GLOBAL WHEAT GENETIC RESOURCES NETWORK AND GENETIC STOCK WORKSHOP

4th August 1988, 7.30 PM

9th International Wheat Genetics Symposium

Dr T Endo had raised concern for the future of wheat genetic stocks as a workshop topic for the 9th IWGS. The local organizing committee suggested that there was communality between the two subjects and suggested a joint workshop. Because of the relevance of genetic stock to the network the topic was included in this workshop.
  Introduction: Dr Bent Skovmand. The network was formed at the 8th IWGS with the objectives of developing a global wheat genetic resources database, distributing a periodic newsletter, and fostering collaboration in developing other initiatives/projects identified as compatible to network activities.

The global database was developed as the Genetic Resources Information Package (GRIP) for wheat. This project received funding from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) during 1994 – 1995. Collaboration with scientists in a number of countries (including Mexico, Australia, Canada, India, China, United Kingdom, USA and South Africa) allowed a database of passport data for over 100,000 unique genotypes to be developed, with a user interface, which was distributed to about 2,000 wheat scientists in 1996.

There were some errors in the first GRIP database and some 32,000 additional records contained conflicting data and were not included. ACIAR provided a second round of funding during 1997 – 1998 for the correction and verification of existing data as well as adding new information and improving the user interface. The GRIP II package will be available in late 1998 or early 1999 and will include an electronic version of the current Catalog of Gene Symbols.

The newsletter part of the original objectives was not successful. In hindsight it was considered that a newsletter is probably an inappropriate method of communication for the network. It was suggested that ‘Grain-genes’ might be more appropriate and effective in establishing communication and Dr Dave Matthews has agreed to assist in this effort (see below).
 
 

 Demonstration of GRIP II: Michael Mackay (Australia) A pre-release demonstration of the second version of GRIP (Triticeae GRIP II) was provided using slides. This demonstration illustrated the new user interface and most other features of the new version, including genetic information and germplasm attributes. The main initiatives were the inclusion of genetic data, germplasm attributes and inclusion of the Catalog of Gene Symbols.
  Network Communication Options: Dr Dave Matthews (USA) Dr Matthews outlined a range of options for using the internet to foster communication within (and outside) the network. These included using the existing graingenes list group, developing a new list group for the network and / or curators, and developing a web resource for sharing information. These services could be provided by GrainGenes quite quickly and at no cost.

People wishing to join the graingenes mail group, which currently has about 400 members, could do so by sending an email message to Dr Matthews at matthews@greengenes.cit.cornell.edu.

Dr Matthews offered to put the Chinese data onto the GrainGenes web site and also to mirror data from other sites. He also illustrated some samples of the different ways GrainGenes can help people communicate their work – such as electronic publications, data storage and searching etc.

Dr Brad Fraleigh (Canada) suggested that the KSU META-DATA system (International Taxonomic Information Service) might provide additional ideas to foster communication.

The Global Wheat Genetic Resources Network will continue under the same format except that communication will be tried over the GrainGenes rather than as a newsletter. The Genetic Resources Information Package will continue developments, including adding to and correcting the present information. Further funding for this project is unlikely. The CD-ROM will be available at the end of 1998.
 
 

 Wheat Genetic Stocks: Dr Takashi Endo. Japan did not have proper arrangements for the care and maintenance of genetic stocks and it was feared that these might be lost for a number of reasons. A few years ago wheat researchers got together to establish a wheat genetic stocks centre (including wheat, rye and oats). Stocks were recorded in a database; the first version called "KOMUGI" being recently completed. The committee sought funding for this work from the Ministry of Education in 1997 but without success. There has been no response yet to the current submission for funding.

Dr Endo described the types of stocks involved and emphasized that they were only experimental genetic material. He highlighted one of the principle threats to their loss being the retirement of experienced cytogeneticists, who had maintained genetic stocks, and few have the experience to continue the work.

Dr Endo wanted to determine the situation of genetic stocks in other parts of the world and asked several participants to provide this information.

Dr John Raupp (Kansas, USA). Dr Raupp detailed the stocks he held, provided a list of staff involved, and provided details as to where information on the stocks could be obtained (GrainGenes and his web site http://www.ksu.edu/wgrc/. Dr Raupp also advised that he had developed a nomenclature for the naming of aneuploid, which was available on the web site.

Dr Terry Miller (Norwich, UK). The situation was similar to that in Japan relating to people retiring. Funding in Eastern Europe has dropped and stocks are being lost. There is a European cytogeneticists group and Norwich has offered to put stocks at threat into long term storage. The group submitted a proposal to conserve genetic stocks to the EU three years ago but was unsuccessful, but will try again. The John Innes Centre has all the original PBI stocks. Maintenance of this material is not "officially" funded but is undertaken as a sideline to other projects. Dr Mike Ambrose intends to set up a database to maintain all information about the stocks, which will be put on the web. Currently the stocks are secure and being maintained as required. Some stocks require very complex cytology and / or test crossing to be maintained. Dr Miller will be retiring shortly and his work will be taken on by Dr Steve Reader. Dr Stenhno (Czech Republic) indicated he thought France was preparing a European database.

Dr Xu Liu (China). Dr Liu outlined the genetic resources situation in China and indicated about one third were genetic stocks. The Chinese government is trying to develop its internet capabilities so the information can be made available to all.

Dr Adam Lukaszewski (Riverside, USA) provided details of the stocks under his care.
 
 

 Demonstration of KOMUGI: Dr Yukiko Yamazaki (Japan) Dr Yamazaki provided details of their Shared Genetic Resources Information model. She also provided details of the schema of the "KOMUGI" database. Further information can be obtained from their web site www.shigen.nig.ac.jp/wheat/wheat.html .
  Discussion The value of putting data on the web (and advertising it) compared to identifying what stocks are held where, what stocks are in peril, what can be rescued, what is duplicated etc. was discussed at some length. The outcome from this discussion was that the first priority should be conservation and the 2nd (or later) priority should be advertising stocks.

Dr Fraleigh indicated that there were four issues. 1) conservation, 2) cytogenetic experience, 3) information exchange and, 4) public awareness. He also suggested fostering a closer partnership between cytologists and gene bank curators.

Dr T. Sasakuma (Japan) moved that a few people should be selected to develop the genetic stock objectives in the network and to publicize/communicate the activities via GrainGenes.

Drs Endo, Matthews and Raupp were nominated and agreed to undertake this task. Dr Miller agreed to provide a list of European genetic stock contacts so a person from that region could but included in the "genetic stocks committee".

Suggested initial objectives for the committee included:
      1. Develop a register of genetic stocks held
      2. Identify short, medium and long term threats to stocks
      3. Identify what "backup" resources are available to avoid loss of stocks
      4. Identify a ‘core’ set of stocks that must be maintained
A list of wheat curators, together with their email addresses, would be compiled and provided to Dr Matthews so these people can be informed of network activities.

It was also recommended that a list of stocks be published in the next IWGS proceedings or the Wheat Information Service. The committee would further this proposal. This information will also be made available on GrainGenes.
 
 

 Network Management The network management committee for the next five years includes:

B Skovmand
M Mackay
T Endo
D Matthews
John Raupp