PLANT BREEDING NEWS
EDITION
206
An
Electronic Newsletter of Applied Plant Breeding
Clair
H. Hershey, Editor
Sponsored
by GIPB, FAO/AGP and
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-Archived issues available at: FAO Plant Breeding Newsletter
1.
NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.01 British Society of Plant Breeders welcomes Royal Society call for
1.02 New
center to bring
1.03 Agricultural research ‘should be open access’,
says Editor-in-Chief of Science
1.04 HOPE project to boost sorghum and millet production in Sub-Saharan Africa
and
1.05
1.06
1.07 Drought-hardy maize ready for
field trials
1.08 Key players in African seed sector meet to accelerate drive for seed systems
serving African smallholder farmers
1.09 Wageningen University Plant Sciences Group,
1.10 Study on plant breeding education to be conducted at the
1.11 Panel calls for an ethical framework for intellectual property and climate
change
1.12
1.13
1.14 U.S. Agriculture Secretary launches the National Institute of Food and Agriculture
(NIFA)
1.15 On horizon 2050 - billions needed for agriculture, according to an FAO discussion
paper
1.16 Bioversity International and the
1.17 The amazing maze of maize evolution - Study on maize domestication may help
improve crop yields
1.18 Evidence for the emergence
of new rice types of interspecific hybrid origin in west African farmers’
fields
1.19 Study confirms classic theory
on the origins of biodiversity
1.20 From Teosinte to maize, an
evolutionary farce?
1.21 Chinese wild plantain became
1.22
1.23 Disabling instead of adding:
a novel way of breeding disease-resistant plants
1.24 Scientists closer to drug-free
Cannabis plants
1.25 Productive corn plants with
the right resources
1.26 New
pulse varieties to boost growers
1.27 ARS
releases corn lines resistant to diseases, aflatoxin contamination
1.28 Sibling recognition in plants
1.29 Changing smell of plants announces pathogen attack
1.30 U.S. National
Science Foundation awards 32 new projects for plant genome research
1.31
1.32 A genetic mutation at the origin of the development of female flowers in
the melon
1.33 Unraveling of the sorghum genome will help improve dryland crops
1.34 Structure of phytohormone receptor
reveals new ways of improving
drought
tolerance
1.35 Identification
of elongation trait in Malaysian rice varieties using molecular markers
1.36
1.37 GCP News -- Issue 41
1.38 4th Newsletter of the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research
(
2.01 Tall Fescue for the Twenty-first Century - New book tells the story of scientific advancement
through the lens of turf and forage research
2.02 Millions Fed: Proven Successes in Agricultural Development
2.03 IFPRI report: "Climate
Change: Impact on Agriculture and Costs of Adaptation"
3.01 New portal for plant genomics will support research
into improved crops
3.02 Update on the Plant Breeding Forum listserv from GIPB
4.01 2010 Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship
4.02 Graduate Assistantship, offered
in the
4.03 Third Call for Proposals: Enhancing the value of crop diversity in
a world of climate change
5.01 Breeding-related position annoncements from
Monsanto International
5.02 National Education Program Leader (NIFA-USA)
5.03 Senior
Scientist, Genetic Diversity, Bioversity International
6. MEETINGS,
COURSES
7. EDITOR
1 NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.01
British Society of Plant Breeders welcomes Royal Society call for
The Royal Society’s call for the Government to invest
up to £100 million per year of new money in over the next decade as part of
a £2 billion ‘grand challenge’ on global food crop security has been welcomed
by the British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB).
The report, entitled Reaping the benefits: Science and
the sustainable intensification of global agriculture, was published by the
Royal Society following an 18-month review of biological approaches to enhancing
food crop production, to which BSPB contributed.
In particular, BSPB supports the Royal Society’s recommendation
that new public sector funding should be used to establish pre-breeding programmes
for the
BSPB also endorses the report’s strong message about
the need for urgent, joined up action on a range of fronts – not only through
investment in the genetic improvement of food crops but also through greater
emphasis on crop management and agricultural practices.
“We welcome the Royal Society’s clear statement that
the
“But while BSPB members provide the delivery mechanism
to on-farm application, the limited revenue streams available to plant breeders
from seed royalties do not currently allow significant investment in speculative
or long-term research targets. We therefore welcome the Royal Society report’s
emphasis on the need for renewed public sector investment in pre-breeding
and translational crop science, to ensure the huge advances in our basic scientific
understanding of plant genetics can be transferred into valuable crops and
products.”
“Alongside crop improvement through plant breeding, the
Royal Society also recognises the urgent need to ensure farmers are equipped
with the knowledge and practices needed to realise the genetic potential on
offer. BSPB strongly supports the report’s emphasis on the importance of crop
management, and the need to revitalise investment in recently neglected disciplines
of agronomy and soil science,” said Dr Jolliffe.
Website: http://www.bspb.co.uk
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=11072&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
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1.02 New center to
bring
A new center may help make such Cornell agricultural
advances as transgenic drought- and salt-tolerant rice available in
A Sept. 24 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between
Cornell and the Department of Science and Education of China
"The MOU reflects the fact that we really want to
work together," said Alan Paau, vice provost for technology transfer
and economic development. "We want to be doing things that not only benefit
our researchers
Similarly, the Chinese may have new technologies and
innovations that may be of value here and may use Cornell
In early December, a delegation from
An initial project may include sending animal vaccines
to
The center will be led by
"When the Chinese tell us what they need, we will
work with the colleges to find out what might apply," said Paau. "We
are excited to collaborate with
The MOU was signed Sept. 24 by Paau; Michael Kotlikoff,
the Austin A. Hooey Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine; Jan Nyrop,
senior associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and
the Chinese director general for the Department of Science and Education of
China
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=11194&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.03 Agricultural research
by T. V. Padma
Providing open access to agricultural research in
Alberts said information and communication technologies
(ICTs) enable a new form of knowledge-sharing whose potential has not been
"adequately exploited". He was speaking at a meeting on open access
in agriculture, held at the International
Centre for Crop Research for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT),
Given that agriculture is a "critical component"
of
Sharing agricultural knowledge and know-how throughout
the world would have great advantages, he says. "We need to link researchers
together into not only highly productive, interactive communities, but also
to use ICT to connect them and their resources to extension workers and farmers
everywhere."
This means "research is having only a fraction of
its potential usage and impact".
In January,
Gutam says that there is a broad understanding among
the ICRISAT meeting participants that an open access agricultural research
publications repository will be created within AgroPedia, where participants
will be able to deposit their research articles.
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10776&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SciDev.Net
via SeedQuest.com
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1.04 HOPE project
to boost sorghum and millet production in Sub-Saharan
Patancheru,
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid
Tropics (ICRISAT) has launched a new project that aims to increase food security
for smallholder farmers in dryland areas of sub-Saharan
Through the development and delivery of improved crop
varieties and training in crop management practices, HOPE will increase small-scale
farmer yields by 35 to 40% during the first four years of the project. These
improved varieties of sorghum and millet will be disseminated to 110,000 households
in sub-Saharan
Dr William D Dar, Director General of ICRISAT, says,
“Scientists estimate that yields could be doubled or even tripled from their
current low levels if farmers use the right crop varieties, fertilizer and
other management techniques. Capturing even a modest portion of these potential
gains would generate
The demand for dryland crops, such as sorghum and millet,
is growing as a number of
The dryland areas in sub-Saharan
Part of the project is dedicated to capacity building,
primarily targeting national program scientists participating in the
The project will be managed by ICRISAT under an agreement
between the Government of India and the Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
This grant is part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Agricultural Development initiative, which is working with a wide range of
partners to provide millions of smallholder farmers in the developing world
with tools and opportunities to boost their yields, increase their incomes,
and build better lives for themselves and their families. The foundation is
working to strengthen the entire agricultural value chain—from seeds and soil
to farm management and market access—so that progress against hunger and poverty
is sustainable over the long term.
More news from:
ICRISAT
(International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics)
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10929&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
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1.05
The cotton- being tasted by scientist at the National
Semi-Arid Resource Research Institute at Serere in Soroti, are showing early
indicators of pest-resistance and herbicide-tolerance.
The Director of the research institute, Dr.Thomas Areke
says Bt cotton that have ability to withstand bollworms and Ht cotton that
tolerates roundup chemicals sprayed to destroy weeds were planted in July,
in confined fields trial sites at Serere and Mubuku in Kasese district.
He says the crops are vigorously growing and have flowered
without any disease, pest or weed infestations.
He says they ventured into improving the crop by biotechnology
to get varieties that would increase productivity and benefit farmers.
He observed that since the population is increasing and
land reducing, government must look into improving technologies that can enhance
production.
In
The testing however, come at a time when genetically
modified crops are facing criticism all over the world. Those opposing the
technology claim the crops may have future side-effects to human beings.
Copyright 2009 © Ultimate Media
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10915&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source:
Ultimate Media via SeedQuest.com
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1.06
New
NERICA cultivar plays a key role in FAO project to help displaced farmers
About 1.5 million internally displaced people are gradually
moving back to their original lands after more than 20 years living a precarious
existence in the refugee camps of northern
Their return is being helped by an FAO/Uganda
NERICA project, which is introducing innovative, rice-based farming systems
to increase food security and reduce poverty in
Read: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35606/icode/
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1.07 Drought-hardy
maize ready for field trials
Drought-resistant maize varieties will be making their
way from the greenhouse to the field as soon as South African scientists get
the regulatory green light.
The researchers at the
It has taken the research team five years to identify
the genes that give X. viscosa its ability to withstand 95 per cent dehydration,
and transfer this genetic material into maize.
The X. viscosa genes act as a signal to the maize plant
to go into survival mode when it becomes dehydrated, explains Jennifer Thomson,
microbiologist at the
The modified plant is expected to withstand environmental
conditions that currently result in a greatly reduced harvest — such as late
rains.
"We are ready to see how the maize performs in one
of South Africa
"Field tests would be conducted under strictly controlled
conditions and with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture,"
she says.
Leon du Plessis, head of The Maize Trust, says Thomson
"Most Africans are dependent on maize as a staple
so such an initiative, if successful, will go a long way to providing food
security for this region," he says. "It will also help stabilise
the price of maize, which fluctuates dramatically at the moment."
Maize containing an insect-resistance gene is grown in
developing countries including the
Efforts are also underway to engineer maize with nutritional
benefits (see GM
corn comes a step closer to a complete meal).
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10894&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.08 Key players
in African seed sector meet to accelerate drive for seed systems serving African
smallholder farmers
As
famine and food shortages threaten millions,
At a time when failing harvests are once again threatening
the lives and livelihoods of millions across Africa, 300 agriculture scientists,
entrepreneurs, farmers’ organizations and governments from across the continent
have gathered to accelerate a massive effort to develop and deploy higher-yield,
disease and drought resistant crop varieties of Africa’s most important food
crops.
The meeting brings together a wide range of experts from
20 countries who collectively form the heart of the Program for Africa’s Seed
Systems (PASS), a $150 million initiative launched two years ago by the Alliance
for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to bring improved varieties of rice,
maize, millet, sorghum and other food staples to millions of Africa’s smallholder
farmers.
The reports over the last month of a drought-induced
famine potentially affecting 20 million people in
“Without a viable, sustainable system that provides our
farmers with improved higher yielding and disease- and drought-resistant varieties
of our food crops, Africans will continue to be uniquely vulnerable to food
crises,” said Dr Namanga Ngongi, President of AGRA.
In its short
State of
Yet, enormous challenges remain, with bottlenecks at
nearly every link in the seed value chain. One crucial area addressed repeatedly
by conference participants was the need to develop a strong private sector
of local companies producing and disseminating high quality, certified seed.
“No region of the world has developed a seed system without
seed companies,” said Dr Joseph DeVries, Director of PASS. “A strong, African-based
commercial seed sector devoted to serving smallholder farmers has long been
a missing link in creating a sustainable seed system. Today we are forging
that link.”
A new study released at the conference documents the
state of the seed sector in four West African countries:
“Except for
The study, conducted under the auspices of the Drought
Tolerant Maize for Africa Project, found that demand for improved maize seed
far outweighs supply. From 1997 to 2007 in
In
The situation in
Obstacles to developing a robust seed systems in
Government policies have also created obstacles by slowing
the release of proven new varieties; providing weak oversight to seed regulatory
systems; and enforcing unnecessary barriers to seed trade barriers.
However, conference participants reported that things
have begun to change.
Innovative companies, new seeds and policies making a
difference.
Despite the many challenges, in the past two years PASS
grantees have demonstrated that they are far from insurmountable and, moreover,
that throughout
An assessment by
PASS grantees attending the
·
In
·
The public research system of
·
In June of this year,
·
In
·
In
·
In
·
In
More news from:
AGRA
(Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa)
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10780&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
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1.09 Wageningen University Plant Sciences Group,
Wageningen, The
October 2009
General Director of the Plant Sciences Group Ernst van
den Ende recently signed an agreement with the
Using new technologies, PRI implanted genes from the
wild potato into cultivated potato to achieve sustainable resistance within
a short time period. This method also allows the simultaneous implementation
of multiple resistances, making it even harder for the fungus to break through.
Anton Haverkort, DURPH project leader, responded a while back to a presentation
by
“This initiative is completely in line with the Dutch
agriculture ministry’s goal to use the results of our research and our technologies
for stacking genes to benefit developing countries,” stresses Anton. One of
the focal points of the agreement is making the results available for countries
whose food supply depends mainly on their potato cultivation, especially those
in
In addition to the development of resistant varieties,
the new joint international project aims to design a cultivation system that
includes so-called resistance management. This should minimise the risk
of the potato disease breaking through the resistance.
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.10 Study
on plant breeding education to be conducted at the
Plant breeding is currently under stress – the global
demand for breeders is greater than the current educational system has been
producing. Companies are having difficulty finding well trained plant breeders,
slowing the progress of agricultural research. The need to strengthen public
plant breeding programs and educate more professional plant breeders is critical
if we are to continue producing improved crop varieties to provide food for
an increasing population.
Researchers at UC
“Plant breeders continually provide the world with necessary
advances in crop varieties; however, their numbers are diminishing due to
retirements and fewer educational programs offering plant breeding degrees,”
says Dr. Allen Van Deynze, Director of Research at the Seed Biotechnology
Center and co-founder of the Plant Breeding Academysm. “The scope of this
study provides every participant an equal voice to help improve the training
experiences of future breeders and will result in a clear understanding of
how to focus educational programs to get the best results.”
Dr. Cary Trexler, a professor in the
Additional information regarding this study is available
at http://sbc.ucdavis.edu.
Please email breedingstudy@ucdavis.edu or
contact Jamie Shattuck at (530) 752-9985 with questions or to help support
this study.
Website:
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10981&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.11 Panel calls for an ethical framework for intellectual
property and climate change
By Kaitlin
Mara, Intellectual Property
Watch
Normal negotiation strategy is unlikely to result in
an impact on climate change, since the most important stakeholders in fighting
it - not yet born - have no seat at the negotiating tables, said a panel last
week in Bangkok. An ethical approach is a better way to achieve results, speakers
said, and an ethical take on intellectual property rights and alternative
forms of innovation may have a place in new climate-friendly economic models.
The changes needed will be extraordinary: In order to
meet United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change targets for reductions
in emissions by 2015, there will need to be a tenfold increase in carbon productivity,
said economist Nitin Desai, a former senior UN official, who also chaired
the panel.
This is “comparable to the increase in labour productivity
throughout the entire industrial revolution,” he added.
“This is an aspect [of fighting climate change] that
we are not facing up to,” said Desai. The “industrial revolution wasn’t just
about technology: it was a whole new world. It’s the scale … that is not being
adequately recognised.”
In particular, basic ethical principles of responsibility
are useful in looking at ways to tackle the climate issue, said Desai. The
collection of speakers was hosted by the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI),
a nongovernmental agency which looks at matters of energy, environment, and
development, and took place on 8 October.
Ethical questions on climate change include not just
a fair allocation of responsibilities, obligations and costs in fighting it,
said Manish Shivastava, a research associate at TERI who is working on a paper
entitled “Technology, Ethics, and
Intellectual Property, Ethics, and Climate Change
As technology is a key factor in combating climate change,
ethical issues raised include who will commit what kinds of support for the
development and dissemination of technology - generally, developed countries
are seen as responsible for financial support, and developing countries as
responsible for building favourable policy environments (tariff structures
or foreign investment policies) for technology to come in, Shivastava said.
And there is general agreement that IP rights encourage innovations and private
investment in research and development, said Shivastava.
“But as a side effect, they add cost to users,” he said,
both directly (by increasing prices) and indirectly (by increasing transaction
costs for acquiring a needed bundle of technologies, or gaining ability to
use a technology if a firm is unwilling to licence).
But IP in environmental technology may not look the same
as it has in previous debates, such as over pharmaceuticals, in particular
as related to HIV/AIDS medications in
“Most people think about IP and the high cost, taking
the example of pharma,” but this may be a different situation, said another
speaker who declined to be identified. In pharmaceuticals, the “cost of R&D
is so high that IP can constitute something like 90 percent of the price of
a technology.” But in green energy the IP is likely not to constitute more
than about 10 percent of the product, the speaker asserted.
“There is a clear difference with pharmaceuticals, where
IP is linked to a product” than “in the case of energy or environmental technology”
which is “much more complex [and necessitates looking] at IP as a part of
overall cost, and how to manage cost to make deployment happen,” said Anand
Patwardhan, a professor at the Indian Institute
of Technology in Mumbai, with a background in environment,
technology and public policy.
If there is a paradigm-shifting technology where the
problem is IP rights, then there is already the option of compulsory licensing
in the World Trade Organization Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights Agreement (TRIPS) agreement, the speaker said, which applies to any
product and is not limited to pharmaceuticals.
Open Sourcing for the Environment
It is “definitely true that
Desai agreed. “With climate, we’re talking about process,
not product,” he said, referring to the need for an economic paradigm shirt.
“So we need a structure … like a transparency requirement.” This fits, he
said, into the open source model of revealing source code.
Other solutions suggested by Shivastava included waivers
on royalties for publicly funded technology, patent pools, or patent commons
where rights holders pledge conditional waivers on their royalties.
Several participants also mentioned how critical it is
that financing for both development and diffusion be provided.
Also contributing as research fellows of TERI, though
not on IP issues, were Nitu Goel, who wrote on ethics in funding for adaptation
to climate change, and Neha Pahuja, who spoke about measurable, reportable
and verifiable goals.
Website:
http://www.ip-watch.org
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10973&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.12
The
With an initial focus on five countries (Ethiopia, Ghana,
Mali, Mozambique and Tanzania), the initiative will strengthen African agricultural
policy-making capacity through training agricultural policy analysts; bolstering
policy think tanks; establishing data banks to support evidence-based policy
development; and coordinating national policy hubs. It will focus on policies
that support farmers in the areas of seeds; soil health; markets and trade;
land rights; women’s rights; equity; environmental sustainability; and climate
change.
“Unlike farmers everywhere else in the world, African
farmers, most of whom are women, receive little or no support from their governments,”
said Mr. Kofi A. Annan, Chairman of the AGRA Board and former Secretary-General
of the United Nations. “We must change this. The new support to
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced this
grant at the World Food Prize Symposium in
“Melinda and I believe that helping the poorest smallholder
farmers grow more and get it to market is the world
For this to happen, African farmers need enabling agricultural
policies. But
“We cannot abandon our farmers and be surprised that
“Our goal is not to set policy for African countries,
but to empower countries, and move beyond policy analyses into policy action,”
said Dr. Namanga Ngongi, President of AGRA. “We will give voice to African
farmers.”
To ensure that new policies benefit smallholders, the
program will strengthen farmers’ policy advocacy platforms, with a special
focus on women farmers, to help them gain full and equal access to land security,
farm technologies, markets, finance, and extension services.
“
Policy Impacts
According to Adesina, the tide is turning in favor of
African farmers, as nations such as Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Mali,
Ethiopia, Mozambique, Ghana and Nigeria are taking new bold steps to revitalize
agriculture.
Many more countries are signing up to the Comprehensive
African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) to provide at least ten percent
of their budget in support of agriculture. As these funds become available,
effective, locally-determined policies to guide investments will be even more
critical. “
Policy impact can already be seen in countries like
“In the long-term, the ability of
Organizations such as the Economic Commission for Africa,
African Development Bank, Africa Union-NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities,
the African Economic Research Consortium and the International Food Policy
Research Institute will be key partners in the policy initiative.
“We will coordinate with these and other organizations
to accelerate comprehensive policies and investments for rapid agricultural
growth. Millions of African farmers can no longer wait,” Ngongi said.
AGRA works across sub-Saharan Africa and maintains offices
in Nairobi, Kenya, and Accra,
For more information see: www.agra-alliance.org
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Source: SeedQuest.com
1.13
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced
more than $7 million in grants for research on the biology of plant processes
and traits which can be used to breed crops with enhanced value and resilience
to climate stress. The research will increase understanding of plant biology
from the genome to the field, and provide a foundation for the development
of plant varieties with increased yield, reduced production cost, and enhanced
quality and nutritional value.
“At a time when disruptive climate change threatens production
of some of the world’s staple foods, some of the biggest gains we can make
in ending world hunger will involve development of stress-resistant crops,”
said Vilsack. “Drought-tolerant, heat-tolerant, and saline-resistant crops
will not only offer tremendous improvements for farmers around the world,
but also position American farmers competitively in the world market.”
These grants are awarded by USDA’s National Institute
of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), previously the Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service, under the new Agriculture and Food Research
Initiative program to provide funding for fundamental and applied research,
extension and education to address food and agricultural sciences.
Awards have been selected for:
•
•
•
• USDA ARS Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Unit,
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• USDA FS
Through federal funding and leadership for research,
education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and
solving critical issues impacting people
More news from:
USDA
- NIFA (National Institute of Food and Agriculture)
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Source: SeedQuest.com
1.14
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today launched the
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) with a
Below are excerpts from Vilsack
"The opportunity to truly transform a field of science
happens at best once a generation. Right now, I am convinced, is USDA
"These discoveries and tools come not a moment too
soon. The United Nations
"USDA science needs to change to respond to these
pressures, to ensure the sustainability of the American food, fuel, and fiber
system and to address some of
"Formed in the main from the existing Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service, NIFA will be the Department
"I want USDA science to focus most of its resources
on accomplishing a few, bold outcomes with great power to improve human health
and protect our environment:
·
USDA science will support our ability
to keep American agriculture competitive while ending world hunger. At a time
when disruptive climate change threatens production of some of the world
·
USDA science will support our ability
to improve nutrition and end child obesity. At USDA we want to take the nutrition
and food choice insights we have gained from our science to test out some
new approaches to school lunches, breakfast and our other nutrition assistance
and education programs.
·
USDA science will support our efforts
to radically improve food safety for all Americans. Each year in the
·
USDA science will secure
·
USDA science will make us better stewards
of
·
"President Obama this spring pledged to invest more
heavily in the nation
"I am asking today for a commitment of will and
energy to bring about our generation
More news from:
USDA
- NIFA (National Institute of Food and Agriculture)
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10872&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.15 On horizon
2050 - billions needed for agriculture, according to an FAO discussion paper
Net investments of $83 billion a year must be made in
agriculture in developing countries if there is to be enough food to feed
9.1 billion people in 2050, according to an FAO discussion paper published
today.
Agricultural investment thus needs to increase by about
50 percent, according to the paper prepared for the High Level Experts’ Forum
on How to Feed the World in 2050,
Required investments include crops and livestock production
as well as downstream support services such as cold chains, storage facilities,
market facilities and first-stage processing.
Private investment essential
The projected investment needs to 2050 include some $20
billion going to crops production and $13 billion going to livestock production,
the paper said. Mechanization would account for the single biggest investment
area followed by expansion and improvement of irrigation.
A further $50 billion would be needed for downstream
services to help achieve a global 70 percent expansion in agricultural production
by 2050.
Most of this investment, in both primary agriculture
and downstream services, will come from private investors, including farmers
purchasing implements and machinery and businesses investing in processing
facilities.
Public investment also necessary
In addition, public funds will also be needed to achieve
a better functioning of the agricultural system and food security, the paper
said. Priority areas for such public investments include: i) agricultural
research and development; ii) large-scale infrastructure such as roads, ports
and power, and agricultural institutions and extension services; and iii)
education, particularly of women, sanitation, clean water supply and healthcare.
But in 2000 total global public spending on agricultural
research and development totalled only some $23 billion and has been highly
uneven. Official Development Assistance (ODA) to agriculture decreased by
some 58 percent in real terms between 1980 and 2005, dropping from a 17 percent
share of aid to 3.8 percent over the period. Presently it stands at around
five percent.
Of the projected new net investments in agriculture,
as much as $29 billion would need to be spent in the two countries with the
largest populations –
Regional differences
The projections point to wide regional differences in
the impact of new investments when translated into per capita terms. Given
different population growth rates,
Foreign direct investment in agriculture in developing
countries could make a significant contribution to bridging the investment
gap, the paper said.
But political and economic concerns have been raised
about so-called “land grab” investments in poor, food-insecure countries.
Such deals should be designed in such a way as to maximize benefits to host
populations, effectively increasing their food security and reducing poverty
Website: http://www.fao.org
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10829&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.16 Bioversity
International and the
September 2009
This list consists of an initial set of characterization
and evaluation descriptors for cultivated potato utilization.
This strategic set of descriptors, together with passport
data, will become the basis for the global accession level information portal
being developed by Bioversity International with the financial support of
the Global Crop Diversity Trust. It will facilitate access to and utilization
of cultivated potato accessions held in genebanks and does not preclude the
addition of further descriptors, should data subsequently become available.
Corporate Author: Bioversity International;
Publication Year: 2009
Pages: 7
Format: PDF, On-line
Language: En
More news from: Bioversity
International
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1.17 The amazing maze of maize evolution - Study on
maize domestication may help improve crop yields
Understanding the evolution and domestication of maize
has been a holy grail for many researchers. As one of the most important crops
worldwide and as a crop that appears very different from its wild relatives
as a result of domestication, understanding exactly how maize has evolved
has many practical benefits and may help to improve crop yields.
In the October issue of the American Journal of Botany
(www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/96/10/1798),
Dr. Marina Dermastia and colleagues published their research comparing corn
kernel development to its closest wild relative: teosinte. This research overturns
some commonly held beliefs on the domestication of maize because, unexpectedly,
many traits seen in the cellular development of maize kernels that were previously
attributed to the process of domestication were observed in the development
of the teosinte kernels by Dermastia and her colleagues. "Although the
teosinte kernels are morphologically so different from that of maize, their
inside is not, Dermastia said. "Although we did not expect fundamental
differences between maize and teosinte, the similarities were striking."
Some of the traits thought to be unique to maize but
now also found in teosinte include an early programmed cell death for cells
in part of the kernel and accumulation of phenolic and flavonoid compounds
in the walls of these cells. These developmental changes strengthen the cells,
protect them against decay and disease, and increase water conductance. According
to Dermastia, "We suggested previously that this process was important
for the establishment of the water and assimilate flow to the developing maize
kernel…in the teosinte kernel, we not only detected programmed cell death…but
also all other phenomena described as related to the transport into the maize
kernel." The presence of these traits in teosinte kernels suggests that
they are not a consequence of maize domestication.
Other developmental traits they observed in the teosinte
kernels included the presence of an enzyme that controls the flow of sugar
in the developing seed, which appears to be a common mechanism for sugar uptake
in both maize and teosinte.
Dermastia and her colleagues did observe one difference
between seed development in teosinte and maize. Endoreduplication, the process
of a cell duplicating its
"Our study indicates that the main differences,
beside the teosinte fruitcase and its absence in maize, might lay in the process
of endoreduplication in endosperm, Dermastia said. "Knowing the process
in more depth might be an important step in improving a most important crop."
The full article in the link mentioned is available for
no charge for 30 days following the date of this summary at www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/96/10/1798.
A cellular study of teosinte Zea mays subsp. parviglumis
(Poaceae) caryopsis development showing several processes conserved in maize
Marina Dermastia, Ale Kladnik, Jasna Dolenc Koce and
Prem S. Chourey
The
Botanical Society of America is a non-profit membership society
with a mission to promote botany, the field of basic science dealing with
the study and inquiry into the form, function, development, diversity, reproduction,
evolution, and uses of plants and their interactions within the biosphere.
It has published the American Journal of Botany (www.amjbot.org) for nearly
100 years. In 2009, the Special Libraries Association named the American Journal
of Botany one of the Top 10 Most Influential Journals of the Century in the
field of Biology and Medicine.
More news from: Botanical
Society of America
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Source: The Botanical Society of America via SeedQuest.com
1.18 Evidence
for the emergence of new rice types of interspecific hybrid origin in west
African farmers’ fields
Edwin Nuijten, Robbert van Treuren, Paul C. Struik, Alfred
Mokuwa, Florent Okry, Be´ la Teeken, Paul Richards
Abstract
In
Future advances in crop development could be achieved
through co-operation between scientists and marginalized farmer groups in
order to address challenges of rapid adaptation in a world of increasing socio-political
and climatic uncertainty.
Copyright: _ 2009 Nuijten et al. This is an open-access
article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are credited.
For more information contact: Edwin.Nuijten@wur.nl
Contributed by Luigi Guarino
1.19 Study confirms classic theory on the origins
of biodiversity
A team of researchers at
The report said that, "As milkweeds developed prickly,
hairy leaves, highly toxic chemicals (cardenolides) and gooey white latex
that gums up a predator
With this discovery the team is aiming for more studies
on plant/ insect interaction. "It
See the report
at http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Sept09/AgrawalMilkweed.html
Source: Crop Biotech Update11 September 2009
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept of Plant Breeding &
1.20 From Teosinte to maize, an evolutionary farce?
An article in the American Journal of Botany titled A
cellular study of teosinte Zea mays subsp. parviglumis (poaceae) caryopsis
development showing several processes conserved in maize 1 dissected the possible
evolution of the domesticated maize from teosinte, the wild relative of maize.
The study by a group of researchers from the National Institute of Biology
and Department of Biology,
The group observed some maize traits associated with
seed development that can be found in teosinte including: programmed cell
death, accumulation of phenolic compounds in the walls of these cells, and
the presence of an enzyme that controls the flow of sugar in the developing
seed. These traits of t! eosinte kernels suggest that they are not a consequence
of maize domestication.
One interesting observation is that the distribution
of cells with high
The full article is downloadable at
Source: Crop Biotech Update
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept of Plant Breeding &
1.21 Chinese
wild plantain became
Kew Millennium Seed Bank of UK held a ceremony on October
15th to welcome the wild plantain seeds from China as the No. 24200 wild plant
seed preserved by this organization and
Kew Millennium Seed Bank planned to collect 242,000 kinds
of wild plant seeds and thus the wild plantain seeds from
Wild plantains used to be widely distributed in
Built in 2000, Kew Millennium Seed Bank is one of largest
seed banks in the world. The bank focuses on endangered wild plants and carries
out scientific research on collected seeds.
Kew Millennium Seed Bank planned to increase its kinds
of preserved wild plant seeds into more than 60,000 in 2020, fulfilling 25%
target of the seed bank
Yang is supervisor of the Germ Plasm Bank of Wild Species
in
Chinese and English plant research institutions often
exchange seeds and make mutual backup so as to enhance protection and research
of plants.
More news from: Chinese
Academy of Sciences
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Source: SeedQuest.com
1.22
In
At the
Gupta has teamed with Richard Novy, Aberdeen-based USDA
Agricultural Research Service potato breeder, and two Midwestern scientists
to select breeding lines for their resistance to cold-induced sweetening.
Potatoes that could be stored at or below 42 degrees Fahrenheit and still
fry up light wouldn’t need as many sprout inhibition treatments, Gupta said.
As living seed, they would respire less at colder temperatures, thereby retaining
moisture and weight, and would be less prone to plant diseases.
While at the
Gupta refined the markers at the
“Understanding the underlying mechanism of cold-sweetening
is a big benefit to breeders,” said Novy. “We can intercross parents having
divergent cold-induced sweetening resistance and make greater gains, because
many of their offspring will be more resistant than either parent.”
By choosing the right parents, breeders could significantly
accelerate the development of potatoes with the level of cold-sweetening resistance
the market seeks, Gupta said.
Website:
http://www.uidaho.edu
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.23 Disabling
instead of adding: a novel way of breeding disease-resistant plants
Researchers at the Wageningen UR in the
In the paper, Bai and colleagues discussed the latest
findings on plant factors that are activated by pathogen effectors to suppress
plant immunity, the so-called susceptibility genes. The first susceptibility
gene, called Mlo, was found in barley. This gene was found to be non-functional
in powdery mildew-resistant plants. Silencing Mlo in Arabidopsis resulted
to plants that can resist the disease.
The new breeding strategy is still controversial among
plant scientists and breeders, according to the scientists. "We have
already been discussing this strategy for two and a half years," said
Jacobsen. "Not everybody is convinced of its potential. People say: gene
silencing is old, we need resistance genes. But you have to investigate new
techniques and strategies - that
Read the original story at
http://www.wur.nl/UK/newsagenda/news/Novel_breeding_strategy_for_plant_resistance.htm
The paper is available for download at
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11032-009-9323-6
Source: Crop Biotech Update
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept of Plant Breeding &
1.24 Scientists closer to drug-free Cannabis plants
Researchers are closing in on developing drug-free Cannabis
plants. A team of scientists from the
David Marks and colleagues, reporting in the Journal
of Experimental Botany, found that the genes are highly expressed in tiny
hairs covering the flowers of Cannabis plants. The researchers have identified
specific polyketide synthase genes that are highly expressed in the hairs.
In marijuana, the hairs accumulate high amounts of THCA, whereas in hemp the
hairs have little (marijuana and hemp are different breeds of Cannabis sativa).
Hemp varieties have THCA levels at or below 0.3 percent,
while the average THCA content of marijuana can reach 30 percent. Hemp has
once been a popular crop, an important source of strong, industrial fiber
and nutritious oil. But after the drug legislation, its cultivation was banned
because of the fear that hemp planting could mask the growth of marijuana.
The findings may also prove important to the beer industry.
According to the researchers, the polyketide synthase genes identified in
cannabis plants are closely related to those from hop. Hop plants produce
humulone, the bitter compound that gives beer its distinctive taste, and xanthohumol,
which has several potential health beneficial properties. The biosynthetic
pathways that produce these compounds are almost identical to the THCA pathway,
according to the scientists. Thus, studying the Cannabis genes might provide
information for improved understanding of hop biochemical pathways.
The open access article is available ! at http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erp210
Source: Crop Biotech Update
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept of Plant Breeding &
1.25 Productive corn plants with the right resources
Increasing corn productivity may have to do with the
crop
Results showed that competition is enhanced at high plant
densities, especially when nitrogen is limiting. Nitrogen like other nutrients
becomes more essential at high plant densities. In addition, anthesis-to-silking
interval is crucial in increasing final grain yield. If there is competition,
plants will tend to shed pollen on time, but the emergence of the silk in
the corn ear is delayed, resulting to low seed set and yield.
This research is important in the standpoint of the corn
industry as they develop hybrids that can withstand high plant densities and
limiting nitrogen.
The full article can be downloaded at
https://www.agronomy.org/publications/agronomy-journal/view/101-6/aj09-0082-pub.pdf
Source: Crop Biotech Update
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept of Plant Breeding &
1.26 New pulse varieties to boost growers
New varieties of legume - two lentils, a chickpea and
a broad bean - will be introduced to Australian growers by the Pulse Breeding
Australia (PBA). The varieties will be launched in association with its commercial
seed partners at field days in
The pulses will have improved yield, harvestability,
disease resistance, tolerance to abiotic stresses, quality and weed management.
This initiative is a part of the Grains Research and Development Corporation
(GRDC) to bring new and improved pulse varieties over a period of five years.
For details, see the news at
Source: Crop Biotech Update
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept of Plant Breeding &
1.27 ARS releases corn lines resistant to diseases,
aflatoxin contamination
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
"These six lines have demonstrated good resistance
against aflatoxin accumulation in laboratory and field tests," says Robert
Brown, ARS plant pathologist. "They have also been shown to possess other
commercially desirable corn traits, including resistance to southern corn
leaf blight and southern corn rust."
The hybrid corn varieties are the product of a decade
long collaboration between Brown and Abebe Menkir researcher at the IITA.
The collaborators first screened a! nd then combined the top aflatoxin-resistant
lines found in the
Brown has also identified a kernel protein, PR-10, produced
by the Aspergillus-resistant corn varieties. In laboratory tests, this protein
was found to destroy A. flavus RNA and to inhibit fungal growth. These results
show that this protein may play an important role in corn resistance against
A. flavus growth and aflatoxin contamination.
Read more at
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/oct09/corn1009.htm
Source: Crop Biotech Update
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept of Plant Breeding &
1.28 Sibling recognition in plants
Two groups of researchers confirmed that plant siblings
grown close to each other in the soil tend not to compete with each other
compared to when they are grown with non-siblings. The phenomenon was observed
first by Susan Dudley of
Using wild populations of Arabidopsis thaliana, Bais,
together with student Meredith Bierdrzycki, confirmed that the length of the
longest lateral root and of hypocotyls of siblings planted close to each other
are shallower, indicating non-competition. But, when they are grown with non-siblings,
they rapidly grow more roots to take up water and mineral nutrients in the
soil, and compete with each other. In addition, leaves of these plant siblings
often will touch and intertwine compared to strangers that grow rigidly upright
and avoid touching.
When added with sodium orthovanadate, a root secretion
inhibitor to the set-up, stranger recognition is abolished. Identification
and control of the root recognition signal will find application in field
and landscape crops.
See the news at http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2010/oct/plantsiblings101409.html
The full article will be available at: http://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/cib/article/10118/
Source: Crop Biotech Update
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept of Plant Breeding &
1.29 Changing smell of plants announces pathogen
attack
Tomato plants under attack from the Botrytis fungus give
off an aromatic substance that can be measured in greenhouses, scientists
at the
Through a series of tests, Roel Jansen and colleagues
showed that tomato plants infected by Botrytis fungus give off more methyl
salicylate into the greenhouse air. Often the plants emit sufficient amounts
of this hormone substance for it to be measurable in the air. The researchers
believe that detection of volatile compounds in the greenhouse air presents a new way of preventing
and managing disease and plague problems in greenhouse horticulture. "If
you can identify a plague in a greenhouse on time there will be even less
need for pesticides," Jansen says. "The trend in greenhouse horticulture
is for fewer but larger greenhous! es. An outbreak of a disease or plague
therefore forms an even greater threat as it can easily spread throughout
the entire greenhouse."
Read more at
http://www.wur.nl/UK/newsagenda/news/smell191009.htm
Source: Crop Biotech Update
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept of Plant Breeding &
1.30
Projects
will better define plant responses to changing environments and contribute
to our understanding of genetic processes in economically important plants
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has made 32 new
awards totaling $101.6 million during the twelfth year of its Plant Genome
Research Program (PGRP).
These awards--which cover two to five years and range
from $500,000 to $10.4 million--support research and tool development to further
knowledge of genome structure and function. They will leverage sequence and
functional genomics resources to increase understanding of gene function and
interactions between genomes and the environment in economically important
crop plants such as corn, cotton, rice, soybean, tomato and wheat.
"Clearly, we are now beginning to see the breadth
of the effects of NSF investments in plant genomics. The knowledge gained
in these projects will serve as the basic foundation that will ultimately
enable plant biologists and breeders to develop crop plants that are higher
yielding and better able to adapt to a changing environment," said James
P. Collins, former NSF assistant director for biological sciences.
The new awards--made to 53 institutions in 30 states--include
international groups of scientists from
First-time recipients of PGRP awards include
The development of a wealth of genomics tools and sequence
resources developed over the past 12 years of the PGRP continues to enable
exciting, new comparative approaches and predictive modeling to uncover gene
networks that regulate plant development and growth in changing environments.
Projects include:
·
Research led by teams at the Cold Spring
Harbor Laboratory; University of California, Berkeley; University of California,
·
An interdisciplinary effort led by
Cornell University/U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service
(USDA-ARS) to study the gene effects and interactions that underlie variation
in complex traits in maize and its wild relative, teosinte. In collaboration
with scientists in
·
Research led by the University of Texas-Austin
to elucidate the basic physiological and molecular responses to field imposed
drought stress in switchgrass as a first step to modeling plant performance
in response to future climate change.
·
An international consortium led by
the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research/USDA-ARS to complete the sequence
of the tomato genome and to develop computational web-based tools and resources
that will enable basic and applied research in the Solanaceae.
·
Research led by Indiana University
to generate a diverse collection of sequence and biological resources for
the continued study of the Compositae, one of the largest, most diverse, and
most economically important plant families of over 40 domesticated species
that include lettuce, sunflower and safflower as well as some of the world
·
The PGRP, which was established in 1998 as part of the
National Plant Genome Initiative coordinated by the Interagency Working Group
on Plant Genomes of the National Science and Technology Council with representatives
from USDA, U.S. Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, NSF,
U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Science and Technology
Policy, and Office of Management and Budget, works to advance the understanding
of the structure and function of genomes of plants of economic importance.
This year
Complete list of 2009 PGRP awards: http://www.nsf.gov/bio/pubs/awards/pgr.htm
Website: http://www.nsf.gov
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Source: SeedQuest.com
1.31
Map
also facilitates genetic improvement of several other legumes
Cowpea, a protein-rich legume crop, is immensely important
in many parts of the world, particularly drought-prone regions of
Cowpea provides food that complements starchy staple
crops such as corn, cassava, sorghum and millets to offer a well-rounded diet,
much as beans and other grain legumes complement maize- and rice-based diets
in
But breeding new cowpea varieties with desirable traits,
such as disease resistance, pest resistance and drought tolerance, is a time-consuming
and laborious process that can take a decade from concept to release.
A challenge facing cowpea breeders, therefore, is how
to accelerate the production of new and improved cowpea varieties in order
to both meet the needs of a growing world population and provide the productivity
gains needed by farmers to improve their economic standing.
Now a team of scientists at the University of California, Riverside has responded
to this challenge by developing a high-density “consensus genetic map” of
cowpea that accelerates conventional breeding severalfold and facilitates
the production of new varieties of not only cowpea but also other legumes,
particularly soybean and common bean (near relatives of cowpea).
To build the map, the scientists first modified and then
applied advanced genetic tools developed from human genome investigations
that only recently have been applied to a few
“The consensus map is a consolidation of six individual
genetic maps of cowpea, and is far more representative of the cowpea genome
than earlier maps,” said team leader, Timothy
Close, a professor of genetics in the Department
of Botany and Plant Sciences. “We now have a reliable, powerful tool that
marks a paradigm shift in crop-breeding technology.”
Study results appear Oct. 13 in the online early edition
of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The consensus genetic map of cowpea is a dense and detailed
roadmap of its genome (a genome is a complete genetic blueprint). The map
has approximately 1000 molecular markers throughout the genome. The markers,
which are like signposts directing a motorist to a destination, are associated
with traits desired for breeding and used to more deliberately design and
assemble new superior varieties.
“All you need is a marker near a gene of interest,” explained
team member Philip
Roberts, a professor in the Department
of Nematology, who currently leads
Close explained that cowpea is closely related to soybean
at the genome level, allowing for the kind of cross referencing that would
have been unfeasible without the consensus genetic map.
“A good number of genes are conserved across species,”
he said. “By looking at a marker on a cowpea chromosome, we can cross reference
it to information on, say, the soybean genome, based on the
Cowpea, which originated in
“It took us nearly ten years to breed ‘California Blackeye
No. 50,’ our newest blackeye cowpea variety for California growers, using
conventional breeding methods,” said Jeff
Ehlers, a specialist in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences with
more than 20 years of experience conducting genetic research on cowpea in
California and Africa. “With the new technologies and map information now
at hand this could have been done in half this time. The new consensus map
will greatly expand our ability to locate valuable genes and incorporate them
into new varieties.”
Close, Roberts and Ehlers were joined in the research
by
The two-year research effort was funded by the Generation
Challenge Program (GCP) through a grant to the GCP from the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation, and from the U.S. Agency for International Development-funded
Collaborative Research Support Program.
Website: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu
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Source: SeedQuest.com
1.32 A genetic
mutation at the origin of the development of female flowers in the melon
A team of INRA researchers in Evry (Joint Research Unit
for Plant Genomics,
The study of genes governing sex determinism in the melon
is of
The sex determinism of the melon is governed by two genes,
andromonoecy (A) and gynoecy (G). The multiple interactions between them result
in a distribution of different sexual types. Thus depending on the genetic
mixing occurring at each generation, the plants can bear male flowers and
female flowers, or bear male flowers and hermaphrodite flowers, or bear female
flowers only, or hermaphrodite flowers.
Sex determinism in melon leads to the development of
unisexual or hermaphrodite flowers from a bisexual flower primordium. In a
previous publication, the researchers characterised the A gene which codes
for an enzyme which is active during the development of female flowers and
implicated in the synthesis of ethylene, a hormone known to modify sex determinism.
They showed that a mutation in this A gene, acquired during evolution, led
to the inactivation of the enzyme and the development of male organs in the
female flowers and therefore of hermaphrodite flowers.
After having studied the natural variations of the genomic
region responsible for gynoecy (plants bearing female flowers only) in 500
melon varieties from all parts of the world, the researchers publish today
their results which explain the formation of female flowers in melon and more
broadly the ballet of interactions between the A and G genes at the origin
of sex determinism in melon (see diagram below). The scientists show here
that a mutation close to the G gene, found in one of the varieties collected,
leads to epigenetic modifications1 and represses the expression of this gene,
thus enabling the formation of female organs. The inhibition of the expression
of the A gene by the G gene is in turn lifted and the male organs do not develop.
A female flower is formed.
These results are of
1 An epidgenetic mutation is a mutation which does not
change the
Diagram summing up the interaction between the A and
G genes at the origin of the formation of male and female sexual organs in
melon flowers. In the first case, the G gene inhibits the expression of the
A gene, thus enabling the development of the male organs and preventing the
development of the female sexual organs. A male flower is thus formed.
In the second case, the non expression of the G gene
enables the expression of the A gene. As it has not mutated, it prevents the
development of male organs. A female flower is thus formed.
In the third case, the A gene is mutated. It is thus
no longer opposed to the development of male sexual organs. Moreover, the
G gene is not expressed, which leads to the development of female organs.
A hermaphrodite flower is thus formed.
More news from: INRA
(Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique)
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.33 Unraveling
of the sorghum genome will help improve dryland crops
October 2009
The announcement of the unraveling of the genome of sorghum,
one of the mandate crops of the International Crops Research Institute for
the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), will strengthen the Institute’s research
for the improvement of sorghum and other food crops.
The sequencing of the sorghum genome was announced in
a scientific article published on
Sorghum is the second food crop from the grass family
to have its genome fully sequenced. The first one was rice. Sorghum is the
first crop with the more efficient C4 photosynthesis system to be sequenced.
Sugarcane, maize and pearl millet are other grasses with the C4 photosynthesis
system that should benefit from this.
Plants that have a C4 photosynthesis system have a competitive
advantage over plants possessing the more common C3 carbon fixation pathway
under conditions of drought and high temperatures. While a significant portion
of the water taken up by C3 plants is lost through transpiration, this loss
is much lower for C4 plants, demonstrating their advantage in a dry environment.
According to Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT,
the unraveling of the sorghum genome is the first such breakthrough for a
dryland agricultural crop that is adapted to drought. “The sequence of sorghum
genome will provide us a better understanding on genes that make sorghum,
as compared to other cereals, more drought tolerant.”
ICRISAT will combine the new knowledge on the sorghum
genome sequence with its expertise on molecular-marker assisted crop selection
and breeding to develop improved sorghum varieties and hybrids for desirable
traits, say with improved drought tolerance or improved disease resistance.
Candidate genes identified for drought tolerance or pest
resistance can be used to understand natural variation in ICRISAT’s sorghum
germplasm collection comprising of more than 36,000 accessions with a final
objective to identify superior variants for using in breeding crops.
The genome sequence is already contributing to development
of additional molecular markers for economically important sorghum traits,
and for identification of specific genes that control them. This in turn is
leading to more efficient crop breeding methods – particularly those based
on marker-assisted selection for naturally occurring genetic variation – which
will reduce the time required to develop grain, forage, and sweet sorghum
varieties and hybrids having improved agronomic performance, stress tolerance,
pest resistance and product quality.
The availability of genome sequence data should enhance
genomics-assisted breeding in sorghum. For instance, a few hundred molecular
markers, genomics tools that are used in marker-assisted selection, were available
in sorghum until 2 to 3 years ago; genome sequence data has now provided more
than 71,000 microsatellite marker candidates.
“We believe that availability of genome sequence combined
with modern genomics approaches should boost our breeding activities to develop
the desirable breeding lines. Genes identified in sorghum would not be useful
only for sorghum but other cereal/plant species as well, especially for enhancing
drought tolerance,” Dr Dar said.
The paper published in Nature shows that different cereals
such as rice, wheat, barley, maize, sorghum and pearl millet show similarities
in gene number and gene order, since they derived from a common ancestor.
This allows the use of genomic resources from one cereal species to improve
another species. For instance, based on the sequence data of sorghum and rice,
molecular markers have been developed and are being used in pearl millet,
another mandate crop for ICRISAT.
Sorghum, a mandate crop of ICRISAT, is the fifth most
important and relatively drought tolerant cereal crop that is the dietary
staple of more than 500 million people in more than 30 countries of semi-arid
tropics. It is grown on 42 m ha in 98 countries of
ICRISAT has been working for more than three decades
for improving sorghum for food and feed proposes. Furthermore, sweet sorghum
has emerged as a feedstock for ethanol production. It gives food/feed, fodder
and fuel, without significant trade-offs in any of these uses in a production
cycle. ICRISAT has pioneered the sweet sorghum ethanol production technology,
and its commercialization.
Having the genome sequence of sorghum is significant
landmark of genomics research for sorghum community in particular and biofuel
community in general.
More news from:
ICRISAT
(International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics)
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10889&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.34 Structure of phytohormone receptor reveals
new ways of improving
drought tolerance
Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute and the
The search for the molecules that regulate the
Cutler
The research showed that two copies of
"One possible way to translate this research to
agricultural products would be to design chemicals to mimic the action of
abscisic acid," noted EliGetzoff, co-author of the paper. "Such
chemicals would then be sprayed on crops to protect them in the face of looming
drought."
The paper published by Science is available to subscribers
at
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1181829
For more information, read http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/science/10-09Drought.asp
A related article can be found at http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sentarticle/default.asp?ID=4138
Source: Crop Biotech Update
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept of Plant Breeding &
1.35 Identification of elongation
trait in Malaysian rice varieties using molecular markers
Mohamad, O., Hadzim, K., Azlan, S., Abdullah, M. Z.,
Salwa, A. S. & Nur Samahah, M. Z.
Cooked rice grain elongation, aroma and amylose content
are key determinants of high quality rice varieties (Golam et al., 2004).
A mutant breeding line developed jointly by UKM and MARDI in early 1970s through
induced mutations was discovered to show elongation trait in its cooked rice
akin to that of Basmati 370 and Domsiah; and it was named Mahsuri mutant
(Hadzim et al., 1994). Subsequently, this trait was transferred into
elite breeding lines to develop high quality rice varieties such as MRQ50
and MRQ74.
The aim of this research is to screen and identify rice
grain elongation trait in Malaysian rice varieties using
(Excerpted from
a poster exposition presented at Main Gallery, PECIPTA 2009, 8-10 October
2009, KLCC)
For more information contact Mohamad bin Osman
School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences
Universiti Kebangsaan
1.36 United
States Department of Agriculture awards $11 million for applied plant genomics
research, education and extension
Agriculture Under Secretary for Research, Education and
Economics Rajiv Shah today announced more than $11 million in Coordinated
Agricultural Project (
"
Additional
Award amounts are:
·
·
·
·
·
Through federal funding and leadership for research,
education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and
solving critical issues impacting people
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10819&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.37 GCP News -- Issue 41
(Selected items by the editor,
PBN-L)
In this issue of GCP News,
it is with great pleasure that we announce the latest opportunity from SP5,
by means of the Genotyping Support Service’s 3rd call for proposals.
We also share resources and
feedback from two Annual Research Meetings, and report on GCP governance reforms,
winners of an SP5-funded PhD scholarship, updates from GCP project collaborators,
as well as news from GCP’s network of partners.
GCP’s 2009
For four days in September, GCP researchers from around
the globe joined forces on African soil for GCP’s Annual Research Meeting
held in
During the planning and preparatory stages of this major
event, GCP was keen to take on board the feedback of participants who had
taken part in the previous year’s
GCP
Collaborators of GCP
…and from GCP’s network of partners and collaborators
Agropolis–CIRAD and Genoscope unite for sequencing project
on banana genome
GCP partner Agropolis–CIRAD, together with Genoscope
(France), is undertaking a project focusing on the sequencing of the banana
genome. Project collaborators aim to establish a catalogue of genes contained
in banana, with the results to be deposited in public databases. More
For previous issues of GCP News, see http://www.generationcp.org/enewsletter.php
Source: GCP-News—Issue 41
1.38 4th
Newsletter of the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research (
As part of the build up to the 15th Conference
of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(
Climate change exacerbates the difficulties already faced
by indigenous communities including political and economic marginalization,
loss of land and resources, human rights violations, discrimination and unemployment.
Climate change poses threats and dangers to the survival of indigenous communities
worldwide, even though indigenous peoples contribute the least to greenhouse
emissions. Indigenous peoples are vital to and active in the many ecosystems
inhabiting their lands and territories and may, therefore, help enhance the
resilience of these ecosystems. In addition, indigenous peoples interpret
and react to the impacts of climate change in creative ways, drawing on traditional
knowledge and other technologies to find solutions, which may help society
at large cope with impending changes.
PAR's
project on climate change collects information about the use of agrobiodiversity
to adapt to climate change. The work aims to facilitate a dialogue between
rural communities and researchers all over the world. It is also building
a knowledge base that can be used to increase recognition for the multitude
of adaptation practices communities are already undertaking. Bringing together
and providing a synthesis of these practices will help users to access and
test them and identify those that work best in different situations. Documented
adaptation practices can also be used to advocate stronger involvement for
marginal groups in developing climate change responses.
In this newsletter you will find a report of the highlights
and outcomes from an e-discussion forum held earlier this year and from a
workshop held recently in
We hope the information will be of interest to those
who are engaged in agrobiodiversity and climate change research. The newsletter
is intended to be a means for continuous information-exchange amongst stakeholders
in agrobiodiversity research. Your ideas and feedback are always welcome.
To ensure our newsletter is up-to-date and meets your diverse needs, please
send your comments, suggestions and keep us informed by email at platformcoordinator@cgiar.org
or visit us www.agrobiodiversityplatform.org/climate_change.
Please contribute to our form "Charting adaptation
to climate change using agrobiodiversity".
You can read more about the international workshop "The
use of agrobiodiversity by indigenous peoples and rural communities in adapting
to climate change", which took place in
·
Agenda, Background
documents, Fieldtrip and Papers
=========================
2.01 Tall
Fescue for the Twenty-first Century - New book tells the story of scientific
advancement through the lens of turf and forage research
A new book, Tall Fescue for the Twenty-first Century,
documents the history, science, and applications of tall fescue, a cultivated
pasture grass that is playing an increasing role in protecting soil and water
and enhancing animal agriculture.
It features contributions from prominent scientists from
around the world who address an array of topics, including history, ecology,
management, pest, quality, and genetic improvement. The book is published
by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and
Soil Science Society of America.
Beginning with the discovery of a green
The future of tall fescue is linked with the future of
an environmentally conscious, energy-efficient, productive animal. It will
continue to be a desirable grass for sustaining livestock where soils are
too steep, too wet, too dry, too rocky, too shallow, too high in elevation,
or too remote for cultivated crops. Tall fescue will also play an increasing
role in environmental sustainability, protecting soil and water while enhancing
the aesthetics of urban and agricultural landscapes.
Interest in Tall Fescue for the Twenty-first Century
should not be limited to forage and turf scientists. This book provides
current, science-based insights for researchers in disciplines ranging from
ecology, forage, turf, and seed sciences to animal and nutrition sciences.
It is also a valuable resource for practitioners, such as seed, cattle, and
turf producers, as well as conservation managers. Even those without a specific
interest in cultivated pasture grass may find significance in the themes of
scientific inquiry central to the tall fescue story and its role in the advancement
of agriculture.
“The past half century has been a most astounding time
for those of us fortunate enough to have been involved in research and teaching
about tall fescue....The whole 35-year process has seemed akin to a complicated
detective novel, complete with some distracting issues and alleged but innocent
perpetrators,” says Tall Fescue in the Twenty-first Century editors
H.A. Fribourg, D.B. Hannaway, and C.P. West, on their role in tall fescue
research.
The book was edited by Henry A. Fribourg,
Tall Fescue for the Twenty-first Century is
540-pages, hardcover, and is available for $150 from ASA-CSSA-SSSA at www.societystore.org, or call 608-268-4960 or email books@agronomy.org
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=11038&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
2.02 "Millions Fed: Proven Successes in Agricultural
Development"
A new publication from the International Food
Policy Research Institute
Millions Fed: Proven Successes in Agricultural Development
by
New booklet highlights diverse case studies of successful
policies, programs, and investments in agricultural development that have
reduced hunger and poverty.
Full book launch
More news from:
IFPRI
(International Food Policy Research Institute)
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10835&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
2.03 IFPRI report: "Climate
Change: Impact on Agriculture and Costs of Adaptation"
http://www.ifpri.org/publication/climate-change-1
Climate Change: Impact on Agriculture
and Costs of Adaptation
Gerald C. Nelson, Mark W. Rosegrant, et al.
New report on climate change projects 25 million more
malnourished children in 2050. The impact of climate change on poor people
can be averted with $7 billion additional annual investments in rural development.
The Challenge
The unimpeded growth of greenhouse gas emissions is raising
the earth’s temperature. The consequences include melting glaciers, more precipitation,
more and more extreme weather events, and shifting seasons. The accelerating
pace of climate change, combined with global population and income growth,
threatens food security everywhere.
Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change.
Higher temperatures eventually reduce yields of desirable crops while encouraging
weed and pest proliferation. Changes in precipitation patterns increase the
likelihood of short-run crop failures and long-run production declines. Although
there will be gains in some crops in some regions of the world, the overall
impacts of climate change on agriculture are expected to be negative, threatening
global food security.
Populations in the developing world, which are already
vulnerable and food insecure, are likely to be the most seriously affected.
In 2005, nearly half of the economically active population in developing countries—2.5
billion people—relied on agriculture for its livelihood. Today, 75 percent
of the world’s poor live in rural areas.
This Food Policy Report presents research results that
quantify the climate-change impacts mentioned above, assesses the consequences
for food security, and estimates the investments that would offset the negative
consequences for human well-being.
This analysis brings together, for the first time, detailed
modeling of crop growth under climate change with insights from an extremely
detailed global agriculture model, using two climate scenarios to simulate
future climate. The results of the analysis suggest that agriculture and human
well-being will be negatively affected by climate change:
·
In developing countries, climate change
will cause yield declines for the most important crops.
·
Climate change will have varying effects
on irrigated yields across regions, but irrigated yields for all crops in
·
Climate change will result in additional
price increases for the most important agricultural crops–rice, wheat, maize,
and soybeans. Higher feed prices will result in higher meat prices. As a result,
climate change will reduce the growth in meat consumption slightly and cause
a more substantial fall in cereals consumption.
·
Calorie availability in 2050 will not
only be lower than in the no–climate-change scenario—it will actually decline
relative to 2000 levels throughout the developing world.
·
By 2050, the decline in calorie availability
will increase child malnutrition by 20 percent relative to a world with no
climate change. Climate change will eliminate much of the improvement in child
malnourishment levels that would occur with no climate change.
·
Thus, aggressive agricultural productivity
investments of US$7.1–7.3 billion are needed to raise calorie consumption
enough to offset the negative impacts of climate change on the health and
well-being of children.
- Report
- Appendix 2: Results by World Bank Regional Grouping of Countries
More news from: IFPRI
(International Food Policy Research Institute)
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10736&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: Source: IFPRI via SeedQuest.com
3.01 New portal
for plant genomics will support research into improved crops
Today sees the launch of Ensembl Plants – a freely available web resource
for plant genomics research – by the European
Molecular Biology Laboratory’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBLEBI),
in partnership with the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory,
Paul Kersey, leader of the Ensembl Genomes team at EMBL-
The first release includes genome data from new research
funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
Richard Mott from the
Richard Mott said: “Now that we have 17 Arabidopsis genomes
represented in the database we have an incredibly powerful tool for plant
genetics research. This will allow us to identify useful genetic traits that
are likely to be found throughout the plant kingdom.” “Researchers across
the world can then use that information to improve crops, contributing towards
efforts to increase food production and adapt crops to changing climates,”
added Paula Kover.
Ensembl Plants has been co-developed by EMBL-
The launch of Ensembl Plants completes the set of new
Ensembl-powered portals (for bacteria, protists, fungi, and invertebrate metazoa)
launched by EMBL-
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=10828&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
3.02 Update on the Plant Breeding Forum
listserv from GIPB
GIPB is pleased to announce the launch of the Plant
Breeding Forum listserv, an e-mail based forum for plant breeding and related
fields. The purpose of
(http://km.fao.org/gipb/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=46&Itemid=210).
Who will benefit by subscribing?
The users of
Some of the ways you can use the forum:
• Pose a question
• Ask for advice about your research
• Request collaboration in a
project
• Comment or seek input on an
issue of broad relevance to the plant breeding community
• Suggest ways to support the
positive outcomes from plant breeding
• Make known to subscribers your
willingness to provide input and support in an area of expertise
In order to participate you will need to subscribe:
1. Address an e-mail to: mailserv@mailserv.fao.org.
2. Leave the subject line blank.
3. In the message area, type:
SUBSCRIBE
4. You can unsubscribe at any
time
You will receive a confirmation message of your
subscription, and details on how the listserv works.
PBForum-L is a moderated listserv:
The moderator will check each message prior to
distribution, to prevent issues like spamming, flaming or other inappropriate
postings. You will not need a username or a password. However, the moderator
will require that each message include the name of the sender. These measures
will make the listserv very user-friendly, and keep it relevant and free of
distractions for subscribers. The forum structure and function will evolve
based on user inputs and needs.
In order to post a message:
1. Address it to PBForum-L@mailserv.fao.org
2. Write a short descriptive
subject line
3. State the specific purpose
of your posting. Type a brief and clear question or comment.
4. Include your name in the post.
NOTE: You can post items in the language
of your choice. However, there will be no translation.
To respond to someone else’s posting: simply use
the reply function of your e-mail.
Questions? Write to the PBForum-L moderator: clair.hershey@fao.org
SIGN UP TODAY!
Subject: blank
Message: SUBSCRIBE PBForum-L
More news from: GIPB
(Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building)
4.01 2010 Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship
The aim of the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Fund is to
encourage the conservation and use of plant genetic resources by enabling
outstanding young scientists to carry out relevant, innovative research outside
their own countries for a period of between three months and one year.
For more information scroll down or click on the links
below.
·
Current
Vavilov-Frankel Fellows
·
A
History of the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship
www.bioversityinternational.org/about_us/fellowships/vavilov_frankel_fellowship.html
4.02 Graduate Assistantship, offered
in the
The Monsanto Graduate Assistantship,
offered in the
A total of 14 assistantships—each
providing a $24,000 annual salary, individual health insurance, and funds
for all required fees and tuition—will be awarded to both
Requirements:
• Earn a minimum 3.5 grade point
average in all master’s level graduate course work
• Demonstrate an aptitude for
research
• Provide three letters of recommendation
from professors or employers with knowledge of applicants research and academic
abilities
• Successfully complete the
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Successfully meet all other
requirements for admission to graduate studies at
Application Procedure:
Applicants should follow all
of the guidelines and procedures to apply for graduate studies in a department
offering a plant breeding degree at
Additional items to be provided
by the applicant are:
• A statement providing sufficient
background information to demonstrate the student’s aptitude to conduct plant
breeding or cotton production research
• Identification of the area
of plant breeding research to be
pursued and its importance to
the agricultural industry
• A one- to two-page letter
of support from the department sponsor or
Students applying to the Department
of Soil and Crop Sciences must send these additional items to the
attention of Wayne Smith, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, 2474
Students applying to the Department
of Horticultural Sciences must send the additional items to the attention
of
Selection Procedure:
Applications will be reviewed
by an interdepartmental committee that includes faculty members from the departments
of Horticultural Sciences, Soil and Crop Sciences, Entomology, and Plant Pathology
and Microbiology, along with the associate dean for graduate programs.
Preference will be given first
to candidates who have earned a master of science degree outside Texas A&M.
Second preference will be given to those who have earned a master of science
degree from the university but earned an undergraduate degree elsewhere. Candidates
who have earned both bachelor and master of science degrees from the university
are not eligible for this assistantship.
Additional Information:
The award is for a maximum of
three years plus one academic semester. Students must maintain satisfactory
research progress and meet all other
If an Experiential Learning
Assignment with Monsanto is requested by Monsanto, the student will remain
enrolled at
Contributed by C. Wayne Smith
Professor and Associate Head
Department of Soil and Crop
Sciences
4.03 Third Call for Proposals: Enhancing the value of crop diversity in a
world of climate change
Award Scheme
Global Crop Diversity Trust in coordination with Generation
Challenge Programme
Farming throughout the world is underpinned by the vast
genetic diversity of agricultural plants. This diversity provides the means
for adapting crops to meet rapidly changing climatic conditions, with their
diverse effects on the magnitude and frequency of both biotic and abiotic
stresses. More than 6 million samples ofdifferent crops are currently maintained
in some 1,500 collections around the world, representing humanity’s most important
resource in the struggle to feed its ever-expanding population under changing
climates, shifting pests and diseases and increasing energy costs. Yet, in
spite of its importance, much of this genetic storehouse remains untapped
– a neglect that largely arises from the fact that much of it has yet to be
adequately characterized and evaluated. We do not know enough about the collections
we are conserving. A lack of readily available and accurate data on key traits
can severely hamper plant breeders’ efforts to identify material they can
use in their efforts to breed new varieties for the new climates most countries
will experience in the coming decades.
Recognizing this bottleneck to the use of collections,
and the urgency of the need, the Global Crop Diversity Trust initiated in
2007 a competitive grants scheme to support the evaluation of crop genetic
resources. The grants will enable breeders and others to screen germplasm
collections for important phenotypic characteristics and to make the information
generated publicly available. The scheme is supported by funds from the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Grains Research and Development Corporation
of
This is the Third call under this Award Scheme. All interested
parties are hereby invited to submit proposals for consideration by the Trust
for an award in early 2010. This call is being made in coordination with the
complementary call of the Generation Challenge Programme.
The Genotyping Support Services (GSS) of the Consultative
Group on International Agricultural Research’s (CGIAR) Generation Challenge
Programme (GCP) promotes the use of molecular markers to assess the potential
value of germplasm by linking grantees with genotyping facilities they may
not otherwise have access to. The call for proposals by GSS targets breeding
programmes and/or germplasm collections in national agricultural research
systems (NARS), academia, and civil society organisations in developing countries.
The third call for proposals is open now, further information is available
at http://www.generationcp.org/sp5/?da=09166016 .
All applications for the Third Awards must be received
by the Trust by
For information on the strategies see
http://www.croptrust.org/main/strategies.php?itemid=82[http://www.croptrust.org/main/strategies.php?itemid=82]
5.01 Breeding-related
position annoncements from Monsanto International
Look for detailed listings at: www.monsanto.com under Careers. Applications and resumes may be entered online.
| Monsanto International R&D
Positions outside of |
|||
| Position |
Location |
Req. no. |
Education |
| Bioinformatics Scientist |
|
mons-00010477 |
PhD |
| Breeder Spinach |
Wageningen, NL |
mons-00010344 |
PhD or MS |
| Collaboration Manager |
|
mons-00010480 |
PhD or MS |
| Commercial Breeder |
|
mons-00008923 |
PhD |
| Communication Lead |
|
mons-00010473 |
BS/MS/PhD |
| Computational Biologist |
|
mons-00010474 |
PhD |
| Corn Conversion Breeder |
|
mons-00010740 |
PhD |
| Data/ |
|
mons-00010536 |
BS |
| Data Manager and Database Administrator |
|
mons-00010478 |
BS or MS |
| Entomology lead |
Conchal, BR |
mons-00010736 |
PhD |
| Farm Management |
Conchal, BR |
mons-00010743 |
PhD or MS |
| Herbicide specialist |
Conchal, BR |
mons-00010742 |
PhD |
| Lead Bioinformatics Scientist |
|
mons-00010476 |
PhD |
| Lead Computational Biologist |
|
mons-00010475 |
PhD |
| Line Development Breeder - Lichtenburg |
Lichtenburg, ZA |
mons-00010723 |
PhD |
| Line Development Breeder |
Phitsanulok, TH |
mons-00008394 |
PhD |
| Patent Scientist |
|
mons-00010481 |
MS |
| Project and Relationship Manager |
|
mons-00010479 |
PhD or MS |
| Research Associate |
|
mons-00010655 |
PhD or MS |
| Research Associate- Hot Pepper - |
Various locations, CN |
mons-00010559 |
MS |
| Senior Research Associate Lead |
|
mons-00010735 |
PhD |
| Sugarcane Statistical Geneticist |
|
mons-00010724 |
PhD |
| Technology Development Operations Manager - |
|
mons-00010183 |
PhD or MS |
| Technology Alliances Manager |
|
mons-00010482 |
PhD or MS or MBA |
| Testing Operations Manager - Cotton Breeding Site in Canas Costa Rica |
Canas, CR |
mons-00010739 |
BS+ |
| Monsanto International R&D
Positions within the |
|||
| Position |
Location |
Organization |
Education |
| Applied Plant Physiologist-000K6 |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Agronomic & Environmental Assessments |
PhD |
| Chemistry Trait Lead-000D4 |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Operations |
PhD |
| Commercial Breeder-000LG |
North America-USA-Mississippi |
Commercial Breeding |
PhD |
| Controlled Environment Testing Lead-000E0 |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Global Bio-Evaluations |
PhD or MS |
| Corn Drought Development Research Associate-000J4 |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Trait Development |
MS |
| Corn Traits Specialist-000OS |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Global Bio-Evaluations |
PhD or MS |
| Corn Transformation Scientist-0008F |
North America-USA-Connecticut-Mystic |
Transformation Technologies |
PhD |
| Crop Transformation SI Research Scientist-000O9 |
North America-USA-Wisconsin-Middleton |
Transformation Technologies |
PhD |
| Entomology Bioassay Lead-000AC |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Agronomic Traits |
PhD or MS |
| Environmental Modeling Scientist-000B4 |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Line Development Breeding |
PhD |
| Evolutionary Genomics Scientist-000LL |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Genomics Technology |
PhD |
| Field Research Associate-000B5 |
North America-USA-Georgia-Leesburg |
Line Development Breeding |
MS |
| Gene Expression Technology Lead-000KS |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Genomics Technology |
PhD |
| Genotyping Coordination Lead-0008L |
North America-USA-Iowa-Ankeny |
Molecular Breeding Tech |
PhD |
| Global Field Pathology Manager (Vegetables division)-0009N |
North America-USA-California-Woodland |
Quality Assurance |
PhD or MS |
| Hydro and Ecology Mgt Systems Scientist-000K1 |
Hydro and Ecology Mgt Systems Scientist-000K1 |
Crop Analytics and Automation |
PhD or MS |
| Lead Scientist - Statistical Geneticist-000D8 |
North America-USA-Iowa-Ankeny |
Breeding |
PhD |
| Line Development Breeder-000ID |
North America-USA-Mississippi |
Line Development Breeding |
PhD |
| Molecular Entomology Lead-000AN |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Agronomic Traits |
PhD |
| Patent Scientist-000AD |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Biotech Strategy, Ops & Prospecting |
PhD or MS |
| Pipeline Analytics Team Lead-000NZ |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Crop Analytics and Automation |
PhD |
| Plant Physiology Scientist-00095 |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Agronomic Traits |
PhD |
| Plant Protection Discovery Science Lead-000DY |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Global Bio-Evaluations |
PhD |
| Post Doc Researcher - Fruit Quality (Vegetables Division)-000IZ |
North America-USA-California-Woodland |
Nutrition |
PhD |
| Process Analyst - Trait Integration-000B9 |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Global Trait Integration |
PhD or MS |
| Protein Biochemist-000M2 |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Yield & Stress Traits |
PhD |
| Regulatory Affairs Manager-000KA |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Global Regulatory Affairs |
PhD or MS |
| Research Scientist-000JR |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Global Pipeline Products Regulatory |
PhD or MS |
| Research Scientist-000O1 |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Transformation Technologies |
PhD |
| Research Scientist-000PA |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Agronomic Traits |
PhD |
| Research Scientist (Molecular biologist)-000NU |
North America-USA-Wisconsin-Middleton |
Transformation Technologies |
PhD |
| Research Scientist-Bioinformatics-000K5 |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Genomics Technology |
PhD |
| Soy Intrinsic Yield Lead - Oilseeds Technology-000BD |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
NA Commodity |
MS |
| Soybean Pathology and Discovery Lead-000NK |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Global Soybean Breeding |
PhD |
| Statistical Geneticist-000CP |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Global Soybean Breeding |
PhD |
| Statistical Geneticist-000NP |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Global Cotton Breeding |
PhD |
| Statistician-000K8 |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Global Regulatory Strategy & Ops |
MS |
| Trait Discovery Scientist - Pathology (Vegetables Division)-0009J |
North America-USA-California-Woodland |
Genetic Resources |
PhD or MS |
| Trait Geneticist - Cucurbits (Vegetables Division)-000EF |
North America-USA-California-Woodland |
Genetic Resources |
PhD |
| Trait Geneticist - Tomato (Vegetables Division)-000B2 |
North America-USA-California-Woodland |
Genetic Resources |
PhD |
| Trait Marker Discovery Lead - Sugarcane-000BT |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Molecular Breeding Tech |
PhD |
| Trait-Marker Discovery Scientist - Wheat-000BO |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Molecular Breeding Tech |
PhD |
| Weed Control Strategy and Development Lead-000DZ |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Global Bio-Evaluations |
PhD or MS |
| Wheat Transformation System Improvement Scientist-0009O |
North America-USA-Missouri-St. Louis |
Transformation Technologies |
PhD |
Contributed by C Donn Cummings
Global Breeder Sourcing Lead
Monsanto
+++++++++++++++++++++
5.02 National
Education Program Leader (NIFA-USA)
NIFA advances
knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well being, and
communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs in the
Land-Grant University System and other partner organizations.
NIFA is committed to supporting programs with results that serve all
Americans and improve lives worldwide.
You will serve as a National Education Program Leader
in the Science and Education Resources Development unit of the National Institute
of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). You
will perform critical tasks in four broad areas which include: (1) Network
and collaborate with partners and stakeholders to identify mission-relevant
problems, opportunities and issues requiring Federal attention and support;(2)
Conceive, formulate, and execute programs and activities to respond to existing
or emerging problems, opportunities and issues through the development and
application of science-based knowledge; (3) Administer and manage programs
and activities to develop and apply science and knowledge; and (4) Evaluate
and assess the quality, outcomes and impacts of these programs
Who may apply: All
You may use the following link to view and/or apply for
this position:
http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9csrees.aspx
Closing date:
Contributed by Ann Marie Thro
National Program Leader, Plant Breeding and
National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), USDA
++++++++++++
5.03 Senior Scientist, Genetic Diversity, Bioversity
International
For further information on
Bioversity International, consult the Web page at http://www.bioversityinternational.org
Bioversity International undertakes,
encourages and supports research and other activities aimed at improving the
well being of present and future generations of people by enhancing conservation
and the deployment of agricultural biodiversity on farms and in forests, with
special emphasis on the needs of developing countries. The organization is
active in over 100 countries worldwide, and has more than 300 staff working
from some 20 country offices. It is one of 15 centres supported by the Consultative
Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Bioversity’s headquarters
are located in Maccarese, near
To feed a rapidly increasing population it is crucial
to tap into the full range of traits in the diversity of crop varieties and
their wild relatives that have been selected over thousands of years for a
multiplicity of conditions and qualities. Under the supervision of the Director,
Understanding and Managing Biodiversity Programme, and based at the Regional
Office for Sub-Saharan Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, the incumbent will:
_ Provide scientific leadership, coordination and facilitation
of research to overcome constraints to the enhanced use of plant genetic resources.
More specifically, having in-depth expertise in at least one of the areas
listed below, the Senior Scientist will build the necessary links to develop
a cohesive programme of work encompassing all four areas:
1. Identifying and understanding the extent and distribution
of genetic diversity in agricultural biodiversity, particularly of crop plant
genetic resources and wild populations of useful plants;
2. Developing ways of sampling and monitoring genetic
diversity applicable to evaluating the status and trends of important genepools;
3. The application of molecular genetics and genomics
tools to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of both conservation and
use of genetic resources;
4. Promoting the use and deployment of genetic diversity
through activities such as prebreeding and base broadening of cultivars under
production and promoting links to more general plant breeding, including breeding
by farmers.
He/she will be expected to further develop such a research
agenda, to be implemented in collaboration with national partners and other
institutions;
_ The Senior Scientist will play a key role in the development
of fundraising proposals to support
collaborative research in this area, as well in development
the capacity of partners;
_ As a member of the Sub-Saharian Reginal Office, he/she
is expected to be an excellent team player and to contribute to the delivery
of outputs at regional level.
Qualifications and Competencies:
Essential qualifications and competencies:
_ A PhD in genetics or conservation genetics with an
emphasis on plant populations, or in plant breeding.
_ At least ten years of experience working with research
partners on topics related to agrobiodiversity and plant genetic resources;
preferably research experience on the subject of biodiversity and the use
of genetic resources; applied field experience in developing countries.
_ Broad knowledge about modern genetics/genomics technologies
and their potentials to contribute to research themes related to the use of
plant genetic resources.
_ Knowledge about population genetic structure and dynamics
and their relevance to use (breeding) and conservation/monitoring.
_ Knowledge of research methods, including methods for
genetic diversity assessment, germplasm enhancement, crop improvement and
population genetics and their application in use- related programmes.
_ Demonstrated competency in communication and interpersonal
skills complemented by a commitment to and demonstrated track record of working
within multi-disciplinary teams and in multi-cultural environments.
_ Excellent English language skills, both verbal and
written.
_ Demonstrated ability to write proposals and generate
funds for research.
_ A substantial and sustained record of achievement and
innovation through project development,
implementation and delivery of results and demonstrated
publication record.
Desirable qualifications and competencies
_ Knowledge of CGIAR system will be an advantage.
_ Working knowledge of Spanish, French, Arabic or Russian.
_ Experience and networks in
Terms and conditions:
This is a Senior Scientist, internationally recruited,
position for which Bioversity International offers an attractive remuneration
package including a competitive salary, non-contributory retirement plan,
medical insurance and leave provisions. All benefits are denominated and paid
in US Dollars. The initial contract will be for a period of three years subject
to a probationary period of one year.
Applications:
Please
apply online through the following link: Bioversity Employment Opportunities
Webpage by clicking the “Apply” button. Alternatively, via e-mail to: bioversityvacancy@cgiar.org
including a letter of application, curriculum vitae in English (that includes
date of birth, gender and nationality) and the names and full contact details
of at least three referees (telephone, fax and e-mail address); or via mail
to: Human Resources Office, Bioversity International, Via de Tre Denari, 472/a,
00057 Maccarese, Rome, Italy; or via Fax to (39) 06 6118 341 no later than
29 November 2009. Please quote the source of advertisement.
Bioversity is an equal opportunity employer and strives
for staff diversity in gender and nationality.
All received applications will be acknowledged, but only
short listed applicants will be further contacted.
With effect from
Contributed by Ehsan Dulloo
Bioversity International
e.dulloo@cgiar.org
6.
MEETINGS, COURSES
New listings may include some
program details, while repeat listings will include only basic information.
Visit web sites for additional details.
(Various Dates) Course offerings at UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy andt the
The Plant Breeding Academy (PBA) was established
at the
Class
Building on the success of the first two classes
of the PBA, UC Davis is partnering with European seed companies, institutions,
and associations to offer the
Class size is limited to 20 to encourage group
discussion. See http://pba.ucdavis.edu
to apply to both the European PBA and PBA Class
+++++++++++
(Various Dates) University of Nebraska–Lincoln offers
four plant breeding mini-courses for seed industry professionals
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Distance Education & Life-Long
Learning Program
Professional development opportunities
in plant breeding at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University
of Nebraska–Lincoln offers four plant breeding mini-courses that are excellent
professional development opportunities for seed industry personnel, producers
and other agribusiness professionals. The courses are available via distance
delivery, so participants are able to further their educational and career
goals without having to be present in a traditional classroom. Students have
the option of participating in lectures in real time, as well as viewing archived
lectures online. The courses are available for noncredit professional development,
CEU credit, and regular academic credit at UNL. Instructors are Dr. P. Stephen
Baenziger, Eugene W. Price Distinguished Professor, and Dr. Thomas Hoegemeyer,
Professor of Practice and former CEO of Hoegemeyer Hybrids.
The noncredit registration fee for each course is $150*.
Special package pricing is available for the three mini-courses offered during
the Fall 2009 semester.
For more information or to register, please visit the
above-listed Web site or contact Cathy Dickinson, cdickinson2@unl.edu.
Online courses for Fall 2009
and Spring 2010 include:
Germplasm and Genes
·
September 29 – November 3, 2009
·
Course focuses on the importance of
creating the necessary genetic variation resources for conventional and modern
plant breeding programs.
Cross-Pollinated CropBreeding
·
November 5 – December 10, 2009
·
Course emphasizes standard breeding
methods and theories associated with population movement of cross-pollinated
crops and self-pollinated crops that are forced to cross-pollinate.
Advanced PlantBreeding Topics
·
March 3 – April 8, 2010
·
Topic for 2010 is heterosis. Course
will focus on the genetic hypotheses and quantitative genetic analyses of
heterosis, new tools for studying heterosis, prediction of heterosis and hybrid
performance, heterotic groups and organization of germplasm, and the mechanisms
for making hybrids.
Contact:
Cathy Dickinson
Admin. Associate
Department of Agronomy & Horticulture
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
279 Plant Sciences Hall
Lincoln,
NE 68583
Voice:
402.472.1730
E-mail:
cdickinson2@unl.edu
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26934.htm
++++++++++++
1-5 November 2009. Footprints of Plant Diversity in the Agricultural Landscape. (A symposium
of the CSSA/ASA/SSSA annual meetings,
Division contact: 2009 Division Chair Ann Marie Thro,
2 November
– 4 December. Joint FAO/IAEA International Training Course on Novel Biotechnologies
and Molecular Technologies for Enhancing Mutation Induction Efficiency,
Seibersdorf, Austria. Technical Officer:
Chikelu Mba
2
November –
Introduction
to the UPOV System of Plant Variety Protection under the UPOV Convention
The UPOV Distance Learning course (DL-205 - Introduction to the UPOV
System of Plant Variety Protection under the UPOV Convention)
2-6
November 2009. REDBIO
For more details, please contact: akato@cnia.inta.gov.ar,
aescandon@cnia.inta.gov.ar, malderete@cnia.inta.gov.ar, mpdelatorre@cnia.inta.gov.ar
6
to
9-12
November 2009. OECD-GenomeAssociation-OZ09, The International Centre for
Plant Breeding Education and Research (ICPBER), The
9-13
November 2009. TDWG Annual Conference,
Detailed
information at: www.tdwg.org/conference2009
16-17
November 2009. Application of Genomics
Technologies in Plant breeding, Sixth training course of ICRISAT-
For details contact: Rajeev Varshney, r.k.varshney@cgiar.org).
16-20
November 2009. Fourth
and Final RCM on Pyramiding of Mutated Genes Contributing to Crop Quality
and Resistance to Stress Affecting Quality, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Scientific Secretary: Q.Y. Shu
24-26
November 2009.
60th Plant Breeders Conference, Raumberg,
Registration form online at
www.saatgut-austria.at
2-4 December 2009.
First ECOSA International Seed Trade Conference
(ECOSA2009), Residence Lara &
Cotact: Zewdie Bishaw, Head, Seed Section, ICARDA, z.bishaw@cgiar.org
20-21
December 2009. National Workshop on“Spices and Aromatic plants in 21st century
Workshop web address– www.sknjobner.org
2-5 February 2010.
International Conference on "Green Plant
Breeding Technologies",
Note the 5 November early registration deadline.
http://www.univie.ac.at/greenbreeding/
12-13 February 2010.
Seeds for Global Food Security, Indian
Seed Congress,
16-17 February 2010. 4th Breeding with Molecular
Markers Course, The
For more information, contact Jeannette Martins at jmartins@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-4984.
Seed
Biotechnology Centre at UC Davis
23-26 February 2010. International Conference on Molecular
Aspects of Plant Development,
Advanced course on Applications of
bioinformatics in plant breeding
·
Dates and venue: 12–16 April 2010,
·
Objectives: To introduce the bioinformatics
tools needed to help breeders and plant scientists realise the full potential
of new molecular breeding approaches.