Archives of The Seed Biology Electronic Mailing List

Ralph L. Obendorf, Owner/Editor


Formation of an International Society for Seed Science
March 1998

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 10:31:05 -0500
From: MICHAEL BLACK (michael.black@kcl.ac.uk)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Dear Colleagues

International Society for Seed Science

I want to suggest that we consider forming an 'official' society with the above or similar name, to coordinate and expand the activities of the international community of seed scientists. There are already two groups which loosely give some focus, Ralph Obendorf's seed net and the International Workshops. To these could be added the Desiccation Workshops oganized by our South African colleagues. Perhaps the time is now right to formalize an organization to promote the activities and interests of seed science and provide a forum for supporting the subject through meetings, publications,etc and a medium for contact (mutually and with industry, agriculture) and for dissemination of information. The publications could raise money; you can note that the book arising out of the Merida meeting will earn royalties on its worldwide sales. CABI, the publishers of Seed Science Research would be prepared to offer a very favourable subscription rate for members of the society. I would guess that there are close to 400 persons who are already associated with the present 'loose' organizations but this number could be increased (eg.with industrial, agricultural, biotechnological membership).

What are the opinions of you seed net people on this? If the suggestion meets with approval we should aim to establish the society at the Merida meeting and some infrastructure should be ready at the meeting to get this done. All views would be welcome, made publicly through this net (for which we thank Ralph!) if you like. Good wishes to all, Mike Black

Prof. M Black
Division of Life Sciences
King's College
Campden Hill Road
London W8 7AH UK
phone:+44 171 333 4212
fax:44 171 333 4500
email michael.black@kcl.ac.uk

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Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 12:48:37 -0500
From: acl9@cornell.edu (Carl Leopold)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Hi Mike,

I respond very positively to your suggestion of an international society for seed science. There are real advantages for members of such an organization, and there are real possibilities for facilitating meetings, administration and publication.

Carl Leopold

A Carl Leopold
Boyce Thompson Institute of Plant Research
Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Phone# 607-254-1234
Fax # 607-254-1242

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Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 18:50:45 +0100
From: Steven Footitt (Steven.Footitt@sgen.slu.se)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Sounds like a good idea to me.
There is also the preharvest sprouting group and those of us who have gone beyond the pale to work on synthetic seeds (surely a source of corporate sponsorship).
Steve

Dr Steven Footitt
Department of Forest Genetics
Uppsala Genetics Centre
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
P.O. Box 7027
S-750 07 Uppsala
Sweden
Tel: 46 018 67 3228
Fax: 46 018 67 3279

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Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 13:59:32 -0500
From: Miller McDonald (mcdonald.2@osu.edu)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Mike,

This is an excellent suggestion that I support. There is no reason for national boundaries concerning seed science and computer technology has made international discussion increasingly easier. Let's move to the next step.

Miller

Miller B. McDonald
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH 43210-1086
Phone: (614)292-9003
FAX: (614)292-7162

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Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 16:27:13 +0000
From: "KENNETH THOMPSON" (Ken.Thompson@sheffield.ac.uk)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Dear Mike (and others)

It was with some surprise that I realised that such a society does not already exist. As you say, there is already a large and active community of seed scientists whose work could only be improved by a little more integration and collaboration. One example of the momentum which already exists is the series of 'Seed Biology Meetings' which have taken place (almost) every year in the UK since 1979, without any formal organisation or source of financial support. I won't be at Merida, but count me as a supporter.

Ken Thompson

Dr Ken Thompson
Unit of Comparative Plant Ecology
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
The University
Sheffield S10 2TN
UK
Tel 0114 2224314
Fax 0114 2220015
http://www.shef.ac.uk/~nuocpe/

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Date: Wed, 18 Mar 98 23:45:50 CST
From: "Marc A. Cohn" (MCOHN@LSUVM.SNCC.LSU.EDU)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Re a Seed Science Society. In a word YES! Regards to all, M.A. Cohn

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Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 10:25:07 +0000 (GMT)
From: Alison Powell (agr791@abdn.ac.uk)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Dear Mike

I certainly support this excellent idea. There are organised groups of seed scientists in many countries / groups of countries who would benefit from being part of an international grouping.

Best wishes

Alison

Alison A Powell
Department of Agriculture,University of Aberdeen
Email to a.a.powell@abdn.ac.uk.
Tel +44 (0) 1224 274159 Fax +44 (0)1224 273731

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Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 08:12:33 +0000
From: S.Jones@pvs.maff.gov.uk
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Dear Mike

Seems like you've found yourself with another job!! Sounds like a good idea do you want to link in with the AOSA and ISTA people. You could make announcements at this years ISTA conference (April in South Africa). I won't be there but I know several people who will.
Cheers
Steve Jones
OSTS, NIAB, UK

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Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 07:56:34 +0000
From: "Cecil Stushnoff" (stushnof@lamar.colostate.edu)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

I believe the idea has potential merit. W-168, a USDA/CSREES Regional Research Committee, provides an annual forum for collaborative research and information exchange. This group has been very productive and might provide a logical USA nucleus for stimulating interest in such a society.

Cecil Stushnoff
USDA/CSREES rep.

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Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 14:24:20 -0300 (EST)
From: Claudinei Andreoli (andreoli@cnpms.embrapa.br)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Hi Mike!

This is a brilliant suggestion, and we can share wih everybody our skill and experience.
Probably I will go to Merida, and count on me as South America suporter. Only in Brazil, the Seed Science and Technology Association has about 800 members and the Seed Grower Association more than 600.
Let's move on!

Claudinei Andreoli
Embrapa Milho e Sorgo
Cx. Postal 151
Sete Lagoas, MG Brazil 35.701-970
tel.55.31.779.1139
fax.55.31.779.1088
e-mail: andreoli@cnpms.embrapa.br

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Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 16:31:12 -0500
From: "Daniel J. Cantliffe" (djc@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Mike-as evidenced by the positive response you have come up with a good idea. Could something be formulated for presentation at the meetings in Mexico? Also could one of the present seed journals be alined with such an organization?
Dan Cantliffe
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida USA

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Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 12:32:34 +1000
From: Phillip.Davidson@mailbox.uq.edu.au (Phillip Davidson)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Dear all,

We here at the University of Queensland, Australia think it's a great concept and we would be fully supportive.

Best wishes to all,

Phil Davidson

Phil Davidson
University of Queensland
School of Land and Food (Agriculture)
Brisbane Qld 4072
Tel: (07) 3365 4814
Fax: (07) 3365 1177
Email: Phillip.Davidson@mailbox.uq.edu.au

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Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 08:14:36 +0200
From: Andrew Cairns (cairns@agron.unp.ac.za)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science -Reply

Dear Mike

An excellent idea! Another group that could come in to the new society are the pre-harvest sprouters. We are having a meeting in Detmold, Germany in June and I will certainly raise the issue there.

Andy Cairns

Professor A.L.P. Cairns
Department of Agronomy
University of Natal
Private Bag X01
Scottsville, 3209
Pietermaritzburg, Natal
South Africa
e-mail: CAIRNS@AGRON.UNP.AC.ZA

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Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 16:52:25 -0800
From: "Bradford, Kent" (bradford@vegmail.ucdavis.edu)
To: "'SEED-BIOLOGY-L'" (SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu)
Subject: Society for Seed Science

I fully support Mike's proposal to form an international society for seed science. It is time for us to collectively take this step.
Kent Bradford

Kent J. Bradford
Dept. of Vegetable Crops
Univ. of California
Davis, CA 95616-8631
tel: 530-752-6087
fax: 530-752-4554
kjbradford@ucdavis.edu
http://veghome.ucdavis.edu

"Time runs at different rates for seeds in different states."

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Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 10:01:50 +0800 (GMT)
From: lssfjr@zsulink.zsu.edu.cn
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Dear Mike.

I certainly support this excellent idea. In our University, we think it's a great concept and we would be fully supportive. If necessary, I will contact with the Chinese seed scientists for announcing this information.
With best wishes.
Jia-Rui Fu
School of Life Sciences
Zhongshan University
Guangzhou
P.R.China
Tel: (86)(20) 84184592
Fax: (86)(20) 84184592
Email address: lssfjr@zsu.edu.cn

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Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 17:19:16 -0600
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

Dear Michael,
Sounds like a great idea to me. Move forward.
Thanks,

Norm Hopper

Norm Hopper
Department of Plant and Soil Science
Texas Tech University
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
Lubbock, TX 79409-2122
Office (806) 742-1630
FAX (806) 742-0775

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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 08:48:15
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
From: Carol Baskin (ccbask0@pop.uky.edu)
Subject: Society for Seed Science

Jerry and I think a Society for Seed Science is a really good idea; one that is long overdue.

Best regards,

Carol

Carol C. Baskin
School of Biological Sciences
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0225 USA

Phone: 606-257-3996
Fax: 606-257-1717

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Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 07:43:01 -0800
From: "Annette L. Miller" (almiller@lamar.colostate.edu)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: seed science society

I have been reading about all the support for a Society of Seed Science. I just wanted to remind the SEED BIOLOGY group that within the last two years the SCST has added a new membership category for researchers. Research members do not have to take the RST exam. Research membership and association with existing groups would have several advantages over organizing a whole new group. For many years, technologists have been asking researchers to come to their meetings and share research findings. The work of organization for annual meetings could be combined and shared. SCST has a new web page with a section on membership information. The address is www.seedtechnology.net To join the discussion group type seed for both name and password.
-Annette Miller

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Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 13:10:33 +0000 (GMT)
From: Bob Naylor (RELN@abdn.ac.uk)
Sender: agr018@abdn.ac.uk
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: seed science society

In regard to message from Annette Miller,
What are:

  1. SCST?
  2. RST ?

Regards

Bob

Professor Robert E. L. Naylor,
Department of Agriculture, MacRobert Building, University of Aberdeen, AB24 5UA
email - reln@abdn.ac.uk
tel: +44 (0) 1224 274120 fax: +44 (0) 1224 273731

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Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 13:06:43 -0800
From: "Annette L. Miller" (almiller@lamar.colostate.edu)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for Seed Science

Bob,

SCST is the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists. RST stands for Registered Seed Technologist, a designation conferred by the SCST to applicants who have passed the exam and fulfilled experience requirements set by the Society. The new category of "research member" does not have the exam requirement. The SCST's membership is international. SCST holds its annual meetings every year jointly with the AOSA (Association of Official Seed Analysts) in June. The AOSA is a group of member laboratories from the U.S.A. and Canada who perform regulatory and research seed testing. This year's AOSA/SCST meetings will be held in Boise, Idaho June 18-25. Every year there are seed research paper presentations and poster sessions along with the committee meetings. AOSA maintains the "AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds" and votes on rule change proposals at the annual meeting. U.S. Seed laboratories (Government and Commercial) all use these rules to comply with State and Federal Seed Laws. AOSA also has a certification program for seed analysts (CSA - Certified Seed Analyst).

Annette Miller RST, CSA
United States Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
National Seed Storage Laboratory
1111 S. Mason St., Fort Collins, CO 80521-4500
(970) 495-3240 almiller@lamar.colostate.edu

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Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 08:41:46 +0000 (MED)
From: "Steven Groot (+31) 317 477001" (S.P.C.GROOT@cpro.dlo.nl)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: seed science society

Dear friends,

I fully support the idea from Mike to form an international Seed Science Society. From the different reactions in our seed-biology e-mail discussion group, I get the impression that many other international and regional seed platforms are running. The proposed Society might help in providing its members with a clear view of those platforms, from which some provide financial support for meetings and training grants. If Mike agrees, we can bring the idea of the Society also to the members of the European Union COST Action 828 'Seed science in field of genetically controlled stress physiology'. This platform will organize a workshop next May.

Steven P.C. Groot
CPRO-DLO
Leader workinggroup 'Horticultural Crops and Arabidopsis' from COST 828

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Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 15:54:00 -0800 (PST)
From: "Upadhya, Mahesh" (M.UPADHYA@CGNET.COM)
To: SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Society for seed science

It is an excellent idea- I fully support the formation of an International Society. The name could be selected after major support to the idea.
Best wishes.

Mahesh Upadhya
CIP, Lima peru.

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