FOREWORD

Reflecting the widespread interest in strawberry research all over the world, over 250 delegates from 34 countries, and representing governments, industries and academic organizations, attended this 3rd ISS. This unexpected great participation, the friendly and warm atmosphere between the delegates and the varied programme made it a truly wonderful and successful meeting. However, without the generosity of the Cooperators listed in the front of this book, who gave financial support to the Symposium the organization would not have been possible. Therefore, we wish to gratefully acknowledge their aid and financial support.

The 3rd ISS was preceded by a one-day Pre Symposium Tour to Belgian Limburg, during which over 100 participants visited the Small Fruit Demonstration Centre in Tongeren and some local small fruit growers.

The symposium itself was divided into six scientific sessions for oral presentations. Furthermore, over 100 posters were presented in different research disciplines, including soil management and nutrition, breeding and cultivars, plant propagation, plant protection, integrated pest control, physiology, strawberry culture and post harvest research.

Dr John Maas, chairman of the ISHS Strawberry Working Group, summarized in his opening paper the recent advances in strawberry disease research and invited papers were given by Dr Yasaburo Oda from Japan and Dr Margaret Zorin from Australia.

Next to the lecture programme several excursions were organized. During a one-day tour the participants visited the National Research Centre for Strawberries in Meerle and the auction in Hoogstraten, Belgium, the Strawberry Experiment Station and the auction in Breda, The Netherlands and strawberry growers in both countries. Twenty-four exhibitors presented the latest developments in the international strawberry industry were presented at the Meerle Research Centre.

During a second excursion day the Centre for Plant Breeding and Reproduction Research (CPRO-DLO) in Wageningen or some local strawberry growers in The Netherlands were visited.

The participants also had the opportunity to enjoy a touristic visit to the ancient city of Antwerp. During dinner Victor Voth (USA), John Maas (USA), Walter Faedi (I), Philip Roudeillac (F), Jan Dijkstra (NL) and Filip Lieten (B) were honored for their "feat of arms" in strawberry research and dubbed a knight by the Ducal Society "Ghesellen van de Aardbei" (The Fellows of the Strawberry).

For the 18 accompanying persons several touristic sightseeing tours to old cities and local curiosities in Belgium and The Netherlands were organized.

During the Business Meeting Dr. Kaska from Turkey was elected as chairman of the Strawberry Working Group beginning in 1998. Sadly, the proposed dedication of the Proceedings made at the Business Meeting was set aside due to the sudden death in July of Prof. Dr. Pasquale Rosati, to whom the Organizing Committee decided to dedicate this Acta. Rosati was the organizer of the 1st ISS and first chairman of the Strawberry Working Group. Herewith, we want to honour all his work for the strawberry industry.

Finally, we want to acknowledge the excellent help and assistance provided by the staff members of the research stations and auctions in Belgium and The Netherlands in organizing the technical excursions. We also wish to give our thanks to all local growers for their hospitality and to the extension services for the planning and guiding of the visits. Also, we thank employees of the Koningshof Congress Centre in Veldhoven for their help and co-operation.

We wish to express our gratitude to all members of the Organizing Committee for their help in planning the symposium and to the Editorial Committee for giving their time and energy in reviewing the manuscripts for the Acta Horticulturae. A special word of thanks we owe to Henk van der Scheer for making all manuscripts ready for reviewing and for press.

Last but not least we thank all delegates for their participation, we wish them success in thier further careers and hope to meet them again in the near future.

The conveners, Jan Dijkstra and Filip Lieten


OPENING REMARKS

Honoured Guests, Friends and Colleagues,

The Third International Strawberry Symposium is an important occasion in the life of the International Society for Horticultural Science and especially its Working Group on Strawberry. It is with great pride in the leadership of this Working Group, and high respect for the organizers of this Third Symposium, that I welcome you to Veldhoven.

As you well know, strawberries are now amongst the most valuable of fruit crops in many countries of the world. They are grown in temperate and subtropical climatic zones and are increasingly important, both fresh and processed, in international trade. Thus, it is highly appropriate that the ISHS sponsors this symposium and has a strong Working Group dealing with this crop.

In fact, because of consistent leadership and enthusiastic member support, the Strawberry Working Group is one of the most active of the 20 Working Groups that comprise the Fruit Section. However, it should be known that Fruit Section Working Groups are involved in the hosting of 10 other Symposia and two International Workshops in 1996! Clearly, the ISHS is playing an important networking role in international science. I would urge each of you to become an active member of this Society.

For those of you not familiar with the history of the Strawberry Working Group, it was formed in 1987 following discussions involving Drs. P. Rosati, G. Galletta and J. Maas. Earlier symposia were held in Cesena, Italy in 1988 (Acta Horticulturae 265) and Beltsville, U.S.A. in 1992 (Acta Horticulturae 348). Both symposia were well attended and resulted in significant contributions to berry crops pomology. The present symposium continues this series and I look forward to seeing another excellent volume of Acta Horticulturae. I know that it will represent a substantial contribution to our knowledge about the plant materials, physiology, pathology, culture and utilization of this important crop.

It is well understood by President Sansavini, the ISHS Board of Directors, and by all Section and Commission Chairs that it is our Working Groups that form the foundation and will determine the future of the Society. Working Group Newsletters and well-focused international symposia and workshops combine to keep the group informed of new science and technology. But perhaps of even greater value is the role that Working Groups play in building a sense of community amongst scientists and technologists working on a specific crop such as strawberry or within a well-defined area of horticultural science such as bioregulators in fruit production, my own specialization.

I know that this present symposium will be one of those special occasions where both new science and new scientists will be welcomed by your particular "community". I am told that 34 different countries are represented here this week and I know that many of you work at locations where there are very few colleagues available for day to day professional interaction. I urge each of you to take full advantage of this splendid opportunity to meet the leaders of your profession, make new friends, and establish yourself as an influential member of this Working Group. It is on occasions such as this that we develop and practice those leadership and communication skills so important to us all if horticulture is to continue to be a widely respected science discipline. Another major opportunity to meet with your international colleagues will be on the occasion of the XXV International Horticultural Congress at Brussels, 2–7 August, 1998. I look forward to seeing many of you there and I would urge you to find a way to ensure that the interests of the Strawberry Working Group are represented at the Business Meeting of the Fruit Section.

Finally, as Chair of the Fruit Section I would like to acknowledge the excellent cooperation that I have received from your Working Group Chair, Dr. John Maas. He has kept me fully informed of the activities of the Working Group and I have enjoyed receiving his informative Newsletters and Research Roundup publications. And, on behalf of the International Society at large, I would extend a very warm thank you to Drs. Jan 'Dijkstra and Philip Lieten and their entire organizing committee for the excellent preparations for this symposium.

I wish you a happy week of enlightenment, companionship and professional renewal!


Chair ISHS Fruit Section, N.E. Looney
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,
Summerland, British Columbia, VOH 1ZO, Canada