Progress 09/01/04 to 08/31/05

Outputs
The CATG conference took place from Dec. 14 to 15, 2004 in Santa Fe, NM. Organizers were P. Gepts, chair, W.D. Beavis, E.C. Brummer, R.C. Shoemaker, H.T. Stalker, N.F. Weeden, and N.D. Young. It was highly successful in that: 1, it brought together a wide cross-section of legume researchers involved in many aspects of legume genomics, including structural, functional, and comparative genomics, including bioinformaticists; 2, a consensus plan was developed to coordinate genomics activities in the legume family with specific short-1-3 years, medium-4-6 years, and long-term-7-10 years timelines. The conference chose as overall goal of the initiative Food and Feed for Health. Four tiers of legumes are recognized. The first tier includes the reference legumes, Glycine max, Medicago truncatula, and Lotus japonicus, for which the full array of genomics tools will be developed, including sequencing of the soybean genome in the coming years. Phaseolus vulgaris and Arachis hypogea were included in a second tier, for which physical maps and EST resources will be developed. Sequencing of the P. vulgaris genome is scheduled by the end of the 10-year period. The third contains other legume crops such as pea, lentil, chickpea, faba bean, alfalfa, clover, cowpea, pigeon pea, and lupin for which translational tools will be developed, especially cross-legume markers, selected EST resources, and BAC libraries. The fourth tier includes one or more species to be identified in the basal clades of the Papilionoideae, for which ad hoc resources will be established. Prior to this meeting, a conference web site and a listserver were set up, which allowed for lively discussions about topics to be included in the discussion sessions at the meeting. Following the meeting, the white paper was posted on the conference web site and a more abbreviated version as a meeting report was published in a leading plant biology journal.

Impacts
This project will hopefully set the stage for increased collaboration among genomics researchers working in different crop legumes and facilitate the translation of genomics results and tools from in the coming years. Phaseolus vulgaris and Arachis hypogea were included in a second tier, for which physical maps and EST resources will be developed. Sequencing of the P. vulgaris genome is scheduled by the end of the 10-year period. The third contains other legume crops such as pea, lentil, chickpea, faba bean, alfalfa, clover, cowpea, pigeon pea, and lupin for which translational tools will be developed, especially cross-legume markers, selected EST resources, and BAC libraries. The fourth tier includes one or more species to be identified in the basal clades of the Papilionoideae, for which ad hoc resources will be established. Prior to this meeting, a conference web site and a listserver were set up, which allowed for lively discussions about topics to be included in the discussion sessions at the meeting. Following the meeting, the white paper was posted on the conference web site and a more abbreviated version as a meeting report was published in a leading plant biology journal.

Publications

• Gepts, P., W.D. Beavis, E.C. Brummer, R.C. Shoemaker, H.T. Stalker, N.F. Weeden, and N.D. Young. 2005. Legumes as a model plant family. Genomics for food and feed Report of the Cross-Legume Advances through Genomics Conference. Plant Physiol. 137:1228-1235. Web page: Gepts P. http://catg.ucdavis.edu
• White paper: Gepts, P., W.D. Beavis, E.C. Brummer, R.C. Shoemaker, H.T. Stalker, N.F. Weeden, and N.D. Young. 2005. Cross-legume Advances Through Genomics (CATG) White Paper: Legumes as a Model Plant Family: Genomics for Food and Feed

Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
This project will organize a conference on legume genomics to be held December 14-15, 2004, in Santa Fe, NM. The main goal of this conference is to forge a common plan with specific objectives for cross-legume genomics research, including the choice of an overall theme, priorities for the development of genomic resources across legumes, and establishment of a timetable. The organizers are Charlie Brummer, Paul Gepts (chair of the organizing committee), Randy Shoemaker, Tom Stalker, and Nevin Young, research members of the steering committee of the Legume Crop Genome Initiative. The program will consist of one half day of plenary conferences by distinguished scientists who will present an overview of their respective areas, in support of two potential themes: a) Biotic interactions between legumes and Rhizobium, mycorrhizae; pathogens; and insect pollinators; and b) Legumes as a source of nutritional or anti-nutritional compounds. Another half day will be devoted to the development of specific characteristics for a cross-legume information center. A subsequent half day will be devoted to small-group discussions. Finally, a consensus will be established as to theme(s), goals, tools, and timetables. A web site for the meeting has been established (catg.ucdavis.edu), as well as a listserv (catg04@ucdavis.edu) and a public archive of the listserv (listproc.ucdavis.edu/archives/catg04/). There is a keen interest in the legume community for this meeting and there has been a very active exchange among participants by e-mail prior to the conference.

Impacts
The goal of this meeting is to provide a general blue-print for future cross-legume genome projects. Furthermore, we expect that a cohesive legume genomics researchers network based on joint projects will be established. We also expect interaction and cooperation that ultimately will generate genomic information and tools addressing important issues related to legumes, such as bioinformatics, biochemical basis of nutritional and health issues, yield and disease and pest resistance, plant development, and metabolic processes. Finally, we also will pursue the development of cross-species markers and other genomic tools to help integrate databases in a unified legume information system.

Publications

• No publications reported this period