GrainGenes

A great number of coordinator's reports have been received. Alreday a look through the issue of BGN 23, really indicates that mapping of molecular markers is increasing so rapidly that not very much classical genetics is found. Unhappily, the number of researchers interested in morphological markers of barley is definitely not increasing. The duties and responsibilities as reported in previous issues are published in the issue of BGN 21:11, and I want again to call upon the coordinators to keep attention on these paragraphs. A list of the coordinators with their addresses and FAX numbers will also be published in this issue of BGN. I also would like to ask the coordinators to inform of their E-Mail address for future communications.

Some changes of the ccordinators have taken place during 1994, but definite nominations cannot be done before the VII. International Barley Genetics Symposium in Saskatoon, Canada, 1996. The coordinator for chromosome 1, Reg Lance in Adelaide, Australia, wants to resign, as he has to take care of his increasing breeding programme, and is unable to continue serving chromosome 1. David Laurie from John Innes, Norwich, UK, is willing to take over this job until the next Barley Genetics Symposium. He has provided a report for this issue of BGN. I like to thank Reg Lance for his efforts serving Chromosome 1. Concerning the Barley Genetic Stock Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, has agreed in early 1994 to transfer all the barley genetic stocks to the USDA-ARS in Aberdeen, Idaho. They have been moved during May and September 1994. An Hang is responsible for maintaining the stocks, and he and Darrell Wesenberg have presented a report in this issue of BGN about the status.

The inquiries for the incorporation of Barley Genes and Genetic Stocks into the Triticeae Genome Database "Graingenes" have continued. Many of the morphological marker genes, about 600, are in progress of being transferred into a common genetic background. Many of the BGS (Barley Genetic Stocks) and morphological marker genes from other gene Centra world-wide are being backcrossed by Jerome D. Franckowiak at North Dakota State University, in Fargo, USA, into the two-rowed cultivar Bowman. Most of these backcross-derived lines, each containing one morphological marker, will get incorporated into the Barley Genetic Stock Collection, in Aberdeen, Idaho, in the near future. These lines can be used for linkage studies, assessment of specific marker genes, determination of linkage drag, and marker assisted gene transfer. A short description of each mutant will be incorporated into "Graingenes". The first electronic copy with a few descriptions has been delivered by J.D. Franckowiak already. During July 1994, I have been visiting Fargo and studying the backcrossed lines. Photographs have been taken of the different morphological characters, both overview pictures and photographs in detail. They will be included into "Graingenes" together with the descriptions in the next-coming years.

In about 18 months we hopefully will meet in Canada at the VII International Barley Genetics Symposium. I would like to encourage the coordinators and their colleagues already to-day, to provide me with ideas, aspects, items or topics, which should be brought up during the conference in workshops or other discussion meetings.