Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 1:ii-iiii Introduction 1978
Resolution and notes of organization meeting, October 28, 1976, Denver Hilton, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
The following resolution was adopted by research workers interested in organizing a Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative:
- The Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative is organized to develop and advance the genetics of economically important cucurbits.
- Membership to this Cooperative is voluntary and open to workers who have an interest in Cucurbit Genetics (an invitation to participate is extended to all Horticulturists, Entomologists, Plant Pathologists, Geneticists, and others with an interest in Cucurbits).
- Reports of the Cooperative will be issued on an annual basis. The reports will include articles submitted by members and for the use of the members of the Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative. None of the information in the annual report may be used in publications without the consent of the respective authors for a period of five years. After five years, the information may be used in publications without the consent of the authors.
Further, dues for the Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative (CGC) will be $5.00 for two years and will be used to defray costs of preparation and mailing of the annual report. The initial annual report will include four sections: Research Notes, Stocks and Germplasm desired or for Exchange, Membership Directory, and Financial Statement. Other sections will be added in future reports as desired, i.e. gene lists, linkage groups, etc.
Invitation
In accordance with the above resolution, we requested that an invitation to join the CGC be published in the following:
- Agronomy News
- Euphytica
- HortScience
- Journal of Economic Entomology
- Journal of Heredity
- Phytopath News
We are most pleased to acknowledge the assistance of the editors of these publications.
Report of First Annual Meeting
R. W. Robinson
The first annual meeting of the Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative was held October 13, 1977, at Salt Lake City in conjunction with the American Society for Horticultural Science. Although erroneously listed in the A.S.H.S. program as a meeting of the Cucumber Genetics Cooperative, thereby possibly deterring researchers interested in cucurbits other than cucumber from coming, the meeting was attended by sixteen seedsmen, Experiment Station researchers, and U.S.D.A. personnel.
R. W. Robinson explained the background and purpose of the CGC, and led discussion on the proposed format for the CGC Report. There was general agreement with the plan to include in the Report sections on Research Reports and on Stocks Desired and Available. Those attending the meeting were not enthusiastic about including in each Report a bibliography of all publications of the previous year pertaining to cucurbit genetics. There was much more support for a proposal to periodically publish an index to CGC research notes, and it was urged that the cross index be compiled more frequently than every tenth year as is done by the Tomato Genetics Cooperative.
Volunteers were solicited for serving on committees to develop a set of by-laws for the CGC, establish policy for gene nomenclature, and coordinate linkage testing. Those attending the meeting who were not members of the CGC were invited to join, and all were urged to bring the CGC to the attention of others interested in cucurbits.
Appreciation was expressed for the efforts of R. L. Lower and Warren Henderson in founding the Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative and in publishing its Report.
The 1978 Annual Meeting of the CGC will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19, 1978, in room Dalton A at the Sheraton-Boston Hotel, Boston, MA, U.S.A. The meeting will be chaired by W. R. Henderson.
Comments from the Coordinating Committee
The initial issue of the CGC was delayed due to a limited response in the number of research notes submitted by the appointed deadline (December 31, 1977). A second request for research papers (by March 15, 1978) was sent out by the coordinating committee, and it resulted in a greater response. The papers were forwarded to the Chairman by the coordinating committee and then compiled for publication in June 1978.
The call for papers for the 1979 report will go out in November 1978, and they should be submitted to the coordinating committee by January 31, 1979. Hopefully, the second annual report will be published by April 1979.
We are eager to hear from the membership regarding the future direction of the CGC. Volunteers to draft a set of by-laws and guidelines are requested.
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the assistance of Linda Reece, Susan Stallings and Jeannine Beaudoin, who were responsible for the typing, proofing and duplicating of the reports. We express our sincere appreciation.
Coordinating Committee:
- W. P. Bemis (Cucurbita spp.)
- W. R. Henderson (watermelon)
- J. D. Norton (muskmelon)
- M. L. Robbins (cucumber)
- R. W. Robinson (other genera and species)
- R. L. Lower, Chairman
The chairman thanks all of the Coordinating Committee for their assistance. Special tribute goes to W. R. Henderson and R. W. Robinson who also acted as “Co-chairmen” during our initial year.