Plant & Animal Genomes XIII Conference

January 15-19, 2005
Town & Country Convention Center
San Diego, CA

The International Triticeae Mapping Initiative: 15 Years Of Evolution

Mark E. Sorrells¹ , J. Perry Gustafson² , Patrick E. McGuire³ , Calvin O. Qualset³

¹  Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853,USA

²  USDA-ARS Plant Genetics Research Unit, Department of Agronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA

³  Genetic Resources Conservation Program, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA

The International Triticeae Mapping Initiative (ITMI) was established in 1989 by a group of researchers interested in developing linkage maps for species in the Triticeae tribe of the Poaceae family. Comparative mapping of genomes of diploids and polyploids of wheat and its relatives has been a focal point for ITMI because of the role of diploids in polyploid evolution. The informal nature of ITMI encouraged researchers to freely share information and materials for the common good, resulting in rapid accumulation of knowledge of evolutionary relationships and genome structure of wheat. Initially, ITMI had a coordinator for each homoeologous chromosome group; however, ITMI was reorganized in 2000 to emphasize specialized research topics, each having a coordinator. In 1999 ITMI organized the International Triticeae EST Cooperative, to produce and share ESTs that contributed to a U.S. effort (with NSF support) that produced more than 100,000 wheat ESTs. One of the most important components of ITMI was the close interaction with the GrainGenes database for Triticeae and Avena. GrainGenes provided a convenient, accessible repository for information on germplasm, traits, genes, and molecular markers as well as a way to coordinate activities of each special interest topic. ITMI annually conducts a workshop at the Plant and Animal Genome meeting and a workshop that rotates among countries. The original concept of ITMI, which has led to continued success of the organization was that it established open communications, and an exchange of ideas, germplasm, and information at the international level, which provided benefits to all participants.