ADDRESS OF THE CHAIRMAN OF ROMANIAN ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, PROF. DR. I. CEAUSESCU, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE VII-TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON “APRICOT CULTURE AND DECLINE”

I have the honour to announce the opening of the VII-th International Symposium on “Apricot culture and decline” — scientific meeting organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, General Direction of Horticulture and the Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences under the auspices on International Society of Horticultural Science.

On this occasion I ask for permission to present you in the name of Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences and Romanian Organizing Committee a cordially greeting to all participants and the traditional “Welcome in Romania” to the foreign guests.

We greet the presence to this Symposium of the distinguished Prof. Dr. Fritz Ditrich, chairman of International Society for Horticultural Science who gave a new and enthusiastic direction to the research activity of the Society and who enjoys a distinctive prestige among the scientists all over the world.

We also greet the presence of Prof. Dr. Paunovic, S.A. chairman of the working group on “Apricot culture and decline”.

We greet all guests from abroad who had the kindness to answer the invitation for attending to the VII-th International Symposium on “Apricot culture and decline”.

We are glad to greet here the presence of a large number of Romanian scientists, professors and field specialists who paid a particular interest to questions arisen by apricot culture.

A special concern in the countries all over the world is to ensure high and constant apricot yields, having in view the special nutritive value of fruits, as well as the multiple ways of fruit processing.

In Romania a particular importance it is given to apricot culture, therefore an increasing acreage of apricot orchards is planned in the future fruit growing program.

We appreciate the fact that the approached matters will take in discussion the main points connected to culture technology, and assortment improvement, having in view the main purpose of all of us: obtaining of high, constant yields of good quality apricot fruits.

The documentary visits to some orchards in most representative areas for apricot culture will give the opportunity to learn more about ecological conditions of our country as well as the research directions in apricot culture.

We are convinced that the debates and exchanges of ideas between specialists participating to this Symposium will bring a great contribution to the knowledge improvement regarding apricot culture.

With firm convinction that this Symposium will attain the objectives of everybody desire, I declare its sessions opened and I wish again a great success to the VII-th International Symposium on “Apricot culture and decline”.


ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ISHS, PROF. DR. D. FRITZ
ON OCCASION OF THE VII-th INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
ON “APRICOT CULTURE AND DECLINE” IN BUCHAREST,
ROMANIA, 15–22 JULY 1981

I have the honour of conveying kindest greetings and wishes of the International Society for Horticultural Science for the VII-th International Symposium on “Apricot Culture and Decline”. Cordial thanks go to the Romanian convener, to the organizing committee with its chairman Dr. Cociu, but especially to Mr. Minister and Professor Ceausescu for his kind invitation and hospitality, as well as for the friendly welcome this morning. Accept my sincere congratulations, please, on the most interesting program set up for this conference. Congratulations also go to the working group “Apricot culture and decline”, as well as to its chairman Prof. Dr. Paunovic for successful activities and collaboration, which have been productive throughout a 20 years lasting period.

The working group “Apricots” almost has as long an history as the ISHS itself has. All of us know that it is not the number of established sections, commissions, or working groups but rather the activities of these technical bodies of the Society that should be stimulated. You developed great a number of useful activities for many years, for which the program of this symposium is quite clear an evidence.

The ISHS, through its members' activities, furthers all branches of horticultural science and technology by encouraging exchange of views, and stimulating international collaboration. The ISHS at present is built of 46 member countries, 220 affiliated organizations, and 2,000 individual members from 88 different countries. I highly would be pleased if also all of you used the chance of being kept informed on scientific activities in the field of horticulture — ISHS as well as non-ISHS — that is provided to individual members by means of Chronica Horticulturae. If you do not receive this journal regularly three times a year despite of the fact that your membership fees were paid, inform the secretariat general please. International contacts also may be improved by means of other ISHS publications. Though membership fees are relatively low, individual membership provides an advantage of information — not only on our own International Society for Horticultural Science but also on the 20 international scientific societies that are bound by contract with the ISHS to further mutual co-operation. The List of members of the ISHS, as well as Acta Horticulturae and Horticultural Research International containing 15,000 addresses from 61 different countries, moreover, are a valuable source of information. So I cordially would like to invite you to join the ISHS as registered members.Members from East European countries may pay their membership fees to a special account established in Warsaw.

Another opportunity of exchanging experience and information will be given by the 21st International Horticultural Congress, which will take place in Hamburg from 29 th August to 4 th September 1982. On behalf of the ISHS and the German Society for Horticultural Science I would like to invite you to attend this Congress. It will focus on 'Horticulture in the Industrial Society'. Not only problems arising in industrialized countries with high population density will be emphasized but also all subjects that are of high actuality to horticultural science in all countries of the world will be considered. Exemples of the wide range of subjects to be dealt with may be seen from the 2nd announcement, which can be requested from the congress secretariat in Hamburg. The program committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Bünemann, Hannover is going to arrange eight concurrent sessions with up to 800 papers and 400 posters. Among the great number of papers dealing with fruit there certainly also will be ones on apricots. The congress language will be English. The congress fee will amount to approx 300. — DM and include supply with congress proceedings. Experience of earlier congresses show that you likely will meet at least 1,500 colleagues there, about 1,000 of whom will be from countries other than the Federal Republic of Germany.

Local excursions in and around Hamburg will be offered every day considering all branches of horticulture. Hamburg was chosen the place of this congress because of its central location, and the excellent possibilities for excursions to demonstrate growing sites typical of northern Europe, as well as the enormous quantities of horticultural products daily imported to the Federal Republic of Germany via the Hamburg market.

Pre- and post-congress tours of 5 days duration will lead to different horticultural production areas of northern Europe : Arrangements will be offered to travel from the Netherlands, or from Italy, or from Scandinavia to Hamburg preceding the congress, and — following the congress — from Hamburg to Scandinavia, or the Netherlands, or to Italy. On all of these excursions, also production sites and holdings typical of the conditions existing in the Federal Republic of Germany will be visited. Then you may learn that consumers' demands for superior quality, tand for continual supply with all horticultural products, but also for home gardens and recreational areas are very high in our country. The per-capita expense in Germany spent for flowers, for example, is five times the amount spent in the USA for such products.

I hope that these details may attract many of you to take an interest in the ISHS, as well as in the 21st International Horticultural Congress. Be assured that you are welcome at all of the meetings of our Society, and that you are cordially invited to attend the Hamburg Congress. Take notice please of the deadline for submitting titles of contributed papers and posters, and for returning the reply-card annexed to the 2nd congress announcement : 15th September 1981. Return of this reply-card will guarantee that your name be included in the mailing list for the 3rd announcement, which will contain application forms.

On behalf of the ISHS again I would like to thank you that you organized this Apricot symposium so well here in Romania, and that we found friendly hospitality in this country. I wish your symposium to become a success. See you again in Hamburg next year.

PRESENT AND FUTURE TRENDS IN ROMANIAN FRUIT
TREE GROWING

The fruit growing has an ancient tradition in our country. As an evidence it can be pointed out the existence of numerous valuable varieties and populations of apple, pear, cherry and Prunus armeniaca obtained from the wild types still present in our forests.

The historical documents certify that besides cereals, vines crops and animal growing, the fruit growing was one of the main occupation of our ancestors

The latin names of these species : Malus, Pirus, Prunus, Cerasus is another testimony that the fruit growing had been practiced in our country since roman colonization period.

Later on, numerous chroniclers such as : Matei de Murano, Walter Baltazar, Paul de Alep and others write down in their works about fruit abundance in Valachia and Moldavia.

The oldness of this occupation, more precisely the existence of some established fruit trees plantations is proved by the particular names of some localities which are derived from the species name, such as : nut, cherry, apple, pear, plum etc. (Nucet, Ciresoaia, Merisani, Peris, Pruni, Poiana Marului etc.).

Generally speaking, for having a clearer view about the past fruit growing in our country, it is sufficient to notice the present distribution of the species and varieties in certain areas, which can be found now and before few thousands years ago in the same zones where they had been grown and acclimatized.

Romania is located in the crossing zone of the major geographical units of Central, East and South Europe, in latitude of 43°–48° North and longitude of 20°–29° East.

The relief is like a wide amphiteatre encircled by Carpathians, a central tableland and hills that are extended to Tisa plain, Romanian plain, Moldavia tableland and Dobrodjea platform.

Romania has a continental — temperate climate with local or zonal differences caused by air circulation that is predominant from Northern and Eastern directions. In the fruit growing areas, the annual mean temperature ranges between 9–11°C and the yearly rainfalls amount reaches 550–650 mm, in hilly and plane zones and about 800 mm in the 1000 m altitude zones.

The most fruit species have a growth season of about 240 days.

The relief, hydrology and climate conditions are favourable to growing the most fruit species typical of temperature zone.

These ecological conditions can provide a various fruit consumption all year round.

The agriculture socialization in our country opened a new stag for the fruit growing. Under these new conditions a prospective unitar program was elaborated, having in view the fruit species zoning in the areas with the most favourable ecological conditions for fruit tree growing. In this respect, specialized fruit growing basins were organize where the modern technologies and valuable fruit varieties have been used. This was the first step to pass from an extensive fruit tree growing to an intensive one enhancing the value of the ecological, economical and human conditions of our country.

Our firm aim is to obtain yearly about 3 millions tones of fruit for our domestic needs and export requirements by the end of 1985.

In Romania, the established orchards fill 357,000 ha, Tat that being added 65 millions trees grown in small areas.

The process of Romanian fruit growing modernization include two distinctive stages :

• during the first stage, for a better use of land, the fruit planting were established on sloping lands requiring some antierosion and terracing works. During that time standard orchards with low density a trees/ha were established;
• during the second stage, in the last 15 years, as a result of the modernization trends in Romanian fruit growing, high and very high density orchards were established, in order to increase the yield and fruit quality.

The main objectives of the fruit growing development program are : the increasing of high and very high density orchards acreage especially for the most valuable species, like : apricot, sweet and sour cherry, walnut, almond, small fruit a.s.o.

Our horticulturists pay a special attention to apricot which is one of the fruit species for that the ecological location, varieties choosing and improvement of technologies are very important factors in getting high and constant yields.

At present, the apricot is located in Southern, South-Eastern and western parts of the country, namely in plane areas where it can meet the most suitable ecological conditions in our country.

The apricot yields had greatly fluctuated ranging from 21,000 tone, in 1965 to 81,000 tones in 1969. This year it has been estimated to have a good apricot yield, especially in South and Eastern parts of the country

As a result of population increasing in towns as well as the processing industry needs, the request for apricot fruits became much higher. In this respect, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry set up a special program for apricot culture that makes the provision for growing areas increasing and a better apricot supply of the population.

Following the program objectives, important achievements were obtained during 1976–1980 period : modern apricot orchards were established on 4 200 ha being organized as compact plantings of 300 ha.

During 1981–1985 there will be established other 5 000 ha with modern apricot orchards. At the same time, it has been foreseen to substantially improving the assortment of the new orchards. There will be prevalent the varieties with an increased hardiness, constant yields and high fruit quality fruits.

Among these varieties it worth to be mentioned some of the recent Romanian ones : Venus, Mamaia, Sulina, Selena, Mari de Cenad a.s.o., which can provide a prolonged fresh consumption over 60 days.

For valuable varieties releasing the planting stock is produced under the control and leading of the Fruit Research Stations.

In order to accomplish and substantiate all the objectives of fruit growing program, the research, design and teaching activities were integrated.

In Romania, the research activity is carried out in a Fruit Research Institute that coordinates 26 Fruit Research Stations all over the country.

For the achievement of the research programs over 300 graduated specialists are involved, working in research, teaching institutes and production.

The research programs are organized on species and sections : genetics and breeding, technology, phytopathology, mechanization, organization a.s.o.

Since 1950 the research activity was directed for obtaining new varieties and breeding the existing varieties and rootstocks. There were also enhanced the field trying of the numerous new introduced varieties or breeded in our country.

There were checked in collections and variety trials more than 420 apricot varieties of different origin. As a result there were multiplied and released into production the most valuable varieties, paying thus a considerable contribution to fruit assortment modernization in our country.

There were also improved some technology sequences used in high and very high density apricot orchards, such as: fertilizers, irrigation, pests and disease control, chemical thinning, mechanization a.s.o.

For an unitary and effective guidance of fruit growing in Romanian, as part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry we have the Trust of Fruit Trees Production that belongs to General Economic Direction of Horticulture.

There are also Trusts of Horticulture in every district that coordinate the whole horticultural activity in the county.

By the utmost efforts of all the specialists working in the research, education and production field, under permanent advising and assistance of the leading bodies, the foundations of the modern fruit growing were laid.

I think it worth to be emphasized the close relationships between Romania and other countries by a permanent exchange of scientific and technical information, biological material, publications as well as by the direct connection of the specialists.

I do hope that the scientific papers presented at this Symposium, the exchange of opinions and particularly the direct relationships between the specialists all over the world will open new ways for the progress of horticultural science.

I have also the conviction that this scientific meeting under the auspices of ISHS will be a new chance for stimulating and maintaining of a scientific collaboration between our countries.


THE 20-TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL WORKING
GROUP ON APRICOT CULTURE AND DECLINE, FRUIT SECTION,
ISHS

Ladies and Gentlemen and dear Colleagues,

This year we celebrate the 20 th anniversary of the existing and working of our International Working Group on Apricot Culture and Decline. Fruit Section, ISHS. It is an honour and great pleasure to me to congratulate you this celebration of an anniversary of work and to welcome you on behalf of our Working Group, as well as to express my gratifying to see that so many you have accepted the invitation to attend this Symposium.

You very well know that thanks to Dr. Guy Morvan and to responsible peoples from French Government Office we have had on October 4,1961 a meeting concerned with apricot growing which was held in Perpignan, France. On this occasion, a limited group of research worker (8 authors) from nine different countries talked over seven papers (published in ANN. Epiphyties, 1963, 14/21, 119–161) the phenomena of the Apricot “Apoplexy”. In consequence of the disagrement concernig this, all present decided to set up a working group in charge of promoting the mutual assistance in investigating this complex disease.

In view of the international aspects of the problem concerned, it was also decided to contact the International Society for Horticultural Science and to propose to include a colloquium on Apricot growing in the program of the XVI-th International Horticultural Congress under the name “Apoplexy of Apricot and its control”.

After having received favourable replies as well from Prof. A. Leerenier, President of the International Society for Horticultural Science and Vice-Chairman of the XVI th International Horticultural Congress as from Prof. H. B. Tukey, Chairman of the Fruit Science Commission, a Temporary Committee on “Apoplexy” of Apricots, had been set up to organize such a colloquium (Dr. S. A. Paunovié, Cacak, Yugoslavia, Dr. G. Morvan, Versailles, France, Dr. F. Scaramuzzi, Pisa,Italy).

For the mentioned Colloquium 165 authors from 46 countries were invited to participate, but on the Colloquium named XIII, on September 1, 1962, Brussels, Belgium was attended 24 authors with lectures/published in the Proc. of the XVI-th Internat. Hort. Congr., Vol. V: 489–608/and 59 observers from 19 countries.

As a results of this Colloquium XIII meeting and of further discussions of Temporary Organizing Committee carried out with the Fruit Science Commission and the Council of the ISHS during the Congress, the following conclusion pointed out:

1. Since the apricot is gaining as an economic fruit variety and has been subjected to many experiments in different parts of the world, although those have not yet been brought together, this Colloquium turned out to have been highly desirable and necessary because of the many problems concerned with apricot crop.
2. There were found different theoretical and practical views on apricot apoplexy. They are understandable, if we bear in mind that each of these views has been hardened under different geographic ecologic and agrotechnical conditions. However, the solution of the problem is still thwarted by the fact mostly similar symptoms and rarely different ones, are notified for several causes of that diseases.
3. Apart from the fact that the reported results submitted to this meeting will be of great importance, all attendance agreed that this problem should henceforth be approached according to a more organized system and that on an international level.
4. The International Committee for Apricots dependent of the Fruit Science Commission of the ISHS will set up. By the Council and Executive Committee of the ISHS was appointed Dr. S. A. Paunovics Chairman and Dr. G. Morvan as Secretary, later on as Vice Chairman of the named by new name as “Working Group on Apricots and Apricot Culture”.

The Working Group have made the programme of work as to make a list of all names of research workers going in for apricot problems: to form a correspondent rensponsible membership for each country where apricot crop is important, to make a bibliography of papers dealing with apricots full information on the cultivation practice and economic situation, a list of symptoms of different of apoplexy, a list of available material and a list of apricot research projects.

The mentioned programme we have based on the close cooperation and wholehearted assistance between to every research worker and advisory officier interested in that matter. For, only in that way is it possible to this pending problem either partly or totaly in the shorter possible time.

Today, after 20 years of existing and working of our Working Group we could say that for all mentioned period we have had and still have an excellent cooperation and assistance between the members of our Working Group. There are 46 official members and they collaborate with more than 150 researchers and advisory officiers employed in different institutions and countries in the world. Thanks to this we have held already six and now we have seven International Symposium on Apricot Culture and Decline. As I have stated, we had announced as the first International Symposium on Apricots held in Perpignan, 1961, since in that time was born the idea to organize some kind of mutual work on an international level. About the second Symposium already I have mentioned and the third Symposium was hold in Lednice na Morave, Czechoslovakia, from May 23–28, 1966. On this meeting 94 registrated peoples were attended from nine countries and 36 reports were presented by 43 authors which are published in Acta Horticulturae, without number of series, Vol. 1 : 323.

The fourth Symposium was held in Subotica, Yugoslavia, from July 8–13, 1968. On this meeting 170 registrated peoples were attended, from 22 countries and 78 reports were presented by 100 authors which are published in three volumes of Acta Horticulturae No 11 : total pages 578.

The fifth Symposium was held in Madrid, Spain, from June 4–6, 1973. On this meeting 124 registrated participants were attended from 16 countries and 58 reports were presented by 99 authors which will be published under the Acta Horticulturae No 85, in June this year. On this Symposium, after resolution the former name of our Working Group is changed and received the new name as International Working Group on Apricot Culture and Decline, Fruit Section of ISHS. By this name the profile of work of this international body, particularly of apricot decline problems is more expressed. Also, the existed European Panel Apricot Working Group founded by EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization, Paris) and by our Working Group in 1972 is confirmed by members of the Symposium to be an integral part of the EPPO and of our Working Group on Apricot Culture and Decline.

The sixth Symposium was held in Erevan, USSR, from July 4–8, 1977. On this meeting 212 registrated participants were attended from 14 countries and 34 reports were presented by 59 authors which are printed in Acta Horticulturae No 85, Vol. 1 : 354. But, still under this Symposium the all presented and registrated papers, which are to about 70 are not printed. These research papers should be printed in separated edition of Acta Horticulturae in Vol. II, but still not yet, however, we do hope will be.

Except of the stated Symposiums on the wider international level, it was organized by some countries the National Apricot Symposium which can be marked as on smaller international extent. So, in Erevan, USSR, from July 13–16, 1967 was held Symposium on Apricots where 52 reports were presented by 59 authors, including researchers from five foreign countries. Reports of this Symposium where published in “Abrikos”, pp 520. In Silistra, Bulgaria, from July 10–12, 1975 was held Symposium on Apricots where 21 reports were presented by 25 authors, including researchers from five countries. Reports of this Symposium were published in “Modern technology of apricot production”, pp 106. Also, it was Symposium in Imola, Italy, on July 5, 1975, but without any foreigner researchers, where 13 reports were presented by authors and printed under “Problemi e prospettive della coltura dell'albicocco”, pp 127.

For the organizing of such a numbers of International Symposiums with a large number of eminent scientific workers on various specialities, our duty is to thanks to all rensponsible Government and other peoples from different organizations as donors and research institutions, but particularly to President and Secretary of the National Organizing Committee as to Dr. G. Morvan, France (1961), Prof. Dr. S. A. Paunovic, Yugoslovia and Dr. G. Morvan, France (1962), Prof. M. Vavra and Dr. O. Majernik, Czechoslovakia (1966), Dr. A. Misev and Prof. Dr. S. A. Paunovic, Yugoslavia (1968), Dr. J. Miranda de Onis and Dr. A. Pena Iglesias, Spain (1973), Dr. A. V. Morozov and Dr. A. S. Melkonian, USSR (1977) and to Prof. Dr. Ion Ceausescu and Dr. doc. . Cociu, Romania, as well as to Dr. I. Stoyanov, Bulgaria (1975) and Prof. Dr. S. Sansavini, Italy (1975).

Our Working Group have six sub-groups: 1 Breeding and selection 2. Diseases, insects and deficiences. 3. Physiology and Ecology. 4. Agrotechnics. 5. Economics and 6. Handling and Processing, and the all stated Symposiums have worked under the mentioned projects, icluding the study of apricot orchards situations, causers and symptoms of decline provoked by different causers by European Panel Apricot Group (Dr. Z. Klement, Hungary, S. A. Paunovic, Yugoslavia, G. Morvan, France, I. S. Popusoi, USSR , S. Rozsnyay, Hungary, E. M. Sagasta, Spain, M. V. Carter Australia, J. W. Moller, USA, and H. Kouyeas, Grece) in some places in Spain, Switzerland, France, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria.

The problem of apricots was simultaneously elaborated by many pomologists, selectionists, agrotechnicians, physiologists, virologists, bacteriologists, mycologists, economists and others. The achieved results have been obtained thanks to the team work by workers of many countries. If we go back to 1961 a numerous occurrences and problems in conection with apricots were not explicit, nor clearly explained. However, after 20 years, the number of unsolved problems had considerably decreased, and to-day we may say for many important apricot problems that we are able to proposse solutions for wide practice, and set the tasks for the solution by the scientific service, with more confidence.

To-day, we very clearly know a numerous of non-parasitic and parasitic diseases and theirs relationship to apricots growing, prodution and decline. Among them there are many which can be solved by the ordinary way in the most countries, and some of them need more attention in fonction of their variety from country to country and their growing locations (see Bulletin EPPO, Paris, June 1977, Vol. 7/11: 1–147).

In the future our further work should not only continue, but also must go in much deeper to obtain resistance of apricot cvs (rootstock) or apricot cvs (interstocks) rootstocks to diseases, mainly to Pseudomonas syringae van Hall Cytospora cincta Sacc. and Eutypa armeniacae Hansf and Carter and to some extent to mycoplasma Chlorotic leaf roll as to low and fluctuating temperature during autumn, obligatory-rest period and during the blooming time. Also, in other fields of research it is necessary to improve health of apricot treés and its growing and production.

Our Working Group to all research and advisory peoples who have presented, so far, their own papers, or any available information wish to thanks most heartily for all what you have done in the scientific or practical fields to improve apricot development and production, anywhere, in your own country, or in others. In the same time it is an honour and a very a very great pleasure for me to tell all of you. that your International Society for Horticultural Science wish to express by the “Letters of Thanks” its appreciation to 16 members of our Working Group, and among them to some for their untiring and devoted efforts in organizing and maintaining the valuable influence of the International Working Group on Apricot Culture and Decline and for the best spiritof international cooperation and whose outstanding scientific contributions or a new creations have led to improve the understanding of apricot production and culture throughout the world (S. A. Paunovic, Chairman, G. Morvan, Vice-Chairman, and Z. Klement) and to some for their outstanding scientific contributions, new creations and cultures throughout the world (in alphabetic order: M. Carter, Australia, C. Cociu, Romania, C. Fideghelli, Italy, H. Kostina, USSR, S. Mircetich, USA, W. Moller, USA, J. Popusoi, USSR, Z. Roznyay, Hungary.

Ones more on behalf of our Working Group I wish to thank you most heartily for the magnificient gathering of such a large number of eminent scientific workers on various specialities. Our thanks are also due to the Romanian Committee for the Organization of this Symposium and the generous help extended for the welfare of this gathering.

Let me please now to ask Prof. Dr. D. Fritz, President of the our International Society for Horticultural Science to confer a “Letters of Thanks” to our listed memberships.

Thank you.


PRESENTATION OF AWARDS TO MERITORIUS MEMBERS OF THE WORKING GROUP “APRICOT CULTURE AND DECLINE” IN BUCHAREST, 16 JULY 1981

The working group “Apricot Culture and Decline” was one of the first groups set up within the 25 years old ISHS. It likely also is the group with the longest life span, and certainly it is very productive. Within the Section for Fruits of the ISHS, this working group is placed at an ecologically favourable location. Its members, with regard to their scientific achievements, are quite successful and gave valuable scientific impulses.

It is the members' activities that make the ISHS with its sections, commissions and working groups live. So I am highly pleased about the opportunity to confer documents of appreciation to several members of your group, owing to whose active contributions made over many years this working group became so successful. It is for the first time of our Society's history that members are awarded such documents. And it was Professor Paunovic, the meritorious chairman of the working group “Apricot Culture and Decline” who made the first step to honour distinguished members deserving gratitude.

The Executive committee and the Council of the ISHS will still have to decide on the final form of such awards. The very reason why members of the working group “Apricots” are the first persons being honoured with these documents is the 20th anniversary of this group's established. So, at the suggestion of the Section for Fruits, as well as of the working group “Apricots” are the first persons being honoured with these documents is the 20th anniversary of this group's establishment. So, at the sugesstion of the Section for Fruits, well as of the working group “Apricots” I would like to confer documents of appreciation to some of you for devoted contributions to promote and actively support international cooperation in this field of research, which has led to a better understanding of the problems arising in this sector.

These documents have been prepared in The Hangue and also were posted there on 6th July. But, unforunately, I did not receive them until I had to leave Munich for Burcharest. I very much regret this misfortune; I will send you these documents at my earliest convinience. For the present, handing over may be replaced by shaking-hands.

1. First of all Professor Dr. Stanisa H. Paunovic from Yugoslavia, the chairman of the working group, has to be mentioned. This appreciation not only goes to him for his engagement as the successful and active chairman of the working but also for having been a very active and well-known member of the ISHS Council, as well as a member of the Section for Fruits over many years. HE spends a lot of time and devotes much energy to our Society, valuable impulses have come from him. On behalf of the ISHS I would like to express this Society's gratitude to him. He started studies on apricot improvement and decline at Fruit Research Institute in Cacak, Yugoslavia in 1950. Since late 1979 he holds the position as full professor at the newly established Agronomic Faculty in Cacak. His scientific interest is centered on investigations into apricot species, cultivars, rootstocks, interstocks and their interrelationships, grafting position, plant density, roots puffer ability, breeding and selection, as well as apricot “die back” disease. He found a very strong relationship between the over all mentioned and the micro-ecological locations relating to successful apricot development and production.
   • He is a member of the European Panel Apricot Working Party.

   Laudations for the following colleagues will be delivered by Professor Paunovic :

2. Dr. Guy Morvan, France, the vice chairman of the working grou ;
3. Professor Dr. Zoltan Klement, Hungary ;
4. Dr. Zsuzsa Rozsnyay (Mrs.), Hungary ;
5. Dr. Maurice Carter, Australia ;
6. Dr. doc. Vasile Cociu, Romania ;
7. Professor Carlo Fideghelli, Italy ;
8. Dr. Srecko Mircetich, USA ;
9. Acad. Professor Dr. Ivan Popusoi, USSR.

   Also at the suggestion of the working group two deceased colleagues, who were distinguished and successful scientists and members of the working group over many years, are honoured by the ISHS post-humously. It are

10. Acad. Professor Dr. Ivan Popusoi, USSR.
11. Dr. William Moller, USA.

I would like to congratulate all members of the working group represented by these colleagues o their achievements. Our cordial thanks and appreciation is connected with our sincere request to promote and actively support the ISHS also in the future. This would serve horticultural sciences, and also would be for the benefit of men throughout the world.