Genetics and Germplasm Working Group (GG)
GG is part of the American Society
for Horticultural Science (ASHS)
Minutes (2004 meeting)
- Genetics and Germplasm Working Group Business Meeting
- American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference
- Renaissance Hotel
- Austin, TX
- July 20, 2004
Attendees: Ryan Hayes, Dan Barney, Becky Grube,
Maria Jenderek, Jim Nienhuis, Beiquan Mou, Kathy Reitsma,
Mark Widrlechner, Richard Bell, and Janice Strachan.
Officers: Janice Strachan (chair), Becky
Grube (chair-elect), Maria Jenderek (secretary). The meeting
was called to order by Janice Strachan. The minutes of the
2003 business meeting were accepted. The minutes were posted
on a website maintained by Dr. Todd Wehner, NC State University.
Frank N. Meyer Medal for Plant Genetic Resources:
Janice Strachan called for worthy nominations for the tri-society
award that recognizes a person with outstanding records
over a long period of time in exploration, evaluation, maintenance
or administrative foresight of plant genetic resources.
The deadline for nomination is March 2005. John Stommel
and Phil Simon may know who was nominated in 2004. A GGWG
representative should be included on the selection committee;
the officers should establish an internal deadline for nominations
by the GG members, so a GG supported candidate is nominated.
GGWG-supported activities at the 2004 meeting:
This year workshop organized by Mallikarjuna 'Mali' K. Aradhya
on 'Effective use of molecular markers in genetic conservation
and improvement of horticultural crops' was well attended
by the conference participants (ca. 80).
GGWG-supported events at future meetings:
The deadline for submitting colloquia proposals for the
2005 conference was June 30, 2004. Schuyler Korban's colloquium
proposal on 'Horticultural Crop Genomics' was submitted
for the 2005 meeting. The GGWG has supported the VBWG colloquium
proposal on 'Breeding for developing countries'.
The group discussed possible topics for a workshop in 2005,
and a tentative title 'Domestication of new plant species'
has been considered. Maria Jenderek agreed to develop the
workshop proposal. Possible talks and speakers included:
- Introducing kiwi to the U.S. market (Frieda Caplan,
California)
- Domestication of Lesquerella (oil crop, Dave Dierig,
Arizona,)
- New fruits for arid climates (cactus fruits, Y. Mizrahi,
Israel)
- New ornamentals (N. Anderson, Minnesota; Becky Grube
will provide a few names from California)
The deadline for workshop proposal submission for the 2005
conference is December 15, 2004.
Selection of a GGWG representative for a 2005 CSREES
seminar in Las Vegas: The attendees agreed with
the suggestion by Jim Nienhuis that the selection would
be done by the officers. Either Becky Grube or Janice Strachan
will represent the group. Janice Strachan initiated a discussion
on possible topics to be presented during this seminar.
Mark Widrlechner voiced that there is a need for educating
new plant taxonomists; the old group of taxonomists is vanishing;
funding for research related to plant taxonomy may encourage
scientists to specialize in this area. The chair will ask
for discussion ideas all GG members via email.
New officers: Beiquan Mou (USDA, ARS,
Salinas, CA) was nominated and elected as secretary. Becky
Grube and Maria Jenderek became chair and chair-elect, respectively.
Other: The schedule of this year ASHS
meeting was improved in comparison to the previous year.
Janice Strachan encouraged all to submit candidates for
ASHS officer election; needed are President-elect, Industry
Vice President-elect, and Extension Vice President-elect.
Jim Nienhuis proposed to develop the topic on 'Horticultural
Crop Genomics' for the tri-society meeting if the colloquium
is not funded by ASHS.
The meeting was adjourned.
