Growing the SBC
Efforts are underway to expand the SBC based on numerous discussions with stakeholders and the results of a comprehensive survey. In order to do so, a program has been launched to acquire funds to support a new position that will help to extend Center programs. Thanks to a generous donation from Forage Genetics International and the University of California, Davis, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, efforts are well underway towards achieving the goal. Support for the SBC is an investment in the future of the seed industry. Growing the Center will provide the resources to allow it to do more research, more education and more outreach to move the seed industry forward in a globally competitive environment. If you would like more information about the SBC initiative, contact Sue Webster at scwebster@ucdavis.edu or at 530-754-7333.
The Seed Biotechnology Center participates in International meeting on the Cartagena Protocol for Biosafety
Dr. Allen Van Deynze participated in the 2nd Meeting of the Parties of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) as a member of the Public Research and Regulation Initiative (PRRI) group (www.pubresreg.org). The PRRI is a group of over 100 scientists from developed and developing countries around the world. Their aim is to ensure scientific and practical regulations are adopted for regulating biotechnology. The Cartagena Protocol (CP) is Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It came into effect in September 2003. Its aim is as stated in Article 1:
“In accordance with the precautionary approach contained in Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration, to contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the field of the safe transfer, handling and use of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and specifically focusing on transboundary movements.”
The PRRI actively participated as advisor to parties (countries) in administering the Protocol. Through several interventions, the PRRI was able to add language to the Protocol to reflect that positive impacts of biotech must be considered as well as negative impacts on biodiversity. The second international Meeting of the Parties on the Cartagena Protocol was held May 30th-June 3rd, 2005 in Montreal, Canada.
Information on the Cartagena Protocol can be found at http://www.cbd.int/
Development and Application of an Informative Set of Anchored Markers for Tomato Breeding
In cooperation with David Francis and Esther van der Knaap (OSU/OARDC) the SBC is developing Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) based on sequence variation within the introns of Conserved Orthologous Set (COS) genes. These COS intron (COSi) markers have a rate of polymorphism that is ~5 fold higher than the coding regions found in the EST databases.
We are targeting the most variable portion of genes and prescreen approximately 1500 marker loci for variation specifically in breeding germplasm prior to developing the markers. Markers are being developed and evaluated on a set of 48 breeding lines and genetic mapping populations. They will also be used directly in identifying genetic loci related to fruit shape and quality. The information will be made available through an interactive database. The purpose of the project is to develop DNA markers that are useful to manipulate traits and germplasm in tomato breeding.
OBJECTIVES: 1) Develop bioinformatics to predict intron position, design primers, and display annotated sequences. 2) Develop a pre-screen for SNPs among L. esculentum lines, based on Single-Stranded Conformation polymorphism. 3) Characterize, and display in an interactive database, SNP variation among tomato varieties and species. 4) Apply SNPs to the analysis and characterization of elite breeding populations and wide crosses of tomato for nutritional quality. Link to abstract of the USDA/NRI grant supporting this work.
For questions or comments please contact:
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
scwebster@ucdavis.edu
http://sbc.ucdavis.edu
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