Bikram S. Gill, the Wheat Genetics Resource Center, Plant Pathology Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5502, USA.
IGROW (International Genome Research on WHeat) was organized in 2002 to complement the activities of the Internationa Wheat Genetics Organizing Committee (IWGOC) and the International Triticeae Mapping Initiative (ITMI). The IGROW mandate is to coordinate and provide direction to wheat research. The wheat genetics community will identify the best scientists who will coordinate and provide leadership to different areas of wheat research. We are now seeking nominations for working groups who will coordinate research and develop comminity resources in the following ten areas:
1. Bioresources: working groups on wild species, mutants and mapping populations, cytogenetic stocks, and DNA libraries.
2. Genomics: working groups on structural and functional genomics.
3. Proteomics (lipidomics and metabolomics).
4. Transformation anbd genetic engineering.
5. Chromosome engineering and alien transfers (this could be the same as cytogenetic stocks working group).
6. Genetics of wheat-pest interactions.
7. Wheat plant physiology.
8. Breeding and crop improvement.
9. Wheat utilization.
10. Bioinformatics.
I should emphasize that we must organize ourselves as a more cohesive and proactive group if wheat is to stay competitive as a genetic model and as a profitable crop for wholesome nutrition. Herein, we have an opportunity to involve diverse types of wheat expertise on a focused program. I shall appreciate your feedback and nominations of scientists from public and private organizations at the international level for the various working groups. The aim is to get the working groups organized as soon as possible and begin their deliberations so that they can prepare and present their reports to the whole group next year.