faster and smarter than the pathogen.” Previous attempts
to protect the potato with one resistance gene were quickly blocked by the fungoid
pathogen.
PRI cannot market the resistant potato because the variety has not received
European authorisation yet. Prof Stiekema and his colleagues are arguing for
acceptance: “Controlling the phytophthora with pesticides has an enormous impact
on the environment and costs 150 million euros in the Netherlands and ten billion euros globally each year.
Source: SeedQuest.com
21 December 2008
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1.29 Bean angular leaf spot disease resistance
By Aloísio Sartorato,
former Embrapa Rice and Bean scientist (Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, C. P. 179, CEP
75375-000 Santo Antonio de Goias, Brazil). E-mail: alsartorato@gmail.com
Bean angular leaf spot is one of the most important bean diseases in Brazil
and is caused by the fungus Pseudocercospora griseola. Control measurements
of the disease include aerial spraying of fungicides and use of resistant cultivars.
Regarded to the latter, several experiments were taken to identify a genotype
with the broadest resistance spectrum. Five
seeds of each genotype were sown in a 2,0 kg aluminum pot (3 parts of soil + 1 part of sand). Each experiment consisted
of testing one isolate of the pathogen and seventy-seven genotypes of the host
under greenhouse conditions. A total of eight isolates (different pathotypes)
were used. Plants were inoculated 14-16 days after seeding and disease was recorded
14-18 days after inoculation using a 1 to 9 scale. Plants exhibiting grades
1 to 3 were considered resistant and 4 to 9 susceptible. From Table 1 it is
observed that only genotype OPNS 0331 – Majestoso was resistant to all isolates
tested showing complete resistance to seven out of eight isolates. For the isolate
874, this cultivar showed resistant (R) and susceptible (S) plants. Such resistant
plants must be selected. This result indicates that OPNS 0331 – Majestoso must
be incorporated in a bean breeding program to develop more resistant cultivars
to this disease.
Table 1. Bean genotypes resistant to 3, 4, 5 and 8 isolates (different pathotypes)
of Pseudocercospora griseola under greenhouse
conditions. Embrapa Rice and Beans, 2006/2007.
(Editor’s note: the complete table is available by writing to the author.)
---------------------
Resistant to 8 isolates:
OPNS 0331 - Majestoso
Resistant
to 5 isolates: IPA 6
Resistant to 4 isolates: CNFM 08080, CNFE 10815
Resistant to 3 isolates: CNFC 07806, CNFC 07812, CNFC 07813 – Pontal, CNFC 07824,
CNFC 10432, CNFP 07776 – Grafite, CNFR 07858, CNFR 10522
---------------------
Contributed by Aloísio Sartorato
alsartorato@gmail.com
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1.30 Kansas State
University, Texas A&M researchers boost lettuce calcium content
Manhattan, Kansas
Led by 87 percent of the nation´s teenage girls and 78 percent of U.S. women
age 20 or older, today´s average American eats far too little calcium - the
most abundant mineral in the human body.
Calcium is best known for its role in deciding the lifelong, year-to-year strength
or weakness of bones and teeth. The fact is, however, calcium intake is crucial
to every bodily function, from nerves and muscles to glands and blood vessels.
That´s why plant scientists at Kansas State
and Texas A&M universities are working to make
meeting daily calcium needs easier. Their plan is to expand people´s range of
calcium-rich food choices.
"Thus far, few vegetables are good sources of calcium. And, those few aren´t
a significant part of the average U.S. diet,"
said Sunghun Park, K-State
horticulturist and the project´s lead scientist.
The researchers´ first results include a 25 to 32 percent hike in the in-bred
calcium supplied by common leaf lettuce. The team now hopes to raise their lettuce
lines´ nutrient value even further.
Today, most of the calcium Americans eat comes from such dairy products as milk,
yogurt and cheese, according to the Office of the Surgeon General. Some also
comes from "fortified" products (orange juice, bread, cereals) and
such dark, leafy greens as bok choy, collards and broccoli.
"To expand that list, we´re using a strategy called biofortification. We´re
working to genetically improve what we know are popular vegetables, to make
them more nutrient-dense," Park said.
The researchers´ first report says their biofortified leaf lettuce lines are
reproducing true to form and growing robustly under greenhouse conditions. Yet,
the report emphasizes a different finding.
In an unusual move, the researchers submitted their "new" lettuce
to the Sensory Analysis Center in K-State´s
Department of Human Nutrition. And, a panel of scientific evaluators there found
the enhanced lettuce to be no different from "regular" leaf lettuce
in flavor, bitterness or crispness.
"In other words, if you were to encounter both of them in a salad or hamburger,
you wouldn´t be able to tell which was which. That could make a big difference
in public acceptance, if and when a product like ours enters the market,"
said team member Kendal Hirschi, who is a pediatrics and human genetics professor
at the Baylor College of Medicine, as well as an associate research director
at Texas A&M´s Vegetables and Fruit Improvement Center.
Right now, however, marketability isn´t the prime concern for the lettuce research
team - which also includes two more K-State horticulturists, two K-State sensory
analysts and the director of environment technologies at Edenspace Systems.
They don´t think their research project is complete. They´re looking into boosting
their leaf lettuce´s calcium content further by such methods as adding calcium
to the plants´ growing soil and/or immersing the harvested leaves in a calcium-rich
solution.
Immersions of calcium have a long history as a post-harvest firming agent. Today,
they´re prolonging the shelf life of such fruits and vegetables as apples, cantaloupes,
strawberries and carrots.
But, whether they also "up" fresh produce´s calcium content is still
an unknown, Park said.
"All we´ve established explicitly so far is that modifying a single plant-calcium
transporter will increase calcium content without having a negative impact on
lettuce quality. That´s just one step toward getting biofortified lettuce on
store shelves. Even so, our scientific approach should now be applicable to
numerous other food
crops, too," said Mark Elless of Edenspace, which is newly headquartered
in Manhattan, Kan., with its newest
research facilities in nearby Junction City, Kan.
An abstract and the research team´s entire report, "Sensory analysis of
calcium-biofortified lettuce," is available on the Plant Biotechnology
Journal´s Web site at
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/121451954/HTMLSTART.
A colorful outline of Americans´ challenges with calcium -- "The 2004 Surgeon
General´s Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis: What It Means to You"
-- is at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/bonehealth/docs/OsteoBrochure1mar05.pdf.
K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University
Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program
designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans.
Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and research centers
statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus in Manhattan.
Other news from Texas
A&M University
Source: SeedQuest.com
23 January 2009
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1.31 Re-engineering
rice photosyntheses
Los Baños, The Philippines
An ambitious project to re-engineer photosynthesis in rice, led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) through
a global consortium of scientists, has received a grant of US$11 million over
3 years from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As a result of research
being conducted by this group, rice plants that can produce 50% more grain using
less fertilizer and less water are a step closer to reality.
Currently, more than a billion people worldwide live on less than a dollar a
day and nearly one billion live in hunger. Over the next 50 years, the population
of the world will increase by about 50% and water scarcity will grow. About
half of the world’s population consumes rice as a staple cereal, so boosting
its productivity is crucial to achieving long-term food security. IRRI is leading
the effort to achieve a major increase in global rice production by using modern
molecular tools to develop a more efficient and higher-yielding form of rice.
Photosynthesis, the process by which plants use solar energy to capture carbon
dioxide and convert it into the carbohydrates required for growth, is not the
same for all plants. Some species, including rice, have a mode of photosynthesis
(known as C3) in which the capture of carbon dioxide is relatively inefficient.
Other plants, such as maize and sorghum, have evolved a much more efficient
form of photosynthesis known as C4.
According to IRRI scientist and project leader John Sheehy, in tropical climates
the efficiency of solar energy conversion of crops using so-called C4 photosynthesis
is about 50% higher than that of C3 crops. Given the demands from an increasing
population, combined with less available land and water, adequate future supplies
of rice will need to come in large part through substantial yield boosts and
more efficient use of crop inputs.
“Converting the photosynthesis of rice from the less-efficient C3 form to the
C4 form would increase yields by 50%,” said Dr. Sheehy, adding that C4 rice
would also use water twice as efficiently. In developing tropical countries,
where billions of poor people rely on rice as their staple food, “The benefits
of such an improvement in the face of increasing world population, increasing
food prices, and decreasing natural resources would be immense,” he said.
“This is a long-term, complex project that will take a decade or more to complete,”
said Dr. Sheehy. “The result of this strategic research has the potential to
benefit billions of poor people.”
The C4 Rice Consortium combines the strengths of a range of partners, including
molecular biologists, geneticists, physiologists, biochemists, and mathematicians,
representing leading research organizations worldwide. Members include Yale,
Cornell, Florida, and Washington State universities in the United States; Oxford,
Cambridge, Dundee, Nottingham, and Sheffield universities in Britain; the Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australian National
University, and James Cook University in Australia; Heinrich Heine University
and the Institute for Biology in Germany; Jiangsu Academy in China; the University
of Toronto in Canada; and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations.
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world’s leading rice
research and training center. Based in the Philippines, with offices in 13 other
countries, IRRI is an autonomous, nonprofit institution focused on improving
the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers,
particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI
is one of 15 centers supported, in part, by members of the Consultative Group
on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR; www.cgiar.org) and a range of
other funding agencies.
Web sites: IRRI Home (www.irri.org)
IRRI Library (http://ricelib.irri.cgiar.org)
Rice Knowledge Bank (www.knowledgebank.irri.org)
Source: SeedQuest.com
14 January 2009
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1.32 European starch
industry demands swift approval of genetically optimized potatoes
Foxhol/Netherlands, Emlichheim/Germany, Kristianstad/Sweden, Limburgerhof/ Germany
- Genetically modified starch potatoes estimated to generate an additional €100-200
million annual added value
- Added value helps the European potato starch industry to maintain competi-tivenessThe leading European potato starch companies AVEBE, Emsland-Stärke,
and Lyckeby Industrial demand the use of innovative technologies in agri-culture.
According to the starch producers, genetically optimized starch potatoes like
Amflora from BASF Plant Science are good examples
for such innovations. Their request has been prompted by the recent EU Commission
decision from No-vember 20, 2008 to cut the subsidies for the production of
starch potatoes.
The producers are concerned that the reduction of production subsidies will
com-promize the profitability of starch potato cultivation. AVEBE, Emsland-Stärke,
and Lyckeby Industrial want to meet this challenge by using new potato varieties
with optimized starch composition that create added value. For pure amylopectin
starch, as it can be extracted from Amflora, the starch industry predicts an
additional mar-ket value of €100 to 200 million per year allowing them to strengthen
their competi-tive position. The starch producers estimate that the added value
will benefit farm-ers and help compensate part of the impact of the curtailing
of subsidies. Further-more, much needed jobs in regions with weak infrastructure
could be secured.
“It’s incomprehensible that the approval of Amflora has been delayed by the
EU-Commission for years. The responsible politicians should re-consider the
conse-quences of their non-acting against the background of the severe economical
situation,” demanded Bengt Olof Johansson, Managing Director of Lyckeby Industrial.
“The fact that farmers in other regions of this world have access to innovative
prod-ucts, whereas farmers in Europe hardly have any opportunity
to profit from geneti-cally enhanced crops, endangers our competitiveness.”
”In order to remain competitive, potato farmers and starch industry need innovative
alternatives that generate more value per hectare. A positive scientific safety
evaluation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) should automatically
lead to approval for growing genetically modified crops,” added Gerben Meursing,
Man-aging Director Commerce of the starch producer AVEBE.
”We urge the politicians to provide a clear framework and to finally allow farmers
and starch industry to use plant biotechnology,“ Michael Schonert, Managing
Direc-tor of Emsland-Stärke said.
About Amflora
Amflora is a genetically optimized potato, producing pure amylopectin starch,
ideal for technical applications. Conventional potatoes produce a mixture of
amylopectin and amylose starch. For many technical applications, such as in
the paper, textile and adhesives industries, only amylopectin is needed; separating
the two starch components is uneconomical. Amflora produces pure amylopectin
starch and thus helps to save resources, energy and costs. Moreover: Paper produced
with amylopectin starch has a higher gloss. Concrete and adhesives can be processed
for a longer period of time.
Source: SeedQuest.com
9 December 2008
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1.33 Purdue University researchers find nature's shut-off switch for cellulose production
West Lafayette, Indiana
Purdue University researchers found a mechanism
that naturally shuts down cellulose production in plants, and learning how to
keep that switch turned on may be key to enhancing biomass production for plant-based
biofuels.
Nicholas Carpita, a professor of botany and plant pathology, said that small-interfering
RNAs (siRNAs) play a normal role in plant development by shutting off genes
involved in primary cell wall growth in order to begin development of thicker,
secondary cell walls.
"These small RNAs were known to play a role in fending off disease-causing
pathogens, but we are only now beginning to understand their involvement in
normal plant development," he said.
Carpita's research team reported its findings in Monday's (Dec. 15) early online
issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"If we can learn to interfere with the down-regulation of cellulose synthesis,
then plants may be able to produce more cellulose, which is key to biofuels
production," Carpita said.
Mick Held, a postdoctoral researcher in Carpita's lab, virologist Steve Scofield,
a U.S. Department of Agriculture research scientist and adjunct assistant professor
of agronomy at Purdue, and Carpita made the discovery in barley after introducing
a virus as a way to "silence" specific genes and study their functions.
The researchers noticed that the virus had more effect then anticipated.
"The virus hijacked a whole suite of genes, and when we compared the targeted
plant to our control plants we found that the small RNAs were responsible and
already in the controls even without adding the virus," Held said.
Carpita said this let researchers see that the siRNAs - among other things -
regulate and shut down primary cell wall development to begin secondary wall
growth.
"These secondary stages result in characteristics such as tough rinds of
corn stalks, vascular elements to conduct water and fibers for strength,"
he said.
The researchers said that delaying or preventing the shutdown of both primary
and secondary cellulose production might enhance total plant biomass.
"Most biofuel researchers believe that cellulose utilization offers the
best path to sustainable ethanol production," Scofield said. "Our
work uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that suggests a way to increase
the amount of cellulose produced in plants."
Other members of the research team were Bryan Penning and Sarah Kessans of Purdue
and Amanda Brandt of the USDA/Ag Research Service, Crop Production and Pest
Control Research Unit located at Purdue.
The research was funded by a U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Biosciences grant.
Writer: Beth Forbes
Source: SeedQuest.com
17 December, 2008
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1.34 U.S. Department
of Energy Joint Genome Institute completes soybean genome
Walnut Creek, California
Data released to advance biofuel, food, & feed research
The U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome
Institute (DOE JGI) has released a complete draft assembly of the soybean
(Glycine max) genetic code, making it widely available to the research community
to advance new breeding strategies for one of the world's most valuable plant
commodities. Soybean not only accounts for 70 percent of the world's edible
protein, but also is an emerging feedstock for biodiesel production. Soybean
is second only to corn as an agricultural commodity and is the leading U.S. agricultural
export.
DOE JGI's interest in sequencing the soybean centers on its use for biodiesel,
a renewable, alternative fuel with the highest energy content of any alternative
fuel. According to 2007 U.S. Census data, soybean is estimated to be responsible
for more than 80 percent of biodiesel production.
"The genome sequence is the direct result of a memorandum of understanding
between DOE and USDA to increase interagency collaboration in plant genomics,"
said DOE Under Secretary for Science Dr. Raymond L. Orbach. "We are proud
to support this major scientific breakthrough that will not only advance our
knowledge of a key agricultural commodity but also lead to new insights into
biodiesel production."
"Soybeans have been an important food plant providing essential protein
to people for hundreds of years," said USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary
for Research, Education, and Economics Dr. Gale A. Buchanan. "Now, with
the new knowledge available through this joint DOE/USDA genome sequencing project,
researchers everywhere will be able to further enhance important traits that
make the soybean such a valuable plant. It's a great day for agriculture and
people everywhere."
This effort was led by Dan Rokhsar and Jeremy Schmutz of the DOE JGI, Gary Stacey
of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Randy Shoemaker of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA)-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Scott Jackson
of Purdue University, with support from the DOE, the USDA, and the National
Science Foundation (NSF). In addition, the United Soybean Board, the North Central
Soybean Research Program, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, have supported
the soybean genome effort.
"Soybean is the one of the largest and most complex plant genomes sequenced
by the whole genome shotgun strategy," noted Rokhsar. The process entails
shearing the DNA into small fragments enabling the order of the nucleotides
to be read and interpreted. Steven Cannon of the USDA-ARS collaborated with
the DOE team to ensure the accuracy of the assembly.
Preliminary scientific details emerging from the sequence analysis will be presented
by Schmutz at the International Conference on Legume Genomics and Genetics in
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico,
December 8, 2008. The soybean genome sequence information can be browsed at http://www.phytozome.net/soybean.
Schmutz and colleagues have begun to analyze the soybean genome, which at one
billion nucleotides is roughly one-third the size of the human genome. Preliminary
studies suggest as many as 66,000 genes—more than twice the number identified
in the human genome sequence, and nearly half-again as many as the poplar genome,
sequenced by DOE JGI and published in the journal Science in 2006.
"We have ordered and localized about 5,500 genetic markers on the sequence,
which promise to be of particular importance to those researchers seeking to
optimize certain qualities in soybean," said Schmutz. Thousands of these
markers were developed by Perry Cregan and colleagues of the USDA-ARS with support
of the United Soybean Board. A genetic marker represents a known location on
a chromosome that can be associated with a particular gene or trait. Prospective
genome pathways of interest are those that directly influence yield, oil and
protein content, as well as drought tolerance and resistance to nematodes and
diseases such as the water mold Phytophthora sojae, previously sequenced by
DOE JGI, which causes stem and root rot of soybean.
In 2007, soybean accounted for 56 percent of the world's oilseed production.
James Specht, Professor at the University of Nebraska, said
that this nitrogen-fixing legume crop offers the dual benefit of a seed high
in protein and oil—with room for improvement. "With the advent of low-cost
re-sequencing technologies, soybean scientists now have the means to identify
sequence differences responsible for yield potential–the most desired of all
crop traits, but to date the most intractable."
"The soybean genome sequence will be a valuable resource for the basic
researcher and soybean breeder alike," said Jim Collins, Assistant Director
for the Biology Directorate at the NSF. Collins and Judith St. John of USDA
Agricultural Research Service co-chair the Interagency Working Group on Plant
Genomes, which oversees the National Plant Genome Initiative. "The close
coordination between the DOE sequencing project and the NSF SoyMap project facilitated
through the National Plant Genome Initiative has added value to the sequence
and physical map resources for this important crop," Collins said.
The soybean genome project is already making its mark out in the field.
"It's tremendous that the soybean genome is out in the public's hands."
Said Rick Stern, a New Jersey soybean
farmer and chair of the Production Research program for the United Soybean Board
(USB). "Now every breeder can go into this valuable library for the information
that will help speed up the breeding process. It should cut traditional breeding
time by half from the typical 15 years."
The U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, supported by the DOE
Office of Science, unites the expertise of five DOE national laboratories --
Lawrence Berkeley, Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, and Pacific Northwest
-- along with the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology to advance genomics
in support of the DOE missions related to clean energy generation and environmental
characterization and cleanup. DOE JGI's Walnut Creek, Calif., Production Genomics
Facility provides integrated high-throughput sequencing and computational analysis
that enable systems-based scientific approaches to these challenges. Additional
information about DOE JGI can be found at: http://www.jgi.doe.gov/.
Source: SeedQuest.com
9 December 2008
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1.35 Tool helps identify
gene function in soybeans, could lead to better crop performance, say University
of Missouri researchers
Columbia, Missouri
In the race for bioengineered crops, sequencing the genome could be considered
the first leg in a multi-leg relay. Once the sequence is complete, the baton
is passed forward to researchers to identify genes’ functions. A draft sequence
of the soybean genome is now available, and the complete genome will be available
soon. Taking the next step in a new study, University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Plant
Group researchers have demonstrated the applicability of a genomic tool for
identifying gene function in soybeans. Understanding gene function in soybeans
will ultimately benefit crop performance.
The new genomic tool uses transposons, which are fragments of DNA that can “hop
around” the genome. When these fragments move, they often land within an existing
gene sequence, causing a mutation, or disruption, in that gene’s function. By
“tagging” transposons, scientists have found that they can screen plants for
visible mutations in important agronomic traits, such as seed composition or
root growth. By “tracing” a tagged transposon, scientists can easily identify
the exact gene where any single mutation occurs. This technique has been successfully
used in a number of plants, including maize and the model plant Arabidopsis
thaliana. In the study, IPG scientists demonstrated the feasibility of this
technique in the soybean.
“Studying gene function in soybeans presents special challenges because the
plant is tetraploid, meaning it has extra copies of most genes,” said IPG member
Gary Stacey, lead author of the report and an investigator in the MU Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center. “Nevertheless,
we were able to create a number of plant variants containing different mutations
and to identify a specific gene associated with a particular mutation, specifically
male sterility.”
Several of the scientists involved in the study were part of a team that was
recently awarded a three-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Science
Foundation to test the feasibility of additional functional genomic techniques
in soybean.
“Our goal is to create a repository that will be a resource for the soybean
community to study gene function and that, in the long run, will aid in translating
genomics data into information that will ultimately benefit crop performance,”
Stacey said.
The study is described in the report, “Establishment of a Soybean (Glycine max
Merr. L) transposon-based mutagenesis repository,” in a recent issue of the
journal Planta.
Source: SeedQuest.com
1 December 2008
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1.36 Plants display
'molecular amnesia'
Discovery an important step in genomics research and quest for better crops
Montréal Québec
Plant researchers from McGill University
and the University of California, Berkeley have announced
a major breakthrough in a developmental process called epigenetics. They have
demonstrated for the first time the reversal of what is called epigenetic silencing
in plants.
The findings are important to develop a better understanding of gene regulation
in the continuing quest to breed enhanced crops that produce higher yields,
are more resistant to disease and can better tolerate environmental stress –
all keys to helping improve the world's food supply. But perhaps even more important,
the discovery may lead to new insights into how epigenetic processes work in
the human body, which could assist in developing new ways of modifying our genetic
makeup to help us avoid such diseases as cancer.
Although nearly every cell in our body is genetically identical, the researchers
explained, each cell type expresses a distinct set of genes. Changes to the
proteins around which DNA is wound are called "epigenetic" modifications,
because they alter patterns of this gene expression without changing the actual
DNA sequence. However, like changes in DNA sequence, epigenetic modifications
can be passed on from parent cell to daughter cell, ensuring each cell line
has the proper characteristics consistently over many generations.
This process must be repeated each generation, and there is good evidence in
animals that, during early development, there is a wave of epigenetic reprogramming
that effectively "resets" this system. Some genes, it seems, must
be more actively reset than others. And genes that do the same thing in every
cell, regardless of tissue type, may not have to be reset at all.
One kind of gene is quite distinct from all of the others, because it is nearly
always epigenetically inactivated. These are the genes carried by transposons,
or "jumping genes." Transposons are mutagens, genes that can modify
their host cell in different ways, and lead to a predisposition to cancer, for
example.
The researchers' experiments with corn – technically known as "maize"
– suggest the propensity to maintain epigenetic states can vary depending on
the position of the transposons within the genome.
Many organisms, from worms to humans to plants, have learned to tame transposons
by epigentically "silencing" them: if they can't express their genes
they can't jump. If they can't jump for long enough, their DNA sequence slowly
accumulates errors, and they become molecular fossils. Most transposons in most
organisms are silenced in this way, but some remain quite active.
In previous studies from the laboratory of two of the article's authors, UC
Berkeley professors Damon Lisch and Michael Freeling, with the support of the
National Science Foundation at UC Berkeley, epigenetic silencing was triggered
in maize. Once triggered, the maize plant "remembers," and keeps the
transposon "silenced" generation after generation, even after the
trigger is lost.
"However, we have found that at some positions in the genome, this is not
the case. At these positions, although the trigger works fine, and the transposon
is silenced, once the trigger is lost, the transposon reawakens," said
Jaswinder Singh, a professor in the Plant Sciences Department at McGill University, and
lead author of the new article. The study, "A Position Effect on the Heritability
of Epigenetic Silencing," was published in October in the journal PLoS
Genetics.
This "molecular amnesia" has never before been documented in plants
and no one has seen it associated with a particular position in the genome of
any species before. These data suggest the epigenetic landscape of plant genomes
may be more subtle and interesting than previously thought, with the ability
to remember epigenetic silencing varying depending on position.
"This may relate to the degree to which a given gene or group of genes
must be reprogrammed each generation," Singh said. "We can now use
transposons to probe for variations in the epigenetic landscape of the maize
genome. It may turn out that forgetting can be as important as remembering.
Our findings suggest that erasure of heritable information may be an important
component of epigenetic machinery."
Source: SeedQuest.com
2 December 2008
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1.37 New technology
platforms for molecular breeding: KeyGene’s Whole Genome Profiling method
(Selected
excerpts by the editor, PBN-L)
A January
2009 interview with Arjen J. van Tunen, CEO of KeyGene NV
With its newly developed technology and trait portfolio KeyGene is ready to
give a new dimension to the genetic improvement of plants in a fast, cost effective
and socio-economically acceptable manner.
We call this new way of molecular genetic improvement of crops the GreenGene
Revolution and expect that the resulting breakthrough seed innovations will
greatly benefit our customer seed and breeding companies.
One of our newest breakthrough innovations was recently announced at the Plant
& Animal Genome conference in San Diego (January 2009) and is called “Whole Genome
Profiling”.
Every breeding company is interested in having whole genome sequence assemblies
for the crops within their seed sales portfolio. However, the investments necessary
to develop a comprehensive whole genome physical map and corresponding sequence
assembly are for many of these crops economically unfeasible.
Therefore we developed a new cost effective method to construct high quality
sequence-based physical maps. Such a DNA map is constructed using large DNA
fragments clones of 120.000 base pair that can be fingerprinted by placing short,
30 base pair sequence tags spaced 2000 – 3000 base pair across these large DNA
fragments.
Subsequently the large DNA fragments are ordered into contigs (continuous coverage)
by using overlapping regions with identical sequence profiles. Unlike other
profiling methods the Whole Genome Profiling map has ordered sequence-based
anchor points.
Our new technology does all of this work in an efficient manner and at an affordable
price and is applicable for plant, animal and human genome assembly.
The availability of a sequence-based map allows very efficient and low cost
whole genome sequencing of your crop of interest whereby the quality of the
Whole Genome Sequence Assembly dramatically increases. On the one side a breeding
company could decide to deep sequence a specific region of the crop genome that
is of special commercial interest.
This could be for instance an important set of resistance genes or an interesting
introgression segment from a wild relative.
The data from Whole Genome Profiling can focus the deep sequencing efforts to
one or more 120.000 base pair fragment clones. Alternatively a sequence-based
map might also be used as a starting point to quickly identify, clone, patent
and commercialize interesting genes.
Whole Genome Profiling can also be used to characterize inbred lines at a relatively
large scale. Whole Genome Profiling offers an array of applications all of which
are geared towards identifying and characterizing economically important genomic
regions or genes in real crops that often have large complicated genomes.
KeyGene began developing this technology two years ago using Arabidopsis with
its 120 million base pair genome as a model to proof Whole Genome Profiling
works. Subsequently we used melon, which has a genome size of around 450 million
base pair, to generate a de novo sequence based physical map.
This map was combined with the results of Whole Genome Sequencing and we have
obtained a high quality genome assembly.
We also have successfully applied Whole Genome Profiling in a 2600 million base
pair plant genome. Again this will be combined with Whole Genome Sequencing
to yield a high quality map and a high quality genome assembly ready for targeted
regional sequencing or for gene cloning.
We offer Whole Genome Profiling together with our strategic partner Amplicon
Express Inc, (Pullman, Washington USA). Amplicon Express has great expertise in isolating
DNA from crops and cloning large DNA fragments in BAC library systems.
KeyGene will be responsible for placing the sequence tags on these fragments
in a high throughput mode and aligning the fragments using bio-informatics approaches.
Using our combined sales forces KeyGene and Amplicon Express Inc will distribute
Whole Genome Profiling for world-wide as a service for researchers in plant,
animal and human fields.
In my opinion within the next 5 – 10 years plant breeders will be directly using
DNA sequences rather than molecular markers for the genetic improvement of their
crops. The use of Sequence Based Breeding can be combined with automated phenotyping.
This combined approach will enable dramatic improvement and molecular breeding
of crops offering exciting new possibilities for fulfilling the growing demand
for better and more Food, Feed, Fuel and Fibre.
Arjen van Tunen can be contacted at arjen.van-tunen@keygene.com
Source: SeedQuest.com, and excerpted by the editor, PBN-L
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1.38 Gene's past
could improve the future of rice
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -
In an effort to improve rice varieties, a Purdue University researcher was part
of a team that traced the evolutionary history of domesticated rice by using
a process that focuses on one gene.
Scott A. Jackson, a professor of agronomy, said studying the gene that decides
how many shoots will form on a rice plant allows researchers to better understand
how the gene evolved over time through natural selection and human interaction.
Understanding the variations could allow scientists to place genes from wild
rice species into domesticated rice to create varieties with more branching,
increased plant size or other favorable characteristics.
By comparing the domesticated plant to other wild rice species, they discovered
a lot of genetic variation in rice over millions of years.
"This is a way to find these valuable genes in non-domesticated rice and
bring them into cultivated rice," Jackson said. "We
need to grow more food to feed the human population, and it needs to be done
on less land and with less water. This could be the way to do that."
Jackson worked with Rod A. Wing of the University of Arizona and Mingsheng
Chen of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
in Beijing, and they
were the corresponding authors for the study. Their findings are published in
the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences online version this week.
The research team developed a tool to compare genes in different species of
Oryza, of which domesticated rice is a species. Jackson said the comparisons
showed how rice has changed from as far back as 14 million years ago. As rice
adapted to climate changes and other natural circumstances, its genetic structure
changed, keeping some genes and losing others.
About 10,000 years ago, humans began making their own genetic modifications,
albeit unknowingly, by choosing plants that had favorable traits. As they stopped
growing plants with unfavorable characteristics, genes responsible for those
traits disappeared."Humans knew that if the seeds stayed on the plant, or it had
a higher yield, they could save some of the seeds to plant next year,"
Jackson said. "That
was unintentional breeding."
Those favorable genes are still around in wild rice species because they were
valuable for plants in other climates or situations, he said.Jackson was involved
with earlier research that looked at cell structure in rice and also is studying
the gene responsible for flowering in rice plants. Once those genes are better
understood, scientists can match the best genes for particular climates to give
growers better yields.
One example can be found in a variety of rice that has genes making it drought-resistant.
Scientists could breed those genes into domesticated rice in Africa where water shortages can
devastate crops.
National Science Foundation funding contributed to the research in addition
to other grants.
Writer: Brian Wallheimer, (765) 496-2050, bwallhei@purdue.edu
Source: Scott A. Jackson, (765) 496-3621, sjackson@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture
News Page
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2009a/090123JacksonRice.html
Source: Purdue University News via EurekAlert.org
23 January 2009
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1.39 Update 7-2008 of
FAO-BiotechNews
(Selected items by the editor, PBN-L)
The Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO)
E-mail address: mailto:FAO-Biotech-News@fao.org
FAO website http://www.fao.org
FAO Biotechnology website http://www.fao.org/biotech/index.asp
(in Arabic,
Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish)
*** NEWS *** (http://www.fao.org/biotech/news_list.asp?thexpand=1&cat=131)
1) Launch of RSS feeds for FAO-BiotechNews
The FAO Working Group on Biotechnology
is pleased to announce the launch of Really Simple
Syndication (RSS) feeds for FAO-BiotechNews. By subscribing,users receive
automatic updates to their own computer every time there are updates
of FAO-BiotechNews. A total of 18 different
options are available -users can choose
to have RSS feeds in one or more of the six FAO languages(i.e.
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) and can choose
News, Events or both from FAO-BiotechNews.
To subscribe, click on the orange RSS feed
tag of interest at http://www.fao.org/biotech
or see instructions at http://www.fao.org/biotech/help_rss_en.asp.
For more information, contact biotech-website@fao.org.
2) Biotechnology, biosafety and the CGIAR
On 22-24 April 2008, a workshop was held in Los Banos, the
Philippines, on "Biotechnology, biosafety and the CGIAR: Promoting
best practice in science and policy",
organised by the Science Council (SC) of the
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the
International Rice Research Institute and Bioversity International. It
reviewed biotechnology-related work in the CGIAR and partner National
Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and focused discussion on three
major issues: i) How CGIAR Centers can
best work with NARS to ensure a smooth and timely
delivery of research products to target farmers; ii) CGIAR's need
for a Biotechnology Research Support Network, its roles and functions;
and iii) How CGIAR should deal with policy
issues related to biotechnology and be
represented in international fora. A pre-publication version of the
workshop report with a SC commentary is now available.
See http://www.sciencecouncil.cgiar.org/home/priorities-strategies/en/
or contact haruko.okusu@fao.org
for more information.
3) Sugarcane-based bioethanol
At the International Seminar of Biofuels in
Sao Paulo, Brazil,
in November 2008, a new book entitled "Sugarcane-based
bioethanol: Energy for sustainable development" was launched. Co-ordinated
by the Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES)
and the Center for Strategic Studies and Management (CGEE) with support
from the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean and
the United Nations Economic Commission
for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC),
the 300-page book aims to provide grounds for a meaningful and
objective discussion on the potential and constraints of producing
bioethanol from sugarcane, especially in those countries where sugarcane
is already being cultivated. Chapter
5 on 'Advanced technologies in the sugarcane
agroindustry' discusses applications of biotechnologies for the
conversion of lignocellulosic residues to bioethanol. See
http://www.bioetanoldecanadeazucar.org
(in English, Spanish and Portuguese) or
contact Guilherme.Schuetz@fao.org
for more information.
4) 63rd session of the UN General Assembly
The General Assembly of the United Nations
(UN) opened its 63rd session on 16 September 2008 at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States. The wide range of agenda items for
consideration includes item 49.f on 'Sustainable development: Convention
on Biological Diversity', for which a
report (nr. A/63/294, pages 20-25) was prepared
by the Convention's secretariat, summarising major developments
regarding the Convention, including its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
See the report (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish),
plus the draft resolution, at
http://www.un.org/ga/second/63/documentation.shtml
or contactinquiries@un.org
for more information.
This newsletter contains news and event items
that are relevant to applications of biotechnology in food and
agriculture in developing countries. Its main focus is on the activities
of FAO, of other United Nations agencies/bodies
and of the 15 CGIAR research centres.
Items from the newsletter may be reproduced, provided that the
source (FAO-BiotechNews, http://www.fao.org/biotech/)
is given.
To subscribe to FAO-BiotechNews see http://www.fao.org/biotech/
Copyright FAO 2008
Contributed by The Coordinator of FAO-BiotechNews
12-12-2008
(Return to Contents)
=========================
2 PUBLICATIONS
2.01 The role of
policy in the conservation and extended use of underutilized plant species:
a cross-national policy analysis
Summary
"The role of policy in the conservation and extended use of underutilized
plant species: a cross-national policy analysis" was prepared by the Global
Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species (GFU), in cooperation with the Genetic
Resources Policy Initiative (GRPI). This report, an effort of the GFU to set
the scene and provide an instrument for policy and decision makers, presents
a cross-national analysis of policies that hinder or promote the conservation
and use of underutilized species. It is based on national policy studies undertaken
in Ghana, Jordan,
Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. These studies are published on the GFU web site
and links to each study are included in the References section of this report.
A separate publication "An overview of the international regulatory frameworks
that influence the conservation and use of underutilized plant species"
is available in hardcopy or online
and analyzes some of the important international policy instruments that affect
the conservation and extended use of underutilized plant species.
Author
Nyasha E. Chishakwe
Organization
GFU / Bioversity International
Source: GCP News--Issue 35, December 2008
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2.02 The Project Development Guide (PDG)
In keeping with stocktaking and looking forward, a timely and gentle reminder
on this 'evergreen' and free online resource from GCP, which is of value to
researchers, research managers and reviewers of scientific projects. Please
follow this link <http://www.generationcp.org/pdg/>
for an introduction to the PDG, and what it has for you as a researcher,
research manager or reviewer.
Phenotyping for drought-related traits across tropical legumes. Presentations,
documents and photos from this SP5-supported course which took place 3-28 March
2008 at ICRISAT, India, are
now available online. <http://www.generationcp.org/sp5/?da=08107336#2008_sp5_courses>
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2.03 New ISAA Publications
ISAAA has recently released two documents "Trust in the Seed" and
Pocket K on "Bt Brinjal in India" which are posted on its website
www.isaaa.org/kc and www.isaaa.org
"Trust in the Seed"
http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/downloads/ISAAA-Trust%20in%20the%20Seed.pdf
This is ISAAA's latest publication that highlights the significance of the seed
and new crop technologies. It captures the experiences of three key developments
in Indian agriculture that sustained growth in agriculture, contributed to increased
food production and the alleviation of poverty and hunger.
Pocket K on "Bt Brinjal in India" http://www.isaaa.org/kc/inforesources/publications/pocketk/default.html#Pocket_K_No._35.htm
For a hard copy of both the document contact ISAAA South Asia Office at: <mailto:b.choudhary@cgiar.org>
b.choudhary@cgiar.org
Contribted by Bhagirath Choudhary
ISAAA, C/o ICRISAT
DPS Marg, New Delhi-110012
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2.04 Announcing A New Video: Proper Methods For
Pruning Grapevines
By Lon J. Rombough
An adjunct to the award winning book, THE GRAPE GROWER, this two video set takes
you step-by-step to teach you how to
prune dormant grape vines in any situation. The first video teaches the basic
methods, tells which works best for your grapes, AND gives the principles behind
the methods.
Presented in "hands-on" style by Lon Rombough, author of The Grape
Grower, you'll see how new and old vines are handled during pruning, and you'll
learn tricks and tips to insure regular crops of the best quality fruit the
vine is able to produce.
This video covers the basics of pruning - how to prune to spurs or to canes,
and how and why to choose one system over another.
Once you understand that, you know how to train your vines to suit any
situation, trellis, or climate. All training
systems are based either on pruning the vine to spurs on old wood, such as cordon
trained or head trained vines, or to canes, such as the old Kniffen system.
All systems use variations and combinations of these two methods.
Once you know these basics and how they work, you'll be able to adjust
any vine to any given situation. Vine
too vigorous? Leave more buds to reduce
the vigor. Spur with low vigor?
Prune to rejuvenate it. Adjust
crop levels by pruning, keep the vine bearing regular crops of good quality
instead of flipping between high and low crops, etc.
Once you know this, you can look at a training method and understand it and
how to prune your vines in that way.
The second DVD includes material on how to use "two step" pruning
to give you additional frost protection, how to use layering to get new vines
into production in the shortest time possible, and beautiful samples of what
YOUR grapes can look like when they are properly pruned.
Go to http://www.bunchgrapes.com/dvd.html
or write to Lon J. Rombough, P.O. Box 365, Aurora, OR 97002
Contributed by Lon Rombough
lonrom@bunchgrapes.com
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2.05 ECO-PB newsletter
on organic seeds and plant breeding, Issue IV / 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-Demeter plant breeding standard established
-Organic variety trials better with organic seeds
-Comparing rye varieties from different breeding methods with more sensitive
quality tests
-Campaign “Sowing Future!”
-Announcement: workshop on the role of marker assisted selection in breeding
varieties for organic agriculture
-Newsletter (PDF): http://www.eco-pb.org/07/nops_IV_08.pdf
Source: SeedQuest.com
22 December 2008
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2.06 New Light on a Hidden Treasure: potatoes in
the developing world
Expansion
of world potato production is vital to food security, but economic crisis threatens
current potato boom in the developing world
Rome, Italy
Booming potato production in the developing world could falter as the global
economic slowdown reduces investment, trade and potato farmers' access to credit,
a new FAO report warned today.
The threat comes at a time when potatoes have become an important staple food
and a lucrative cash crop in many developing countries. China is
the world's biggest potato producer, and Bangladesh, India and the Islamic Republic of Iran are now among the world's leading
potato consumers.
Drawing on the most recent FAO statistics, the report, New light on a hidden treasure.
shows that the potato is the world's number one non-cereal food crop, with total
production reaching a record 325 million tonnes in 2007. More than half of the
global harvest was produced in developing countries.
However, the report says "dark clouds are gathering over prospects for
the year ahead". The global economic slowdown threatens to reduce flows
to developing countries of investment and development assistance, including
the support to agriculture that has helped many countries strengthen their potato
sectors.
Developed countries may be tempted to raise trade barriers, which already apply
stiff tariffs on imported potato products, while the banking crisis will leave
many farmers with no credit to invest in production in 2009.
"Urgently needed is a vigorous new agenda for potato research and development
aimed at protecting countries' food security and providing new market opportunities
for potato producers," said NeBambi Lutaladio, coordinator of FAO's International
Year of the Potato 2008 secretariat.
Currently, potato yields in Africa, Asia and Latin America average just 15 tonnes per hectare, less than half of those achieved
in Western Europe and North America. To strengthen potato
farming in developing countries, FAO and the International Potato Center have
called for "potato science at the service of the poor" to provide
potato growers with better quality planting material, varieties that are more
resistant to pests, diseases, drought and climate change, and farming systems
that make more sustainable use of natural resources.
"Farmers in highland areas of Africa can harvest 25 tonnes of tubers from one hectare in just 90 days,
which is why potato production is booming in countries like Uganda,"
said NeBambi Lutaladio. "When you add value to production like that, through
better storage and processing, you not only meet food needs, but have a highly
profitable cash crop that can drive economic development and sustain livelihoods.
"But technology improvements need to be accompanied by other, more general
measures for agricultural development, such as improved farmer access to extension,
credit and production inputs, better post-harvest management and links to agro-processing
and markets," Lutaladio said.
Full report (very large file: 19.1 MB): http://www.potato2008.org/pdf/IYPbook-en.pdf
Source: SeedQuest.com
15 December 2008
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2.07 The Survey of Gene Modified (GM) Crops in
China
Dublin, Ireland
Research and Markets has announced
the addition of the "The Survey of Gene Modified (GM) Crops in China" report
to their offering.
Genetically modified (GM) crops are one of the major fields of glyphosate use
in the world. In 2008, the Chinese government approved the commercial production
of four kinds of GM crops, which shows that Chinese government will open its
door wider to GM crops from now on.
China 's GM industry has made great progress in recent years, and the total
planting area of GM crops in China ranked
the 6th largest in the world in 2007 with total planting area of 3.8 million
hectares. Only the USA , Argentina
, Brazil ,
Canada and
India have
larger GM crops planting area.
So far only GM cotton (BT cotton) has been commercially available in China .
In 2008, the Chinese government approved the commercial production of four kinds
of GM crops: cotton, tomato, tobacco and morning glory. GM of rice is still
in research and it can not be commercially produced now. In some way, it shows
that Chinese government pays more attention to GM. But China has
researched on some herbicide-resistant crops, such as rice, soybean, rapeseed
and sweet potatoes. But all of these crops have not been commercially produced.
With the application of Bt cotton which has strong resistance against cotton
bollworm, Chinese growers gained bumper harvest of cotton for several years
since 2004. Bt cotton has reduced the pesticide used in cotton planting area
by 80.0% and has increased the growers' income by USD220 per hectare last year.
The promotion of the self-developed Bt cotton in China has
increased from 7.00% in 1997 to 87.00% in 2007, due to the great support from
the government on the research of Bt cotton. But owing to the adjustment on
industrial policies, the development of the textile industry in China may
slow down, so the demand for cotton may decrease in the future. In a word, the
planting of cotton will maintain a low increase in the near future.
Key Topics Covered:
-Executive Summary
-Overview of global GM crops
-GM crops in China
-Prospects of GM crops
-Appendix: Situation of key players
-For more information visit
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c8d834/the_survey_of_gene
Source: SeedQuest.com
5 December 2008
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2.08 Tomorrow's Table:
Organic farming, genetics and the future of
food
by Pamela C Ronald and Raoul W. Adamchak
Copyright © 2008 by Oxford University Press, Inc.
Foreword
This book is a tale of two marriages. The first is that of Raoul and Pam, the
authors, and is a tale of the passions of an organic farmer and a plant genetic
scientist. The second is the potential marriage of two technologies—organic
agriculture and genetic engineering.
Like all good marriages, both include shared values, lively tensions, and reinvigorating
complementarities. Raoul and Pam share a strong sense of both the wonder of
the natural world and how, if treated with respect and carefully managed, it
can remain a source of inspiration and provision of our daily needs.
One of the greatest writers on agriculture was a Roman, Marcus Terentius Varro,
of the first century B.C. In his classic book he described agriculture as “not
only an art but an important and noble art.”
It is, as well, a science. Not often do modern writers recall this fundamental
truth. Raoul and Pam reflect it in their everyday lives. Raoul pursues the craft
of organic farming, based on his experiences and those of farmers over the centuries,
yet couples it with the modern science of ecology. For Pam, molecular and cellular
science is paramount, yet she recognizes that all good plant breeders are also
craftspeople in their day-to-day work.
The second marriage is more contentious: it tries to wed two entrenched camps
where extreme views predominate. The marriage is long overdue. Several thousand
years ago we humans had to give up hunting and gathering wild food sources.
We began to domesticate and cultivate cereals and breed livestock. This process
inescapably requires manipulation, which has grown increasingly complex and
scientific.
Organic farming strives to maintain the centrality of natural processes—the
value of organic matter as a source of nutrients and soil structure, and the
role that natural enemies play in controlling pests, diseases, and weeds. Yet,
as Raoul shows in this book, many of these processes have limitations in even
a moderately intensive agricultural system. Pests, for example, may be very
difficult to control. I know from my own work in Africa of the intractability of
controlling the dreadful weed Striga or the pests and diseases of such crops
as cowpeas and bananas using organic or conventional technologies.
What Pam and Raoul do is show that there is a role for genetic engineering in
solving these particularly difficult-to-solve problems. Moreover, they show
how technology can be applied in a way that strengthens organic farming performance
and does not undermine its principles.
These are inspirational marriages.
Sir Gordon Conway, KCMG, FRS
Professor of International Development, Center for Environmental Policy at Imperial
College, London, United Kingdom
Past President of the Rockefeller Foundation
Source: SeedQuest.com
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2.09 The Journal
of Plant Breeding and Crop Science (JPBCS)to be launched in March 2009
About JPBCS
The Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science (JPBCS) provides
rapid publication (monthly) of articles in all areas of the subject.
The Journal welcomes the submission of manuscripts that meet the general criteria
of significance and scientific excellence. Papers will be published approximately
one month after acceptance. All articles published in JPBCS will be peer-reviewed.
The Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science will be published monthly
(one volume per year) by Academic Journals.
Types of paper
Regular articles: These should describe new and carefully confirmed findings,
and experimental procedures should be given in sufficient detail for others
to verify the work. The length of a full paper should be the minimum required
to describe and interpret the work clearly.
Short Communications: A Short Communication is suitable for recording the
results of complete small investigations or giving details of new models or
hypotheses, innovative methods, techniques or apparatus. The style of main sections
need not conform to that of full-length papers. Short communications are 2 to
4 printed pages (about 6 to 12 manuscript pages) in length.
Reviews: Submissions of reviews and perspectives covering topics of current
interest are welcome and encouraged. Reviews should be concise and no longer
than 4-6 printed pages (about 12 to 18 manuscript pages). Reviews manuscripts
are also peer-reviewed.
Invitation to Join Our Editorial Team
JPBCS is seeking qualified researchers as members of the editorial
team. Like our other journals, JPBCS will serve as a great resource for researchers
and students across the globe. We ask you to support this initiative by joining
our editorial team. If you are interested in serving as a member of the editorial
team, kindly send us your resume to JPBCS@acadjourn.org
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2.10 SEARICE.
2008. Revisiting the streams of participatory plant breeding: Insights from
a meeting among friends
Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives
for Community Empowerment (SEARICE). 94 pp.
The report of a meeting on Participatory
Plant Breeding, organized by SEARICE in Vietnam in March 2008 is available at http://www.searice.org.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layo ut=blog&id=8&Itemid=37.
This publication was made possible through the support of Oxfam Novib, The Netherlands.
It may be reproduced in part for educational or non-profit purposes provided
the source is acknowledged. SEARICE appreciates receiving a copy of any materials
where this, or parts of this publication, appears.
Published 2008
ISBN: 978–971–91917–6–6
Editor: Teresa L. Debuque
Contributed by Bell Batta Torheim
bell@utviklingsfondet.no
Svanhild-Isabelle Batta Torheim
Programme Co-ordinator, Development Fund
www.utviklingsfondet.no
bell@utviklingsfondet.no
This publication was made possible through the support of Oxfam Novib, The Netherlands.
It may be reproduced in part for educational or non-profit purposes provided
the source is acknowledged. SEARICE appreciates receiving a copy of any materials
where this, or parts of this publication, appears.
Published 2008
ISBN: 978–971–91917–6–6
Editor: Teresa L. Debuque
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=========================
3. WEB
RESOURCES
3.01 New issue of Geneconserve
The new issue of Geneconserve (www.geneconserve.pro.br) is running
now having the following articles
1.Environmental and genetical effects
2.Development of cassava cultivars
3.An innovative technique
4.Comment on in vitro tuberization
5.Comment on variation in crude protein
6.A clue to the role of apomixes
7.Anatomy of cassava stem
8.New species of Manihot
We welcome articles even in Portuguese. They will be translated and edited by
our technical editor without any charges
Geneconserve is indexed in databases CAB, CAB International, AGRIS, Elsevier
database,SPARC Europe,EBSCO, and DOAJ
Posted to GIPB D-Groups by Nagib Nassar
28 December 2008
nagnassa@rudah.com.br
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++++++++++++++++++++++++
3.02 SINGER and EURISCO: Worldwide web catalogues
on plant collections
Do breeders know where they can enjoy immediate access to information about
available crop diversity and where to order germplasm of interest online?
A first attempt to compile the fragmented and scattered information about agricultural
biodiversity has been made in building online genebank inventories. SINGER and EURISCO are two catalogues of the holdings in many genebanks around
the world that provide primary access for the identification and localization
of germplasm accessions.
Linking these catalogues with other types of data, such as breeders’ information
on the value of the material held, will foster their role as gateways to the
knowledge that makes collections of crop diversity more useful to farmers, plant
breeders and researchers.
SINGER, the online catalogue of the international collections: http://singer.cgiar.org/
SINGER provides a single entry point to the inventories of the 11 CGIAR genebanks
and the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre (AVDRC). Information
on over 696,500 accessions from 77 collections is available! SINGER makes information
about the diversity of plants available to all. Anyone can now select and, order
on line, germplasm of interest.
The international collections held by the 11 CGIAR genebanks conserve a large
part of the diversity of the most important crops for food and agriculture.
The CGIAR centres placed their collections under the inter-governmental authority
of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This means
that germplasm is held and exchanged in the context of the Multi-lateral System
(MLS) in accordance with the International Treaty on plant Genetic Resources
for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).
The germplasm held by the CGIAR is conserved in the public domain and is available
for distribution. The CGIAR centres also foster research and policies to bring
the benefits of agricultural diversity to poor farmers.
The European Plant Genetic Resources Search Catalogue (EURISCO) provides
web-based access to information on plant genetic resources held in ex situ collections throughout Europe.
Click here and find more about it!
The EURISCO catalogue provides a single online entry
point for accessing information on ex situ plant collections on crops
and their wild relatives in Europe.
EURISCO is based on a European network of ex
situ National Inventories (NIs) that makes European
biodiversity data available worldwide.
Using data from national inventories, EURISCO links users to information on
over 1 million accessions from 38 European countries. These samples of
crop diversity represent more than half of the ex situ accessions maintained in Europe and roughly 19% of total
worldwide holdings.
EURISCO is hosted at and maintained by Bioversity International on behalf of
the Secretariat of the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources
(ECPGR).
EURISCO certainly will become the European PGR information hub, providing access
to passport data from all European National Inventories and all crops, thereby
linking to the Global Information System and contributing to the Multi-lateral
System (MLS) of the International Treaty on plant Genetic Resources for Food
and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) as a reporting mechanism.
For more information on EURISCO, please visit: http://eurisco.ecpgr.org
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========================
4. GRANTS
AVAILABLE
4.01 CSREES announces agriculture and food research
initiative funding opportunity
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/afri/pdfs/program_announcement.pdf
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2008 - USDA's Cooperative State Research,Education, and
Extension Service (CSREES) announced today the addition of the Agriculture and
Food Research Initiative (AFRI) to its funding portfolio as authorized under
the 2008 Farm Bill. The Request for Applications
is expected to be released early in 2009 on the CSREES and Grants.gov Web sites.
"AFRI continues CSREES' commitment to advance fundamental and applied sciences
in support of agriculture," said Gale Buchanan, USDA Chief Scientist and
Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics. "By combining research,
education and extension, CSREES ensures science-based knowledge is delivered
to the public, allowing them to make informed, practical decisions."
In FY 2009, CSREES anticipates that $190 million will be available for AFRI.
However, the enactment of the FY 2009 Appropriations Act may impact the
overall level of funding for the AFRI program.
AFRI replaces the former National Research Initiative and the Initiative for
Future Agriculture and Food Systems programs and addresses six priority areas:
1) plant health and production and plant products; 2) animal health and
production and animal products; 3) food safety, nutrition and health; 4) renewable
energy, natural resources and environment; 5) agriculture systems and technology;
and 6) agriculture economics and rural communities.
AFRI will support grants to address key problems of national, regional and multi-state
importance in sustaining all components of agriculture. The flexibility in programming
provided by the 2008 Farm Bill allows for support of a variety of project types,
all of which will be reflected in the 2009 AFRI request for applications.
These include single-function as well as integrated, multi-functional
research, education and extension projects.
Applicants and other parties interested in the AFRI funding opportunity are
encouraged to contact CSREES at (202) 401-5022 or AFRI@csrees.usda.gov.
The complete public announcement can be viewed online at <http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/afri/pdfs/program_announcement.pdf>
Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension
programs, CSREES focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues
impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. For more information,
visit www.csrees.usda.gov <http://www.csrees.usda.gov/>
.
Extracts from the text of the full announcement:
"Please note that there are substantial opportunities for conventional
plant and animal breeding projects, both research and integrated, within AFRI.
For plant breeding, see the Plant Biology: Environmental Stress program, the
Plant Genome, Genetics, and Breeding program, and the Plant Breeding and Education
program.."
"Applicants are encouraged to develop national and international collaborations
with research groups already working on the species of interest to minimize
duplication of effort and maximize costeffectiveness. U.S. collaboration
with international partners is appropriate; however, applications must be submitted
by eligible U.S. institutions.
See pages 41-49 to read more about opportunities for Poaceae, Fabaceae, Conifers,
and non-crop specific proposals.
Program (extracts only ...) (not all programs included in this table) Program
Code
Letter of Intent Deadline
Bioactive Food Components for Optimal Health
93130
1/22/2009
Biobased Products and Bioenergy Production Research
95150
2/11/2009
Biology of Weedy and Invasive Species in Agroecosystems
94240
4/20/2009
Managed Ecosystems
94340
1/16/2009
Plant Biology: Environmental Stress
91412
1/30/2009
Plant Biology: Biochemistry
91413
2/20/2009
Plant Biology: Growth and Development
91414
3/2/2009
Plant Breeding and Education
91810
3/16/2009
Plant Biosecurity
91510
4/13/2009
Plant Genome, Genetics, and Breeding
91610
1/16/2009
Rapid Response Food and Agricultural Science for Emergency Issues
97100
Immediately
Contributed by Ann Marie Thro
CSREES,USDA
athro@csrees.usda.gov
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4.02 Scholarships offered from the Asian Rice Foundation
USA
The Asian Rice Foundation USA is offering
$3,500 scholarships for students studying rice. Applicants must be students
-- American or Asian - below the age of 35, registered at an accredited institution
of higher education, and have a supporting letter from their national rice foundation
associated with Asia Rice Foundation, Inc or a faculty member
of a United States university. Applications that involve travel and study of US-based
students at an Asian location are encouraged.
We support research and education to improve understanding of:
-the role of rice in Asian farming,
-rice as an element in the art and culture of Asia, and
-rice as a food with a unique role in Asia.
More information at http://www.asiariceusa.org/
. Applications due June 1, 2009.
Contributed by Russell Freed
Crop and Soil Sciences Department
Michigan State University
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========================
5. POSITION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
5.01 Two faculty positions in Crop Breeding and
Genetics, Washington State University
Washington State University – Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, open
rank, in Crop Breeding and Genetics (2 positions
– winter wheat, spring wheat). 12-month,
tenure-track/tenured. Required: PhD in plant breeding, genetics
or a closely related field at the time of hiring; demonstrated knowledge and
experience in applied, field-based plant breeding and molecular genetics; excellent
written and oral communication skills; demonstrated record of scholarship commensurate
with rank. For full position description listing responsibilities, application
process and additional background information visit http://www.hrs.wsu.edu/employment/fapvacancies.aspx
(Search #’s 5196 and 5197). Contact: Dr. Richard T. Koenig, c/o Deb Marsh, Department
of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, PO Box 646420, Pullman,
WA 99164-6420; Phone (509)335-2915; FAX (509) 335-1758; email: marshdj@wsu.edu. Electronic applications are
welcome. Review of applications begins March 1, 2009. EEO/AA/ADA
Contributed by Kimberly Garland Campbell
kim.garland-campbell@ars.usda.gov
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5.02 Department Head in Plant Sciences, North Dakota
State University
The successful applicant will provide leadership to a department of 39 tenure-track
faculty and 25 affiliated faculty. The department is engaged in graduate and
undergraduate teaching, basic and applied research, and extension activities.
Major program areas include agronomy, biotechnology, breeding (including the
interdisciplinary development of crop cultivars), cereal science, genetics,
horticulture, physiology, turf grass, and weed science. Responsibilities will
include setting and achieving departmental goals, managing departmental resources
and personnel, developing departmental budgets, soliciting outside funding,
coordinating student recruitment, and representing the department to the university
administration, other NDSU units, outstate research extension centers, other
universities, state and federal agencies, and commodity and other agribusiness
organizations. This is a 12-month position.
Minimum Qualifications: The successful applicant will possess (1) an earned
Ph.D. in one of the departmental program areas described above, or a closely
related field, (2) credentials for rank of Professor with tenure in the department,
and (3) evidence of strong leadership and managerial, and communication skills.
Inter-personal abilities with faculty, staff, students and the general public
are essential.
Preferred Qualifications: Previous administrative experience, demonstrated ability
to attract extramural funds, and familiarity with the Land-Grant system.
Position Number: 00021247
Salary:Commensurate with qualifications and experience
Screening Date: Open Until Filled
Required Applicant Documents: Cover Letter,Curriculum Vitae
Include a statement of leadership philosophy
Screening will begin March 20, 2009 and remain open until a suitable applicant
pool is established.
Please put names and contact information for five references on seperate page
at end of vitae.
Location:Fargo
Contributed by Marcelo CarenaDept
of Plant ScienceND State University
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5.03 Agricultural Officer (Plant Genetic Resources
Use), FAO
Professional Vacancy Announcement No: 2135-AGP
Deadline For Application: 6 March 2009
Position Title Agricultural Officer (Plant Genetic Resources Use)
Duty Station Rome, Italy
Grade Level P-4
Duration Fixed term: 3 years
CCOG Code: 1H01
Organizational Unit Plant Production
& Protection Division, AGP
Agriculture & Consumer Protection Department, AG
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the overall supervision of the Director, Plant Production and Protection
Division, the incumbent will contribute increasing the utilisation of Plant
Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) taking into account plant
genetic diversity, plant breeding technologies,and related issues within the
framework of the Global Plan of Action on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization
of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GPA) and in line with the International
Treaty on PGRFA(IT-PGRFA). In particular, the incumbent will:
-Provide technical assistance to Members States in the identification,formulation
and implementation of strategies and programmes for sustainable use of PGRFA,
with an emphasis on capacity building for strengthening the linkage between
conservation and use;
-Undertake periodic reviews and monitor developments that impact sustainable
use of PGRFA, including climate change, bioenergy, and community action with
the aim of maximizing direct utilization of PGRFA for sustainable intensification
of crop production;
-Provide technical and related policy support to promote sustainable use of
PGRFA in line with the IT-PGRFA and the Commission on Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture; Provide technical support to the Global Partnership Initiative
for Plant Breeding Capacity Building (GIPB) efforts and develop effective knowledge
sharing strategies and tools to facilitate country-level outreach through this
initiative;
-Contribute to the formulation and delivery of outputs of the seeds and PGRFA
programme;
-Facilitate dissemination of FAO’s information with respect to sustainable use
of PGRFA and contribute to divisional, departmental or corporate working groups;
-In the context of national strategies, build capacity in managing PGRFA; develop
technical materials and conduct training courses, expert consultations and meetings
related to PGRFA management and use;
-Maintain contacts and collaboration with other UN bodies, international organizations,
including the public, private sector and non-governmental organizations and
foster collaboration and exchange of information; Prepare technical and related
documentation;
-Perform other related duties as required.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should meet the following:
-Advanced University Degree in Crop Production, Agricultural or Biological Sciences
-Seven years of relevant experience in PGR management and use activities, including
participating approaches, which included at least four years in developing countries
-Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge in one
of the other two
SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates will be assessed against the following:
-Level and relevance of academic qualifications
-Extent of working experience in developing countries
-Extent of experience in project/programme formulation and implementation of
projects, programmes and studies in the field of PGR use in developing countries
-Extent of experience in providing policy advice at local, national, and regional
levels
-Demonstrated ability to organize and conduct technical meetings, capacity building
events, conferences and workshops
-Proven ability to lead and work effectively in multidisciplinary teams in the
area of conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA
-Extent of experience in the provision of technical support and backstopping
to national programmes in the area of conservation and use of plant genetic
resources Please note that all candidates should possess computer/word processing
skills and should be capable of working with people of different national and
cultural backgrounds.
* The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established
in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.
REMUNERATION
Level P-4 carries a net salary per year (inclusive of a variable element for
post adjustment) from US$ 101,514 US$ 127,280 (without dependants) and from
US$ 109,011 to US$ 137,470 (with dependants)
TO APPLY: Carefully read and follow the Guidelines to applicants
Send your application to:
V.A 2135-AGP
Ms. K. Ghosh, AGP
FAO Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00153 Rome ITALY
Fax No: +39 06 5705 6347
VA-2135-AGP@fao.org
This vacancy is open to male and female candidates. Applications from qualified
women candidates and applications from qualified candidates from non/under-represented
member states are encouraged. Please note that FAO staff members are international
civil servants subject to the authority of the Director-General and may be assigned
to any activities or office of the organization.
Post Number: c/0921181
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5.04 Three
openings: research on Jatropha in genomics, molecular biology, proteomics, phytopathology
and tissue culture
PBU-IAM,
BOKU, Vienna, Austria
The University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Science, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Applied
Microbiology, PBU Phyto-/Plant-Biotechnology Unit in Vienna, Austria has three
openings for qualified PhD. candidates to conduct research on Jatropha in genomics,
molecular biology, proteomics, phytopathology and tissue culture. Positions
will be for a three years period, starting in 2009.
Germplasm conservation & Marker development
Genebank managers and conservationists concerned both with in situ
and ex situ management try to ensure that they conserve as much as
possible of the extant genetic diversity of the species with which they work.
The effectiveness with which they do this depends to a large extent on the genetic
information available on the germplasm with which they work.
The analysis of genetic diversity and relatedness between or within different
populations, species, and individuals is a central task for many disciplines
of biological science. During the last three decades, classical strategies for
the evaluation of genetic variability, such as comparative anatomy, morphology,
embryology and physiology, have increasingly been complemented by molecular
techniques. Molecular markers provide genetic information of direct value in
key areas of conservation in situ and ex situ.
In vitro Germplasm collection and conservation
Development of markers such as SSRs and SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism)
Analysis of genetic variation using molecular marker (molecular marker for improved
genetic resolution)
Functional genomics (proteomics and metabolomics)
A major challenge for genomics is to identify the functions of unassigned genes
and use this knowledge to improve economically important agronomic and quality
traits in major crops. Functional genomics technologies provide the approach
to solve the gap between sequence and function. These technologies depend on
both experimental and computational methods, and sequence repositories are essential
tools in this context.
To understand how genes control
major traits of interest, this activity will pursue the development and applicationof global (genome-wide or system-wide)
experimental approaches to
assess gene function by making use of the information and physical resources
provided by structural genomics efforts. It is characterized by high throughput
or large-scale experimental methodologies
combined with statistical and
computational analysis of the results.
Molecular Breeding of Jatropha
Traditional plant breeding is based on screens of large number of plants
to select promising seedlings. Jatropha is characterized by long generation
cycles and large plant size; hence, the ability to eliminate undesirable progenies
in breeding populations through Marker-Assisted Breeding (MAS) reduces cost and allows
breeders to focus on populations comprised of individuals carrying desirable
alleles of genes of interest.
Molecular breeding is identification
of new traits and their integration into the crop genome. Natural sources of resistance to
major pests, diseases and abiotic stresses can be found within largely untapped
genetic resources. The establishment of routine transformation methods with marker genes
and selected genes of interest will allow a cis-genic breeding approach.
Phytosanitary status improvement
Obviously only healthy planting
material will allow a profitable growth and production. Efforts will be directed
towards a) Pathogen detection and b) Pathogen elimination.
How to apply
If interested, please send a short letter of application with your interests,
your CV and the names of 3 referees via email with the subject "Jatropha"
to:
Margit Laimer
m.laimer@iam.boku.ac.at
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+++++++++++++++++++++
5.05 NAS, Science and Technology for Sustainability Program
Director Sought
It would be good to have someone
in the position who understands what plant breeding can contribute. AMT
The National Academy of Sciences is accepting applications for this PhD-level
position within the Policy and Global Affairs division from a candidate with
demonstrated impact on the advancement of science or policy.
Organization: National
Academy of Sciences
Description:
The mission of Policy and Global Affairs (PGA) is to help improve public policy,
understanding, and education in matters of science, technology, and health with
regard to national strategies and resources, global affairs, workforce and the
economy. The division is particularly charged to identify and build synergy
among the disciplines and issue areas, and to promote interaction among science,
engineering, medicine and public policy. The division includes a range of standing
committees and boards concerned with the vitality of the research enterprise
in the US and abroad. In that connection, the units of
the division focus particularly on the interaction of key institutions central
to science and technology policy, on the standing of US research around the
world and cooperation with science & engineering bodies in other countries,
on the mission and organization of federal research activities, and on the sources
of future manpower and funding for research.
The goal of the Science and Technology for Sustainability Program (STS Program)
is to contribute to sustainable improvements in human well-being by creating
and strengthening the strategic connections between scientific research, technological
development, and decision-making. The program includes a range of convening
and consensus-building activities. The best-known ongoing activity is the Science
and Technology for Sustainability (STS) Roundtable, which meets twice per year
to provide a forum for sharing views, information, and analyses related to harnessing
science and technology forsustainability. Members of the Roundtable include
senior decision-makers from government, industry, academia, and non-profit organizations
who deal with issues of sustainable development, and who are in a position to
mobilize new strategies for sustainability. The Roundtable's discussions lead
to many of the projects undertaken by the STS program,whose topics currently
include partnerships for sustainability, certification of sustainable products
and services, sustainable food security, regional impacts of biofuel production,
and urban sustainability.
This position will manage and grow the STS program, and coordinate the activities
of the STS Roundtable. Develops program strategy and budget, staffing requirements
and ensures the program meets its stated objectives. Responsible for managing
multiple and/or highly complex programs/projects. Serves as liaison between
Roundtable members and the National Academies. Independently supervises staff
and provides training. Develops prospectuses and projects that have a high impact.
Source: Job Req #: 090006-3
Web site: The job announcement is at http://tbe.taleo.net/NA4/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=NAS&cws=1&rid=6450
More information about the Technology for Sustainability Program is at
http://sustainability.nationalacademies.org/
Contributed by Ann Marie Thro
CSREES/USDA
athro@csrees.usda.gov
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+++++++++++++++++++++
5.06 Scientist,
Genetics Resource Expert at IRRI
Reference No: IRS-2009-11RSH
Location: Los Baños, Philippines
Job Purpose: To lead new areas of research to improve the efficiency and effectiveness
of the genebank at IRRI, and to improve coordination with other rice genebanks
and other CGIAR genebanks
Responsibilities
-Lead research in genetic resources methodologies and technologies to improve
the efficiency and effectiveness of ex situ rice conservation. Research areas
will include, but will not be limited to, improving seed longevity of problem
varieties in storage, reducing the loss of genetic integrity during seed multiplication
of cultivated and wild rice, identifying and filling gaps in the collection,
establishing a more efficient viability monitoring scheme, and designing and
implementing effective reliable methods for accurate electronic data capture
in the field and laboratory.
-In liaison with the Global Crop Diversity Trust, lead IRRI's contribution to
the development of a global strategy for the rational, efficient and effective
conservation and use of rice genetic diversity. This will focus on identifying
and implementing effective modalities for collaboration between rice germplasm
collections around the world and their users, based on identifying and sharing
responsibilities, reducing unnecessary duplication, and promoting complementarity,
to ensure conservation and use of a greater proportion of the global genepool
of rice than could be achieved by any single genebank.
-Participate in planning research priorities and in seeking additional research
funding -Liaise with other scientists in the plant genetic resources community
in the development of improved genebank management standards
Requirements
Minimum
-PhD in genetic resources or other relevant field
-Minimum of five years relevant postdoctoral experience and of operating in
a team-based environment
-English: written and spoken
-Knowledge of local language an asset
Preferred
-A demonstrated record of leadership and productivity in the context of a multi-disciplinary
and multi-cultural environment
-Excellent written and verbal communications skills
-Ambitions to carry out science of the highest quality and publish in peer-reviewed
journals of international standing
IRRI headquarters are located in Los Baños, 70 kilometers south of Manila, Philippines.
We offer scientists stimulating and rewarding career opportunities, in addition
to salaries and perquisites that are internationally competitive, including
support for education of children, car and housing at reasonable rental rates,
and medical and retirement benefits.
We provide a gender-sensitive environment and strongly encourage women applicants.
Citizens of developing countries, particularly of rice-producing countries,
are encouraged to apply. The Institute is committed to assisting families in
making personal and, to the extent possible, professional adjustments to the
local environment. IRRI has an accredited international school (pre-K to early
primary) on its campus and excellent international schools are available nearby.
http://beta.irri.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=577&Itemid=495
Contributed by Luigi Guarino
luigi.guarino@croptrust.org
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===========================
6. MEETINGS, COURSES
AND WORKSHOPS
New listings may include some program
details, while repeat listings will include only basic information. Visit web sites for additional details.
February-May 2009. Wheat Breeding:
Addressing food security issues of 21st century. CIMMYT Ciudad Obregon &
El Batan
(http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/events/courses/pdf/WheatBreeding_Feb_May2009_Obregon-Batan.pdf)
8- 11 February
2008. Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Vienna.
View all meeting information online
at http://www.univie.ac.at/stressplants/
(NEW)25 – 27 February 2009. A workshop on the role of Marker Assisted Selection in breeding varieties
for organic agriculture, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
The workshop is organised in cooperation between the EU-project BioExploit and
the EUCARPIA Section Organic and Low-input Agriculture. We invite the following
stakeholders as participants: Breeders and researchers involved and/or interested
in plant breeding for organic agriculture with or without detailed knowledge
on molecular techniques as well as opinion leaders , e.g. from organic or conventional
umbrella organisations focusing on breeding and seed production for the organic
sector. There will be a maximum number of 60 participants. The aim of the workshop
is to facilitate a broad discussion with invited speakers on the state of the
art and progress in relation to whether, when and how breeding programs for
organic agriculture can benefit from Marker Assisted Selection.
The workshop is a follow-up of the discussion on MAS in plant breeding programs
for organic agriculture, organised by COST SUSVAR and ECO-PB in January 2005
in Driebergen, the Netherlands. In the meantime, science has made progress, practical breeders have
got more experience with MAS, and questions for breeding for organic agriculture
may be more articulated. So now it is time for an update and further deepening
of the issues involved. The workshop will discuss basic selection principles
as well as contrast breeding strategies
according to organic principles and MAS in a few crop and trait cases. Next
to proceedings, the workshop will contribute to a policy paper identifying and
clarifying key issues based on an analysis of role of MAS in breeding for organic
agriculture.
A detailed program and registration forms is available on the websites of BioExploit, EUCARPIA, ECO-PB
and Cost 860 Susvar.
Source: SeedQuest.com
22 December
2008
16 - 27 March 2009. Quantitative
Genetics in Plant Breeding, NIAB, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
The National Institute of Agricultural Botany
(NIAB) is to repeat its two-week intensive training course in Quantitative Genetics
in Plant Breeding, after the first session held earlier this year was heavily
over-subscribed.
Targeted at both existing and prospective plant breeders, the post-graduate
level course aims to update practitioners on the role and application of statistical
and quantitative genetics in practical plant breeding programmes.
Further details available from Chris Dixon (courses@niab.com)
17 – 20 March 2009. The Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI) 2009 Technical Workshop,
Ciudad Obregón, Mexico
Initiative homepage: http://www.globalrust.org/content.cfm?ID=46.
We will be accepting posters. See the Call for Posters tab on the registration
website for information.
Contact for more information:
Jenny Nelson, Assistant Coordinator
Durable Rust Resistance in Wheat Project
Cornell University
jmn99@cornell.edu
24 – 26 March 2009. Sixth International
Integrated Pest Management Symposium. Transcending Boundaries, Portland, Oregon. www.ipmcenters.org/ipmsymposium09
25 – 26 March 2009. Seed
Biology, Production & Quality Course. Offered by The Seed Biotechnology Center, together with UC Davis Extension.
Watch for more information and registration details at http:sbc.ucdavis.edu.
(NEW) 16 to 18 April 2009. Progeny Trial Analysis with ASReml, International Centre
for Plant Breeding Education and Research (ICPBER) at the University of Western
Australia
This will be a beginner’s level workshop. The participants will be introduced
to mixed model theory and ASReml syntax. The final program will depend on the
interests and skill level of attendees. The course is structured around 4 x
1.5 hour sessions per day, most with 30 minutes of lectures and 1 hour of practical
sessions in groups of 2-4 using ASReml and some supporting software. Data will
be drawn from a variety of data sets from tree breeding programs around the
world. Limited opportunities for user data analysis will be provided.
All course, data and support materials will be provided although some of the
support software may have a restricted license. ASReml is not provided but can
be obtained from this link
for a free one month trial. Participants should bring their own laptop with
ASReml (and preferably ConText) loaded
Course materials are copyright and may only be used by course participants and
not distributed to other parties.
The final date for registering is 16 March 2009 and numbers are limited. Please contact Sarah
Mawson at ICPBER icpber@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
for any information and registration documents.
(NEW) 21-22 April 2009. Measures of Hope and Promises Delivered: An
International Conference on Socioeconomic and Environmental Impact Assessment
of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops, Bangkok, Thailand.
SEARCA, in collaboration with the International Service for the Acquisition
of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) and the International Food Policy Research
Institute (IFPRI, Washington DC), will conduct the international conference.
The conference aims to provide a better understanding of the methodologies,
tools, insights, and experiences in examining the socioeconomic and environmental
impacts of adopting biotechnology applications, particularly GM crops. It will
also examine the factors that encourage or hinder the development and diffusion
of new agricultural biotechnologies, and the institutional arrangements and/or
policy environment influencing them.
For more details, contact:
Arnulfo G. Garcia
Manager
Research and Development Department
SEARCA, College, Los Baños, Laguna 4031 Philippines
agg@agri.searca.org
Roberta V. Gerpacio
Project Development Specialist
rvg@agri.searca.org
20 – 24 April 2009. VII National Symposium of Biotechnology
REDBIO-ARGENTINA: "BIOTECHNOLOGY and FUTURE GLOBAL SCENARIO"
, Venue: Bolsa de Comercio de la Ciudad de Rosario, Provincia de Santa Fe
http://www.redbio.org
(NEW)3-5
May 2009. International
Plant Breeding Conference, Egyptian
Society of plant breeding, Suez Canal University,Faculty of Agriculture, Agronomy Department
Second Announcement and Call for Abstracts
Theme:
Crop research, technology dissemination and adoption to increase food supply,
reducing hunger and poverty in Egypt
- Ismailia, Egypt
Organizers: Faculty of
Agriculture, Suez Canal University (SCU) and Egyptian Society of Plant Breeding Society
(EPBS)
Conference Topics and Symposia: The general topics to be covered at the
conference include: plant breeding for abiotic and biotic stresses, horticulture,
crop improvement and physiology, crop genetics and biotechnology, analysis and
experimental design, integration of livestock in crop production, soils and
agricultural engineering sciences, water sciences, environmental sciences, biodiversity
and natural resources management.
Questions?
Correspondence concerning general matters
of the conference should be addressed to the Local Organizing Committee:. The
Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
pl_breed2009@yahoo.com
Contact with: Tarek Youssef Bayoumi: bayoumity@yahoo.com
Mohamed Abed El Hameed El Baramawy: elbamawy@hotmail.com
(NEW) UPOV schedules two 2009 sessions
of its distance learning course
Introduction to the UPOV System of Plant Variety Protection under the UPOV
Convention
Geneva, Switzerland
The UPOV Distance Learning
course (DL-205 - Introduction to the UPOV System of Plant Variety Protection
under the UPOV Convention) has been followed by some 400 students in 2008, in
English, French, German and Spanish.
Two sessions of the DL-205 Course are scheduled for 2009:
Session I
May 4 to June
7, 2009
(On-line registration: February 1 to 28, 2009)
Session II
November 2 to December
6, 2009
(On-line registration: July 1 to 31, 2009)In total, over 1100 students have participated in the UPOV Distance
learning course (DL 205).
Source: SeedQuest.com
19 December
2008
(NEW) 14-17 May 2009.Plant Abiotic
Stress from signaling to development, Tartu, Estonia.
Please visit the conference web site http://www.ut.ee/INPAS for more
information, including the list of the invited plenary speakers. The registration
and abstract submission is now open. Deadlines for reduced registration fee
(only 120 EUR) and early abstract submission (to be considered for selection
of oral presentations) is up to 17th of March. To receive updated information
about the meeting in the future, please reply to this mail - after this further
information about the meeting will be sent only to those who send us an email.
Contributed by Hannes Kollist
University of Tartu
and Helmut Knüpffer
Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)
knupffer@ipk-gatersleben.de
25 May – 26 June 2009. Conservation agriculture: Laying the groundwork
for sustainable and productive cropping systems. CIMMYT El Batan.
(http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/events/courses/pdf/announcement_CA_course_2009.pdf)
26-29
May 2009. 19th
EUCARPIA Conference, Genetic Resources Section, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Early registration and abstract
submission: February 2009. www.eucarpia.kis.si
June 2009 (6-8 weeks).
Wheat Chemistry and Quality Improvement Course,
CIMMYT El Batan (http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/events/courses/pdf/WheatChemisty_6-8weeks_mid_June2009.pdf)
1-5 June 2009. 6th International Triticeae Symposium. Kyoto University
Conference Hall, Kyoto, Japan
http://www.shigen.nig.ac.jp/6ITS/index.jsp
(NEW)10-14 August 2009. 14th Australasian
Plant Breeding & 11th Society for the Advancement of Breeding Research in
Asia & Oceania Conference, being held at the Cairns Convention Centre,
Tropical North Queensland, Australiahttp://www.plantbreeding09.com.au/Home/tabid/1129/Default.aspx
(NEW) 8 – 10 September 2009. 2nd World Seed Conference: Responding
to the challenges of a changing world, FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy
Visit the 2nd
World Seed Conference website for more information.
This event organised by ISTA, FAO, OECD, UPOV and ISF, is aimed at policy
makers, government officials, breeding companies, breeders associations, stakeholders
(certification agencies, seed analysts, seed traders, technology companies,
academic institutions), farmers' organisations, consumer organisations and international
breeding and seed research centres.
Expert Forum: September 8 and 9
Policy Forum: September 10
The Expert Forum will be in English only. The Policy Forum will have simultaneous
translations in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish.
Expert Forum
The aim of the Expert Forum is to provide information and facilitate discussion
on means of encouraging the development of new plant varieties and the production
and distribution of high quality seed in order to meet the demands of a changing
world. In particular, the Expert Forum will explore the:
- importance of new plant varieties in responding to evolving needs;
- role of multilateral cooperation in facilitating access to plant genetic resources
for food and
- agriculture and ensuring fair and equitable benefit sharing;
- role of new technologies and methodologies in plant breeding;
- need for intellectual property protection to encourage the development of
new plant varieties;
- scope for public/private partnerships;
- role of international certification in facilitating trade and market development;
- importance of high quality seed and seed treatment;
- benefits of effective systems of seed production and distribution;
- need for standardisation of methodologies in seed testing; and
- mechanisms for reducing technical barriers to trade and facilitating trade
in seed.
These aspects will be considered in relation to a changing world, including
a changing environment, market developments and evolving human needs, and their
role in achieving future food security and economic development, especially
in developing countries.
Policy Forum
The Policy Forum will review the conclusions of the Expert Forum
on means to provide an enabling environment that encourages
the development of new varieties and facilitates the production
and distribution of high quality seed.
Audience
This event is aimed at policy makers, government officials, plant breeders,
seed specialists, researchers,
farmers’ organizations and consumer organizations.
Schedule (source
in PDF format)
To register
Registration is required (cost € 125). In order to participate, please register
on-line at worldseedconference.org.
Registration will be open from March 16, 2009.
Conference presentations and proceedings
Copies of all presentations will be published on the Conference website.
The proceedings will be published
after the Conference.
(NEW) 9 September
2009. Registrations open for the first of the John Innes Centenary Events
We are launching the John Innes Centenary Year with a Centenary Symposium
‘Genetics 100 Years On’ which will begin with a prestigious History of
Genetics Day on Wednesday 9th September. ‘JI Alumni Day’ will follow on Saturday
12th September, bringing together former staff to share their memories, catch
up with what goes on today, and of course to have some fun. A ‘Discovery Day’
on Sunday 13th September will complete the launch celebrations. More»
Advances is available in both PDF and HTML format at www.jic.ac.uk/corporate/about/publications/
21–25 September 2009. 1st International Jujube Symposium, Agricultural
University of Hebei, Baoding, China. www.ziziphus.net/2008
28 Sept. – 1 Oct. 2009. 9th
African Crop Science Society Conference,
Cape Town, South Africa. Conference theme: Science and
technology supporting food security in Africa.
More information on the programme, accommodation, excursions and guidelines
for abstracts, etc. will be posted on the conference web page as it become available.
11-16 October 2009. Interdrought-III, The 3rd international conference
on integrated approaches to improve crop production under drought-prone environments;
Shanghai, China. Conference
web site: http://www.interdrought.org/. Previous
Interdrought conferences at www.plantstress.com
(NEW) 9-12 November
2009. Exploiting genome-wide association in oilseed
Brassicas: a model for genetic improvement of major OECD crops for sustainable
future farming, The International Centre for Plant Breeding Education
and Research (ICPBER), University of Western Australia.
The International Centre
for Plant Breeding Education and Research (ICPBER) was launched at the University
of Western Australia (UWA) in August 2008 and aspires to “train professional plant breeders for tomorrow”.
ICPBER seeks to attract international students into plant breeding and genetics,
at BSc, MSc and PhD levels. We also offer in-service training by way of short
courses/Master Classes for practising plant breeders or those in the seeds industry.
We at ICPBER are very excited at the opportunity to host this international
conference, “Exploiting genome-wide association in oilseed Brassicas: a model
for genetic improvement of major OECD crops for sustainable future farming.”
The conference will be held at UWA, on the 9-12 November 2009.
This conference is sponsored by the International Organisation for Economics
Co-operation and Development (OECD) Co-operative Research Programme on Biological
Resource Management for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, whose financial support
makes it possible for many of the invited speakers from many OECD countries
to participate in the conference. The keynote speaker is Professor Carlos Bustamante,
from Cornell University, USA, speaking on “Association mapping – from humans to Arabidopsis and rice.” This conference
promises to be of great value to those in this field.
To be included in the next announcement regarding this conference, please send
your contact details to icpber@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
or Facsimile +61 8 6488 1140
Submitted by Sarah Mawson, Project Officer, ICPBER, School of Plant Biology
M084, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009
smawson@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
2-5 August 2010. 10th International
Conference on Grapevine Breeding and Genetics. http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hp/events/.
(NEW) 2010. Hanoi, Vietnam to host 3rd International Rice Congress in 2010
The 3rd International Rice Congress (IRC2010) will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam,
in 2010, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
(Return to Contents)
=======================
7. EDITOR'S NOTES
Plant Breeding News is an electronic forum for the exchange of information and
ideas about applied plant breeding and related fields. It is a component of
the Global Partnership
Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building (GIPB), and is
published monthly throughout the year.
The newsletter is managed by the editor and an advisory group consisting of
Elcio Guimaraes (elcio.guimaraes@fao.org), Margaret Smith (mes25@cornell.edu),
and Ann Marie Thro (athro@reeusda.gov). The editor will advise subscribers one
to two weeks ahead of each edition, in order to set deadlines for contributions.
Subscribers are encouraged to take an active part in making the newsletter a
useful communications tool. Contributions may be in such areas as: technical
communications on key plant breeding issues; announcements of meetings, courses
and electronic conferences; book announcements and reviews; web sites of special
relevance to plant breeding; announcements of funding opportunities; requests
to other readers for information and collaboration; and feature articles or
discussion issues brought by subscribers. Suggestions on format and content
are always welcome by the editor, at pbn-l@mailserv.fao.org. We would especially
like to see a broad participation from developing country programs and from
those working on species outside the major food crops.
Messages with attached files are not distributed on PBN-L for two important
reasons. The first is that computer viruses and worms can be distributed in
this manner. The second reason is that attached files cause problems for some
e-mail systems.
PLEASE NOTE: Every month many newsletters are returned because they are undeliverable,
for any one of a number of reasons. We try to keep the mailing list up to date,
and also to avoid deleting addresses that are only temporarily inaccessible.
If you miss a newsletter, write to me at chh23@cornell.edu and I will re-send
it.
REVIEW PAST NEWSLETTERS ON THE WEB:
Past issues of the Plant Breeding Newsletter are now available on the web. The
address is: http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGP/AGPC/doc/services/pbn.html
Please note that you may have to copy and paste
this address to your web browser, since the link can be corrupted in some e-mail
applications. We will continue to improve the organization of archival issues
of the newsletter. Readers who have suggestions about features they wish to
see should contact the editor at chh23@cornell.edu.
RECEIVE THE NEWSLETTER AS AN MS WORD®
ATTACHMENT
If you prefer to receive the newsletter as an MS Word attachment instead
of an e-mail text, please write the editor at chh23@cornell.edu and request this option.
To subscribe to
PBN-L: Send an e-mail message to: mailserv@mailserv.fao.org. Leave the subject
line blank and write SUBSCRIBE PBN-L (Important: use ALL CAPS). To unsubscribe:
Send an e-mail message as above with the message UNSUBSCRIBE PBN-L. Lists of
potential new subscribers are welcome. The editor will contact these persons;
no one will be subscribed without their explicit permission.
(Return to Contents)