diff --git a/portal.ejb/src/main/java/org/vamdc/portal/session/queryBuilder/formsTree/RootForm.java b/portal.ejb/src/main/java/org/vamdc/portal/session/queryBuilder/formsTree/RootForm.java
index 34261ef..b6cc9ee 100644
--- a/portal.ejb/src/main/java/org/vamdc/portal/session/queryBuilder/formsTree/RootForm.java
+++ b/portal.ejb/src/main/java/org/vamdc/portal/session/queryBuilder/formsTree/RootForm.java
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ public class RootForm extends AbstractForm implements TreeFormInterface{
 	 * 
 	 */
 	private static final long serialVersionUID = 48058013878512872L;
-	private SearchMode selectedMode;
+	private SearchMode selectedMode = SearchMode.species;
 	private QueryTreeInterface tree;
 	private Boolean queryable=true;