b"CSAAC / SEEDANALYSTS.CA / PUTTING OUT THE CALL FOR NEW ISMA MEMBERSPROVIDINGCHECK OUT ISMA'S TRAINING RESOURCESECONOMICAND CONSIDER BECOMING A MEMBERFOR YEARS, there has been a shrinking level of expertisePublication Guide: An authorBENEFITS TOin the area of seed morphology. Because of this, a groupresource centre with guidanceWESTERNof global seed industry stakeholders came together overfor authors, data protocols and a year ago to form the International Seed Morphologya factsheet template. Author Association (ISMA). submissions can be completed RUOJING WANG,In addition to myself, the board also includes Janineonline. CANADIAN Maruschak of the CFIA and Agriculture and Agri-FoodWe want our users to publish Canadas Axel Diederichsen as vice-chair. information and knowledge to help In my job as the head of the CFIA National Seedothers.ISMA Secretary Herbarium in Saskatoon, Sask., I have witnessed theTheres only a small number ofAGRICULTURElevel of expertise in the area of seed morphology take apeople in Canada and around the dive in recent years, but a big demand arose in the tradeworld doing this kind of work. An when weed seeds became a significant pest. online resource is key. The ISMA Plant and seed morphology are mainly used inweb portal could become a pres- SINCE 1971.identifying over 200,000 flowering plants and theirtigious place to publish work in seeds around the world. Right now, up-to-date seedthe area of seed morphology, says morphology knowledge and identification expertiseJanine Maruschak, section head for are not readily accessible and are scattered amongthe CFIA Seed Testing Laboratory in individual taxonomists, specialists, analysts and seedSaskatoon, Sask.testing laboratories. CFIA has published weed seedThe Crop Development Centre (CDC) is a plant breeding centre of excellence that Because of the diversity of plants, regional distribu- identification photos and informationapplies science and technology to bring superior crop varieties to Western Canadian tion, and globalized trade, there is no single country thaton the ISMA website. It is a great wayagriculture through exemplary public, private and producer partnerships.can develop a reference database for seed identificationto make it accessible to seed analysts to meet testing needs. By forming ISMA, we hope toworking to ensure seed and grain change that. meets regulatory requirements.For nearly 50 years, the CDC has remained strong in its dedication to crop A lot has happened over the past 12 months since weISMA is to serve as a one-stop- diversification.Having developed over 450 crop varieties in 35 different crop kinds, officially launched our website. We now have two func- shop for all matters concerning seed tional members-only sections. morphologymore members and we have played a significant role in shaping the field crop industry in Western Canada.Training Resources: This section provides trainingparticipation will make the goal tools for seed botany, morphology and identification. achievable.Visit agbio.usask.ca/cdc to learn more!Seed ID Forum: This section offers peer support,It will not only be an invaluable consultation, inquiry, discussion and posting withresource for the seed and agricultural an invited ID Expert Panel. industries but also for scientists in These two sections are in addition to the followinga wide variety of fields, including portals that can be accessed via the site: botany, ecology, ethnobotany, archae- S eed Identification Guide: A virtual publicationology to agriculture.of seed morphological information, such as seedFor information please visit botanical features, seed identification fact sheets,idseed.org and click the Join Us digital identification keys, image galleries, andbutton at the top. common botany terminologies.10GERMINATION.CA JANUARY 2020"