From: Delroy CollinsTo: Bill; DustinSubject: WE picsDate: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 7:19:24 AMAttachments: Bill Rooney 2009 004.jpg

Bill Rooney 2009 005.jpgBill Rooney 2009 006.jpgBill Rooney 2009 007.jpgBill Rooney 2009 008.jpgSWHYout early.jpgSWHYout late.jpgSWHYout medium.jpg

Mr. S. Delroy Collins, Research AssociateSorghum Breeding and GeneticsDept. of Soil & Crop SciencesTexas A&M University370 Olsen Blvd.College Station, TX 77843delroy@tamu.edu(979) 845-2151

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From: Kathy FergusonTo: undisclosed-recipients:Subject: Weslaco Geneticist Candidate - Serge EdmeDate: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 9:44:34 AMAttachments: EdmeItinerary.pdf

Kathy Ferguson.vcf

Attached is the itinerary for our Weslaco candidate for today. I apologize for the tardiness in getting thisout to you. Make it a GREAT day! Kathy FergusonSenior Office AssociateSoil & Crop Sciences | Instruction ProgramsMEPS | Instruction ProgramsTexas A&M UniversityTAMU 2474Heep Center, Rm 217Phone: 979-845-4620 | MEPS: 979-845-0532 | Fax: 979-458-0533 "Learning is ever in the freshness of its youth, even for the old." Aeschylus

Interview Itinerary

Dr. Serge Edme Candidate for the Plant Geneticist position - Weslaco

September 22 - 23, 2009 Tuesday, September 22, 2009 Arrive College Station @ 4:14 pm Continental Flight CO 9582 Residence Inn by Marriott – University Dr., College Station, Conf. # 86793178 Picked up at airport and delivered to hotel by: Russ Jessup 6:30 pm Dinner meeting - Russ Jessup Wednesday, September 23, 2009

7:00 am Breakfast meeting – Wayne Smith (drop off at Wells Fargo)

8:15 am Meet with H.R. at Wells Fargo

9:15 am Picked up from Wells Fargo by: Seth Murray

9:30 am Preparation for seminar

10:00 am Seminar presentation (45 minutes) and discussion

11:00 am Visit with Faculty room 440 or

Tour of Facilities with Seth Murray

12:00 pm Lunch meeting – David Baltensperger

1:30 pm Terry Gentry – Heep 437

2:30 pm Martin Dickman – Heep 437

3:00 pm David Stelly – New Beasley Lab

4:00 pm David Baltensperger – Wrap up Heep 434

Transport to Residence Inn by Marriott – University Dr. by David Baltensperger

6:30 pm Dinner Meeting - Bill Rooney

Thursday, September 24, 2009

7:00 AM Breakfast – Steve Hague

8:30 am Dirk Hays – Heep 220D

Taken to airport by: Dirk Hays

Depart College Station @ 11:25am, Continental Flight: CO 9502

From: neo.tamu.eduTo: Ussery, Roy; Trostle, Calvin; Travis Miller; Thomas, Geoff; Thomas, David; Swink, Donnie; Stroup, Jason;

Steele, Greg; Sowder, Matt; Sick, Steve; Rooney, Bill; Reysack, Joe; O"Rear, Jerry; Mullen, Larry; Moss, Walter;Monk, Jerry; Mike Lenz; McDowell, Larry; McClure, Bill; McClenney, Billy; Marsalis, Mark; Kunz, Phil;Krieghauser, Coby; Klein, Norm; Kerry Mayfield; Keith Arnold; Jorge Guzman; Jesus Martinez; Jaster, John;Isakeit, Tom; Hussey, Mark; Hajovsky, Bart; Griffin, John; Gonzalez, Carlos; Gary Peterson; Eder Victor USSL;Davis, Tony; Cleveland, Wayne; Cleve Franks; Ciellencki, Chuck; Carter, Shawn; Brent Bean; Blumenthal, Jurg;Benton, Ben; Becker, Enrique Martinez; Baltensperger, David; Allison, James; Westermann, Tadd

Cc: Garza, BetoSubject: Weslaco Limited Irrigated Grain Sorghum ResultsDate: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 3:51:47 PMAttachments: 2009 Weslaco Limited Irrigated Final Table.xls

All: Attached you will find results from the 2009 Weslaco Limited Irrigated Grain Sorghum PerformanceTest. Agronomic data will be available later. Yields were ok despite very dry conditions at Weslaco. The test block received no beneficial rainfall during the growing season. Beto Garza, coordinator atthe Annex Farm at Weslaco, followed the protocol set up for this test. The protocol included anirrigation immediately after planting which insured germination, plus one irrigation during the growingseason, near the "boot stage". Midge damage was observed, especially in the later maturing hybrids. No insecticides were used for control. A visual estimate of damage was not made. Results from the Weslaco Full Irrigated Test as well as other grain sorghum test sites will be availablein the near future. The Gregory Grain Sorghum Test was not harvested due to extended periods ofdrought conditions in the Coastal Bend Area of Texas. If you have any questions regarding the attached results, please contact me. Thanks, Dennis PietschCrop Testing ProgramSoil & Crop Science DepartmentTexas AgriLife ResearchCollege Station, Texas 77843-2474http://varietytesting.tamu.edu/corn&grainsorghum/resources.htmPhone: 979-845-8505Fax: 979-862-7011Email: croptest@tamu.edu

2009 Weslaco Limited Irrigated Grain Sorghum Performance Test, Texas AgriLife Research Annex Farm, Weslaco, Texas.

Company Days Heador Maturity Grain Plant to Plant Exser- Test

Hybrid Brand Class Color Color 50% Height tion % Weight Yield(1) Name (2) (3) (4) Flower Inches In. Moisture lb/bu lb/ATerral TV96H81 Terral Seed, Inc. ML R P 78 48 11 15.7 61.5 4,72383G19 Pioneer Hi-Bred Int., Inc. (Guzman) ML BZ R 78 47 11 16.1 61.7 4,62882G10 Pioneer Hi-Bred Int., Inc. (Guzman) ML BZ R 79 48 12 15.8 60.4 4,462Asgrow A571 Asgrow ML R P 77 48 11 16.3 57.8 4,433Fill Texas AgriLife Research ML BZ P 76 47 11 15.5 60.6 4,431

Terral TVX96H95 Terral Seed, Inc. ML BZ P 76 46 11 15.7 60.7 4,318Terral TV92S82 Terral Seed, Inc. ME BZ P 79 47 11 16.1 61.5 4,143BIG 766 Bio Internacional Genetica M BZ P 79 49 11 16.3 60.7 4,142Terral TV94S91 Terral Seed, Inc. M R P 77 46 11 16.3 58.0 4,111BIG 750 Bio Internacional Genetica ML R P 76 47 11 16.0 60.6 4,110

DG 771 DynaGro Seeds M BZ * 77 47 11 16.0 60.0 4,0771488 Crosbyton Seed Co. ML BZ P 78 45 11 16.2 57.6 3,982KS 735 Sorghum Partners Inc. ML BZ P 78 47 11 16.4 59.5 3,916DeKalb DKS36-06 DeKalb ME BZ P 76 48 12 15.8 61.7 3,900DeKalb DKS53-67 DeKalb ML BZ P 83 45 12 15.8 61.9 3,891

WX3310 Warner Seeds, Inc. ML BZ P 78 48 11 16.9 61.9 3,868Terral TVX92S95 Terral Seed, Inc. ME R P 79 41 11 16.7 60.9 3,851ATx399 x RTx430 Texas AgriLife Research ML BZ P 76 45 11 14.7 57.3 3,851Terral TVX92S01 Terral Seed, Inc. ME R P 79 43 10 15.9 60.1 3,840ATx2752 x RTx430 Texas AgriLife Research ML BZ P 78 47 12 16.1 59.7 3,783

BIG 735 Bio Internacional Genetica ML R P 79 52 10 16.0 61.4 3,778DeKalb DKS44-20 DeKalb M BZ P 80 46 11 16.2 61.6 3,734NK7633 Sorghum Partners Inc. ML BZ P 76 45 11 16.3 60.4 3,683DeKalb DKS37-07 DeKalb ME BZ P 76 47 12 15.7 61.6 3,608X1888 Crosbyton Seed Co. ML BZ P 82 47 11 16.6 58.5 3,592

Terral TVX93S16 Terral Seed, Inc. M BZ P 80 49 12 16.4 59.9 3,561Terral TV9421 Terral Seed, Inc. M BZ P 77 44 11 15.6 59.0 3,561ATx378 x RTx430 Texas AgriLife Research ML BZ P 77 50 10 15.7 58.1 3,388DeKalb DKS 54-03 DeKalb ML BZ P 84 48 12 15.6 59.1 3,364Terral TV93S72 Terral Seed, Inc. M R P 76 47 10 15.4 57.4 3,279

2009 Weslaco Limited Irrigated Grain Sorghum Performance Test, Texas AgriLife Research Annex Farm, Weslaco, Texas.

Company Days Heador Maturity Grain Plant to Plant Exser- Test

Hybrid Brand Class Color Color 50% Height tion % Weight Yield(1) Name (2) (3) (4) Flower Inches In. Moisture lb/bu lb/A

Terral TV96H91 Terral Seed, Inc. ML BZ P 83 46 12 17.0 61.2 3,250DeKalb DKS 54-00 DeKalb ML BZ P 84 50 11 16.3 59.4 3,107WX3286 Warner Seeds, Inc. ML BZ P 76 43 11 15.2 60.2 2,977WX4303 Warner Seeds, Inc. ML BZ P 77 46 12 15.4 60.0 2,869ATx631 x RTx436 Texas AgriLife Research ML W T 84 51 14 16.6 59.6 2,737

WX3255 Warner Seeds, Inc. ML BZ P 84 52 12 16.7 57.0 2,730NK7829 Sorghum Partners Inc. ML BZ P 84 51 13 17.9 60.2 2,725WX4254 Warner Seeds, Inc. ML BZ P 84 51 13 15.6 61.0 2,708WX4305 Warner Seeds, Inc. ML BZ T 78 42 13 16.4 60.2 2,210Check Texas AgriLife Research M BZ * 84 52 12 17.3 61.5 2,116Mean 78.80 47.10 11.26 16.06 60.05 3,674C.V. 1.58 4.00 6.06 6.00 2.81 14.51L.S.D. .05 1.78 2.69 0.98 NS 2.55 780

Note 1: All data was analyzed using REMLTOOL. L.S.D.'s are given for traits that were significantly different at P<.05.

Note 2: Hybrid names starting or ending with an "X" denotes a commercial experimental. Those hybrids entered by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station are either in the experimental stage or being tested as experimental check hybrids. Please contact respective seed companies for the availability of planting seed for the upcoming crop year.

Note 3: Bird damage and midge damage readings were not obtained prior to harvest, therefore not reported.

(1) Golden Acres GA3696 was entered as a fill plot three times. These plots were analyzed separately, but combined as one entry in the table. DynaGro DG 778 was entered as a check hybrid.These hybrids were entered at our discretion and are intended to be used for comparison purposes only.

(2) Maturity classification designated by respective seed companies: E=Early, M=Medium, ML=Medium Late, L=Late. Those hybrids with an asterisk (*) indicates company did not submit maturity.

(3) Grain color designated by respective seed companies: R=Red, Bz=Bronze, W=White, Cm=Cream, Y=Yellow. Those hybrids with an asterisk (*) indicates company did not submit grain color.

(4) Plant color designated by respective seed companies: T=Tan, R=Red, P=Purple. Those hybrids with an asterisk (*) indicates company did notsubmit plant color.

From: John L JifonTo: Erik Mirkov; John L Jifon; Nael El-Hout; Qingyi Yu; C. Wayne Smith; Bill L RooneyCc: Jmgould@tamu.eduSubject: Weslaco Sugarcane Breeder Ref Letter for EdmeDate: Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:53:50 AMAttachments: Ref Letter for Serge Edme 1 .pdf

Reference Letter for Serge Edme

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

School of Plants, Environmental and Soil Science 104 M. B. Sturgis Hall

Baton Rouge, LA 70803 (225) 578 2110

Fax: (225) 578 1403 Website: www.lsuagcenter.com

Dr. Mike Gould Professor & Center Director Texas A&M University System AgriLife Research Center - Weslaco 2415 East Highway 83 Weslaco, TX 78596 office: 956.968.5585 mobile: 956.373.5759 fax: 956.969.5620 jmgould@tamu.edu

August 20, 2009

Dear Dr. Gould:

Letter of recommendation for Dr. Serge Edme Dr. Serge Edme has put me in the unenviable position of writing a reference letter on his behalf for a prospective job opportunity for which I am also a candidate. I welcome this challenge and I am very happy to oblige.

I have known Serge as a colleague, research collaborator and friend since 2001. Serge is currently employed as a Sugarcane Geneticist with the USDA-ARS at Canal Point, Fl., and has put in place a very diverse and productive research program, the results of which are now being implemented in the Canal Point sugarcane improvement program. We share a common interest which is, to improve sugarcane using both quantitative genetics and molecular marker approaches. This is uncharacteristic of most sugarcane geneticists who are highly specialized in one approach. I am, therefore, quite familiar with Serge’s research program and he and I have collaborated on a number of projects.

One of Serge’s most outstanding work was his quantitative genetics analysis of the ‘Genetic contribution to yield gains in the Florida sugarcane industry …..’ published in Crop Science (Crop Science 2005 45: 92-97), in where he found disparities in genetic gains across soil types among the environments targeted for release of new sugarcane cultivars by the Canal Point sugarcane improvement program. The information revealed by this work has spawned many a research projects culminating in the restructuring of some aspects of the Canal Point sugarcane improvement program. Other highlights from Serge’s research that have come about as a result of his skills in quantitative genetics include: improved progeny testing of sugarcane seedlings using family and mass selection techniques and, spatial analysis of unreplicated trials in the first clonal stage of selection (JASSCT 2007; 27: 89-104). Implementation of results from the above research projects have helped to streamline and improve selection efficiency in the Canal Point sugarcane improvement program. Sugarcane is a crop for which interspecific hybridization has played a major role in its improvement. In one of the research carried out by Serge, he used flow cytometry to

quantify genome size in sugarcane and to verify hybrid status and gamete transmission among progenies derived from interspecific crosses (JASSCT 2005 25: 1-16). This is important because aneuploidy is widespread among sugarcane crosses and gamete transmission is not regularly n + n as is the case with other species and all of these can affect the inheritance of traits and, therefore, progeny performance in a selection program. Serge has also developed one of the few genetic linkage maps in sugarcane (Heredity 2006 97: 366–375) and is currently in the process of mapping QTLs in this population. His presentation at the recent (June 2009) American Society of Sugarcane Technologists meeting dealt with proteomics analysis of sugarcane transcripts derived from genotypes exposed to cold/freeze stress. This approach can be adapted to deal with other environmental stresses such as the draught which to my knowledge is among the major stresses of sugarcane grown at Weslaco. A common thread among all the research approaches mentioned above is the use or adaptation of novel molecular markers, molecular cytogentics and bioinformatics techniques to solve recalcitrant problems in sugarcane breeding and genetics. Serge and I are collaborating on a number of projects and have coauthored several abstracts, one journal article with at least three manuscripts underway. As a scientist I have found him to be bright, very engaging and critically open-minded and comfortable with his views especially in discussions dealing with quantitative genetics and molecular markers as it relates to sugarcane breeding and genetics. He is also quite honest, emotionally balanced and a very amiable person. Sugarcane field work can be very labor intensive and is mostly performed under inclement (hot and humid) weather conditions. To be a successful sugarcane breeder entails getting your hands dirty. This may sound trivial but many aspects of selection in sugarcane require the breeder to be present in the field or at least to know when your presence is needed. During the times I have worked with Serge in the field or juice lab he has not been shy to pick up a cane knife or juice container and get on with the job. In view of the foregoing and of my understanding of the tasks required of this position, I feel Serge brings the right combination of skill set required to be successful in this position. I, therefore, support Serge’s candidacy for this position with as much enthusiasm as I do mine. I wish him well and look forward to continuing my friendship and collaboration with him irrespective of the outcome of this interview process.

Sincerely,

Collins A. Kimbeng Associate Professor School of Plants, Environmental and Soil Sciences Louisiana State University Agricultural Center 104 M. B. Sturgis Hall Baton Rouge, LA 70803

From: John L JifonTo: Erik Mirkov; John L Jifon; Nael El-Hout; Qingyi Yu; C. Wayne Smith; Bill L RooneyCc: Jmgould@tamu.eduSubject: Weslaco Sugarcane Breeder Ref LettersDate: Monday, August 24, 2009 9:20:44 AMAttachments: DrHale reference - C Miller.pdf

S. Edme recommendation-Thompson.pdf

Reference Letters for Serge Edme and Ana Hale

From: John L JifonTo: Erik Mirkov; John L Jifon; Nael El-Hout; Qingyi Yu; C. Wayne Smith; Bill L RooneySubject: Weslaco Sugarcane Breeder- Ref Letter for C. KimbengDate: Monday, August 31, 2009 8:10:26 AMAttachments: C. Kimbeng Letter - WH WHite.doc

Reference Letter for C. Kimbeng

United States Department of Agriculture

Research, Education, and Economics Agricultural Research Service

Sugarcane Research Unit

5883 USDA Road Houma, LA 70360

(985) 872-5042 A A A AAAA A AAAAAAAAAA A A AAAAAA

August 31, 2009 Dr. Mike Gould Professor and Center Director Texas A&M University System AgriLife Research Center - Weslaco 2415 East Highway 83 Weslaco, Texas, 78596 Dear Dr. Gould, My colleague, Dr. Collins Kimbeng has requested that I write a letter in support of his application for the Associate Professor position at Weslaco, TX to conduct research in the genetic improvement of high biomass crops. This is a task that I am happy to do; however, I am saddened to know that I may be losing a valued cooperator or should I say a convenient cooperator as I am sure that I will be able to continue my cooperation with Collins should he move to the Valley.

Collins came to Louisiana is 2001 when he accepted a position in the Agronomy Department at Louisiana State University. As I understood his position, an important component of his responsibilities would be providing statistical support to those of us doing research in sugarcane. As an entomologist doing plant breeding in pest resistance, I fairly swooned at the thought of someone being available to provide such valuable assistance. You see, I have just enough quantitative genetics to be dangerous. After hearing Collins’ seminar I knew that he was our man.

After Collins came on board at LSU, I immediately began bugging him to help me complete a manuscript requiring statistical expertise beyond my skills. I knew what I wanted to do, but was not sure how to get there. Collins gladly accepted the task and as a result a very nice publication was forthcoming. The manuscript is listed in his resume. After that, Collins mainly served as a resource answering my many statistical questions and as a sounding board for thoughts concerning breeding strategies for pest resistance. For the sugarcane industry, he assumed a much larger role becoming the go to guy for his expertise in molecular breeding and was frequently consulted on fundamental aspects of the Louisiana commercial sugarcane breeding program. Collins, as his resume reflects, is a skilled, traditional plant breeder, something that he is very proud to acknowledge. Collins relates the story of being hired by Dr. Mac Hogarth, retired breeder at BSES. Mac proudly pointed out to me that he was the one who brought Collins on board at BSES. BSES was saddened to see Collins depart.

My last project with Collins was to write my swan song as I begin to end my career with ARS. I had wanted to write a paper summarizing my work over the last 26 years in breeding for sugarcane borer resistance. My goal was to present the paper at the ISSCT Congress in Veracruz,

M. Gould 2

Mexico in 2010. Collins and his student Dr. Marvellous Zhou were instrumental in helping to write the manuscript and having it accepted by ISSCT. I think it is particularly exciting for an entomologist to have his paper accepted by plant breeders. Another accomplishment of this team, also including Dr. Jorge da Silva, was to submit a very nice manuscript to Crop Science reporting strong evidence for cross resistance between the Mexican rice borer and the sugarcane borer. I believe this manuscript will eventually be heavily cited by researchers.

In closing, I can not say enough about Dr. Kimbeng. He is well trained, well spoken, very cooperative, very hard working, and a good friend. He would be Texas A&M’s gain and our loss. But he would still be serving US agriculture and for that, I am happy. If you should have additional questions concerning Dr. Kimbeng’s application or my letter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely yours,

William H. White, Ph.D. Research Entomologist USDA-ARS-Sugarcane Research Laboratory

From: Bill RooneyTo: "Collins, Stephen D"; "dustin borden"Subject: WF fieldbookDate: Friday, August 07, 2009 6:28:00 PMAttachments: 09WF Nursery.xls

Attached is the wf nursery All should be pulled except for the Sweet Breeding Section - those will come from the selections madeon Monday. More to come on that tomorrow. Rows 1-2 and 8-9 should be sent on Monday to plant on Tuesday. The remainder should be sent onWednesday for planting either on Thursday or Friday. You'll need to call and talk to Beto about this. Also we have 82 rows which is too much for the Annex. So I guess we'll use only the section at the Hiler Farm. Not thrilled about that, but we've got to dowhat we've got to do. Please let Beto know that we will only use the Hiler farm field and NOT theannex. thanks, bill Dr. William L. RooneyProfessor, Sorghum Breeding and GeneticsChair, Plant Release CommitteeTexas A&M UniversityCollege Station, Texas 77843-2474979 845 2151