January 2006 E-News

Plant Breeding Academy Update
The Plant Breeding Academy is an exciting new program that we are offering to enhance the knowledge of seed industry personnel about the principles of plant breeding. This two-year course addresses the reduced numbers of plant breeders being trained in academic programs in field and horticultural crops. It is an opportunity for companies to invest in dedicated personnel who are currently involved in their own breeding programs, but lack the genetics and plant breeding background to direct a breeding program. Twenty five attendees will be selected and meet at UC Davis during the two years for this exciting program.

This E-News announces several important updates:
1 - An on-line application is now available.
2 - The program meeting times have been reduced to three times per year however, the hours of instruction remain the same.  We hope that the reduction in meeting times will make the Academy commitment fit better into your work environment while meeting the needs of your advanced training.
3 - The meeting schedule is set.
4 - An updated pdf file titled "Plant Breeding Academy Information" is available with additional details.

All of the above information is located at: http://sbc.ucdavis.edu

Solanaceae Coordinated Agricultural Project

The SBC organized a November 15, 2005 meeting to engage the applied plant science community in the application of genomic approaches to crop improvement and translational genomics. Despite extensive sequence databases and genome technologies in Solanaceae crops, significant work remains to translate the value of these resources into commercial breeding programs. Although genetic mapping in Solanaceae has been developing for 20 years, most maps are based on wide crosses and there is a paucity of polymorphic markers applicable to commercial breeding populations. 

The USDA/NRI is sponsoring a $4-5 million 'Coordinated Agricultural Project', CAP, to develop tools for translational genomics for a given genus/species. The purpose of the meeting was to organize the Solanaceae community and define the goals of a CAP. The November meeting was well attended by both public and industry representatives. The meeting outcome and related information is available at: SolCAP on the SBC website.

If you have any questions or comments please contact Sue Webster.

Susan C. Webster
Program Representative
Seed Biotechnology Center
University of California
Plant Reproductive Biology
Extension Center Drive
Davis CA 95616
phone: 530.754.7333
fax: 530.754.7222

For information on the Plant Breeding Academy go to:
Plant Breeding Academy