Since the last report for ear morphology genes in BGN 23, not much genetical research on these morphological markers has been performed. We really have entered the time where mapping of molecular markers with all the RFLP maps has increased so rapidly that not much classical genetics on ear morphological markers is seen in the literature. The listing of the different ear morphological characters in BGN 23:175-176 is valid and up-to-date.

It deserves to be mentioned that many of the ear morphology marker genes are in progress to be tranferred into a common genetic background. Most of the basic material is induced in many different genetic backgrounds, depending on in which part of the world they have been grown. Such morphological marker genes, both BGS from the Barley Genetic Stock Center and different mutant stocks from the Nordic Gene Bank (NGB) are being backcrossed by Jerome D. Franckowiak at North Dakota State University, in Fargo, into the two-rowed cultivar Bowman. Bowman is a commonly grown, high yielding and non-malting barley, very popular in North Dakota, USA. 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.

All researchers and plantbreeders in the field of ear morphological genes are encouraged to submit matters of interest to the coordinator as well. Material of the Swedish collections, as described in BGN 23:175-176, is available to every research worker, and seed requests can be done at any time. During the last year several seed requests of these stocks were asked by different groups working with RFLP, RAPDs and AFPDs.