ISHS Acta Horticulturae 184: I International Symposium on Computer Modelling in Fruit Research and Orchard Management
FOREWORD |
| Author: | F. Winter |
| Abstract:
Within the last 5 years, the introduction of informatica in many fields of horticulture has been very fast. Computers, in the past available only for big industrial organizations, at Universities and Statistical Services, can be used today by advisory services, grower markets and even growers. This development opens new possibilities of cooperation between scientists and of dialogue between research, advisor and grower. Another large field of application is the education, where computer models may be used as a documentation of dynamic systems to train students. Actually, we are just at the beginning of this new stage of research, dialogue and education. Many scientists may have similar problems to use this new medium in a way as effective as possible. An exchange of experience and new personal contacts on behalf of further cooperation may be useful. This was the background of our activities to organize this symposium. The excellent papers presented at our meeting and the lively discussions showed, that our idea was right. This meeting may have been a beginning of a permanent discussion and further cooperation within this field. The papers, presented in this book, will not cover all the important problems we have to work about. But it seems to be a useful first review concerning the possibilities and necessities of the informatic in fruit research and management. We are very glad to have had as introduction lecturers prominent scientists as Prof. C.T. de Wit, pioneer of the modern computer modelling technique in plant growth, and Prof. J. Kranz, who introduced computer models in the German plant epidemiology. In addition, the presence of a biomathematical expert, Prof.Dr. O. Richter, was very helpful. The presented epidemiological models all concern the apple-scab. Entomological subjects, mainly those including the 'robber-prey' strategy, have not been given. The biological models, however, cover partial problems as chilling requirement, phenology and frost resistance, but dispositions of complete fruit tree growth models including the graphical demonstration of their development, are presented too. The most complete review is the collection of economic papers, that gives quite a representative survey of its present stage. We hope to continue our discussion in this or even a larger circle soon. Another reason to organize this meeting was the 25th birthday of Bavendorf Research Station.
We are very glad, that all the participants took this occasion to visit the station and keep a good memory.
In the future also, we hope to be able to provide some contribution to the scientific progress in our profession. | |
