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Leafy Vegetables Germplasm, Stimulating Use
GENRES Leafy Veg (AGRI-2006-0262)
Minutes of the Annual Project Meeting
UNIBO, Cesena (Italy)
17-18th November 2009
Present: Chris Kik, Rob van Treuren (CGN), David Pink, Dave Astley (Warwick HRI), Pascal
Coquin (GEVES), Ulrike Lohwasser (IPK), Eva Křístková (Palacký), Brigitte Maisonneuve
(INRA), Franziska Lerch (Arche Noah), Phil Sumption (HDRA), Filippo D’Antuono, Federico
Ferioli, Manuela Agata Manco, Federica Pasini (UNIBO), Vladimir Meglic (KIS), Bela Bartha
(ProspecieRara), Sue Kennedy (Elsoms), Luke Bell (Elsoms & Warwick HRI).
Opening and introduction
1. Welcome and presentation of UNIBO by Filippo d’Antuono
2. Project introduction by Chris Kik
3. Vladimir dedicated the KIS work to Dr Mihaela Černe who sadly died on 17th June 2009.
WP1 Discussion & Action Points (Rob van Treuren)
1. Passport data. Lettuce, spinach, chicory and minor leafy veg databases all
developed. A significant number of data files have been received from partners and
the data incorporated into the relevant database. The databases will continue to be
updated as new data are received. All partners are encouraged to update their data
as new information becomes available.
2. It was agreed that CGN would mark accessions in the databases that were included
in experimental trials during the project, so that users do not have to go through all
the data files to see whether project data are available for particular accessions.
Action: Rob
3. Discussion on status of KIS passport data and whether new unique numbers will be
assigned by the Slovenian Ministry to the KIS collections. Vladimir confirmed he will
keep the unique numbers assigned to the KIS collection by Rob.
4. Some data sets are relevant to multiple Work Packages (Characterisation, Evaluation
& Marketing). After discussion it was agreed to keep such data sets together and
clearly marked with all the relevant Work Package numbers. Data sets should be
sent to all relevant WP Leaders (NOT directly to Rob).
5. The characterisation pro forma files were edited with regard to the scale for
homogeneity and it is not clear if all partners have used the updated version. Rob to
check the data sets received to assess which format was used by partners. Action
Rob
6. The KIS characterisation data require translation into English. Action: Vladimir by
end of May 2010.
7. CGN will develop a new project with China. Rob to use new contacts to assess
feasibility of acquiring passport data for leafy veg crops for inclusion in crop
databases. Action Rob
8. Pascal indicated that he would try again to acquire new data from collections for
which he has so far used the Eurisco data and has not received updates from
national programmes or collection curators.
9. Pascal reported that new fields had been introduced to the Chicory database to store
the taxonomic names supplied by the collection holders.
10. Rob outlined the importance of safety duplication of project material. Five project
partners offer the storage of black box safety duplicates. Partners should send safety
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duplicates of all project material for safety duplicate storage and inform Rob of their
actions. Partners to inform Rob of the safety duplicate status of their collections in
order to finalize the project overview. Action: all collection holders by end of May.
11. The current overview of safety duplication will be appended to the annual report.
Action: CGN will distribute the current overview to all partners asking for
updates.
12. Discussion on the Gap Analysis for the Minor Veg outlined the problems of few
collections, low accession numbers and poor data quality. It was agreed to
concentrate the gap analysis on Eruca and Diplotaxis. If information is available a
review of the status of other minor veg will be useful. Action Ulrike.
13. The development of geographical distribution maps and gap analysis will be reviewed
at the Work Package Leaders meeting in June 2010. Relevant WP leaders should
complete their initial gap analysis by end of May 2010 in preparation for this
meeting.
14. Rob sent partners a schematic outlining the options for presenting images in
association with the crop databases. Partners to assess the possibilities of using the
protocols and whether their images are in the public domain or covered by copyright.
Pictures of accessions (to accompany passport data) can be presented on the
individual websites of collection holders. Users have access to such pictures by
clicking on the accessions numbers in the databases (if provided), which will link to
more information (including pictures if provided) about the accession in the institute
database. Pictures to accompany project data files should be included in the Excel
file for data exhange. Partners who do not want such pictures to be available in the
public domain should not include their images. Partners may also choose to label
pictures with a copyright text, but this will not prevent the use of such pictures by third
parties. Action: Partners to proceed as appropriate.
15. Brigitte will continue to edit the INRA data and will send the final version to Rob 2
months before the end of the project. Action: Brigitte to send final data set to Rob
by mid October 2010.
16. All other action points from the Alnarp and WPL meetings were completed.
WP2 Discussion & Action Points (Ulrike Lohwasser)
1. More than 75% of accessions have been regenerated and characterised. The work is
on schedule.
2. The KIS characterisation data require translation into English. Action: Vladimir by
end of May 2010.
3. ProSpecieRara data have not been forwarded to IPK. A discussion during the
meeting clarified the problems and set a date for the transfer. Action: Bela to
transfer data by end August 2010.
4. Ulrike stressed that partners should send a report on work in progress for
regeneration and characterisation, even if the data are not ready to send, in
preparation for the Work Package Leaders meeting. Partners to send report to
Ulrike by end May 2010.
5. All other action points from the Alnarp and WPL meetings were completed.
WP3 Discussion & Action Points (Pascal Coquin)
1. All evaluation data to be sent to Pascal as soon as the work has been completed.
Action all evaluation partners.
2. Filippo did not have sufficient accessions for the UNIBO evaluation and included local
chicory accessions in the work. Seed and passport data for this Italian material
needs to be included in a gene bank collection and the chicory database in order to
place the material and results in the public domain. Action: Filippo to obtain seed
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samples and passport data for the Italian accessions and forward seed to
relevant gene bank and data to Pascal for inclusion in chicory database.
3. Vladimir reported that the work on screening for resistance to Meloidogyne ethiopica
would be redirected to screen for M. hapla. Vladimir will send the 2008 data for the M
ethiopica screen to Pascal. Following a question from Chris Vladimir agreed to
investigate the possibility of increasing the number of accessions to be tested against
M. hapla to twenty (7 L. sativa accessions & 13 L. saligna accessions). Action:
Vladimir sends 2008 evaluation data to Pascal by end of December 2009.
4. All other action points from the Alnarp and WPL meetings were completed.
WP4 Discussion & Action Points (Dave Pink)
1. During Phil’s partner presentation there were some discrepancies on the figures
presented with data received by Dave. Action: Phil to check what data were sent
and update, as appropriate, as soon as possible.
2. Vladimir described 2 trials for marketability characters, but the numbers did not tally
with records received by Dave. Action: Vladimir to check what data were sent
and update numbers of accessions and send data sets to Dave before end of
December.
3. Bela agreed to forward data scored by his partner to Dave. Action: Bela by May
2010.
4. Bela agreed to ask the local Supermarket collaborator for information on the
marketability characters they use in the selection of produce. Action: Bela by May
2010.
5. Filippo agreed to update his evaluation data, as far as possible, before the end of
May 2010. Action: Filippo.
6. UNIBO and Garden Organic used rocket material from IPK. Filippo and Phil to
compare if they used the same IPK accessions Action: Filippo and Phil
7. All other action points from the Alnarp and WPL meetings were completed.
WP5 Annual financing (AFR) and technical reports (ATR) and discussion (Chris Kik)
1. Chris expected the financial reporting in year 2 to be efficient and on time based on
the 1st years experience, but this was not the case and several Partners missed
critical deadlines.
2. Chris Kik lowered the frequency of e-reports to 2 in the final year with one being
produced 3 weeks prior to the WPL meeting by end of May 2010.
3. Partners are checking project website - recommended partners should check
Members area of project web site at least once per month.
4. All partners should think about disseminating results from the project and
communicate to Chris any outcomes. A note to be prepared for the ECPGR Europe
Newsletter on completion of the project. Action all.
5. Progress should be presented at Eucarpia Leafy Veg conference, if this takes place,
and at Genetic Resources meeting in CGN. Action: Chris to check with Ton de
Nijs re Eucarpia Leafy Veg meeting.
6. Chris Kik should be informed if partners have any changes to budget and include old
budget and new budget in communications. Action all
7. In 2010 the project will be audited (3 EU auditors over 4 days) centred on CGN, but
will cover the finance of all partners. Partners should be prepared to provide
information if requested by the auditors. Action: All Partners. Chris to inform of
dates when known.
8. Milestones and deliverables have all been met to date.
9. All presentations from the meeting will be placed on internal website. Action Frank
Menting (done)
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10. Technical reporting. WP coordinators to write first draft report and send this to the
partners involved in the WP using the format of 2nd annual report (website) - before
9th December.
11. WP partners comment on the draft report and send it to the WP coordinator by 16th
December.
12. WP coordinators send final WP report to the coordinator by 9th January.
13. Coordinator prepares final report, places it on the internal LV website by 30th
January and sends it to the Commission by end of February.
14. Finance – Partner budget modifications should be sent to Chris. Partners to note
that CGN will NOT check partner budgets before forwarding to the EU. Chris
stressed that Partners should check their budgets and use all available funds.
15. Financial reporting. All partners send by 23rd January their completed financial
report along with their Partner Audit Certificate to the coordinator. Please note: For
the Audit Certificate the relevant text can be found on the internal website, finances,
FAQs nr 31.
16. All financial paperwork should be copied: one copy remains with the partner and the
other with the coordinator.
17. By end of February the financial and technical reports are sent to the Commission
by the coordinator
18. Any questions on finance should be directed to the financial officer, Rinie Linsen –
rinie.linsen@wur.nl - please cc Chris Kik.
19. The next WP leader meeting will be on 23rd June at ProSpecieRara in Switzerland.
20. The final annual meeting will be hosted by INRA at Avignon, France on 16th & 17th
November 2010. Travel days on 15th & 18th November 2010.
Closing remarks
1. Thanks to Filippo d’Antuono and his colleagues at UNIBO for their hospitality and
organising the meeting including the visit to CSC.