Edge Coloring of Embedded Graphs with Large Girth

Let G be a simple graph embedded in the surface of Euler characteristic ()0. Denote _e(G), and g the edge chromatic number, the maximum degree and the girth of the graph G, respectively. The paper shows that _e(G)= if 5 and g4, or 4 and g5, or 3 and g9. In addition, if ()>0, then _e(G)= if 3 and g8. Acknowledgments.The authors would like to thank Dr. C.Q. Zhang for carefully reading several versions of this paper during its preparation and for suggesting several stylistic changes that have improved the overall presentation.