August 2006 E-News

Plant Breeding Academy Update
We are pleased to introduce Tanya Meyer, the new Plant Breeding Academy coordinator. Tanya has a Bachelor of Science and Master degree from UC Davis. She worked in the tomato industry, for the Yolo County Resource Conservation District and later for Hedgerow Farms which is a seed production operation that specializes in California native grasses and flowers for habitat restoration. Most recently Tanya was the coordinator for two Center For Land-Based Learning programs which teach high school students about agriculture and environment. Tanya will be the main contact for the Academy.

The Plant Breeding Academy begins on September 11, 2006 at the University of California, Davis. The last day to register is August 15, 2006. For more information about the Academy go to: The PBA.

Dr. Van Deynze appointed to USDA Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee
Dr. Allen Van Deynze will represent UC Davis on the multi-state committee that will provide focus and sustained leadership for strategic issues in plant breeding. It will also provide visibility for plant breeding in databases of state and federal research, where presently it is largely invisible. Most importantly, this committee will allow for the contribution of many individuals from all sectors.

Objectives include:
1. Enhance communication between plant breeders in different sectors and crops
2. Assemble information about the U.S. plant breeding effort
3. Describe plant breeding in terms of national goals
4. Identify research and/or education priorities
5. Other activities related to leadership and strategic planning for plant breeding, as identified by the members

The first meeting will be in February in Raleigh, North Carolina. For questions or comments email: avandenynze@ucdavis.edu.

Publications
Germination Magazine, in a special edition for the International Seed Federation May 2006 congress, highlights comments from Dr. Allen Van Deynze: An Endangered Species.

SeedQuest published an interview with Dr. Allen Van Deynze regarding the Cartagena Protocol on Biodiversity. See: Seed Biotechnology Center provides input on international biotechnology regulations for the complete article.

DNA Extraction from Seeds
The SBC worked with seed industry partners to develop and verify high-throughput protocols for DNA extraction from seeds of a wide range of crops and seed types. The SBC developed an efficient system to grind and extract DNA from vegetable seeds. Protocols were developed to extract high-quality DNA from 11 seed types in a high-throughput format. The DNA can be used for variety identification, hybridity screening, marker- assisted selection, or other purposes. This project was funded jointly by eight seed company sponsors. For more information go to: Seed Extraction Supplement . The research will be published in in November in Seed Science & Technology.

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

Seed Biotechnology Center
University of California
Plant Reproductive Biology
Extension Center Drive
Davis CA 95616
phone: 530.754.7333
fax: 530.754.7222