FOREWORD

The main theme of the Symposium was Rubus-Ribes germplasm - its preservation, enhancement and exploitation. A highlight was a visit to the United States Department of Agriculture - National Clonal Germplasm at Corvallis, Oregon. Many of the paper and poster presentations also stressed germplasm. Progress in Rubus breeding programs was reported from England, Scotland, Norway, Finland, Yugoslavia, Poland, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and in North America from British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Washington and Oregon. Progress in Ribes breeding programs was reported from West Germany, Poland, Finland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. The results from the use of interspecific crosses, within both genera, were impressive. Future prospects for introducing certain germplasm components via gene transfer techniques into crops of both genera were encouraging.

Delegates travelled from Vancouver, B.C. through Rubus and Ribes production regions of B.C., Washington and Oregon. This gave a unique opportunity to view recent industry developments pertaining to such subjects as machine harvesting of raspberries, training systems for blackberries and primocane fruiting raspberries, acceptance of new cultivars particularly of raspberries, production of raspberries for fresh market and the increasing production of Ribes crops. Two topics of particular interest and concern on the tour and also in a number of paper and poster presentations were (1) primocane control in raspberries and the banning of dinoseb for this purpose with the subsequent search for acceptable substitutes and (2) the increasing frequency and severity of raspberry root rot. These topics are of concern not only in the Pacific Northwest but in all production regions.

The Symposium made it obvious that there is an increasing number of privately-supported research programs involving Rubus and Ribes crops and, at the same time, that most publicly-supported programs now rely, to a large extent, on industry support in the respective production regions. Two interrelated concerns were expressed about these developments. First, privately-supported programs might be more reluctant than publicly-supported ones to encourage the type of mutual information and germplasm exchanges necessary to ensure continuous progress in improving production efficiency of the crops. Second, funding sources might fluctuate more, being dependent on economic conditions, when private industry is involved. It is necessary that sustained funding be available for the success of the long-term research effort necessary in these crops. The ultimate results of this type of research were evident many times throughout the course of the Symposium. For example, it has taken approximately 35 years, from the time the aforementioned interspecific crosses were made, to produce commercially acceptable cultivars. It is to be hoped that such progress will continue to be made, regardless of funding sources.

The following organizations and associations contributed generously to the success of the Symposium: Abbotsford Growers' Cooperative; Agriculture Canada; B.A.S.F. Corporation; Botanical Gardens-University of British Columbia; British Columbia Raspberry Growers' Association; British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; Cascadian Farms; Canadian Society for Horticultural Science; Ciba Geigy Corporation; Clermont Fruit Packers; Conference Centre-University of British Columbia; Farm Credit Services; Griffin Corporation-Ag Chem Division; Ken M. Spooner Farms; Leffingwell-Uniroyal Chemical; Littau Harvesters; Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association; North American Bramble Growers' Association; Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.; Oregon Cane Berry Commission; Oregon State University; Plant Sciences, Inc.; Provincial Secretary, Government of British Columbia; Puyallup Jam Factory; Rear's Manufacturing Company; Sweet Briar Development Inc., California; University of British Columbia; Valley Packers Inc.; Washington Red Raspberry Commission; Washington Red Raspberry Growers' Association; Washington State University; Washington State University-Puyallup Women's Club; Wax Orchards; and Western Washington Horticultural Association.

Special mention, too, must be made of individuals who helped to make the Symposium a success: in B.C. - Angela Anderson, Graeme Guy (visiting scientist from Australia), Bert Pepin, Bill Peters and Dick Stace-Smith; in Washington - Pete Bristow, Scott Cameron, Craig McConnell, Pat Moore and Joanne Robbins; in Oregon - Kim Hummer, Francis Lawrence, Arden Sheets and Bernadine Strik. Also, I acknowledge Angela Anderson, Pete Bristow, Bert Pepin and Dick Stace-Smith for their help in editing the papers and Colleen MacKinnon of the Vancouver Research Station who has made the necessary changes to the manuscripts.

At the business meeting it was decided to hold the next Symposium in Poland in 1993. The convener of this Symposium will be announced later.

Hugh Daubeny
Convener, 5th International
Rubus-Ribes Symposium


Derek Jennings

This volume of Acta Horticulturae is dedicated to Derek Jennings who retired in April, 1989 from his position as head of the Soft Fruit Genetics Department of the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI). Derek was an active participant in previous Rubus-Ribes Symposia and, in fact, was instrumental in organizing two of them, including the first one in 1967 and, again, in 1976. He was greatly missed at the 5th Symposium on which the current volume is based.

Derek Jennings began his career as a plant breeder in 1950, working on cassava in East Africa. His expertise with this crop is still recognized today. He joined the Scottish Horticultural Research Institute (forerunner of SCRI) in 1957 and since then has made outstanding contributions to the breeding and genetics of Rubus. He became a prolific writer of refereed publications and, in 1988, his book, "Raspberries and blackberries: their breeding, diseases and growth", was published. This book has already found its place as the definitive reference for all who have interest in the genus Rubus.

The main thrust of Derek's career has been the development of superior red raspberry cultivars. 'Glen Clova', released in 1969, became the major red raspberry cultivar in the United Kingdom (UK) in the 1970's. It is still an important cultivar and is only now being replaced by other cultivars with less vigorous primocane growth. This change was precipitated by the banning of dinoseb for primocane management. 'Glen Clova' was a breakthrough in the UK because of its high yield of fruit with qualities suited to the needs of the processing market. The next cultivar to be released from Derek's program was 'Glen Isla' which has superior fruit firmness. This was derived from the black raspberry, Rubus occidentalis, via a selection from the East Malling program. Although not successful as a cultivar, 'Glen Isla' has been used extensively in several breeding programs as a source of fruit firmness. Two further cultivars, 'Glen Moy' and 'Glen Prosen', released in the early 1980's, are now receiving wide commercial acceptance in the UK. 'Glen Moy' is an early-ripening cultivar which produces large, high-quality fruit while 'Glen Prosen' is later-ripening, produces very firm fruit and is suited to machine harvesting. Both cultivars are proving to be valuable parents in various breeding programs. Two new cultivars have recently been released from his program. These are 'Glen Lyon' and 'Glen Garry'. The former was released primarily as a high-yielding but less vigorous alternative to 'Glen Clova' and the latter primarily because of its large fruit size.

Besides his outstanding contributions to red raspberry germplasm, Derek has also contributed to the development of purple raspberry, black raspberry, blackberry, and hybrid berry germplasm. The diploid spine-free purple raspberry 'Glencoe' was recently released from the program, which is now developing tetraploid spine-free forms of both purple and black raspberries. These have larger fruits and set more uniformly than diploids under adverse conditions. The spine-free blackberry, 'Loch Ness', released in 1988, is already considered an important blackberry cultivar. Its genetically spine-free canes, which make for easy management, and its superior fruit qualities should encourage blackberry production. 'Tayberry', one of two hybrids introduced from his program, is grown in small plantings in many countries and in most characteristics is superior to the standard hybrid berry 'Loganberry'. 'Tayberry' makes an excellent preserve product and has gained wide recognition because of this.

Derek Jennings has been a strong believer in widening the genetic base of Rubus breeding programs. Hence, germplasm from the SCRI program is highly valued by other programs. Moreover, he has always been willing to supply germplasm from all levels of evaluation in the program.

In addition to his enthusiasm for all aspects of Rubus, Derek has strong interests in Ribes and Fragaria. These interests and his enthusiasm, plus his knowledge of breeding and genetics in general, make Derek a stimulating and provocative communicator, both publicly and on a one-to-one basis. We all hope that Derek will continue to contribute to fruit breeding on a world-wide basis.

R.J. McNicol
H.A. Daubeny