Conference: 4 - 7 April 2001, in WICC, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Stress tolerance in seed: Genetic, molecular and physiological mechanisms
Genetic variation in plant seed stress tolerance has been recognised as an important factor for stand establishment. Nowadays, genomic research is booming and gene sequences are identified at an ever-increasing rate, either by mutant analysis, by random genorne sequencing, or by identification of expressed sequences. Plant seeds are unique structures in their ability to withstand a variety of environmental stresses encountered during development, after shedding and during germination. Of the multitude of genes that are expressed during seed development or seed germination, a substantial part plays a role in the response of the seed to environmental stresses. Characterization of these genes offers challenging opportunities to improve our understanding of the physiology of seeds. It will aid agronomists, plant breeders and seed technologists in development of strategies to ensure yield and quality of seeds, both as the crop starting material and for the processing industry.
The conference aims at linking researchers in the field of genomics to those involved in seed physiology and agronomy.
The following topics will be included:
o Abiotic stress tolerance and yield
o Late seed development and maturation
o Desiccation tolerance and storability
o Seed treatments
o Stress tolerance during germination
o Stress effects on seed processing quality
o Modification of seed composition and their implications for seed vigour
o Future perspectives of the interaction between genomics and seed research
The conference is organised by EC-COST 828 and the Wageningen Seed Centre
Local organisers: Steven Groot (DLO, Wageningen, NL)
Henk Hilhorst (Wageningen Agricultural University, NL)
Scientific Committee: Bert van Duijn (TNO Dept. of Plant Biotechnology, Leiden, NL)
Mei Wang (Center for Phytotechnology RUL/TNO, Leiden, NL)
Mirella Sari Gorla (University degli studi di Milano, Italy)
Athole Marshall (IGER, Aberystwyth, UK)
More information can be obtained electronically on the web page of the Wageningen Seed Centre:
http://www.dlo.nl/wageningenseedcentre
Or write to: Steven Groot, CPRO-DLO, P.O.box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
e-mail: s.p.c.groot@cpro.dlo.nl