MESSAGE
Rice is the principal food of nearly half of mankind. Yet our knowledge of
rice genetics lags behind that of other major food crops such as wheat,
maize, barley and tomato. In the genetically well known species, newsletters
are published annually for the informal exchange of preliminary information
on findings of interest to geneticists. Availability of seed stocks of
interest for genetic research is reported and such newsletters serve the
useful purpose of regular communication between the research workers having a
common interest in the genetics of the crop. I am very happy that rice
geneticists have decided to publish an International Rice Genetics Newsletter
(IRGN) annually. I hope that a formal organization for the publication of the
IRGN will be estab lished during the International Rice Genetics Symposium
to be held at IRRI in May 1985. Under standing of basic genetics of rice
will be imperative for utilizing emerging techniques of genetic engineering
for rice improvement.
April 30, 1984
M. S. Swaminathan
Director General, IRRI
Independent Chairman, FAO Council