Due to managing trouble, we regret not to publish WIS No. 98 on time.

The catalogue supplement of gene symbols for wheat has been printed in WIS for last two decades. However, since the modern system through Internet is more convenient and efficient than hard-copy, WIS decided to notify only the announcement of each supplement. Supplement for 2004 appeared on following web site; http://shigen.lab.nig.acjp/wheat/komugi/genes/macgene/supplement2004.html

The most recent edition of the catalogue, produced and presented at the 10th International Wheat Genetics Symposium is available on CD. 'MacGene' was produced by Dr. Y. Yamazaki in collaboration with Dr. R.A. McIntosh. The catalogue is also displayed on the GrainGenes Website (http://wheat.pw.usda.gov) and KOMUGI database (http;// www.shigen.nig.ac.jp/wheat/komugi/genes/symbolClassList.jsp).

WIS No. 98 contains six qualified research articles and other information. Since we had announced in the last issue or at 10th International Wheat Genetics Symposium (Paestum, Italy), WIS is going to be closed in 2005. We have a plan to publish the special issue for the centennial and final number in the end of 2005. The editorial office has already enough manuscripts for publication of No. 99, so that please step sending manuscript anymore. We appreciate your kind understandings, and be proud of comments which have sent to the office from many subscribers and wheat researchers.

If you want to keep back-numbers of WIS, these are available on request (early one should be copied ones).

June 2004
Editorial Office of WIS
Kozo Nishikawa, Editor-in-chief
Tetsuo Sasakuma, Kihara Institute for Biological Research
Hisashi Tsujimoto, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University
Keiko Furukawa, Kihara Memorial Yokohama Foundation for the Advancement of Life Sciences (secretary)