We held a meeting among folks interested in developing (or learning more about) some descriptors across Rosacaea at the ASHS meetings last week. I've attached the minutes from that meeting (thanks to Jim McFerson and Nahla Bassil for their comments), as well as some associated spreadsheets. I realize that not all members of the Rosaceae genomics community may be interested in receiving e-mail on the descriptor sets in the future. We'll continue future discussions among the lists of people listed in the minutes (attendees as well as those who couldn't make it at that meeting). Please let me know if you would like to be added to that mailing list.

General background and a future direction for deciding upon Rosaceae descriptors was discussed at the meeting last week (see attached minutes). The next step is to brainstorm sets of descriptors from the major classes of interest in breeding/research programs across Rosaceae: 1) disease, 2) quality, 3) yield, 4) abiotic stress. We ask that anyone interested come up with 3-7 descriptors in one or more of the 4 categories that could be of interest across at least 2 genera within Rosaceae. Eventually, we'll have to scale things to make them relative within the genera (i.e. raw data for fruit weight as well as weight relative to a standard) and if you'd like to comment on possible ways to accomplish this, then please do. I'll compile a list of all the ideas we receive and then forward it to those interested being on the mailing lists. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me (e-mail is best since I'll be on travel during much of the next month). I'd like to receive a first draft of ideas by August 10th so we can have the compiled list available for discussion at the next descriptor meeting to be held during the Portland, OR Fireblight meetings on August 13.

I look forward to hearing from you. <<Rosaceae Descriptors for GRIN7-17-07.doc>> <<Descriptor classes.xls>> <<trait ontologies.xls>> <<rosaceaedescriptorlists.xls>>

Gayle

Gayle Volk USDA-ARS-NCGRP 1111 S Mason St. Ft Collins, CO 80521 970-495-3205