Symposium Genomics and Plant Breeding: the Experience of the Initiative for Future Agricultural and Food Systems

sions C-1 and C-7, shared perspectives gained from INTRODUCTION IFAFS research on the value of genomics to plant breedFor plant genomics to affect economic and environing. A panel of IFAFS grantees representing a diversity mental benefits, the knowledge gained must be “transof crops was invited to present summaries of their related” into crop varieties having desired characteristics. search experience and participate in a discussion. IFAFS The discipline of plant breeding is the “translator” of panel members were Charles Brummer, Agronomy new knowledge from emerging technologies into imDep., Iowa State Univ.; Jorge Dubcovsky, Dep. of Agronproved crop cultivars, or “varieties.” The AgGenomics omy and Range Science, Univ. of California, Davis; Misection of the peer-reviewed Initiative for Future Agriculchael Havey, USDA-ARS and Horticulture Dep., Univ. ture and Food Systems [(IFAFS) offered by CSREES, of Wisconsin; Molly Jahn, Plant Breeding Dep., Cornell USDA in 2000 and 2001] was one of the few sources Univ.; Steven Knapp, Crop and Soil Sciences Dep., Oreof funding to date for integration of genomics and plant gon State Univ.; Robert Martienssen, Cold Spring Harbreeding. A symposium held 13 Nov. 2002 at the annual bor Laboratories; and Andrew Paterson, Crop and Soil meetings of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), Sciences Dep., Univ. of Georgia. In addition, Dr. M. cosponsored by CSREES, USDA, and by CSSA DiviGoodman, Crop Science Dep., North Carolina State Univ., represented classical plant breeding, and Dr. Mark Cooper, Pioneer HiBred International, represented the A.M. Thro, CSREES, USDA, 800 9th St. S.W., Washington, DC 20024 private sector. Each essay in the present collection adUSA; W. Parrott, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of dresses the utility of molecular biology for crop improveGeorgia, Athens, GA 30602-7272; J.A. Udall, Department of Botany, ment, from the viewpoint of an individual panelist. FolBessey Hall Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011; W. Beavis, Nalowing the panelist essays, are a brief report of the tional Center for Genome Resources, 2935 Rodeo Park Drive East, discussion and an overall summary of the symposium’s Santa Fe, NM 87505. Received 23 July 2003. *Corresponding editor