ISHS Acta Horticulturae 131: In Vitro Culture, XXI IHC
FOREWORD |
| Authors: | Ir. H.H. van der Borg, W. Preil |
| Abstract:
The Programme Committee of the XXIst INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURAL CONGRESS in Hamburg decided in consultation with the ISHS, to publish the papers of the most actual topics presented during this Congress, in 10 volumes in the series of Acta Horticulturae. As was agreed that the publishing should be realised in the first half of 1983, a number of authors did not succeed in having their paper ready for submission in time, so unfortunately a few had to be left out. The Programme Committee as well as the ISHS are very grateful for the work done by the convener of this Acta, number 131, titled "In vitro culture". At present in vitro culture with its fundamental and applied aspects is one of the most rapidly expanding techniques in the field of biological research. More than 12 000 titles about "in vitro culture" and "tissue culture" have been stored at the data base "BIOSIS" between 1970 and 1983. The collection involves all organisms including about 3 000 papers concerning Spermatophyta. This number of publications demonstrates impressively the significance of in vitro culture for plant sciences. According to inquiries made by COST (European Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research) in 1982 in twelve european countries more than 80 institutes and 60 commercial firms were engaged in tissue cultures of nearly 200 different genera of horticultural interest. In the framework of these activities masspropagation, production of disease free plants, and in vitro storage are of eminent economical importance. Data published by R.L.M. Pierik, Wageningen, give an idea of recent progress in in vitro plant production: More than 10 million ornamental plants were commercially propagated in The Netherlands in 1981, including 2.7 million Nephrolepis, 1.6 million Cymbidium, nearly one million other orchids and 1.8 million Gerbera. There is no doubt that the number of plant species propagated by these methods will increase in future leading to fundamental changes in the organization of plant production processes. This volume of Acta Horticulturae contains 41 contributions presented at the XXIst International Horticultural Congress in Hamburg in September 1982. The papers refer to propagation and its economical or phytopathological aspects as well as to breeding and other related fields of importance in horticultural research.
The results will contribute to further progress in application of plant in vitro culture. | |
