April 2007 E-News

Plant Breeding Academy 
In February participants met for their second intensive six-day session at UC Davis.  Selection theory and methods, recombination and breeding methods were taught.  Students also toured part of the C. M. Rick Tomato Genetics Resource Center and visited with Center Director and Curator, Dr. Roger Chetelat.  At the end of the session, one student noted, "The Plant Breeding Academy is providing me with more tools to run a successful breeding program."  Stay tuned for more details, efforts for launching the second Academy (September 2008) are underway.

Seed Biology, Production and Quality Course 
Also in February, 80 participants from ten states and three foreign countries attended the two-day course at UC Davis.  Instructors included several local professors and researchers and Dr. J. Derek Bewley, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada and Dr. Hiroyuki Nonogaki, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.  The course received high marks and is expected to be offered again in February 2009.

Seed Development, Dormancy and Germination
The SBC is pleased to announce a new book edited by Dr. Kent Bradford and Dr. Hiroyuki Nonogaki.  It is a comprehensive and contemporary overview of the life cycle of a seed.  It includes coverage of the tools used to analyze seed dormancy and germination behavior.  It has more than 30 contributors drawn from major international laboratories.  Details are available on the SBC website.

Translational Seed Biology: From Model Systems to Crop Improvement Symposium 
An international symposium focusing on the transfer of knowledge of seed biology developed through studies of model systems to improve the agricultural and nutritional value of crops will be held on September 17-20, 2007 at UC Davis.  This exciting symposium will include more than 35 distinguished speakers.  For more information, including registration, go to: Seed Symposium. 

Native Wildflower Seed Production Research Symposium 
For information about this symposium hosted by the University of Florida on July 19-20, 2007 go to: www.wildflowersymposium.com. Topics to be addressed include: genetics, production practices, pollination, harvesting, conditioning, storage, and wild-collected seed.

Bradford appointed to PVP Board 
Dr. Kent Bradford was appointed to a three-year term on the Plant Variety Protection Board (PVP).  After attending a March meeting in Washington DC, he reported the outcome at the annual California Seed Association conference noting that there may be a possible 20% fee increase beginning late 2008.  For more information contact: kjbradford@ucdavis.edu.

Growing the SBC
The SBC is pleased to report that interviews to fill the newly created Executive Director position have been completed and next steps are underway.  The Center would like to acknowledge the many supporters, including those who dedicated their important time to interviews.  More information will be available soon.

Please contact Sue at: scwebster@ucdavis.edu for questions and comments.