PREFACE

The meeting was attended by 83 participants from 16 countries. Fortyfour research papers were presented and included 10 invited lectures. A new feature of the symposium program was the inclusion of workshops where participants were introduced to new techniques of virus and viroid detection using inclusion bodies associated with virus infections, ds RNA detection and nucelic acid hybridization. Topics included virus diseases of bulbs, flowering pot plants and cut flowers as well as diseases caused by viroids. Rapid methods of virus identification by serological procedures was discussed and included the uses of monoclonal antibodies in virus detection and diagnosis. The availability of ELISA test kits was presented which can be used for detection of more than 25 different viruses which infect ornamental plants. International transport of ornamentals and the problems associated with the movement of virus infected plants was discussed and finally a presentation on recent advances in vector transmission of viruses was addressed.

It is hoped that publication of these papers will stimulate further research on virus diseases of ornamentals and will increase international cooperation and understanding among investigators who work with these diseases. The policies of the International Society of Horticultural Science is followed in publishing these proceedings and therefore the author is responsible for the final form of his manuscript. This procedure guarantees speedy publication which is an important asset.

The financial support of the foundation and corporations are gratefully acknowledged and are listed on the following page. Without their support the symposium, the invited speakers, the workshops, and the publication of these proceedings would not have been possible. In addition, the support of the organizing committee is acknowledged which included T.C. Allen, P.S. Hesse, W. Jessel, R.H. Lawson, B.C. Raju and F. W. Zettler. Last, but not least, I wish to acknowledge the fellowship of the participants, their willingness to freely discuss problems of mutual interest, and to work long hours to make the workshops so successful. Special recognition must be given to C.A. Baker, R. Christie, R.L. Jordan, N.-J. Ko, A.E. Logan, P. Palukaitis, S.-M. Wong, and F.W. Zettler who worked so hard to make the workshops succeed and to S.O. Kawamoto, R.J. McGovern, K.F. Weaber, and S.-M. Wong for their expert handling of visual aids. Finally, Mary Cullings, Joanne Davenport and Mary Rachun of the Cornell Conference Services provided superb help in planning and arranging the excellent facilities.

Dr. R. Koenig (Federal Republic of Germany) was elected chairperson, Dr. A. Brunt, vice-chairperson, and Dr.R.K. Horst, secretary of the ISHS working group, Virus Diseases of Ornamental Plants. Drs.R.H. Lawson, A. Brunt, and R. Koenig, respectively, served as chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary since 1980. The symposium participants express their deep gratitude to the able service and direction given by these scientists to our working group.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Organizing Committee of the VI International Symposium on Virus Diseases of Ornamental Plants gratefully acknowledges the financial support given by the following foundation and corporations.

The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation, Inc.
New York, New York.

Pan American Plant Company
Parrish, Florida

Yoder Brothers, Inc.
Alva, Florida