ISHS Acta Horticulturae 232: International Workshop on Apple Culture in the Tropics and Subtropics
PREFACE |
| Author: | R. Melzer |
| Abstract:
In many developing countries apple is still an expensive fruit, which is imported and consumed by social groups with higher income. But in recent years a number of these countries have banned their import in able to save foreign currency for other needs, thus encouraging small farmers and fruit companies to plant apples, pears, peaches and other temperate zone fruits. The moment technology was imported from countries traditionaly growing apples in temperate zones and had not been adapted to the specific situation of each location, problems arose for many producers. Consequently apple yield and fruit quality are relatively low despite of the high investments for planting and maintaining the orchard during the season. Today we know that apples can also be grown in subtropical and tropical climates, using chemical treatments for example, where chilling is insufficient to break bud dormancy, thus gaining a more uniform blooming and fruiting. Also the selection of new cultivars adapted to less chilling permits apple production in tropical and subtropical regions. The choice of suitable rootstocks, adapted cultural practices, the application of growth regulators and the rational use of pesticides, all decide on a successful production. The main objective of this workshop therefore was to exchange informations and to overcome problems for which adapted techniques have already been developed.
The first objective was fully achieved and all of us would like to thank all participants for their enthusiasm, their high interest and the exceptionally friendly and stimulating atmosphere of this event. | |
