At the Rosaceae Specialty Crops planning workshop in East Lansing a few weeks ago, I understand that there was some discussion on developing lists of uniform descriptors across Rosaceae species. The USDA-ARS-National Plant Germplasm System has lists of descriptors that have been developed by crop-specific Crop Germplasm Committees (membership information attached). There are also lists of descriptors that have been developed through European Working Groups. I believe there is an interest within the Rosaceae community to review these lists of descriptors (NPGS descriptors are attached) and decide if changes or additions are necessary. Nahla Bassil has proposed that we have a meeting among interested researchers at the ASHS meetings in Scottsdale next week to discuss this subject. We would appreciate hearing from you (bassiln@science.oregonstate.edu; gvolk@lamar.colostate.edu) if you would like to participate in this meeting, and Nahla will set up the time and location. FYI, the annual Prunus CGC meeting will also be held during the ASHS meetings next week.

We'd appreciate hearing from you by Wednesday afternoon, July 11 if you are willing to attend a meeting next week to discuss descriptors at ASHS. If you won't be attending the ASHS meetings, but have input you'd like to provide, please e-mail us. We'd like to find out which members of the Rosaceae community are interested in this topic. <<rose_cgc.pdf>> <<Descriptors Lists for Rosaceae.doc>> Thanks, Gayle Volk

USDA-ARS National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation 1111 S Mason St. Ft Collins, CO 80521 970-495-3205