Published online 1 November 2006
Published in Crop Sci 46:S-1 (2006)
© 2006 Crop Science Society of America
677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA
EDITORIAL
The Plant Genome
Randy C. Shoemaker
rcsshoe{at}iastate.edu
IN 1961, WHEN the Crop Science Society of America ushered in the journal Crop Science, the editorial introducing the new journal spoke of the natural growth of disciplines. Since then, the plant sciences have matured and grown at an astounding pace. Genetics, physiology, and biotechnology have merged to create the genomic science that readers of The Plant Genome are beginning to embrace.
The significance of genomics research for plant sciences, and especially crop improvement is expressed well in the accompanying letter by Dr. Roger Beachy, President and Director of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Genomic knowledge has exploded, and the implications for agriculture are only limited by our imagination. Some plant genomes already have been sequenced. More genomes are rapidly following, those for major crops. Genomic data is increasing almost faster than we can assimilate it. The transfer of genomic information and genomic technologies into potential crop improvement and an improved understanding of biology is only beginning. It is this research that The Plant Genome is targeting.
The Plant Genome will publish Original Research papers, Activities & Resources reports that are important to the genomics community, Editorials, and also Review & Interpretation articles that couple genomics with crops and agriculture. As The Plant Genome and the research discipline mature, these categories may be modified or expanded as necessary. Occasionally, authors will ask whether their articles are best suited for The Plant Genome, or for the Genomics, Molecular Genetics & Biotechnology (C-7) section of Crop Science. In response, the Editorial Board will review submissions to decide on the best fit of the articles, and with permission of the authors manuscripts may be transferred from one category to the other.
With the decision to publish The Plant Genome, CSSA is responding to the needs of its members who have taken on the challenges of technologically complex areas of crop genomics research. Through this publication the Society is also expanding its appeal to nonmembers.
Moving forward with a new publication in a specialized area such as plant/crop genomics is a bold step forward. It is a step that the Society, Headquarters staff, and the Editorial Board proudly take, and it demonstrates the foresight of a Society ready to progress into the next 50 years. We are pleased with the breadth and novelty of the papers presented in this first issue. Welcome.
