The Seeds Look Good

Happy Easter,
I hope everyone is doing well. The seeds we received from Mexico look good, there was very little pest damage. The Schmidt Lab is in the pre-planting phase right now. We are going to lay down the plastic for our early field on Tuesday 4/14 so that the parents of next years PV crop won’t become inundated with weeds. Thanks to everyone in the group for being such fun, wonderful people. I learned a lot in my week down in Bucerias and had a great time as well. The mutant tours were very impressive. Sarah’s knotted mutants gave me a real appreciation for the effect of background on mutant phenotype. Knotted plants in some backgrounds looked like melting candles while those in other backgrounds exhibited only slight knotting. Guri also had some very interesting plants that had originated from the same population and been selected for over ~15 generations based on stalk strength. Over the course of five or so years Guri had selfed those plants with the weakest stalks , and selfed those with the strongest stalks. After ~15 generation the differences between the two lineages was stark. The weak stalks could be easily crushed by the grip of a hand while the strong stalks could be used by the authorities in Singapore to deal with shoplifters and vandals. Thanks again to everyone, I hope to see all of you again in Nayarit, 2010. Special thanks to Torbert for being the master organizer (you have a gift man!!).
Happy planting,
Craig Gaines

Pics from Puerto Vallarta '09

Hi All!

Torbert has been after me for a while now to get pictures from PV uploaded to this blog! Here they are...finally! It was good seeing many of you again at the Maize Genetics Meeting. Hope you are all doing well! -Kristin

Receiving seed from Puerto Vallarta, Shipping Next Fall

Hello My Mexico Maize Colleagues,

Next Step is we will need to send a scanned pdfs to Jan with PV Winter Services as a group.

For this one first year, I would like to have my secretary Angela Dillworth at adillwor@purdue.edu help coordinate this, so please send your scanned import permit to her now, or when you get it, and then she can send them all down at once.

Also, send Angela your formal shipping address for the seed to be sent. I will have Jerry Chandler work with Angela to give her the row assignments that go to each location. In this way Jan will get one major memo with rows, import permits, shipping instructions from all of us at once.

For next year, in order for each of to be able to have the flexibility to ship your own corn, in the same way I did the last two years, in the cargo section of a Continental Airlines commercial jet, we will need to send your shipping address to ProAgLogistics, and then they will file it with th KSMS database of the Transportation Security Administration and either you are okayed if your building or institution is a"known shipper" or if not then they will file some forms for you. Angela will compile and send them.

In order to ship to Puerto Vallarta next fall yourself, you will need to have your field inspected in late July or early to mid August by APHIS so that you can ship seed to Mexico. This is important.

Coordinating Import Permits

Jane, we are sending them to my secretary Angela Dilworth at adillwor@purdue.edu, and she will send them all down together. Also please send her your mailing address. I will post more on this and related topics soon. Torbert

Permit received - now what?

I received my permit for import. If anyone else is still trying to walk through the online process, I'd be happy to help navigate. There were a number of ambiguous parts, but apparently I navigated alright and received approval. I think it took about a week from the time I submitted.


Torbert -- Are you wanting to coordinate communications of the permit numbers (or hard copies, or electronic copies) to Cruz, or should we forward a copy directly to Jan in his business office?

Missing PV... Caio,

Jane

FILLING OUT IMPORT PERMIT

Use Form 587

Please list that the seed will be ''shipped''.

I just talked to Cruz, the seed is considered "shipped", whether you use what I have been using, a broker in US and in Mexico and it goes on a commercial airliner, or if you are able to use the relatively new UPS service that Cruz is now using since last year, particularly with Dow. More info on that closer to shipping time.

I will use this blog as much as possible, as last fall I answered the same question separately from different people a number of times, and in more than one case I got the same question more than once from the same person. So I hope to just post things once here, in general.

This blogsite will be revised or website developed, to make more user friendly (for the blog-impaired) and all the information will be posted, so you do not need to wade through old emails to find information, or send me an email to ask for it again. This will be a useful resource to new participants, as there will be more, Ed tells me they are coming next year for sure. Cheers, Torbert

Getting Import Permit to Receive Maize from Mexico

We wish to have all the harvested ears of seed sent directly to each lab. (All ears will be put in the pollinating bag for everyone to keep things consistent). In order for this to happen you need:

1) To have a current import permit for maize from Mexico (they are good for about 3 years), or
2) Have a colleague in the same department, building, or nearby building or location that has a current import permit and the seed can be sent to this person, or
3) Get the form from link below and get your own import permit

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/permits/plantproducts.shtml

Please do this now, as I do not wish to ship seed to people, and it is better to get it directly

The name of the person at the bottom of the import permit Martin Bohn got is

Marc Phillips USDA – APHIS 4700 River Road Riverdale, MD 20737

So this is a potential contact person if you have questions.

Subsequently, I will send information on how you can become a known registered shipper of corn seed to Mexico. Since the seed goes in the cargo section of commercial airliners, they are careful on developing identity of known shippers. This took about six months for the University of Illinois to become a known shipper. So after I get more information, you all will need to proceed on this to be ready for the fall.

Also, there were costs for phytosanitary insepctions and approvals, and shipping the corn to Mexico that I covered. I will adjust for this by increasing your row numbers up slightly and decreasing my row numbers down slightly in the final billing from Cruz; this will be approx 10 dollars a row I estimate, about.

Torbert

UPDATE FROM PV

DIRECTIONS - IT IS THE SECOND LIGHT AFTER THE LIGHT NEAR CENTER OF BUCERIAS THAT YOU TURN AT. THERE IS A BIG RED BILLBOARD WITH THE WORD SIMORES OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND A ROAD SIGN POINT TO RIGHT FOR TERRALTA, YOU NEED TO BE IN THE RIGHT SIDE ROAD BEFORE YOU GET THAT FAR, SO YOU CAN GET ARROW TO TURN LEFT, YOU CROSS ROAD, GO 40 YARDS, TURN RIGHT GO 100 YARDS, TURN LEFT AND YOU ARE THERE.

BRING GOOD COFFEE EVERYONE IF CAN (AND NOT CHEAP SUPERMARKET CRAP LIKE THEY HAVE HERE)

GERRY CALLED ME AND WE COORDINATE, HE IS EXCITED TO COME AND GAVE ME A WEATHER REPORT FOR HAWAII OF 72 DEGREES ABOUT AND RAIN EVERY DAY, AND PUERTO VALLARTA WAS 82-83 AND SUNNY EVERY DAY. HE IS COMING WITH HIS WIFE ROSE, AND DAVE WILL GO PICK THEM UP.

DAVE ARRIVED WITH KIOMI AND TOMA, WHO I MET FOR FIRST TIME, A HAPPY LITTLE GUY, I LIKE HIM AS HE LAUGHS AT MY PEEK A BOO GAMES (SMART GUY IT SEEMS)

FOUND A NEW OUTDOOR CLUB WITH LIVE MUSIC ABOUT 7 MINUTE WALK AWAY, AND A NICE WINE BAR ACROSS THE STREET (SPEAKING OF WINE - HEY BOB SCHMIDT WHEN THE HECK ARE YOU COMING DUDE? PLEASE LET ME KNOW)

THE CORN IS GOOD AND I THINK THAT IT WILL MOVE ALONG. WE WILL START TIPPING FIDEL, MIQUEL AND MARISOL BEER AND WINE COOLERS, THEY DID A GOOD JOB, NOW I JUST WANT WATER A LITTLE MORE OFTEN THAT WE ARE HERE AND IT IS IN CONTROL

SO I AM QUITE PLEASED, BOUGHT MUFFINS FROM ERNESTO WHOSE FAMILY BAKES THEM EARLY AND HE WALKS AROUND WITH THEM ON A BASKET ON HIS HEAD, SO HE IS THE MUFFIN MAN, DO YOU KNOW THE MUFFIN MAN? I DO.

WE GOT CAMORONES FROM THE CAMORONES MAN, DO YOU KNOW THE CAMORONES SENOR, I DO.

I MET ONE OF THE OWNERS FIDEL, ONE OF 8 BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM QUADALAJARA THAT OWN IT, THERE DAD BUILT IT LATE 60S ABOUT. HE IS VERY FRIENDLY AND COOPERATIVE.

BRING GOOD COFFEE, I REPEAT.

CRUZ IS QUITE FLEXIBLE ABOUT PLANTINGS NEXT YEAR, IF FOR EXAMPLE WE WANT FOUR PLANTINGS, THAT IS FINE, AND WE CAN DO DIFFERENT SHIPMENTS FROM DIFFERENT PLACES. HE JUST WANTS THERE TO BE SOME ROW NUMBERS GIVEN IN ADVANCE SO HE CAN SET THE SPACE ASIDE SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE TOGETHER, AND THAT I PERSOANLLY CONFIRM THIS WITH HIM, WHICH IS REASONABLE AND FINE. HE JUST WANTS THE ULTIMATE FINAL COORDINATION TO COME DOWN TO ONE SINGLE CONVERSATION. MAKES SENSE. THIS SHOULD GIVE US SOME GOOD FLEX. JUST DONT FORGET ABOUT PHYTOS, WE CAN DISCUSS.

OK, LIFE IS GOOD, I AM QUITE PLEASED AND ALREADY THINGS ARE GOING WELL AND ENJOYABLY FOR ME, BETTER THAN PERHAPS I MIGHT HAVE IMAGINED.

PLEASE BLOG, I GET BORED HERE, NOTHING TO DO......

TORBERTO

Sarah,

I´m curious about the following rows -- numbers approximate as row tags aren´t on yet. I´m guessing they may be yours. UI#887-890 look like some type of tasselseed mutant. Are these the ´new´mutant you were refering to? They have silks, and I could cross ASAP if you let me know what you had in mind. Obviously if they´re dominant like Ts3 or 5, we can´t do standard complementation, but I could cross to-by other inbreds to do some mapping in subsequent generations.

Cheers,

Jane

Corn Phones Directions

All, the corn looks very good, the timing is good, Jane hung some bags today in the early stock center materials, A188 she may hang tomorrow, tassels are out, not anthers yet. The field looks like it will move right along. Plant health is good, I am pleased, there is the occasional row with some insect damage, otherwise very good for most all rows.

There are no phones in the room, there are two pay phones just outside the rooms, so bring a phone card and you can access and call cheaply. My ATT cell phone works, got a 5 dollar a month fee, and it is 69 cents a minute. fine for one minute calls.

I just sent Dave a detailed note, Dave if you see it please post it, as I can not. The very important point, is that you can not turn left from the center of the main road, you need to get over into the side parallel roads wtih little shops, and come to a light and wait for the arrow. if you try to turn left from the left hand lane of the center road, you will never get an arrow, and you may get seriously rear ended as you should not be sitting there. after you get to town center get to the side road, and then cross the main road at the next light.

So I am going to bed, tired, but happy and pleased.

Torb

Question about phone, and info on DNA paper

All, we tried the DNA paper - it works but seems only for small amplicons (worked for ~ 100bp, not for 700bp) see attached The lanes above the "C" and "T" in Clint are from the paper, other lanes with bands are positive controls. I will bring what samples I have in case anyone needs to try it but for now I wouldnt rely on it,

Also, Torb- will there be individual phones in each cabin that we can use?

Dave

Snorkelling and phones

Hi Jane, I am on for snorkelling, see you there,

Also, T0rb asked me to post something about (cell)phone use in mexico- seems like most phones will work there on roaming, so you will have to pay $1 or so per minute. Just be careful if you have an iphone to disable the roaming network, otherwise you could get a bill for $00's. I dont know if its possible in Mexico but the cheapest way with a regular phone is to get a "sim" card for the local network (often they sell at the airport)- but then you will have a different phone # while using it,

Dave

Bring Music

Okay, I am packed, I have an new computer projector, a new camera, 4 pounds of coffee, a coffee grinder; and two extension cords, I want to see if we can project presentations onto the sea wall at the edge the place at night, you walk down steps to beach. Ok, i would like to have some music there too, so I will trade coffee for music. bring tunes is what matters, we can figure out how to play, with extension cords on the beach perhaps If you can pack something that plays music bring that. Kristin and I, and Jane are off early in AM. Will be in touch. I look forward to Smoked Marlin Tacons for lunch. Torberto Try Bloggin, its fun, dont be inhibited!

Beach Bummin'

Nice job Cliff!  I'm a newbie too!  

Torbert reports that our lodging is right on the ocean, so I'm bringing snorkel gear on the off chance that the field won't occupy us for every minute of daylight.    I'm too chicken to go in alone, so if anyone else has gear, I'd appreciate company.  I'm also bringing my hubby's gear to share with anyone, although it won't work for the more petite members of the group.  

See you all there.  

I bloggeth! Sorry, it's my first time and I was just so excited :-)... Happy New Year and see you all soon...

Cheers,

Cliff

Power Plug / Clothes to Bring

Plug - To my knowledge now, you do not need a plug adaptor, I went to Radio Shack, it is just like ours.

Clothes - Be sure to bring a water proof nylon or goretex rain jacket and possibly pants, as early in the morning for shoot bagging it is still cool and a lot of condensation on the plants, and you can get real wet and actually cold. Then later in the day it will be 80 - 85 or more, so you take off the pants and wear shorts. In the evening it gets to low 60s, so a sweat shirt and pants is sometimes appropriate.