III. Announcement

Seventh International Wheat Genetics Symposium

July 13th - 19th 1988 Cambridge, UK

International Organizing Committee: M Tanaka (Chairman);
M D Gale, S S Maan, O Maystrenko, D Mettin,
R de V Pienaar, G T Scarascia Mugnozza, K W Shepherd
Symposium Organizing Committee: Sir Ralph Riley (President);
C N Law(Chairman); M D Gale, J W Snape, M D Bennett,
J Bingham

The response to the first circular has been most encouraging and more than 500 people have indicated their interest in attending: In this second circular, further details about the Symposium are given but most important are the accompanying registration and booking forms. It is essential that you follow the instructions closely, and return these on or before the dates given so that the organizers can continue with arranging and planning the Symposium.

Location

The Symposium will be held in the Babbage Lecture Theatre in the University of Cambridge and also in the nearby Corn Exchange where the Plenary and Poster Sessions will be presented. Both sites are situated in the centre of Cambridge and are within walking distance of Queens' and King's Colleges, where most participants will be staying.

Wheat genetics and breeding in Cambridge

Cambridge, in East Anglia, is the seat of one of the oldest universities in the British Isles. It has a population of about 100,000 but the population of the immediately surrounding area is over 300,000. Architecturally the most interesting buildings in the city are those belonging to the University which is composed of 32 colleges, the first founded in 1284 and the most recent in 1985. The 'Backs', where historically interesting college buildings back onto the river Cam, often separated from it by immaculately kept lawns and gardens, are one of Cambridge's most attractive features.

The association of Cambridge University with genetics and plant breeding is very strong. William Bateson, the proposer of the term 'genetics', was the first of an illustrious series of Professors of Genetics which included Sir Ronald Fisher. Sir Rowland Biffen, the Professor of Agriculture in the early part of this century, was one of the earliest research workers to apply genetic principles to wheat breeding. Biffen was also the founder of the Plant Breeding Institute which subsequently achieved a reputation as a centre for wheat breeding and genetics. The Institute site and breeding work has recently been sold to Unilever plc. However, most of the research work in wheat genetics still remains state-funded and forms part of the new Institute of Plant Science Research which, until 1990, will remain in Cambridge. During the Symposium visits to the former Plant Breeding Institute will be made to view demonstration plots of both the public and private groups.

The Scientific Programme

Following the recommendations made at the 6th International Wheat Genetics Symposium the scientific programme will include:

1. Special lectures of 30 minutes duration on selected topics considered to be of special interest to wheat geneticists (one per day after the first day).

2. Invited review papers of 20 minutes duration preceding and during each scientific session.

3. Contributed papers: either given orally (10 minutes) or as posters.

4. Evening workshops on particular topics: gene nomenclature with reference to biochemical and molecular markers: chromosome banding nomenclature: genome designations.



On the recommendation of the International Organizing Committee there will not be a separate session on triticale as it is felt that this crop is now well covered by independent symposia. However, relevant papers are invited and will be included in appropriate sessions.