The Gene List Committee was given the assignment of compiling and publishing lists  of  known  tomato  genes  and  revising  gene  symbols  when  necessary  to conform  with  nomenclature  rules.    The  first  gene  list,  prepared  for  TGC  4  by chairman  L.  Butler,  D.  W.  Barton,  P.  A.  Young,  and  C.  M.  Rick,  included  108 tomato  genes.    The  gene  list  more  than  doubled  in  the  next  five  years;  172 additional genes were included in the list in TGC 9.  The gene list has continued to expand, with 99 new genes added to the list in TGC 12, 146 for TGC 17, 88 for TGC 21, 51 for TGC 23, and 93 additional genes for the list in TGC 29. The number of tomato genes has grown so large in recent years that there was a need   to   categorize   them,   to   classify   them   into   different   groups   for   the convenience of researchers interested in locating a particular kind of mutant.  The gene list committee, therefore, published in TGC 21 a classification, according to 21 phenotype groups, all of genes known at that time. The first gene lists for the tomato included sources of seed for each gene.  Carl Clayberg  and  later  Dick  Robinson  served  as  coordinators  of  the  stock-keeping program,  assigning  volunteers  to  maintain  and  distribute  seed  of  each  mutant.   This  system  worked  well  for  many  years,  but  became  cumbersome  as  the number   of   known   genes   greatly   increased   and   some   former   stock-keepers retired. The  Tomato  Genetics  Stock  Center  was  established  by  C.  M.  Rick  in  1976  to solve  the  problem  of  preserving  and  making  available  germplasm  for  tomato researchers.    The  Stock  Center  published  in  TGC  Reports  27  and  30  lists  of accessions  of  Lycopersicon  and  related  Solanum  species  being  maintained.   TGC Reports 28 and 31 included lists of mutants in the collection of the Tomato Genetics  Stock  Center.    Lists  in  TGC  29  reported  other  tomato  germplasm maintained  by  the  Stock  Center,  including  allozyme  variants,  multiple  gene stocks, linkage testers, translocations, tetraploids, trisomics, and cultivars. For many years, Len Butler coordinated linkage investigations by TGC members.   To prevent duplication in research  and to ensure that  gene mapping was done with  each  of  the  12  chromosomes  of  the  tomato,  different  chromosomes  were assigned   to   different   investigators   for   linkage   testing.      In   the   linkage   map published  by  Rick  and  Clayberg  in  TGC  5,  47  genes  were  mapped  on  11 chromosomes.    The  linkage  map  prepared  by  C.  M.  Rick  for  TGC  27  included 288  genes,  with  each  of  the  12  chromosomes  mapped  for  marker  genes  and position of the centromere. No history of the TGC would be complete without giving recognition to Dora Hunt, who  has  had  so  much  to  do  with  editing  the  Report,  helping  with  membership arrangements, and other work for the TGC.  Many others have also contributed to the success of the Tomato Genetics Cooperative, but no one else to the extent of C. M. Rick.  It is largely due to his prodigious efforts that the TGC has prospered and   the   tomato   has   become   the   pre-eminent   plant   species   for   cytogenetic research.  It is a pleasure, on the eve of his retirement, to express gratitude to Charley Rick for the research, service, and inspiration he has provided for tomato geneticists.

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