Symposium on Translational Seed Biology: From Model Systems to Crop Improvement, University California, Davis, on September 17-20, 2007

翻译种子生物学研讨会：从模式系统到作物改良PI：Kent Bradford和John Harada种子生物学的知识正在迅速发展，特别是在允许整合遗传、基因组、代谢、分子和生物物理方法的模式系统中。与此同时，农业对种子的需求也在不断增加。“转化型”种子生物学是利用这一不断扩大的基础知识，开发用于改良种子的应用，作为作物生产的遗传输送系统，作为食品和多种用途的最终产品，以及作为种质保存的储存材料。将基础(即面向模式系统)和应用(即面向作物系统)植物科学家聚集在一起，分享他们的成果、挑战和见解，将有助于将知识从概念验证转化为农业和商业应用。模式系统还可以为种子生物学的生态学应用提供信息，例如在杂草或入侵物种的管理中使用种子休眠机制的知识。同样，研究干燥系统的生物物理学和模型系统中的脱水耐受机制可以转化为更好地保存和储存种质作为种子。改变种子特定发育和组成方面的能力为满足日益增长的全球粮食需求提供了巨大的潜力，但前提是这些发现能够适应市场。这将在一个关于转译种子生物学：从模式系统到作物改良的国际研讨会上完成。它将汇集公共和私营部门的领先科学家，涉及种子生物学的各个方面，讨论基础发现及其在农业中的应用之间的联系。种子科学将通过将种子作为一个多方面的系统来推进，在这个系统中，将基因组学、蛋白质组学、代谢组学和调控网络的发现与这些过程的结果结合起来，以实现种子产量和成分的变化，以供不同的用途和应用。此外，研讨会将确定模式系统、作物和生态环境方面的补充研究可以针对的高度优先的挑战或机遇。专题讨论会内容和讨论的传播和出版也将对教育和公共服务产生更广泛的影响。将鼓励和资助本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员参加研讨会。海报会议将为年轻科学家提供机会，与一些世界顶尖的研究人员讨论他们的工作。

Abstract for proposal 0719431Symposium on Translational Seed Biology: From Model Systems to Crop ImprovementPIs: Kent Bradford and John Harada Knowledge of seed biology is advancing rapidly, particularly in model systems that allow the integration of genetic, genomic, metabolic, molecular, and biophysical approaches. At the same time, the demands upon seeds in agriculture are increasing. "Translational" seed biology is the effort to capitalize on this expanding fundamental knowledge to develop applications for the improvement of seeds as genetic delivery systems for crop production, as end products for food and diverse uses, and as storage materials for germplasm preservation. Bringing together fundamental (i.e., model-systems oriented) and applied (i.e., crop-systems oriented) plant scientists to share their results, challenges and insights will facilitate the transfer of knowledge from proofs of concept into agricultural and commercial applications. Model systems can also inform ecological applications of seed biology, such as using knowledge of seed dormancy mechanisms in management of weedy or invasive species. Similarly, studies of the biophysics of dry systems and desiccation tolerance mechanisms in model systems can translate into better ways to preserve and store germplasm as seeds. The ability to modify specific developmental and compositional aspects of seeds provides enormous potential to meet the growing global demand for food, but only if those discoveries can be adapted to the marketplace. This will be accomplished in an international symposium on Translational Seed Biology: From Model Systems to Crop Improvement. It will bring together leading public- and private-sector scientists across all aspects of seed biology to discuss the connections between fundamental discoveries and their applications in agriculture. Seed science will be advanced by focusing on seeds as a multifaceted system in which to integrate discoveries in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and regulatory networks with the outcomes of these processes with respect to seed yield and variation in composition for diverse uses and applications. In addition, the symposium will identify high priority challenges or opportunities that can be targeted by complementary research in model systems, crops and ecological settings. Communication and publication of the content and discussions at the symposium will have broader impacts upon education and public service as well. Participation at the symposium by undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researchers will be encouraged and subsidized. Poster sessions will provide opportunities for young scientists to discuss their work with some of the world's premier researchers.