ISHS Acta Horticulturae 273: V International Workshop on Fireblight
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
| Author: | Steven V. Beer |
| Abstract:
The Programme and Organizing Committee of the Fifth International Workshop on Fire Blight acknowledges with gratitude the financial support provide to the Workshop by the following organizations : AGTROL CHEMICAL PRODUCTS/AGRIMIX (Italy) The Committee thanks the University Center of Limburg (L.U.C.) for its hospital and Prof. dr. H. clijsters and Mrs. T. De Backere for their assistance in the preparation of the Workshop. We thank the Province of Limburg : the Governor H. Vandermeulen and especially the Deputy W. Neven. The technical assistance of Mr. L. Raskin and Mrs. I. Ruiters is highly acknowledged. We also thank ir. C. Verheyden, director and Prof. dr. A. Soenen honorary director of the Research Station of Gorsem, I.W.O.N.L. and Mrs. S. Fredrix for their substantial help. The secretarial assistance of Miss M.-J. Philippart and Mr. G. Jaspers is highly appreciated. The Committee thanks also the officers and staff of the International Society for Horticultural Science for publishing its Proceedings. It is a pleasure and a great honor to welcome you to this, the Fifth International Workshop on Fire Blight, sponsored by the International Society of Horticultural Science (ISHS). I am pleased to note that over 80 persons have gathered from all over the world to exchange information about fire blight. The 26 countries represented range from Mexico to Yugoslavia and Norway to New Zealand. This is truly an international workshop! Previous workshops were held in Ithaca, New York in 1986; Bordeaux, France 1983; Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany, 1981; Wageningen, The Netherlands, 1978; and Ithaca, 1976. The past workshops did not succeed in solving the problem of fire blight. They did succeed however, in disseminating current information about the disease and its pathogen Erwinia amylovora. Undoubtedly, they helped to increase our general level of understanding of the disease, which was translated into improved disease management practices in many countries. Perhaps, they succeeded also in involving more people in the study of the premier phytopathogenic bacterium! Based on the titles listed in the program, this Workshop promises to be the most comprehensive. All aspects of research, extension and regulation of fire blight are to be covered. It is obvious from the titles of the papers to be presented at this Workshop, that fire blight workers are using up-to-date technology, including molecular genetics, computers and systems approaches, monoclonal antibodies, and genetic engineering. Yet, we remain concerned ultimately with reducing losses from fire blight. Hopefully, the application of the new technologies will result in future significant progress in reducing losses from the disease. Fire blight continues to spread in Europe and the Mediterranean area. Since the last workshop, the disease and its pathogen were found in Czechoslovakia, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, and Yugoslavia. I would like to add a special warm welcome to the representatives from these countries. You have now joined the "have" club of nations! Although membership in the "have-not" club declines, I note that vigilance for the against the introduction of Erwinia amylovora into "have-not" countries countinues, perhaps at an even more fervent pace then previously. It is interesting to note also that the techniques of vigilance have assumed a greater degree of sophistication and sensitivity; several of the papers to be delivered here deal with tehniques that may be of great value in preserving the "have-not" status of several nations. The participants in the Workshop consist of persons with varied fire blight experience. Several are old hands at fire blight, Drs. Billing, Goodman, and van der Zwet, for example. Some may never have seen on their home ground the destruction that fire blight can wreak. I am sure that you will be impressed with pictures to be presented by several of the speakers. I would like to request that all participants in the Workshop make special efforts to become acquainted with each other. I especially ask the old hands to take the initiative of introducing themselves to our new colleagues. One of the chief benefits of Fire Blight Workshops is that they make it easy to become acquainted with most of the fire blight workers in the world. As to the formal sessions, I urge each of you to speak up and to speak out so that all present may benefit from your ideas and comments. We all owe a significant debt to Mr. Tom Dekkers and the members of his team for organizing this Workshop. It is a tough job that begins long before participants arrive; it appears that Tom and the members of his team have everything in hand! I would also like to thank our several industrial and government sponsors. Their support has made it possible for several scientists to attend who otherwise could not. Please bear in mind that although this Workshop has the potential to facilitate the great exchange of information, we are not likely solve fire blight. Rather, we are likely to be spurred to greater activity on return to our home stations. Thus, we should plan to meet again to exchange these new results in approximately 3 years. The question is where and when. Please pass your suggestions to Tom van der Zwet, Jean-Pierre Paulin, Tom Dekkers or myself. Please discuss among yourselves the pros and cons of different locations and dates for the Sixth International Workshop. We will consider this issue formally at the business meeting, near the close of the Workshop. I am now very pleased and honored to declare the Fifth ISHS Workshop on Fire Blight "Open" and to give you all best wishes for a pleasant and successful meeting! Thank you very much. | |
