Following on from the GCP-funded Phenotyping course for drought-related traits across tropical legumes – Concepts and practices, held at ICRISAT in March 2008, a summary of the major activities carried out during the course, as well as the main discussions and outcomes, and the next steps to be taken, is now available.
The course, held from 3rd-28th March 2008 at ICRISAT's campus in Patancheru, India, brought together 27 participants, hailing primarily from National Agricultural Research Systems in Africa working on the different species of the Tropical Legumes Improvement (TLI) project, together with a handful of participants from India.
The workshop provided participants with: (i) practical hands-on training in the measurement of drought-related traits and data management, (ii) an understanding of the key principles of phenotyping, and (iii) opportunities for cross-legume (groundnut, cowpea, bean and chickpea) discussions on key traits involved in their adaptation to drought.
Throughout the course, a number of discussions were held on the relevance of various traits to drought adaptation, the key environmental variables to measure while phenotyping; experimental design; the logistical issues related to large phenotyping experiments, and more. The major outcome of the course was that participants left with a good grounding in phenotyping methods, to be put to use in their respective home institutions.
Materials produced from the course will soon be available in the Capacity-building corner.
Contact: Vincent Vadez
GCP's Capacity-building corner is pleased to announce the launch of a new learning module on Genomics and comparative genomics.
The module is the result of a collaborative project between Cornell University's Institute for Genomic Diversity and GCP, and is designed to be used either as basic material for a class setting, or as a self-tutorial.
The material is intended for use by scientists and advanced students with a strong background in biology and genetics. The principal audience includes plant breeders, molecular biologists and other plant scientists on the fringe of—but not fully engaged in—genomics research.
To view the material, and to learn about other Leaning modules available, please visit the Leaning materials section of the GCP's Capacity-building corner.
GCP is pleased to announce that hard copies of its recently published 2007 Annual Report and year 5 (2008) workplan are now available. To request a hard copy, please contact Kate Durbin, providing full name, mailing address and institution.
For an electronic copy of the report, please visit our Recent Publications page.
GCP is pleased to announce the addition of a new module to its McClintock Crop Bioinformatics Course. The 1st edition of an electronic manual on marker-assisted backcrossing (MAB), authored by BCY Collard, K Iftekharuddaula, MJ Thomson, A Pamplona and DJ Mackill, covers theoretical and applied MAB in rice. Chapters 1 to 6 have been uploaded to the site, with chapters 7 to 10 to follow shortly.
McClintock Crop Bioinformatics Course is a joint project between GCP and IRRI. For more information on the course, and to view other Learning modules commissioned by GCP's Subprogramme 5, please visit our Capacity-building corner.
Dates: 13th-17th November 2008
Convenors: GCP’s Subprogrammes 1 and 5
Venue: Montpellier, France
As GCP approaches the end of Phase I (2004–2008), Subprogramme 1 projects now have large datasets featuring SSR diversity (12 to 50 loci) among large germplasm samples (300 to 3,000 accessions) for 21 crops. This has helped identify reference samples of 50 to 500 accessions, which have been further handled as genetic stocks, with data having been ascertained for a subset of high-quality SSR markers.
These efforts have resulted in a major GCP product accessible as a global public good in a robust form: germplasm reference samples with validated data for reference markers. The next step is to ensure that these samples are widely distributed and used, so that new data can be integrated in order to derive biological understanding for better use and management of germplasm diversity.
This workshop will examine the various stages in gaining access to genetic diversity available in crop germplasm collections, and will analyse the mode of organisation necessary for taking full advantage of the initiative. It will also serve as an excellent opportunity for coordination among various players engaged in germplasm management in international programmes.
Participation will be by invitation only, with expenses (travel, food and lodging) to be covered by GCP.
Contact: Carmen de Vicente and Jean Christophe Glaszmann
The deadline for submission of proposals for the GCP Genotyping Support Service has been extended to Tuesday 30th September 2008. Applicants who will have submitted GSS proposals by this date will have up to Wednesday 8th October 2008 to revise and polish their proposals.
Please note that this proposal editing window (30th Septemeber to 8th October) will only apply to proposals already registered by 30th September. New proposals submitted after 30th September will not be accepted.
These new deadlines supersede both the original 31st August deadline announced in GCP News Issue 32, and the former extended deadline of 10th September 2008.
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