1. The Synonymy Tables database will have three components that will enable users to associate names with synonyms and names with classifications:
(a) A Classification Table listing the species names with authorities (and where relevant, lower ranking taxa at subspecific and botanical varietal levels) will be constructed for each of the 12 principal classifications currently in use. For Triticum: van Slageren (1994), Kimber and Sears/Kimber and Feldman (1987), Flora of Turkey (Tan 1985), Love (1984), Dorofeev et al. (1979), Mac Key (1988). For Aegilops and Amblyopyrum: van Slageren (1994), Flora of Turkey (Davis 1985), Witcombe (1983), Hammer (1980), Kihara (1954), Eig (1929).
(b) Each taxon name in a Classification Table will link to its synonyms. For example, in the table for the van Slageren classification, the diploid D-genome species Ae. tauschii Coss. will link to its synonyms--Ae. squarrosa L., T. tauschii (Coss.) Schmalh., T. aegilops P. Beauvois ex Roem. & Schult., Patropyrum tauschii (Coss.) A Love.
(c) Each synonym will link to its associated classification(s). Following the above example with Ae. tauschii, its four synonyms will link to their respective classifications--Ae. squarrosa L. [name in the Eig, Kihara, and Witcombe classifications], T tauschii (Coss.) Schmalh. [name in the Kimber and Sears/Kimber and Feldman classification], T aegilops P. Beauvois ex Roem. & Schult. [correct name with priority in Triticum sensu lato], Patropyrum tauschii (Coss.) A Love [Love 1984].
(d) Each name also will link to itself when treated by the same name in other classifications. For example, Ae. tauschii Coss. in the van Slageren classification table will link to Ae. tauschii Coss. in the tables for the Hammer and Flora of Turkey classifications.
2. Project coordinators include: Synonymy Table construction--Laura Morrison (Oregon State University) and John Raupp (Kansas State University); GrainGenes database implementation--Dave Matthews and Gerry Lazo (USDA-ARS); Triticeae taxonomy liaison--Mary Barkworth (Utah State University); wheat genetics liaisons--Giles Waines (University California-Riverside) and Jan Dvorak (University of California-Davis).
3. Notices of the progress and eventual availability of the Synonymy Tables database will appear in the Wheat Information Service (published January and June) and the Annual Wheat Newsletter (published June).
4. GrainTax, an internet mailgroup and bulletin board, has been set up as a discussion forum and an information exchange service for issues associated with wheat taxonomy. Notices published in the Wheat Information Service and the Annual Wheat Newsletter also will be posted here.
5. To join the GrainTax mailgroup, contact Dave Matthews,
matthews@greengenes.cit.cornell.edu. The GrainTax bulletin
board can be reached at
http://wheat.pw.usda.gov:8000/cgi-bin/mboard/graintax/list.cgi.
6. Recipients of this notice are encouraged to pass it on to their
fellow wheat researchers.