PLANT BREEDING NEWS
EDITION 227
31 August 2011
An Electronic Newsletter of Applied Plant Breeding
Clair H. Hershey, Editor
Sponsored by GIPB, FAO/AGP and
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available at: FAO Plant Breeding Newsletter
1. NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.01 Global harvests, vulnerable to the weather - Responding to climate
change with new seed varieties
1.02 Breeding
plants beyond borders
1.03 Seed
CentralTM launched
1.04 Roundtable meet focuses on building climate-resilient rainfed agriculture
1.05 SolCAP project receives award
1.06 FAO adopts the Bolivian proposal to declare 2013 International Year of
Quinoa
1.07 "Amazing
Maize: The Science, History and Culture of Corn" - Indiana State Museum
original exhibition opens Sept. 24, 2011
1.08 Better wheat breeding can help expand Indonesian market
1.09 China reports on creation of agricultural intellectual property
1.10 India may prosecute GM eggplant developers
1.11 EU approval for UK variety testing
1.12 Local seeds, social networks crucial in the recovery of crop diversity
after natural calamities
1.13 China's first national gene bank established in Shenzhen
1.14 Research helps breeders really know their onions to enhance global food
security
1.15 Crop breeding could ‘slash CO2 levels’
1.16 Monsanto to sell biotech sweet corn for U.S. consumers
1.17 Why plant 'clones' aren’t identical
1.18 Dissecting the genomes of crop plants to improve breeding potentia
1.19 Plant
biologists dissect genetic mechanism enabling plants to overcome environmental
challenge
1.20 Potato growers to get insight into how genome will help them
1.21 New genome sequence could improve important
agricultural crops
1.22 Biotechnology for sustainability
1.23 U.S. National Corn Growers Association's "Off the Cob" podcast
series explores the new genome functionality tool
2.01 A new book on seed production and supply with particular reference to
tropical conditions
2.02 Adoption and impact of Bt cotton in India, 2002 to 2010
2.03 Socio-economic and farm level impact of Bt cotton in
India, 2002 to 2010
3.
3.01 Training webinars in plant breeding and genomics
4.01 Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Call for 2012
5.01 Plant breeding and related jobs at Monsanto
5.02 Breeder/Geneticist – Weaver Popcorn Company, Inc. USA
5.03 Postdoctoral Research Position in Genetic Resources Policy, University of
Illinois at Chicago
5.04 Professor – Genetics – Plant Host-Pathogen Genetics or Plant Genetics
6. MEETINGS, COURSES
7. EDITOR
1 NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.01 Global
harvests, vulnerable to the weather - Responding to climate change with
new seed varieties
Monheim, Germany
July 27, 2011
Agricultural commodities are great travellers:
Soy goes to Europe, wheat to Africa and rice to North America. But the
system is fragile: speculators, rising energy and transport costs, and last but
not least extreme weather conditions are making trade in farm produce
increasingly fraught. The climate is becoming more and more unpredictable and
threatens harvests worldwide - and with them, the survival of countless people.
The UN estimates indicate that the Horn of Africa may soon face the world’s
worst famine ever, as the region has been hit by the most severe drought in
sixty years. More than ten million people have been affected and are now
fleeing their homes.
Plants do not actually need very much to germinate and grow: nutrient-rich
soil, sunlight and rain. But extreme weather conditions such as periods of
heat, drought, heavy rainfall or hail can wipe out entire harvests in a short
time.
The weather is both a friend and a foe to farmers, because everything they
do from sowing to harvest depends on it. The weather also has an impact on the
pests and diseases that occur, and how much damage they can cause to yields of
cereals, fruit and vegetables. The amount of food available to the world
depends above all on the climate.
Spiraling food prices
The prices of most agricultural commodities have risen steadily over the
past few years. One of the reasons for this lies in the growing world
population. According to Dr. Joachim von Braun, Head of the International Food
Policy Research Institute until 2009 and currently Director of the Center for
Development Research in Bonn, “the world’s population will stabilize at around
nine billion from 2050 onwards, but its food consumption will be the equivalent
of that of twelve billion people today.” Another factor in the rise of
agricultural commodities is that the biofuel industry is booming on the back of
rising oil prices.
In an attempt to control food price fluctuation, the agriculture ministers
of the twenty largest industrialized and emerging countries (G20) agreed in
early July 2011 to set up an international database called the Agricultural
Market Information System, or AMIS for short. This will record production and
stock levels for rice, corn, wheat and soybeans, making the global agricultural
markets more transparent.
Poor yields caused by bad weather, fluctuating oil prices and shifting
exchange rates affect food prices only in the shape of fairly short-term price
hikes. But people in emerging countries, who spend more than half of their
income on food, are hit particularly hard by such price rises. Consumers in the
poorest countries spend around 20 percent more on food in 2010 than they had
done the previous year. And according to the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), wheat and corn prices reached record levels in February this year.
But estimates from the United Nations and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) indicate that retail food prices in the United States rose
by only 1.5 percent last year. In addition, people in wealthy industrialized
countries spend a far smaller proportion of their income on food.
More weather extremes
The latest price rises are due in part to poor harvests following unfavorable
weather events: drought hit Russia in the summer of 2010 and later Argentina,
while heavy rainfall in Canada and Australia at the start of the year caused
severe damage to arable land. Weather experts put this down to the La Niña
phenomenon, in which the surface temperatures of the ocean from the west coast
of South America to the Philippines are lower than normal. This has
far-reaching consequences: winter in the northern hemisphere is colder, while
drought threatens South America and the south of the United States, and heavy
rainfalls hit Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. According to a trend research
study carried out by Claire Schaffnit-Chatterjee, an analyst for db research,
extreme weather events will become more common as a result of climate change,
exerting greater influence on the price of agricultural products
Summary of farm weather in the first half of 2011:
The United States: hot in some parts, cold and wet in others
American farmers had to struggle with widely differing weather conditions
this spring: the south was very dry and warmer than usual, with the risk of
fire in some places. Farmers in the east, mid-west and northern California
faced different problems: heavy rain and cool temperatures, which meant that
they had to wait until later than usual to sow corn and soy. Heavy rain and
flooding also delayed sowing in some parts of the grain belt.
Conditions in the United States affect the world’s supply of feed cereals
such as corn, sorghum, barley, oats and rye. The USDA’s assessment is gloomy.
Experts forecast U.S. corn yields almost eight million tons down on the
previous year in 2011, a smaller barley harvest in the European Union (EU) and
lower baseline stocks of corn in China, the world’s second largest corn
producer after the United States.
Growing conditions were also not ideal for winter wheat, as unfavorable
conditions prevailed last autumn when the crop was due to be sown: drought in
the south and violent storms in the north. The weather was also very cold, with
very little snow that can act as a blanket to protect seedlings. Rainfall was
low in the spring, and strong winds dried out fields that had been irrigated.
Europe: dry for too long
Spring was much too dry and hot in northern France, Germany, Poland and
south-east England in particular. The temperatures between February and April
were up to five degrees Celsius above the normal average, and only half the
usual amount of rain fell, with some regions having barely 30 percent of their
usual rainfall. Poor weather conditions in northern Europe also led to plant
growth being 25 percent less than normal. The prospects for the oilseed rape
harvest in Poland are particularly bleak, as experts expect yields to be 18
percent down on 2010.
The rainfall did at last start to increase in June, but that was too late
to prevent yield losses. According to Dr. Helmut Born, Secretary-General of the
German Farmers’ Federation (DBV). “In some parts of the country the rain was
literally just a drop on a hot stone.” In the west and south-west of Germany,
rain was sometimes very heavy but just ran off the parched surface of the earth
and never reached the roots. Crops like winter barley ripened too soon, in a
phenomenon which experts call ‘premature ripening’: cereal plants which have
suffered drought stress drop their kernels before they are fully formed,
leading to small kernels with a low starch content.
France was hit particularly hard by low rainfall. Analysts at Credit
Suisse expect that the wheat harvest could be up to 30 percent lower than
normal if the drought persists.
However, the situation in eastern Europe has improved. Russia has lifted
its wheat export ban after just over a year, and the Ukraine will probably be
able to export more grain than at the same time last year. According to
Handelsblatt, last summer Russia suffered a once-in-a-century drought which
burnt 17 percent of its arable land and led to yields falling by more than a
third.
Asia: two different situations
Persistent drought, especially in the middle and lower sections of the
Yangtze river, had a massive impact on agriculture in south-east China. In late
May the amount of water taken from the Three Gorges Dam was increased so that
drought-hit farmland in many areas could be irrigated. Five provinces of
central and eastern China suffered the worst drought since 1961 in spring, with
rainfall being less than half the usual level in some places.
The weather was extremely dry at the start of the year in India as well,
especially in the west of the country. Yields of important Indian crops such as
cotton, rice and sugar cane will only become clear after the summer monsoon,
which brings long periods of rainfall from June to September.
In contrast, south-east Asia experienced unusually heavy rainfall, which
is good for rice grown in paddy fields. But persistently wet weather causes
rice plants to ripen more slowly, delaying the harvest.
Boosting wheat growth
Increasing yields is a key goal for plant breeders. They want to produce
corn and wheat plants that bear many ears and kernels. The impact of the
climate and changing environmental conditions have encouraged breeders to work
on developing tougher varieties that are better able to cope with heat and
drought or are resistant to pests. Other goals include increasing resistance to
winter conditions and shortening the time that plants take to ripen.
For Bayer CropScience, cereals are a core area of its worldwide seed and
plant research and development activities. A major step was the cooperation
agreement with the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organization), Australia’s national research body. Work has concentrated on
crops such as wheat, aiming to increase yields, improve drought tolerance, make
more effective use of fertilizers and improve disease resistance.
Bayer CropScience is working with another partner, Evogene Ltd., to use
the latest technology to identify naturally occurring genes in wheat or other
plants that can stimulate these properties in wheat. It is also setting up its
first wheat-breeding station in North America, close to Lincoln in the state of
Nebraska. Work at this station will focus on varieties of Ukrainian wheat that
are particularly resistant to cold and drought and have high potential yields,
with the aim of developing them so that they are suitable for growing in other
parts of the world.
Key figures about wheat:
Approximately 25 percent of global agricultural land is utilized for wheat
cultivation, making wheat the largest food crop worldwide in terms of area.
Wheat is the second most-produced cereal crop after corn with more than 650
million tons produced every year. Wheat productivity is increasing at less than
1 percent annually, while the annual productivity increase required only to
meet population growth is approximately double that percentage. Main wheat
producing regions are Australia, the Black Sea Region, China, the European
Union, India and North America.
Links:
The website of the U.S. Department of Agriculture contains current
information and reports about agricultural commodities, weather and statistics.
The Crop Prospect and Food Situation report sets out the food situation in
various countries.
The World Bank’s 2010 World Development Report examines the links between
climate change, poverty and agricultural development.
The db research trend report (in German) describes the factors influencing
harvests, market trends and food prices.
Volksbank AG research has recently published a study (in German) into the
price trends of various agricultural commodities.
wwwen.volksbank.com
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=19463&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
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1.02 Breeding plants beyond borders
MATTHEW CAWOOD
29 Aug, 2011 04:00 AM
Since the 1960s, commercial plant breeders working mostly with the world's
five staple crops have produced about 8000 plant varieties.
Over the same time, peasant farmers have contributed nearly 2 million
plant varieties to the world's genebanks. That's the rich diversity that
Australian plant breeder Anthony Leddin wants to boost with his initiative,
Plant Breeders Without Borders.
Mr Leddin, a plant breeder with Valley Seeds in Yambuk, Victoria, saw the
need for plant-breeding expertise while doing volunteer work in Asia.
He observed a huge number of alternative plant species in use, with some
landraces preserved by communities for generations, but also noticed that the
crops' potential was constrained by lack of modern plant breeding knowledge.
Drawing on the "Doctors Without Borders" concept, Mr Leddin
conceived Plant Breeders Without Borders, an organisation that will help plant
breeders from around the world work with communities in developing countries
and provide them with the equivalent of Plant Breeding 101.
Communities will continue to use traditional methods of growing and
multiplying crops, but splice modern knowledge into those methods to help them
boost crop value.
Mr Leddin also sees potential for follow-up work by agronomists to help
with crop management and storage.
By helping communities tackle issues like crop disease or storage
properties through better breeding, Mr Leddin hopes that crops suited to
specific ecosystems and cultures will one day be making a much greater contribution
to the world's food production.
The project focuses on under-developed species to ensure it doesn't
compete with the private-sector breeding work being undertaken on staple crops.
The range of plants, and their unrealised potential, is huge, Mr Leddin
said.
Acacia varieties in Africa can provide an alternative source of flour, for
instance, and there are many vegetables eaten by indigenous communities in
Africa and Asia that have no equivalents outside the communities that use them.
Some currently little-known plants may carry great future significance.
"If we start to get drier and drier growing environments, we may get
to the stage where we have to look at growing alternative crops. That's where
some of these indigenous species may be an option."
"It's only part of the food security puzzle. There are a hell of a
lot of other things that have to be done, but it's a way of making a
start."
Australian Business Volunteers have agreed to fund researchers to go
overseas for four weeks. While living overseas breeders are supported by the
communities they are working with.
Mr Leddin has already been contacted by overseas plant breeders prepared to
do work in the Southern Hemisphere outside their growing season.
Australian breeders will similarly fit into Northern Hemisphere seasons.
Contact Anthony Leddin: Tel (03) 5568 4112 or 0408 333 046 or anthonyleddin@telstra.com
1.03 Seed CentralTM
launched
Seed Central, a joint project of the Seed Biotechnology Center at UC Davis
and SeedQuest, is being launched to energize the seed industry cluster
surrounding UC Davis.
The objectives are to:
• strengthen the dialogue between UC Davis and the seed industry
• facilitate research collaborations and technology transfer between
university and industry
• strengthen the benefits of operating within a dynamic and innovative
industry cluster for all participants.
Visit us to join Seed
Central and learn about the benefits.
Source: Seed Biotechnology Center, UCD E-news, August
2011
++++++++++++++++++++++
1.04 Roundtable meet focuses on building
climate-resilient rainfed agriculture
Hyderabad, India
August 16, 2011
Providing sustainable and science-based solutions and pro-poor approaches
to climate change adaptation in rainfed agriculture was the focus of the
Roundtable on Climate Change and Rainfed Faming Systems held at
ICRISAT-Patancheru on 16 August 2011.
The meeting, organized by the JSW-Time of India Earth Care Initiatives
2011 along with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid
Tropics (ICRISAT), primarily aimed to identify adaptation and mitigation
strategies to manage the risk and protect the livelihoods of small and marginal
farmers who predominate in the rainfed regions. Measures to build the
resilience of natural resources and rainfed communities in India and other
countries in Asia and Africa against climate change were shared and discussed
during the meeting.
“Rainfed farming systems are the hot spots of poverty and are also the
most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, ”ICRISAT Director General
William Dar said in his inaugural address. In unlocking the potential of
rainfed agriculture in achieving food security and improved livelihoods, he
advocated for a holistic approach integrating the adoption of climate-resilient
crops and various soil, water and nutrient management strategies, with
supporting policies and institutions.
Integrated water management through harvesting rainwater was also
highlighted as an important strategy in building the resilience of rainfed
communities and the natural resources.
Well-known panelists during the meeting include Dr. AK Singh, Deputy
Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); Dr. PK
Joshi, Senior Program Manager, IFPRI; Dr. B. Venkateswarlu, Director, CRIDA;
and Dr. Sachin Oza, Executive Director, Development Support Center.
Drs Peter Craufurd SP Wani, ICRISAT scientists, led the discussion on
focal topics such as assessing local impacts of climate change at regional/ sub
regional levels, capacity building of all stakeholders including policymakers,
development of climate-ready crops using new science tools, and building local
institution and enabling policies to ensure equitable and inclusive development
of smallholder farmers. Mr JK Tandon, CEO on Corporate Sustainability, Jindal
Steel Works discussed industry and development dilemmas related to climate
change.
About 65 participants representing different stakeholders from India
participated in the roundtable meeting chaired by Dr Wani with R Gopichandran
of the Gujarat Energy Research & Management Institute (GERMI).
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=19889&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
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1.05 SolCAP project receives award
SBC Research Director Allen Van Deynze and his colleagues in the
Solanaceae Coordinated Agricultural Project (SolCAP) have received a 2011 U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary's Honor Award, designed to recognize
exceptional leadership in the science, public policy and management needed to
guide a rapidly evolving food and agricultural system. SolCAP develops genomic tools for plant breeding for potato and tomato. SBC’s
Jeanette Martins provides staff support for SolCAP’s educational workshops.
Roger Chetelat, curator for the C.M. Rick Tomato Genetics Resource Center is
also a key collaborator in SolCAP. UC Davis Plant Sciences professors Jorge
Dubcovsky and David Neale were also honored for their leadership of CAP
projects on wheat, barley and conifers. For more information and full article
see UC Davis Department
of Plant Sciences.
Source: Seed Biotechnology Center, UCD E-news, August
2011
++++++++++++++++++++++++
1.06 FAO adopts the
Bolivian proposal to declare 2013 International Year of Quinoa
The Minister for Rural Development and Land, Nemesia Achacollo, said that
130 countries endorsed the proposal within the period 37 session of the FAO
taking place in Rome. He said that in September the resolution of the FAO will
be reviewed at the General Assembly of the Organization of the United Nations
(UN).
According to the official Prensa Latina, the quinoa-producing Andean
countries are being challenged to communicate about it and promote it with
exhibitions worldwide. Bolivia is the world's leading producer of quinoa, an
ancient grain from the Andean highlands, which has regained a rise in the world
market for its excellent nutritional values.
The grain has been part of the human diet for some five thousand
years before present; however, it only began to carry weight in international
trade when its benefits were discovered. Since then, prices have risen for the
"grain of gold," fetching up to $2,500 a ton versus $862 in 1999.
Contributed by Francisco Fuentes
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1.07 "Amazing Maize: The Science,
History and Culture of Corn" - Indiana State Museum original exhibition
opens Sept. 24, 2011
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
August 19, 2011
This Indiana State Museum original exhibition opens Sept. 24, 2011 after
years of in-house research and development. Amazing Maize: The Science, History
and Culture of Corn outlines a 10,000 year genetic journey that explores the
relationship between people and corn, arguably the most productive domesticated
plant and the greatest plant breeding achievement of all time. Visitors will be
amazed at the scientific, economic and cultural significance and impact of corn
on daily life, past and present.
Why Corn? Corn is the most productive and versatile crop grown around the
world. It is simultaneously both old and new and low tech and high tech. It
provides a wide variety of foods, animal feed, industrial products and fuel.
Amazing Maize will help visitors explore what makes corn such an amazing plant!
**If you are looking for an agricultural story between the Indiana State
Fair and the Farm Progress Show, schedule now for a “behind the scenes”
personal tour and photo opportunity.
The exhibition gets the nod from national sponsors Case IH, Dow
AgroSciences and the Ford Motor Company, who agree the educational value of the
exhibit is important, as corn is considered to be the representative crop of
the American continent.
Angela Harris, research engineer at the Ford Research and Innovation
Center in Dearborn, Michigan commented, "In recent years Ford has
increased the use of bio-based materials that are environmentally favorable
plus meet durability and performance requirements. Amazing Maize highlights the
increasing importance of efforts at Ford and elsewhere to look broadly for more
such opportunities and we are pleased to support this educational
exhibit."
“Dow AgroSciences is proud to support the Amazing Maize exhibit,” said Dow
AgroSciences Finance and Public Affairs Director Gordon Slack. “In the past two
years, the museum staff has done some amazing work to make the exhibit a
reality. In just a little more than a month from now, the Amazing Maize exhibit
will open to the public and will showcase a 10,000 year global journey that
explores the relationship between people and corn. Dow AgroSciences is happy to
be part of this journey.”
The Indiana State Museum is located in White River State Park in the heart
of downtown Indianapolis. It is Indiana’s museum for science, culture and art,
offering a place where you can celebrate, investigate, remember, learn and take
pride in Indiana’s story in the context of the broader world. Even the building
is a showcase of the best Indiana has to offer in architecture, materials and
sculpture. For more information, call 317.232.1637 or visit indianamuseum.org
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=20017&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.08 Better wheat
breeding can help expand Indonesian market
By Mitch Grayson
23 August 2011
An economist says Australian wheat breeding programs need
to focus more on satisfying Indonesian customers.
Indonesia is by far Australia's largest wheat export
customer, buying 2.4 million tonnes per year, followed by exports to Japan of
one million tonnes. Much of the wheat is made into noodles.
But principal economist with grower group GrainGrowers,
Professor Gordon MacAuley, says targeting types of wheat could open up many
more markets.
"We should understand what they require for their
different products," he said.
"Then the next step is when once we understand to
make sure our plant breeders are breeding to meet those requirements, then our
farmers are producing wheat which really is very suitable for producing
products in Indonesia."
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201108/s3299875.htm
Source: SeedQuest.com
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1.09 China reports on creation of
agricultural intellectual property
August 5, 2011
China's Ministry of Agriculture launched a Report on China's Agricultural
Intellectual Property Creation Index (2010). The report says that under the
comprehensive sections of the Outline of National Intellectual Property
Strategy and the Outline of Agriculture Intellectual Property Strategy, the
capability of Chinese agricultural knowledge creation has significantly
improved during the country's 11th Five-Years (2006-2010).
The average annual growth of applications and authorization for new plant
new varieties are 4.89% and 29.16% in 2006 and 2010, respectively, while the
average annual growth of applications for agricultural patent is 18.03%. These
indicate that agricultural knowledge creation capability has become an
important support for sustainable development of agriculture in the country.
The report also said that agri-biotechnology has become the key field in
S&T innovation. See the news and download the report in Chinese at http://www.ccipa.org/html/tonggao/2011/0426/3236.html
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=19605&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: Crop Biotech Update via SeedQuest.com
1.10 India may prosecute GM eggplant developers
New Delhi, India
August 25, 2011
India's National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is considering unprecedented
legal action against the developers of genetically modified (GM) eggplant
(brinjal) for alleged violation of the country's biodiversity laws.
In February 2010, a Bangalore-based non-governmental organisation,
Environment Support Group (ESG), filed a complaint with the Karnataka
Biodiversity Board, a state agency, charging that developers of the eggplant,
also known as Bt brinjal, had taken samples of at least ten local varieties
from the two southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, without seeking
permission from biodiversity authorities.
India's Bt brinjal was developed and tested by the Maharashtra Hybrid
Seeds Company (Mahyco), partially owned by US biotechnology company Monsanto,
and by scientists at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, and
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
After investigating, the Karnataka Biodiversity Board wrote to the NBA in
May 2011, seeking further action.
The NBA discussed the issue in a meeting on 20 June 2011, whose minutes
were made public this month (11 August). According to the minutes, "NBA
may proceed legally against Mahyco/Monsanto and all others concerned to take
the issue to its logical conclusion".
Mahyco and the University of Agricultural Sciences have denied any
violations of biodiversity laws in their replies to the Karnataka board.
Although India's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee cleared Bt brinjal
for commercial growing, in February 2010 India's former environment minister,
Jairam Ramesh, announced a two-year moratorium on its use to give time for its
safety to be accepted by the public and scientists.
"The law mandates that, when biodiversity is to be accessed in any
manner for commercial, research and other uses, local communities that have
protected local varieties and cultivars for generations must be consulted and,
if they consent, benefits must accrue to them as per the internationally
applicable access and benefit-sharing protocol," ESG has said.
The NBA is yet to issue a legal notice, and its new chairman Balakrishna
Pisupati, who took charge on 12 August and was formerly with the UN Environment
Programme, told SciDev.Net that it is "collecting information and evidence".
"We are not delaying it, but we need more information to strengthen
the case. And as it is the first case, we are learning lessons from it. But a
decision can be expected soon," he said.
ESG trustee, Leo Saldanha, said that "what should follow is criminal
prosecution as well as suspension of all applications for research".
Monsanto, which has a 26 per cent stake in Mahyco, said it would not
comment on "speculative reports".
"We would also like to reiterate that reports suggesting that Bt
brinjal is produced by Monsanto in partnership with Mahyco are untrue," it
added.
"Monsanto would like to clarify that Bt brinjal has been indigenously
developed by Indian seed and biotech company, Mahyco, with the Cry1Ac gene
accessed from Monsanto, in collaboration with multiple public sector
institutions."
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=20185&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SciDev.Net via SeedQuest.com
1.11 EU approval for UK variety testing
11
August 2011
After a successful audit, NIAB
has been awarded EU approval for its plant variety DUS testing of a range of
agricultural species, as part of a European-wide assessment by the European
Union Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO).
For an agricultural variety to
be added to a National List and be freely marketed in the UK and EU, it must be
tested to show it is distinct, uniform and stable (DUS) and have satisfactory
value for cultivation and use (VCU). For a grant of Plant Breeders’
Rights to be awarded to a variety, it must meet the DUS standards for the
species.
DUS tests and VCU trials are
carried out at approved centres on behalf of national authorities. The
UK’s testing is coordinated through Fera’s Variety and Seeds Office in
Cambridge and the tests are carried out by NIAB, SASA and AFBI Crossnacreevy. As
part of the auditing process, the EU auditors visited Fera Cambridge, NIAB and
AFBI Crossnacreevy in Northern Ireland, to assess the level of compliance in
adhering to the CPVO Technical Protocols.
“The new directive states that
each EU member state’s regulatory and testing body should be regularly assessed
to ensure their adherence to the CPVO Technical Protocols and other
requirements,” explains Jennifer Wyatt, Certification and Agricultural DUS
advisor at NIAB.
“NIAB has a long and successful
history in variety evaluation, seed certification, seed testing and supporting
the delivery of Plant Variety Rights and Seeds Legislation, so we’re delighted
to be awarded with a CPVO Entrustment Certificate for our cereals,
oilseed rape, beans and sugar beet programmes.”
CPVO Entrustment Certificates
have also been awarded to SASA in Scotland, the UK centre for potatoes, peas,
turnip rape, swede and vegetable plant variety testing, and to AFBI
Crossnacreevy in Northern Ireland for Lolium species and white clover.
For further information
contact:
Dr John Hutchins, Director of
Operations, NIAB
Jennifer Wyatt, Head of
Certification and Agricultural DUS, NIAB
NIAB
NIAB is a major international
centre for plant science, crop evaluation and agronomy, with headquarters in
Cambridge and regional offices across the country. NIAB spans the crop
development pipeline, combining within a single resource the specialist
knowledge, skills and facilities required to support the improvement of
agricultural and horticultural crop varieties, to evaluate their performance
and quality, and to ensure these advances are transferred into on-farm practice
through efficient agronomy.
With an internationally
recognised reputation for independence, innovation and integrity, NIAB is ideally
placed to meet the industry’s current and future research, information and
knowledge transfer needs.
As NIAB TAG we conduct field
crops research and provide impartial variety and crop husbandry information.
The NIAB TAG knowledge base is drawn from extensive staff expertise, research
data and field trials from over 20 locations in England. It is widely utilised
by the agricultural community and through the NIAB TAG Network influences more
than 20% of the UK’s
arable area.
For more information log onto www.niab.com or follow us on Twitter
@niabtag
1.12 Local seeds, social networks crucial
in the recovery of crop diversity after natural calamities
Ibadan, Nigeria
08 August 2011
Including seeds of local crop varieties in relief-seed packages
distributed to smallscale farmers after natural calamities could help
indigenous crop diversity rebound faster. Additionally, existing social
networks act as vital seed distribution channels that hasten diversity recovery
in disaster-affected communities. These are among the findings of a recent
study by IITA that looked into the loss and subsequent recovery of cowpea
diversity in Mozambique when massive flooding, followed by severe drought, hit
most of the country about 11 years ago.
In this country, farmers usually receive relief seed packages as stop-gap
measure to mitigate the effects of natural disasters that often wipe-out their
crops. However, most of the seeds in these relief packages are generally of
introduced and genetically uniform varieties purchased from markets or provided
by seed companies or by well-meaning relief agencies, which slow the recovery
of crop diversity.
Interestingly, the study also noted that the speedy recovery of Mozambican
cowpea diversity after the back-to-back disasters of 2000 was largely due to
the exchange of seeds among farmers through gifting and other social
interactions involving friends, family members, and relatives within the same
community or adjacent communities.
Dr Morag Ferguson, a molecular biologist with IITA and one of the study’s
lead researchers, says farmers in Africa traditionally grow many crops and
several varieties of each crop on the same plot of land to cope with unforeseen
economic or environmental instabilities. They usually set aside part of their
harvest to serve as seed for the next cropping season. They also share or trade
some of these seeds with friends and relatives. When natural disasters strike,
many farmers often lose the seeds that they have set aside and are forced to
rely on relief seed, buy from the market, or receive seeds as gifts from
friends and relatives.
“We found that the substantial recovery of cowpea genetic diversity two
years after the calamities was mainly due to the informal exchange of seeds
among farmers that served as a social-based crop diversity safety backup. It is
therefore important that seed relief strategies recognize and capitalize on
this existing traditional network based on social relations to help restore
diversity especially after natural upheavals,” she said.
The study was initiated in 2002, two years after the floods-then-drought
disaster, in Chokwe and Xai Xai districts of the Limpompo River Valley –areas
that were among those severely affected. The findings of the research have been
published in the current edition of ‘Disaster’, a publication of the Overseas
Development Institute (ODI).
The research established that nearly 90% of the farmers in the affected
areas received cowpea relief seed immediately after the back-to-back
calamities. Two years after, only one in every five of the recipient farmers
were still growing the seeds, while more than half sourced their seeds from
markets. However, this did little in restoring cowpea diversity in the affected
communities as the seeds bought by farmers from the market, which comes from
other districts that grew just one or a few select varieties, were mostly
uniform.
On the other hand, about one-third of the affected farmers obtained seeds
from friends and relatives living within the same locality to restock their
farms – the same people that they have been exchanging seeds with prior to the
disasters. This practice was the main reason why cowpea diversity was restored
in these areas, the study showed.
Dr Ferguson says that such a social relations-based seed distribution
system is already in play in an approach developed and implemented by the
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in partnership with other relief agencies in
which seed vouchers are exchanged for seed at ‘Seed Fairs’. In this approach,
farmers from nearby districts not affected by disaster and with excess seed,
come to the Seed Fair to sell seed to disaster-affected farmers in exchange for
vouchers, which they then cash-in with the relief agency.
“This approach recognizes that farmer seed systems are robust and
resilient, and can provide seed even in emergency situations. And this study
shows that such an approach will be more effective in restoring diversity
faster and more efficiently than a system based on direct distribution only,”
she says.
The study was the first of its kind to investigate in detail the effects
of disasters on crop diversity and its recovery. It combined agronomic
observations (for example looking at the seeds’ colour, size, pattern, and
shape) with biotechnology tools to determine the seeds’ genetic makeup.
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=19639&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.13 China's first national gene bank
established in Shenzhen
20 June 2011
China’s first national gene bank
was established in Shenzhen during the China Bioindustry Convention 2011
(BioChina), which concluded yesterday.
The bank is based on data and facilities of the Beijing Genomics Institute
(BGI), the world’s largest genome-mapping institute working with sophisticated
genome-sequencing apparatus.
The city government and BGI will raise 15 million yuan (US$2.3 million)
for the first-phase development of the bank, according to plans approved by the
National Development and Reform Committee (NDRC) in January.
With the establishment of the bank, China would be able to better protect
research and utilize its genetic resources, boost the genetics industry and
safeguard the nation’s genetic information, said Qi Chengyuan at Friday’s
establishment ceremony. Qi is the head of the high-tech industry department of
the NDRC.
Before the establishment of the gene bank in Shenzhen, the only three
national gene banks were in the United States, Japan and Europe.
President of BGI, Yang Huanming, said the bank aimed to take the lead in
the development of the international biological industry.
BGI differed from conventional companies in the field because it could
handle data in vast quantities and industrialize its research, Xinhua quoted
analysts as saying.
On Friday, the city government officially invited 18 academics attending
BioChina to become senior consultants on the development of the biological
industry in Shenzhen.
BioChina concluded with the signing of 22 cooperation agreements in the
biological industry, totaling more than 28.2 billion yuan, a press conference
was told yesterday.
The next BioChina would be held in Taizhou in Jiangsu Province.
http://www.whatsonshenzhen.com/tag-China%20Bioindustry%20Convention.html
Source: www1.szdaily.com
Contributed by Allen Van Deynze
Seed Biotechnology Center
avandeynze@ucdavis.edu
1.14 Research helps breeders really know
their onions to enhance global food security
Warwick, United Kingdom
August 2, 2011
Research led by the Warwick Crop Centre in the School of Life Sciences at
the University of Warwick has developed a unique collection of information
about the disease resistance of 96 of the world’s onion varieties. It will be a
crucial resource for commercial growers and seed producers trying to combat one
of the most difficult diseases affecting onion crops. This work may also have
key-benefits of reduced fertiliser consumption and enhanced drought tolerance.
The work on onions, in this research funded by Defra (The Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), is being carried out by Dr Andrew Taylor
a Research Fellow in the University of Warwick’s School of Life Sciences, who
has tested and recorded key traits of 96 varieties of onion from Europe,
Australia, New Zealand, Africa , India, the US and Japan. The data provides
information that will be crucial to growers seeking to create onion varieties
that can resist Fusarium oxysporum (which causes basal rot in onions), and
which also respond well to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi - beneficial fungi. An
improved interaction with these fungi assists nutrient uptake in onions
potentially decreasing the amount of fertiliser required. These fungi can have
other beneficial effects such as increased disease resistance and drought
tolerance.
This research will not only help individual commercial growers and seed
producers but will also contribute significantly to global food security,
particularly in situations where rising temperatures are an issue. Enhanced
resistance to Fusarium oxysporum will be of importance in dealing with rising
temperatures as basal rot is more active and acute in warmer conditions.
Dr Andrew Taylor will present his work at the Onion Global 2011 conference
in Deidesheim Germany which runs from 16th-18th August. The work forms part of
a larger Defra funded study at the University of Warwick entitled the
“Vegetable Genetic Improvement Network (VeGIN)” looking at understanding and
cataloguing useful traits in a range of vegetables that seed producers can use
to inform their breeding strategies.
Dr Andrew Taylor from Warwick Crop Centre said:
“We have developed a unique onion diversity set from material sourced from
across the globe. We now have a extremely useful library of the variation in
traits including resistance to Fusarium oxysporum (the cause of ), response to
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (beneficial fungi which help nutrient uptake) and
seed/seedling vigour, all of which will be extremely useful to growers and seed
producers dealing with changing conditions and threats to onion crops.”
Warwick Crop Centre Director Dr Rosemary Collier said:
“I am delighted that VeGIN is already providing results that can have a
direct impact on the global efforts to enhance food security. This is just the
first of what will be a range of outputs from this Defra funded work at the
Warwick Crop Centre that will be of significant benefit to growers across the
planet.”
A Defra spokesperson said:
“This important research shows how farmers can farm smarter – producing
crops that are naturally resistant to rot and disease can help them reduce the
amount of fertiliser and pesticides they need in our changing climate.”
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=19520&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.15 Crop breeding could ‘slash CO2
levels’
Manchester, United Kingdom
August 3, 2011
Breeding crops with roots a metre deeper in the ground could lower
atmospheric CO2 levels dramatically, with significant environmental benefits,
according to research by a leading University of Manchester scientist.
Writing in the journal Annals of Botany, Professor Douglas Kell argues
that developing crops that produce roots more deeply in the ground could
harvest more carbon from the air, and make crops more drought resistant, while
dramatically reducing carbon levels.
In principle, any crops could be treated in this way, giving more
productive yields while also being better for the environment.
Although the amount of carbon presently sequestered in the soil in the
natural environment and using existing crops and grasses has been known for
some time, Professor Kell’s new analysis is the first to reveal the benefits to
the environment that might come from breeding novel crops with root traits
designed to enhance carbon sequestration.
Professor Kell, Professor of Bioanalytical Science at the University as
well as Chief Executive of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research
Council (BBSRC), has also devised a carbon calculator that can show the
potential benefits of crops that burrow more deeply in the ground.
With this, he has calculated that – depending on the time it takes them to
break down –breeding crops that could cover present cropland areas but that had
roots a metre deeper in the soil could double the amount of carbon captured
from the environment. This could be a significant weapon in the fight against
climate change.
The soil represents a reservoir that contains at least twice as much
carbon as does the atmosphere, yet mainly just the above-ground plant biomass
is harvested in agriculture, and plant photosynthesis represents the effective
origin of the overwhelming bulk of soil carbon.
Breeding crop plants with deeper and bushy root ecosystems could
simultaneously improve both the soil structure and its steady-state carbon,
water and nutrient retention, as well as sustainable plant yields.
Professor Kell argues that widespread changes in agricultural practice are
needed, in an environment in which edible crop yields also need to increase
substantially and sustainably, and where transport fuels and organic chemicals
will need to come from modern (rather than fossil) photosynthesis.
It is known that massive CO2 reductions in the atmosphere over geological
time have happened because of the rise of deep-rooted trees and flowering
plants.
Most cultivated agricultural crops have root depths that do not extend
much beyond one metre. Doubling this, Professor Kell argues, would dramatically
reduce CO2 levels.
Existing studies, which have doubted the benefits of deep roots in carbon
sequestration, do not make soil measurements much below a metre, and the kinds
of root depths proposed by Professor Kell would more than double that.
He said: “This doubling of root biomass from a nominal 1m to a nominal 2m
is really the key issue, together with the longevity of the roots and carbon
they secrete and sequester below-ground.
“What matters is not so much what is happening now as what might be
achieved with suitable breeding of plants with deep and reasonably long-lived
roots. Many such plants exist, but have not been bred for agriculture.
“In addition to the simple carbon sequestration that this breeding could
imply – possibly double that of common annual grain crops – such plants seem to
mobilise and retain nutrients and water very effectively over extended periods,
thus providing resistance to drought, flooding and other challenges we shall
face from climate change.
“While there is a way to go before such crops might have, for example, the
grain yields of present day cereals, their breeding and deployment seems a very
promising avenue for sustainable agriculture.”
The paper, Breeding crop plants with deep roots: their role in
sustainable carbon, nutrient and water sequestration, by Douglas B. Kell,
is being published in the September issue of Annals of Botany (volume 108,
issue 3) and is freely available online at http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/08/03/aob.mcr175.full.
The carbon sequestration calculator is at http://dbkgroup.org/carbonsequestration/rootsystem.html
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=19573&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.16 Monsanto to sell biotech sweet corn
for U.S. consumers
By Jack Kaskey - Aug 4, 2011
Monsanto Co. (MON), the world’s
biggest vegetable seed maker, said it will begin selling genetically modified
sweet corn in the U.S. this year, the first product it has developed for the
consumer market.
The sweet corn seeds are engineered to kill insects living above and below
ground and to tolerate applications of the company’s Roundup herbicide,
Consuelo Madere, Monsanto vice president for vegetables, told reporters at
company headquarters in St. Louis today. They will be introduced to growers
serving the U.S. fresh corn market starting in the autumn, she said.
Monsanto previously sold only engineered crops that are processed into
sugars and oils, used as animal feed or made into
fibers. The new seeds will initially target the 250,000-acre market for fresh
corn in the eastern U.S., Madere said. Monsanto is in discussions with
companies that would can or freeze the corn, she said.
Monsanto will compete with pest-killing sweet corn seeds that Syngenta AG (SYNN) of Switzerland has
sold for more than a decade, she said.
Sweet corn is a much smaller market than the market for grain corn, which
is forecast to be planted on 90.7 million acres this year, according to U.S.
Agriculture Department data.
Monsanto currently sells squash that has been engineered to resist
viruses, a product that came with its 2005 acquisition of Seminis.
Developing biotech vegetables costs about $100 million and requires a
decade to reach the market, Madere said. Monsanto spends more than 95 percent
of its vegetable research on conventional breeding in 23 crops, she said.
Conventional- breeding projects include tomatoes that taste better and resist
viruses, sweeter melons, crisper romaine lettuce and blight- resistant peppers,
she said.
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.17 Why plant 'clones' aren’t identical
Oxford, United Kingdom
July 29, 2011
A new study of plants that are reproduced by ‘cloning’ has shown why
cloned plants are not identical.
Scientists have known for some time that ‘clonal’ (regenerant) organisms
are not always identical: their observable characteristics and traits can vary,
and this variation can be passed on to the next generation. This is despite the
fact that they are derived from genetically identical founder cells.
Now, a team from Oxford University, UK, and King Abdullah University of
Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia, believe they have found out why this is
the case in plants: the genomes of regenerant plants carry relatively high
frequencies of new DNA sequence mutations that were not present in the genome
of the donor plant.
The team report their findings in this week’s Current Biology.
‘Anyone who has ever taken a cutting from a parent plant and then grown a
new plant from this tiny piece is actually harnessing the ability such
organisms have to regenerate themselves,’ said Professor Nicholas Harberd of
Oxford University’s Department of Plant Sciences, lead author of the paper.
‘But sometimes regenerated plants are not identical, even if they come from the
same parent. Our work reveals a cause of that visible variation.’
Using DNA sequencing techniques that can decode the complete genome of an
organism in one go (so-called ‘whole genome sequencing’) the researchers
analysed ‘clones’ of the small flowering plant ‘thalecress’ (Arabidopsis). They
found that observable variations in regenerant plants are substantially due to
high frequencies of mutations in the DNA sequence of these regenerants,
mutations which are not contained in the genome of the parent plant.
‘Where these new mutations actually come from is still a mystery,’ said
Professor Harberd. ‘They may arise during the regeneration process itself or
during the cell divisions in the donor plant that gave rise to the root cells
from which the regenerant plants are created. We are planning further research
to find out which of these two processes is responsible for these mutations.
What we can say is that Nature has safely been employing what you might call a
‘cloning’ process in plants for millions of years, and that there must be good
evolutionary reasons why these mutations are introduced.’
The new results suggest that variation in clones of plants may have
different underlying causes from that of variation in clones of animals – where
it is believed that the effect of environmental factors on how animal genes are
expressed is more important and no similar high frequencies of mutations have
been observed.
Professor Harberd said: ‘Whilst our results highlight that cloned plants
and animals are very different they may give us insights into how both
bacterial and cancer cells replicate themselves, and how mutations arise during
these processes which, ultimately, have an impact on human health.’
A report of the research, ‘Regenerant Arabidopsis Lineages Display a
Distinct Genome-Wide Spectrum of Mutations Conferring Variant Phenotypes’, is
published this week online in Current Biology.
The project is a collaboration between scientists at Oxford University’s
Department of Plant Sciences, Oxford University’s Wellcome Trust Centre for
Human Genetics, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST),
Saudi Arabia. The research was supported by KAUST and the UK’s Biotechnology
and Biological Sciences Research Council.
Clones of the plant 'thalecress' were analysed. Photo: Alberto Salguero
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=19603&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.18 Dissecting the genomes of crop plants
to improve breeding potential
Norwich, United Kingdom
31st July 2011
Scientists on the Norwich Research Park, working with colleagues in China,
have developed new techniques that will aid the application of genomics to
breeding the improved varieties of crop needed to ensure food security in the
future. By dissecting the complicated genome of oilseed rape they have been
able to produce maps of the genome that are needed for predictive breeding.
Traditional breeding involves crossing two varieties and selecting the
best performing among the progeny. Predictive breeding is a more advanced
technique where specific parts of the genome most likely to contain beneficial
genes are identified.
Genomic sequencing and the availability of genetic linkage maps can play a
major part in predictive breeding efforts by linking beneficial traits to
specific parts of the genome. Researchers and breeders use genetic markers to
construct linkage maps, which help to identify useful genes. They are also
vital to marker-assisted crop breeding, where the maps and markers can greatly
accelerate the breeding in of new improved traits.
However, for key crops such as bread wheat and oilseed rape, the use of
this kind of genomics-based predictive crop breeding is severely hampered due
to the complicated genomes that these species possess. Many important crop
plants are polyploid, possessing several sets of chromosomes. Bread wheat, for
example, contains three pairs of chromosomes derived from multiple
hybridisation events that occurred between two other wheat species relatively
recently in its ancestry. To try to overcome this problem, a team from the John
Innes Centre and The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC), which are strategically
supported by the BBSRC, combined sequence data from different sources to
construct genetic linkage maps.
The team led by Professor Ian Bancroft worked on oilseed rape, which as
well as being an important oil crop also plays a key role in crop rotation
strategies. Its oil has industrial applications and its straw can be used for
biofuel production. Like bread wheat, oilseed rape (Brassica napus) has a
complicated genome, having recently been formed from related species Brassica
rapa and Brassica oleracea.
The strategy adopted by the group involves integrating the available
sequence data for oilseed rape with that of its ancestral progenitors, and also
that of a more distantly-related species for which high-quality genome sequence
data is available, in this case the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.
Instead of trying to sequence the DNA, the team focussed on the RNA
transcribed from the DNA when the genetic code is expressed. The complete set
of all of this transcribed RNA is known as the transcriptome.
TGAC used the Illumina GAII platform for the study, producing a series of
consistently high quality sequence datasets from expressed genes.
The team analysed the transcriptome in juvenile leaves, which gives an
overview of all of the genes that are expressed in that tissue. Using the
sequence variation the researchers were able to construct genetic linkage maps
in oilseed rape, eventually identifying over 23,000 markers. This allowed them
to align the oilseed rape genome with that of Arabidopsis thaliana and also to
sequence data from oilseed rape’s two progenitor species.
This method of dissecting the genome of polyploid crops is likely to be
equally applicable to other important crops. Bread wheat is a prime candidate
for this, using the model grass Brachypodium distachyon in the place of
Arabidopsis.
“Dissecting the genome of oilseed rape like this opens up the possibility
of using predictive breeding techniques that will really help with the
production of improved varieties” said Prof. Bancroft.
This study was published in Nature Biotechnology and funded by the
BBSRC, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the China
National Basic Research and Development Program.
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=19459&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.19 Plant biologists dissect genetic
mechanism enabling plants to overcome environmental challenge
Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
August 1, 2011
Grassy tillers1 suppresses branching, enabling maize to grow taller when
shade encroaches -- a key to teosinte’s ancient domestication
When an animal gets too hot or too cold, or feels pangs of hunger or
thirst, it tends to relocate – to where it’s cooler or hotter, or to the
nearest place where food or water can be found. But what about vegetative life?
What can a plant do under similar circumstances?
Plants can’t change the climate and they can’t uproot themselves to move
to a more favorable spot. Yet they do respond successfully to changes in
environmental conditions in diverse ways, many of which involve modifications
of the way they grow and develop.
Plant biologists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have now
discovered at the genetic level how one species of grass plant responds to the
challenge to growth posed by shade. Central to this work is the team’s
identification of the role played by a gene called grassy tillers1, or gt1,
whose expression, they confirmed, is controlled by light signaling.
The discovery of gt1’s role is full of implication, for it occurs in
maize, one of the world’s most important food crops, and the genetic trick it
performs, which results in changing the plant’s shape, suggests how maize’s
ancestor in the grass family was domesticated by people in Mexico and Central
America thousands of years ago. The discovery also suggests a present-day
strategy for improving yield in switchgrass, a biofuel source.
In maize – or corn, as it is commonly referred to in North America – it
has long been known at the level of effects, but not causes, how an
unimpressive grass plant called teosinte was improved upon genetically through
trial and error to become a prime source of food for the human race. As anyone
who has seen a corn field knows, modern maize plants grow in close proximity,
in long rows, and tend to produce robust, branchless stalks which yield one or
two large ears apiece.
“The domestication of maize from its wild ancestor teosinte resulted in a
striking modification of the plant’s architecture, and this fact provided a
starting point for our work,” says CSHL Professor David Jackson, who led the
research team which also included scientists from Cornell University; the
University of Wisconsin, Madison; North Carolina State University; the
University of California, San Diego and Pioneer Hi-Bred. The team’s findings
appear today online ahead of print in Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences.
One can plainly see that maize plants produce very few lateral branches at
their base. The sparseness of tillers, as these branches are called by plant
biologists, is the first clue: plants with many lateral branches don’t tend to
grow well in close proximity, for their branches and leaves tend to throw any
close neighbors into shade, thus limiting access to sunlight, their common
prime energy source. By severely limiting its lateral branching, maize is able
to redirect its energy to the primary shoot, which grows taller and escapes the
shade.
“It is actually human selection that has done this,” explains Jackson.
“Although maize plants produce tiller buds, the nascent branches fail to grow
out, which results in the plant’s familiar dominant central stalk.” The team
knew that maize plants in which gt1 is mutated generate several tillers and
additional ear branches; this suggested that gt1 expression is normally
associated with the suppression of tiller growth. This was confirmed in tests
in which gt1 expression was measured in plants grown in the laboratory
equivalent of shade.
Another maize gene called teosinte branched1, or tb1, is also known to
regulate tiller bud growth and lateral branching in maize, and to be active in
response to internal signals indicating the presence of shade. The next
question was whether the two genes act in a common pathway, or separately. The
expression of each was measured when the other was experimentally inactivated.
“We found that gt1 doesn’t get activated unless tb1 is active; but that tb1 can
act without gt1,” says Jackson. “Taken together, our experiments indicated that
the two genes are indeed part of a common pathway, in which gt1 is downstream
of tb1 – it is not expressed until after tb1 is expressed.”
Knowing that ancestral teosinte is a highly branched and tillered plant,
the team tested the hypothesis that it was the gt1 gene that was specifically
(if unwittingly) selected by ancient agriculturalists in their trial-and-error
attempts to domesticate a wild grass to produce a new source of food. By
sequencing gt1 from diverse lines of modern maize and wild teosinte, “we
obtained significant evidence that gt1 was selected during domestication,”
according to Jackson.
“Tillering is an important trait in the grass family, and by modifying
tiller production agriculturalists have increased yield in grasses such as
maize and rice. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind that modification
may now provide us with a means to increase biomass production in switchgrass
or other potential biofuel crops,” Jackson adds.
“grassy tillers1 promotes apical dominance in maize and responds to shade
signals in the grasses” appears online ahead of print in Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences August 1, 2011. The authors are: Clinton J.
Whipple, Tesfamichael H. Kebrom, Allison L. Weber, Fang Yang, Darren Hall,
Robert Meeley, Robert Schmidt, John Doebley, Thomas P. Brutnell and David P.
Jackson. The paper can be accessed online at:
www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1102819108
This research was supported by generous grants provided by the National
Science Foundation and the US Department of Agriculture.
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=19533&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.20 Potato growers to get insight into
how genome will help them
Dundee, Scotland, United Kindgom
August 9, 2011
The future of potato breeding and how the mapping of the potato genome
will help growers is set to be the focus of discussion at Potatoes in
Practice this Thursday (11 August).
The event, Britain’s biggest field event for the potato industry, is being
hosted by The James Hutton Institute at Balruddery Farm near Dundee.
Scientists at The James Hutton Institute played a key role in the potato
genome project, leading the UK strand of the work as part of the international
Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium.
The work, published in the journal Nature last month, holds great promise
for speeding up the process of developing new potato varieties, which at the
moment can take 10-12 years using traditional methods.
Dr Glenn Bryan, who led the potato genome work at JHI said, “Mapping the
potato genome means we can now start to identify genes that are responsible for
certain traits, for example disease resistance or drought tolerance. We can
then use that information to help introduce desirable traits into new varieties
of potato.”
JHI potato breeder, Dr Finlay Dale, said the genome project had direct
implications and future benefits for growers. “The availability of the genome
will help bring new and better varieties to the market as well as considerably
speeding up the breeding process.
“Improvements to breeding varieties will be evident through the more rapid
and more reliable identification of the important genes and also the more
efficient identification of superior parental lines than previously possible.
“Potatoes in Practice provides a unique opportunity to meet a wide range
of growers and industry representatives face to face to help outline the
potential benefits of the genome work.”
More than 700 growers, advisors, overseas visitors and industry
representatives attended last year’s Potatoes in Practice and it is anticipated
this year’s event, the first hosted by The James Hutton Institute since its
formation in April, will be even bigger.
The James Hutton Institute has research centres in Dundee and Aberdeen. It
was formed earlier this year by the coming together of the Macaulay Land Use
Research Institute and SCRI, the Scottish Crop Research Institute. It employs
about 600 scientists, researchers and support staff and is one of the biggest
food, land and environment research centres in Europe. The James Hutton Institute’s
registered office is in Dundee.
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=19700&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.21 New
genome sequence could improve important agricultural crops
An international team of
scientists, funded in the UK by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences
Research Council (BBSRC), has sequenced the genome of a Chinese cabbage variety
of a plant called Brassica rapa, a close relative of oilseed rape. The research,
which is published today (28 August) in the journal Nature Genetics, could help improve the efficiency of oilseed rape
breeding, as well as that of a host of other important food and oil crops.
The project was conducted by an
international consortium involving researchers working across four continents,
with the majority of the data generated in China. The UK’s contribution came
from scientists at the John Innes Centre in Norwich and Rothamsted Research in
Hertfordshire, both of which receive strategic funding from BBSRC.
Oilseed rape is an important
source of vegetable oils for cooking and industrial applications and its
production has doubled in the last 15 years. It is an unusual hybrid which
contains the entire genomes of two other plants: Brassica rapa and another
closely related species called Brassica oleracea. By sequencing Brassica rapa,
researchers are able to access half of oilseed rape’s genes without having to
wrestle with its large and complicated genome.
Professor Ian Bancroft led the
research at the John Innes Centre. He explains “Oilseed rape is the second most
important oil crop in the world and the most important in Europe. Sequencing
its genes will provide breeders with the tools to improve the efficiency of
developing new varieties, but this is difficult because it has a really
complicated genome. Thankfully, because it is a hybrid, nature has already
divided up the oilseed rape genome into two more manageable chunks, one of
which we have now sequenced.”
Brassica rapa and oilseed rape
are both brassicas, a group which also includes broccoli, turnip, sprouts and
cabbages. Together, this important group of plants accounts for more than 10
percent of the world’s vegetable and vegetable oil production and, despite
their apparent diversity, they are all closely related. This enables scientists
to apply the insights they gain by sequencing one species, such as Brassica
rapa to improving the breeding efficiency of a range of crops essential to
ensuring global food security.
Professor Bancroft continues
“Few people would confuse a turnip with a cauliflower and yet, despite coming
in a range of shapes and sizes, brassicas are all very closely related. This
means that the many of the 41,000 genes which we found in Brassica rapa will
also be found in other brassicas and the insights we gain from having this
sequence could be useful for improving everything from plants grown to produce
chainsaw oils to the sprouts on your Christmas dinner.”
The Brassica rapa sequence was
produced using a technology which breaks the DNA into small segments before
reassembling the complete genome. Throughout its evolution Brassica rapa has
triplicated its genome meaning that the task of assembling the final picture
posed a particular challenge to the scientists and the technology.
Professor Douglas Kell, Chief
Executive of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, said
“Plants have a tendency to multiply their genomes as they evolve. This means
that many important agricultural crops like wheat, potato and oilseed rape have
much larger and more complex genomes than most animals, including humans.
“Helping breeders produce new
varieties of these staple crops will be essential to ensuring our future food
security, so scientists must use their ingenuity to find ways to overcome the
challenges posed by these massive genomes. This research shows what can be
achieved by applying the latest technology and by combining the expertise of
scientists across the world.”
Contact
BBSRC External Relations
Mike Davies, Tel: 01793 414694,
email: mike.davies@bbsrc.ac.uk
Nancy Mendoza, Tel: 01793
413355, mobile: 07785 710536, email: nancy.mendoza@bbsrc.ac.uk
Matt Goode, Tel: 01793 413299,
email: matt.goode@bbsrc.ac.uk
About BBSRC
BBSRC invests in world-class
bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to
further scientific knowledge to promote economic growth, wealth and job
creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.
Funded by Government, and with
an annual budget of around £445M, we support research and training in
universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people
we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security,
green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK
economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and
pharmaceuticals.
For more information about
BBSRC, our science and our impact see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk
For more information about
BBSRC strategically funded institutes see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/institutes
About the John Innes Centre
The John Innes Centre, www.jic.ac.uk, is a
world-leading research centre based on the Norwich Research Park www.nrp.org.uk. JIC received a total of £28.4M investment from the Biotechnology and
Biological Sciences Research Council in 2010-11. The JIC’s mission is to
generate knowledge of plants and microbes through innovative research, to train
scientists for the future, and to apply its knowledge to benefit agriculture,
human health and well-being, and the environment. JIC delivers world class
bioscience outcomes leading to wealth and job creation, and generating high
returns for the UK economy.
About Rothamsted Research
Rothamsted Research is almost
certainly the oldest agricultural research station in the world. Over its 160
year history, Rothamsted Research has built an enviable reputation for world-class
scientific research to deliver knowledge, innovation and new practices to
increase crop productivity and quality, and to develop environmentally
sustainable solutions for agriculture. Rothamsted Research receives a total of
£23.8M in strategic programme grants from the Biotechnology and Biological
Sciences Research Council.
Contributed by Andrew Chapple
Norwich BioScience Institutes
E andrew.chapple@nbi.ac.uk
1.22 Biotechnology for sustainability
Genetically engineered (GE) crops have been in commercial production since
1996 and much information is available regarding ways they are benefiting
farmers and consumers. As global agriculture continues to be challenged to
enhance sustainability and reduce pressures on land, water and fuel, studies
are showing that GE crops will be one part of the solution. To date, research
has been conducted on over 100 agricultural crops and many new promising traits
have been identified. As part of a grant from the American Society of Plant
Biologists, SBC has developed a website dedicated to the theme Biotechnology
for Sustainability. Here you will find information on the five (5) most
promising GE traits, recent peer-reviewed publications, and useful websites and
opinion pieces on this topic. We hope this will provide a useful reference on
how biotech traits are enhancing environmental sustainability.
Biotechnology for Sustainability Display, conceived by Kent Bradford and
Jamie Shattuck (formerly with SBC) and designed and constructed by Peggy Lemaux
and Barbara Alonso, describes how biotechnology can improve agricultural
sustainability. The display is composed of tactile, visually attractive
interchangeable modules, and is available on loan for outreach uses. The
display was funded by the American Society of Plant Biologists and the UC Davis
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. To reserve the
display for use please contact Barbara Alonso (balonso@berkeley.edu) UC Berkeley.
Source: Seed Biotechnology Center, UCD E-news, August
2011
++++++++++++++++
1.23 U.S. National Corn Growers
Association's "Off the Cob" podcast series explores the new genome
functionality tool
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
August 4. 2011
Today, the National Corn Growers Association's "Off the Cob"
podcast series speaks with Dr. Jack Gardiner, the biologist selected to manage
the NCGA-sponsored project developing software tools to be incorporated into
the Maize Genetics and Genomics Database. In this position, Gardiner will work
with software engineers and scientists to develop a tool that allows
researchers to easily isolate and examine manageable data sets, thus decreasing
the time and effort needed to utilize the massive amounts of genomic data on
corn and produce results that will aid farmers.
"Not so long ago, when the National Corn Growers Association
spearheaded the Maize Genome Sequencing initiative, a scientist spent 90
percent of his time conducting an experiment and 10 percent analyzing the
results," said Gardiner. "Now, due to the complexity of the data,
scientists spend about 10 percent of their time generating information and the
remaining 90 percent sifting through that data and trying to make sense of
it."
Gardiner noted that this exponential growth in the amount of data
available changed the tools needed by researchers to utilize this wealth of
information in a quick, effective manner.
"In the beginning, we thought that an Excel spreadsheet, with its
60,000 plus rows and multiple columns would be big enough to handle the genetic
information being generated," said Gardiner. "But as the next
generation of sequencing commenced, we found that the sheer amount of data
being generated, due to decreased research costs, was too much to be
effectively analyzed in this format."
Likening the tool to the way in which Google Maps allows users to zoom in
on specific streets within a city or out for a view of the entire state,
Gardiner explained exactly how the tool developed in this project will allow
researchers to work with data in a more effective manner.
"This tool will allow researchers to zoom in and out on the desired
areas of data, placing it in manageable piles that can be examined from a
variety of angles," said Gardiner. "Additionally, this sort of tool
provides a visual representation of the data which provides a more easily
digestible view from which researchers can begin their analysis."
http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=19578&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=
Source: SeedQuest.com
=========================
2.01 A new book on seed production and
supply with particular reference to tropical conditions
The book provides an understanding of the technical and managerial aspects
of seed production and supply with particular reference to tropical conditions
Seeds
Turner, Michael - 2011
This book provides an understanding of the technical and managerial
aspects of seed production and supply with particular reference to tropical
conditions which are inherently more challenging than those of temperate
environments. The book covers the basic principles of plant breeding and the
biology of seeds, together with the management of seed production, harvesting
and processing to maintain the best quality. Quality assurance, seed marketing
and enterprise management are also dealt with.
While focusing mainly on staple cereal and legume crops, the auhro also
covers the production of specialized crop seeds such as vegetables and forages.
Besides helping farmers directly, this book will be invaluable to those who
would like to supply improved seed to farmers through small-scale enterprises,
growers’’ associations and cooperatives.
The Tropical Agriculturalist series is published in association with the
Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA).
Published by CTA and MacMillan, ISBN 978-0-230-02239-3 (Pb), 152pp; www.macmillan-africa.com
Source: Seed Info No. 41, July 2011 (page 27)
2.02 Adoption and impact of Bt cotton in India, 2002 to 2010
By Bhairath Choudhary and Kadambini Gaur
Choudhary, B and Gaur, K. 2011.
Adoption and Impact of Bt Cotton in India, 2002 to 2010, ISAAA Biotech
Information Centre, ISAAA, New Delhi, India
Contributed by Bhagirath Choudhary
2.03 Socio-economic and farm level impact of Bt cotton in India, 2002 to 2010
By Bhairath Choudhary and Kadambini Gaur
Choudhary, B and Guar, K. 2011.
Socio-economic and farm level impact of bt cotton in India. ISAAA Biotech
Information Cenre, ISAAA, New Delhi, India;
Contributed by Bhagirath Choudhary
3.
3.01 Training webinars
in plant breeding and genomics.
Join the Plant Breeding and Genomics eXtension community of practice this fall for a webinar series to learn how to use tools, software, and
techniques.
To register for a webinar, go to http://www.extension.org/pages/60426 or click on a webinar title to follow the link to the registration page.
Advanced registration for the live webinars is required. After registering you
will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the
webinar.
All webinars begin at 1pm Eastern Daylight Time (GMT - 4:00)
(12pm Central, 11am Mountain, 10am Pacific).
All webinars will also be recorded and available for later
viewing at www.eXtension.org/plant_breeding_genomics.
To receive updates about upcoming webinars and archived
sessions, sign up for
PBG News.
Who Should Attend?
These webinars are designed for plant breeders, breeding
assistants, lab personnel, graduate students, and post docs.
Webinars
How to Use R Software for Data
Analysis
·
9/15/2011 at 1pm
Eastern
·
Heather Merk,
The Ohio State University, OARDC
·
9/29/2011 at 1pm
Eastern
·
Candice Hansey,
Michigan State University
How to Breed for Organic
Production Systems
·
10/18/2011 at
1pm Eastern
·
Jim Myers,
Oregon State University
·
Joint webinar
with eOrganic
How to Design and Analyze
Experiments Using an Augmented Design
·
11/10/2011 at
1pm Eastern
·
Jennifer Kling
(Oregon State University)
How to Use Double Haploids to
Improve Winter Wheat
·
11/17/2011 at
1pm Eastern
·
Bill Berzonsky
& Melanie Caffe, South Dakota State University
If you have questions or comments regarding these
webinars, please contact Heather Merk - merk.9@osu.edu
System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer
Contributed by Allen Deynze
avandeynze@ucdavis.edu
4.01 Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Call for
2012
Bioversity is pleased to announce the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Call
for 2012
Deadline for applications 6 November 2011
Two Fellowships, for up to US$ 20,000 each, will be available for 2012 to
carry out research from 3 to 12 months on a wide range of biophysical,
economic and social themes related to the conservation and use of plant genetic
resources in developing countries.
These opportunities are available thanks to support from Pioneer Hi-Bred,
USA and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Australia.
This year's themes focus on :
·
Gene discovery in crop wild relatives
·
Use of plant genetic resources for adaptation to progressive climate
change
·
Facilitating better use of genebank materials
·
Researching neglected and underutilized species for food and nutrition
security
·
Policy research in support of the implementation of the International
Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
·
Applying economics to agrobiodiversity conservation, sustainable use and
policy analysis
·
Farmer, trader and market strategies for adding value to crop diversity
·
Management of plant diseases through a better understanding of
host-pathogen interactions and co-evolution
Applications may be submitted in English, French or
Spanish.
The Call, Application Form and Guidelines can be downloaded from :
http://www.bioversityinternational.org/index.php?id=4754
5.01 Plant breeding and related jobs at
Monsanto
For more information on specific job descriptions or to apply online
visit: http://www.monsanto.com/careers/Pages/default.aspx
Or, explore: http://jobs.monsanto.com/
Examples:
Argentina
Northern Argentina Breeder Soy Breeding - Tucuman Province,
Argentina - 004HK
ARG Data Manager Supervisor Corn Breeding Program - Fontezuela,
Argentina - 004F0
ARG - Trials & Operation Manager - Trait Integration - Argentina - 0055M
Brazil
Conversion Center- Research Program Manager - 004PW
China
Testing Operation Manager - 004PA
Line Development Breeder - 004PB
Commercial Breeder - 004P9
Specialized Equipment Manager - 004P8
Australia
Cotton Breeder – Australia - 001FC
USA
Trait Genomics Lead - St. Louis - 005AV
Trait Geneticist (Vegetables Division) Woodland, CA - 004AP
Line Development Breeder - Gothenburg, NE - 0055W
Commercial Breeder - Greenville, OH - 004OD
Wheat Breeder - Bozeman, Montana - 004TY
Breeder (Multiple Locations) - 004TB
Cotton Equipment Specialist - 004R7
Scientific Business Analyst – 004TF
Contributed by Donn Cummings
Global Breeder Sourcing Lead, Monsanto
donn.cummings@monsanto.com
5.02 Breeder/Geneticist
– Weaver Popcorn Company, Inc. USA
Weaver Popcorn Company, Inc. is recruiting to
fill an open position for a Breeder/Geneticist at its research facilities in
New Richmond, IN (23 miles south of Lafayette, IN). Weaver’s hybrid research
efforts, started in 1976, are an integral part of the company’s successes in
developing, growing, processing, packaging, and selling a variety of popcorn
products throughout the United States and to over 90 countries around the
world. For more information about our Company, visit: http://www.popweaver.com/about-us.html
Responsibilities:
1. Manage, coordinate and execute a comprehensive popcorn breeding program
for inbred line development focused on improved quality traits.
2. Integrate molecular marker assisted technologies into the study and
characterization of genes determining the genetic bases of quality traits.
3. Develop high quality popcorn breeding populations.
4. Develop new high quality, high yielding popcorn hybrids for testing.
5. Study the interaction between quality traits, agronomic traits and
practices.
6. Provide input into other areas where the genetic component is relevant.
Requirements:
• PhD with 3-5 years of experience in Plant Breeding and Genetics,
(preferably in corn).
• Comprehensive knowledge of agronomics, grain quality and production
practices.
• Ability to manage personnel and communicate well.
• Knowledge and experience in experimental design and statistical
analysis.
• Experience in the application of molecular markers to breeding programs.
• Advanced computer skills, including programs used for the analysis of
molecular marker data.
• Understanding of biotechnology and intellectual property rights
concepts.
• Experience with farming equipment a plus.
Environment:
This position includes spending time in the nursery and test plots and in
planning experiments, evaluating quality and yield, inputting, analyzing and
interpreting results. This position also requires an individual who wants to
make a difference as the 3 – 4 breeder team is in charged with developing
popcorn hybrids that meet our customers’ popcorn needs and preferences as well
as those of our growers. Our goal has always been to have the best hybrids in
the industry for all the different market divisions. The hybrid research team
meets regularly with the company’s agronomists and sales, marketing and R &
D associates as well as growers, customers and consumers to learn directly of
their needs and to gain feedback as to how well our hybrids are meeting their
needs.
Contact: (send Resume)
Bob Hawk: bob.hawk@popweaver.com
or
Carlos Iglesias:carlos.iglesias@popweaver.com
5.03 Postdoctoral Research Position in
Genetic Resources Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago
The Science, Technology and Environment (STE) Policy Lab in the
Department of Public Administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago is
seeking a postdoctoral scholar to conduct research and assist with policy
implementation in the area of genetic resources for food and agriculture
(GRFA). The individual would contribute to three projects:
1. Genetic Resources Policy Initiative Two (GRPI 2) – This project is
designed to assist with the strengthening of national capacities to implement
the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
The project would focus on means by which selected countries can implement and
benefit from the access and benefit sharing provisions of the Treaty. Much of
this work would be done in the field in selected African, Asian or South
American countries.
2. Assessment of Barriers and Facilitators to Germplasm Exchange in the
CGIAR Centers (CentrEx) – The project examines the movement and use of genetic
resources between the GGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural
Research) Centres, CGIAR partners and other end users. It focuses specifically
on national, regional and global patterns of exchange, the institutional
structures that facilitate and constrain exchange, and new mechanisms that
could improve acquisition and distribution of genetic resources for food and
agriculture.
3. Exchange, Use and Benefit Sharing of Agricultural Genetics in the US
(AgGen) - The goal of this USDA-funded project is to develop a policy-relevant
understanding of genetic resources access, use and benefit sharing practices of
the US food and agriculture user community, with an emphasis on examining the
importance of foreign sources of genetic resources to US stakeholders.
The postdoc would work with a team of researchers at Bioversity
International and other academic institutions, as well as with PhD students
and faculty in the STE Policy Lab. He or she would also work closely with
research teams coordinated under the GRPI 2 project in participating countries,
international organizations and government officials. Responsibilities would
include research design, development of qualitative and quantitative data
collection instruments, data collection including survey administration and
interviews, and data analysis.
Preferred applicants would have a disciplinary background in public
policy, international development, public administration, agriculture policy,
science and technology policy, or environment policy. Ideally, applicants would
demonstrate some familiarity with the policy issues surrounding genetic
resources for food and agriculture, background and interest in research on
GRFA, good communication and organization skills, experience working in
developing countries, and willingness to travel.
Salary and benefits are competitive, commensurate with qualifications.
Interested individuals should send a letter of interest, the names and contact
information of three references, and a resume by email to Prof. Eric Welch
(ewwelch@uic.edu). Applications should be sent by September 6, 2011.
STE Policy Lab The Science, Technology, and Environment Policy Lab at the
University of Illinois at Chicago offers a unique opportunity of learning and
interacting among faculty, graduate students, scientists, and practitioners on
public policy issues in science, technology, and environment. Housed in the
Department of Public Administration and located near downtown Chicago, the
research group helps support a Ph.D. program in Science and Technology Policy
through funded projects, which enable the training of the next generation of multidisciplinary
social scientists who recognize the growing importance of science, technology
and environment policy issues in society. http://www.uic.edu/orgs/stresearch
Bioversity International
Bioversity International is one of the 15 Centres supported by the
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Bioversity
has worked for more than 35 years to support the improved use and conservation
of agricultural biodiversity. Through international research, in collaboration
with partners through the world, Bioversity strives to build the knowledge base
needed to ensure effective conservation and use of diversity to increase
sustainable agricultural production, improve livelihoods and meet the
challenges of climate change. Bioversity headquarters are in Rome, Italy, and
its regional offices in 16 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.
http://www.bioversityinternational.org
Contributed by Evelyn Clancy
Bioversity International
Rome, Italy
5.04 Professor –
Genetics – Plant Host-Pathogen Genetics or Plant Genetics
School of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Pietermaritzburg Campus
University of Kwasulu-Natal
South Africa
Reference No. SA57/2011
The School is well established with a strong research profile and has a
vibrant postgraduate research programme.
The incumbent will teach undergraduate and postgraduate students in
Genetics and build the knowledge base of Genetics through research and publication.
For appointment at this level, the incumbent should be an established
national and international expert in his/her field.
S/he should provide leadership in the University, the Faculty and the
School, and develop the next generation of academics.
S/he should also play a leading role in improving the teaching and
research infrastructure of the School, Faculty and College.
The incumbent will be expected to promote interdisciplinary research
across the Schools in the College, and with researchers in the Health Sciences.
The successful applicant should have a strong background in Plant
Host-Pathogen Genetics or Plant Genetics.
The line manager of this post will be the Head of School.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
A PhD degree in Genetics
Experience in teaching Genetics at a tertiary institution
Demonstrated ability to attract external research funds
Evidence of strong academic leadership
A current and sustained research record as evidenced by publications in
peer-reviewed ISI/SAPSE accredited journals appropriate for the level
Successful supervision of PhD and MSc students
This appointment will be made in line with the Faculty benchmarks which
are available on the University
Vacancies website on http://vacancies.ukzn.ac.za/FacultyScAgricProm.aspx
For more information about the post, including the job profile, please
contact the School Administrator, Mrs D Chinniah at chinniahd@ukzn.ac.za
The remuneration package offered includes benefits.
The initial closing date for receipt of applications is 15 August 2011.
The University, however, reserves the right to accept late applications or to
extend the above date in order to facilitate further searches.
Applicants are required to apply on the Vacancies page of the University
website at www.ukzn.ac.za.
Completed forms must be sent to recruitment-aes@ukzn.ac.za
Advert Reference Number MUST be clearly stated in the subject line.
Please find our Email Disclaimer here: http://www.ukzn.ac.za/disclaimer/
Contributed by Mark Laing
6. MEETINGS, COURSES
New
listings may include some program details, while repeat listings will include
only basic information. Visit web sites
for additional details.
This
section includes three subsections:
- DISTANCE
LEARNING/ONLINE COURSES
- COURSES OF THE SEED BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTER AT UC
DAVIS
- OTHER MEETINGS, COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
- DISTANCE LEARNING/ONLINE COURSES
26-28 October 2011. Plant Breeding for Drought
Tolerance
Colorado State University and University of
Nebraska-Lincoln researchers are excited to offer a one-credit online course in
plant breeding for drought tolerance Sept. 26 to Oct. 28, 2011.
Concepts for this intensive, one-credit graduate level
course include:
·
Understanding the target environment
·
Determining which phenotypic traits to use in selection
practices
·
Understanding transgenic approaches and quantitative
trait locus analysis for improving drought tolerance
·
Learning from successful examples of improving drought
tolerance in a variety of crops
·
Integrating techniques learned in the course into a
breeding or research program strategy
The course is targeted to graduate students in the plant
sciences, as well as to professionals in the public and private sectors. It
will provide one transferable graduate-level credit. Please visit the Plant
Breeding for Drought Tolerance website at http://www.droughtadaptation.org for
further program details and application information.
++++++++++
Master of Science in Plant Breeding at Iowa State University (distance
program)
Professionals who would like to advance their careers
now have access to the world renowned plant breeding program at Iowa State University
without becoming a resident on-campus student. The Master of Science in Plant
Breeding provides the same rigorous curriculum as the resident program,
including access to plant breeding faculty within the Department of Agronomy.
Students completing the program will understand not only
the fundamentals of plant breeding, but also gain knowledge of advanced
concepts such as genomic selection and the challenges facing plant breeders in
our global society.
The curriculum consists of 12 courses plus a one-credit
workshop and a three-credit creative component, for a total of 40 credits. The
one-credit practicum is the only course that requires attendance on campus-
four days during one summer. Generally, students who have completed a degree
from a College of Agriculture will meet the requirements.
Contact information is:
msagron@iastate.edu
toll-free: 800-747-4478
phone: 515-294-2999
http://masters.agron.iastate.edu
Maria Salas-Fernandez
Assistant Professor
Department of Agronomy
Iowa State Univ.
msagron@iastate.edu
+++++++++
Online Graduate Program in Seed
Technology & Business
Iowa
State University
http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=48323218&msgid=597705&act=BDP
The
Iowa State University On-line Graduate Program in Seed Technology and Business
develops potential into managerial leadership.
Seed
industry professionals face ever-increasing challenges. The Graduate Program in
Seed Technology and Business (
The
Contact
us today for more information about how you can apply.
Paul
Christensen, Seed Technology and Business Program Manager Ph.
515-294-8745,
seedgrad@iastate.edu
+++++++++++
Plant Breeding Methods - Distance Education version
CS, HS 541-section 601 DE; 3 credits; lecture only
Prerequisite: a statistics course
North Carolina State University will be offering CS,HS
541, Plant Breeding Methods in a distance education version this fall.
The instructor is Todd Wehner (tcwehner@gmail.com).
This is an introductory Plant Breeding course for first
year graduate students and advanced undergraduate students. The emphasis
is on traditional methods of developing improved cultivars of cross-pollinated,
self-pollinated, and asexually-propagated crops, and the genetic principles on
which breeding methods are based. The purpose of this course is to
provide the student a general background in all areas of plant breeding.
The goal is to develop students who are knowledgeable in all of the areas of
plant breeding, and to have sufficient understanding to work as an assistant
breeder at a seed company, or to continue with advanced courses in plant
breeding.
CS,HS 541 presents an overview of plant breeding
methods, including germplasm resources, pollen control, measurement of genetic
variances, and use of heterosis. Special topics include genotype-environment
interaction, index selection, stress resistance, polyploidy, and mutation
breeding. The course provides in-depth coverage of methods for breeding
cross-pollinated, self-pollinated and asexually-propagated crops. Courses
usually taken before CS,HS 541 are genetics and statistics. Courses taken
after often include HS 703 (breeding asexually propagated crops), CS,HS 719
(germplasm and biogeography), CS,HS 720 (molecular genetics), CS,HS 745
(quantitative genetics), CS,HS 746 (advanced breeding), CS,HS 748 (pest
resistance, now PP590), CS,HS 860 (breeding lab 1), and CS,HS 861 (breeding lab
2).
For more information on HS 541 Plant Breeding Methods,
see:
http://distance.ncsu.edu/courses/fall-courses/HS.php
For more information on distance education at NC State
University, see:
For more information on Todd Wehner, see:
http://cucurbitbreeding.ncsu.edu/
++++++++++++
Plant Breeding for non majors - Distance Education version
HS 590 (521-sections 801, 601 DE); 1 credit; lecture only
Prerequisites: undergraduate biology, genetics
North Carolina State University will be offering HS 590,
Plant Breeding for Non Majors in a distance education version this fall.
The instructor is Todd Wehner (tcwehner@gmail.com).
This is an introductory Plant Breeding course for first
year graduate students and advanced undergraduate students. The emphasis
is on methods of developing improved cultivars of cross-pollinated,
self-pollinated, and asexually-propagated crops. The purpose of this
course is to provide the student a working knowledge of the main areas of plant
breeding. The course is aimed at students interested in having a
background knowledge of plant breeding, working with plant breeders, or doing
breeding work in their home garden.
HS 590 presents an overview of plant breeding methods,
including germplasm resources, male sterility, and use of heterosis.
Special topics include genotype-environment interaction, index selection,
disease and insect resistance, interspecific hybridization, and mutation
breeding. The main focus is on methods for breeding cross-pollinated,
self-pollinated and asexually-propagated crops.
For more information on HS 590 Plant Breeding Methods,
see:
http://distance.ncsu.edu/courses/fall-courses/HS.php
For more information on distance education at NC State
University, see:
For more information on Todd Wehner, see:
http://cucurbitbreeding.ncsu.edu/
- COURSES OF THE
SEED BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTER AT UC DAVIS
December 5-9, 2011
Davis, California
January 16-20, 2012
Wimaua, Florida
The purpose of Seed Business 101℠ is to shorten the learning
curve for promising new employees and young managers.
This course teaches them what every employee must know
about the main functional areas of a seed company in order to perform optimally
in the team as quickly as possible and avoid mistakes.
Research
Production
Operations
Sales and Marketing
Administration
SB 101℠ gives new employees a broad understanding of the major
aspects of a seed company’s operations and cross-departmental knowledge of best
practices for profitability. The course also offers invaluable
insights and perspective to seed dealers and companies offering products
and services to the seed industry, including seed treatments, crop protection,
seed enhancement and technology, machinery and equipment, etc.
During each of the 4 case studies, students assume a
different functional responsibility within the company.
For more information please contact Jeannette Martins at
UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Center Phone (530) 752 4984 or jmartins@ucdavis.edu.
Register online: sbc.ucdavis.edu
+++++++++++
Centre for Research in
Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) hosts European Plant Breeding Academy sessions
focused on breeding with molecular markers
CRAG
moves to a new building in Barcelona and hosts European Plant Breeding Academy
session focused on breeding with molecular markers.
At
the beginning of 2011 the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)
research groups will move to a new building in the Bellaterra Campus of the
Autonomous University of Barcelona. (www.cragenomica.es). The new building features state-of-the art
laboratories, growthrooms and greenhouses. At the opening the new
facility will already accommodate 99 scientists, 63 Ph.D. students, 52
technical support staff and 11 administrative staff.
Contributed by Joy Patterson
+++++++++++
Breeding with Molecular Markers Course 2012
Location and Dates:
UC Davis – Conference Center
February 14-15, 2012
Who should attend?
This course is designed for professional plant breeders
who want to learn when and how molecular tools can be integrated in their
breeding programs. It is also an opportunity for breeders who are already using
these tools to expand their knowledge of new strategies and technologies.
Topics include:
• Types and
availability of molecular markers
• Working with
quantitative trait loci
• Maker–
assisted selection
• Using
association studies in breeding
• Effects of
population structure on applications of molecular markers
• Hands- on
software demonstrations to analyze traits with molecular markers
• New breeding
strategies with markers
For more information contact: jmartins@ucdavis.edu or (530) 7524984
Donna Van Dolah
Seed Biotechnology Center
One Shields Ave., Mail Stop 5
Davis, CA 95616
Tel: 530-752-2159
Fax: 530-754-7222
dlvandolah@ucdavis.edu
+++++++++++
European Plant Breeding Second Class Starts October 2011
Applications are now being accepted for the second class
of the European Plant Breeding Academy beginning in October of 2011. The
integrated postgraduate program, which is not crop specific, teaches the
fundamentals of plant breeding, genetics, and statistics through
lectures, discussion, and field trips to public and private breeding programs.
Employers appreciate the opportunity to provide their valued employees advanced
training without disrupting their full-time employment. Participants will
attend six 6-day sessions in five countries. The instructors are
internationally recognized experts in plant breeding and seed technology.
For more information on the UC Davis European Plant
Breeding Academy or the Plant Breeding Academy in the United States visit http://pba.ucdavis.edu or contact
Joy Patterson, jpatterson@ucdavis.edu
For
more information and application process visit http://pba.ucdavis.edu/PBA_in_Europe/PBA_in_Europe_Class_II/.
EPBA Class II locations and dates:
Week 1: Oct 17-22,
2011
Location: Gent, Belgium
Partners: FlandersBio
Week 2: Mar 5-10,
2012
Location: Angers, France
Partners: Vegepolys, Fédération Nationale des Professionnels des Semences Potageres et Florales
(FNPSP)
Week 3: June 25-30,
2012
Location: Gatersleben, Germany
Partners: The German
Plant Breeders' Association (BDP), Leibniz
Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)
Week 4: Oct 8-13,
2012
Location: Enkhuizen, Netherlands
Partners: Seed Valley, Naktuinbouw
Week 5: Mar 4-9,
2013
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Partners: Asociacion
Nacional de Obtentores Vegetales (ANOVE), CRAG [a
consortium between Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentaries (IRTA) & Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)]
Week 6: June 24-29,
2013
Location: Davis, CA
Partners: Seed Biotechnology Center, UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences
+++++++++++
- OTHER
MEETINGS, COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
The following meetings are noted for Chiang Mai, Thailand during 2011 and
2012:
-The Role of Agriculture and National Resources on
Global Warming (7-9 Nov. 2011)
-International Rubber Council (8-11 Nov. 2011)
-International Symposium Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (15-18 Nov. 2011)
-Third International Symposium on Papaya (24-27 Nov.
2011)
-International Symposium on Tropical and Subtropical
Fruit (29 Nov.-2 Dec. 2011)
-Twenty-second Congress of International on Orchids and
Ornamental Plants (9-12 Jan. 2012)
-The 12th SABRAO Congress (13-16 Jan. 2012 in The Plant Breeding Challenges in
the Global Dynamism
-International Symposium on Banana (23-26 Jan. 2012)
-Regional Symposium on International Conference on
Tropical and Subtropical Plant Diseases (7-9 Feb. 2012)
For more information: www.royalflora2011.com and peyanoot@hotmail.com or
royalflorasymposium2011@yahoo.com
+++++++++++
5-7 September 2011. 2nd International Plant
Phenotyping Conference, , Jülich, Germany
https://www.congressa.de/phenosymp2011/
5-9 September 2011. 21st International Triticeae Mapping
Initiative workshop, Hotel Sevilla, Mexico City, Mexico.
The 21st ITMI Workshop will present recent
advances in molecular genetics, genomics, and genetic analysis of
Triticeae. Topics will include structural and functional genomics mapping and
cloning, molecular breeding, wheat genetic resources, bioinformatics, and new
technologies for cereal crops.
Registration: http://conferences.cimmyt.org/en/home-itmi-workshop
7-8 Septmber 2011. Coexistence Workshop: The Science
of Gene Flow in Agriculture and its Role in Co-existence. Washington DC
Registration There is no fee to attend this workshop. Registration
includes daily breaks, however, lunch is not included (there is a cafeteria in
the building). For questions contact Susan DiTomaso. This workshop is sponsored by the USDA.
11-14 September 2011. 8th International Symposium on
Mycosphaerella and Stagonospora Diseases of Cereals, Hotel Sevilla, Mexico City, Mexico
The Symposium will focus on the Mycosphaerella and
Stagonospora pathogen communities infecting cereals. Individual sessions
will address pathogen biology and genetics, genomics, resistance breeding,
population genetics, evolutionary biology, and disease management.
Registration: http://conferences.cimmyt.org/en/home-septoria-conference
21-22 September 2011.European
Workshop on Organic Seed Regulation,
The Organic Research Centre, Elm Farm, Hamstead Marshall
near Newbury, RG20 0HR, UK. organized by the European Consortium for Organic
Plant Breeding
Contact: Dr. Thomas Döring
E‐mail: thomas.d(at)organicresearchcentre.com,
Tel. 00441488 658298 Extension 553.
(NEW) 26 September – 7 October. Standardization of Stem Rust Note Taking and Evaluation of Germplasm,
KARI, Njoro, Kenya.
This course, offered by CIMMYT, is designed for new and upcoming wheat
breeders from public and private sector in Africa, Middle East and Central and
South Asia, who wish to learn about the stem rust, evaluation of germplasm,
standardization of note taking and update themselves with the global knowledge
and innovative techniques that can enhance progress and efficiency in their
breeding activities.
(Note: Deadline for intent to participate has already passed) . Contact
Dr. Sridhar Bhavani (s.bhavani@cgiar.org) or Dr. Amor
Yahyaoui (A.Yahyaoui@cgiar.org).
FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.globalrust.org/traction/permalink/newsroom508
Contributed by Cally Arthur
3-8 October 2012. 6th International Congress on
Legume Genetics and Genomics,
Hyderabad, India.
Follow the link http://www.icrisat.org/gt-bt/VI-ICLGG/homepage.htm or send email at r.k.varshney@cgiar.org / iclgg2012@gmail.com for more
information.
Please keep visiting http://www.icrisat.org/gt-bt/VI-ICLGG/Homepage.htm to have updates and more information about the ICLGG-2012,
Hyderabad, India. Thanks!
6-8 October 2011. Amaranth Institute Meeting:
Innovation and Development, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa USA.
11 October 2011. SolCAP workshop at the Tomato Disease Workshop, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
This workshop will be held in conjunction with the Tomato Disease Workshop.
Registration: Registration is FREE but REQUIRED to track the total
number of participants. If you would like to attend, when registering for the Tomato Disease Workshop Meeting, select the SolCAP Workshop option. If you have already registered for
the Tomato Disease Workshop and overlooked the SolCAP workshop registration
please contact Jeanette Martins email: jmartins@ucdavis.edu or visit the website to
register for the SolCAP Workshop - SolCAP Workshop Registration
October 2011 to June 2013. European Plant Breeding Academysm Class II scheduled to start
in Fall 2011
Applications are now being accepted.
European
Plant Breeding Academy class II will begin its academic year in Fall
2011. This is a professional development course designed by the Seed
Biotechnology Center at UC Davis to increase the supply of professional plant
breeders.
For more information on the UC Davis European Plant
Breeding Academy or the Plant Breeding Academy in the United States visit http://pba.ucdavis.edu or
contact Joy Patterson, jpatterson@ucdavis.edu.
(See also Section
B above for further details)
16-20 October 2011. International Symposium on
Sunflower Genetic Resources, Fantasia
Deluxe Hotel, KusadasiEvent State, Izmir, Turkey
http://www.ttae.gov.tr/symposium
24-26 October 2011. Minia International
Conference for Agriculture and Irrigation in the Nile Basin Countries, Egypt.
For further details please visit our website www.micma2011.org
24-27 October 2011. CIALCA International
Conference, Kigali, Rwanda, http://tinyurl.com/69lr2k3
October 2011. 10th African Crop Science Society Conference
2011, Maputo, Mozambique.
More information will be available on ACSS website.
Also, you can contact Dr. Luisa Santos (ACSS Vice-
President, Chairman, LOC; luisa@zebra.uem.mz) Eduardo Mondlane University,
Faculty of Agronomy and Forest Engineering, P.O. Box 257, Maputo,
Mozambique.
7-11 November 2011. The 11th Asian Maize
Conference, Xiyuan Hotel, 38, XingGuang, DaDao, Nanning, 530031, Guangxi,
P.R. China.
The meeting will be jointly hosted by the Guangxi
Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GAAS) and the Guangxi Maize Research
Institute (GMRI).
Scientists and maize production specialists of all
disciplines, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and seed
industries are invited to participate.
More information: http://conferences.cimmyt.org/en/events/the-11th-asian-maize-conference
(NEW) 7-18 November 2011 Ninth
ICRISAT-CEG Training Course on Molecular Plant Breeding, ICRISAT Campus at Patancheru,
Greater Hyderabad, India.
The ICRISAT’s Center of Excellence in Genomics (CEG, ww.icrisat.org/ceg),
supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India is
pleased to announce its 9th Training course entitled Molecular Plant
Breeding for Crop Improvement to be held during 7-18 November
2011 at the ICRISAT Campus at Patancheru, Greater Hyderabad, India. ICRISAT-CEG
has already trained 200 scientists by organizing 8 training courses during the
last three years. More details on these courses are available at http://www.icrisat.org/CEG/cegregistration.htm.
The major focus of the 9th CEG Training Course will be on
analysis and the use of marker genotyping data rather than on data generation.
Course will include presentations and/or hands-on training on topics like
overview of molecular marker technology especially SSRs and SNPs, experimental
design and data analysis components of phenotypic traits, construction of
linkage maps, marker-trait association based on linkage mapping,
marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC), marker assisted recurrent selection
(MARS), genome-wide selection (GWS), and use of decision support tools in
modern breeding. The course participants will also be introduced to
high-throughput genotyping platforms like DArT, BeadXpress system, etc.
Course is open to mainly Indian scientists however, few scientists from
developing countries who have demonstrable ability to use the techniques taught
can also apply. Selected Indian participants will be provided to/from II AC
train fare by shortest route, boarding and lodging at ICRISAT. Candidates
selected from the other developing countries will need to get the sponsorship
from either their organization or some other funding agencies for their travel
expenses and ICRISAT will take care of their boarding and lodging at ICRISAT
campus during the training course. Interested candidates can submit their
applications online http://www.icrisat.org/CEG/cegregistration1.htm on or before 25
September 2011.
For further details or queries, please contact: Rajeev Varshney, Leader –
Centre of Excellence in Genomics (e-mail: r.k.varshney@cgiar.org) or KDV Prasad,
Officer – Training (k.d.prasad@cgiar.org).
27 November – 3 December 2011. 9th
Triennial Regional Cassava Workshop on “Sustainable Cassava production
in Asia for Multiple Uses for Multiple Markets”, Nanning city, Guangxi
province, China.
For more information, please contact:
Mrs. Pimjutha Kerdnoom
CIAT-Bangkok c/o Field Crops Research Institute,
Department of Agriculture
Chattuchak Bangkok 10900
Thailand Telephone: +66 2 579 7551
Fax: +66 2 940 5541 www.ciat.cgiar.org
The correspondence regarding the workshop should be
addressed to the following:
E-mail: ciat-bangkok@cgiar.org
January 2012. Plant Exploration and Collecting: the ethics, the
process, and world laws, Chile.
www.LongIslandHort.cornell.edu
+++++++++++
7-9 February 2012. The 12th SABRAO
Congress. Chiang Mai, Thailand
For more information: www.royalflora2011.com and peyanoot@hotmail.com or royalflorasymposium2011@yahoo.com
+++++++++++++
(NEW) 13-16 January 2012. The
12th SABRAO Congress on Plant Breeding towards 2025: Challenges in a Rapidly
Changing World, The Empress Chiang
Mai Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand
An International Conference to Celebrate His Majesty King Bhumibol’s 84th (7
Cycle) Birthday Anniversary
Jointly Organized by Society for the Advancement of Breeding Research in
Asia and Oceania (SABRAO) and Plant Breeding and Multiplication Association of
Thailand (PBMAT)
Symposium Registration
Registration is required to attend all scientific sessions. Registration
fees will cover attendance to scientific sessions, professional excursion,
tea/coffee, lunch and reception dinner and farewell party. Those who pay full
registration fees will receive a copy of symposium proceedings that will be
published as a volume of SABRAO Journal of Breeding and Genetics.
Correspondence
1. Secretary of the Organizing Committee Associate Professor Dr. Kamol
Lertrat Email: kamol9@gmail.com
2. Assistant Secretary of the Organizing Committee Associate Professor Dr.
Suchila Techawongstien
Email: suctec@kku.ac.th
Contributed by Peerasak Srinives
Chairman of the Organizing Committee
13-16 January 2012. The Plant Breeding Challenges in the Global Dynamism, Chiang Mai, Thailand
For more information: www.royalflora2011.com and peyanoot@hotmail.com or royalflorasymposium2011@yahoo.com
+++++++++++
23-26 January 2012. International Symposium on
Banana, Chiang Mai, Thailand
For more information: www.royalflora2011.com and peyanoot@hotmail.com or royalflorasymposium2011@yahoo.com
++++++++++
7-9 February 2012. Regional Symposium on
International Conference on Tropical and Subtropical Plant Diseases,
Chiang Mai, Thailand
For more information: www.royalflora2011.com and peyanoot@hotmail.com or royalflorasymposium2011@yahoo.com
+++++++++++
For more information: www.royalflora2011.com and peyanoot@hotmail.com or royalflorasymposium2011@yahoo.com
Contributed by Jinda Jan-orn
++++++++++++
16 April – 22 May 2012. Contemporary approaches to genetic resources conservation
and use, Wageningen, The Netherlands
In the context of climate change: Genetic resource
policy and management strategies; and Integrated seed sector development
Plant Breeding News is an
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