ISHS Acta Horticulturae 329: VII International Symposium on Plant Growth Regulators in Fruit Production
FOREWORD OF CONVENERS |
| Authors: | R. Goren, S. Lavee, Prof. Silviero Sansavini |
| Abstract:
The 7th International Symposium on Plant Growth Regulators in Fruit Production took place in Jerusalem on the 14–19 June, 1992. A total of 80 scientists from 19 countries participated in the symposium. Seventy three papers and posters were offered involving 141 authors. Two workshops and two excursions took place during the meeting as well as three tours and social events. The meeting took place at a most critical time for the use of plant growth regulators in the orchard when more and more growth regulators needed for modern fruit production are being banned in many countries due to possible health hazards. This problem was widely discussed both in lectures and in a special workshop devoted to this problem. A resolution to take a more active stand on this issue by the scientific community involved was passed. The papers presented during the symposium demonstrated clearly the current trend in biological sciences. Papers dealing with the mode of action of the growth regulators in tree crops were highly represented in the program. The present achievements and future aspects for using molecular approaches for PGR research in fruit trees were demonstrated and discussed. The possibilities developing for regulating the level and type of endogenous PGR production in the tree might lead to overcoming many of the drawbacks of applying exogenous synthetic PGRs. It is our belief that the international research on PGRs in horticultural plants will pick up a major momentum in the years to come leaning strongly on the molecular approach presently developing in biology. During the symposium and particularly in the post symposium tour the problems and potential of using RGRs in modern fruit production under subtropical climates was demonstrated in commercial orchards. Finally, we would like to thank all the contributors to this volume for their papers, the International Executive of the Working Group on PGRs in fruit production for their support and valuable suggestions, as well as to the ISHS, the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem under the auspices of which the symposium was held. We are grateful for the kind contributions of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural Research Organization of Israel, the Israeli Fruit Growers Association and SKW Trostberg, Germany, which helped to organize the meeting. Special thanks are due to our colleagues of the local organizing committee for their time and efforts and last but not least to the ‘Kenes’ organizing company and particularly to Mrs. Nitza Cohen and Mrs. Neomi Band who made every possible effort in the organization both before and during the meeting. We hope you enjoyed the meeting in Jerusalem and will find the Acta Proceedings volume a useful tool for your future work. Let me extend to all of you the greetings of the ISHS Fruit Section and extend my congratulations to the Chairman Dr. N.E. Looney, for his effort on behalf of the Working Group as a whole, and to Drs. R. Goren and S. Lavee and the other local committee members for the meeting's excellent organization. Given the current international scene and prevailing public attitudes, our Group, one of the earliest, might seem to have lost some of its relevance. Agricultural chemicals are everywhere under indictment by public opinion, and within agricultural circles there are movements to either abolish many chemicals outright or markedly reduce their input. Currently, genetics seems to carry more scientific weight than physiology, molecular biology more than biochemistry, the biosynthesis and metabolism of organic compounds more than the synthesis of new molecules, and the identification of secondary metabolites and speed of degradation of synthetic compounds more than determining mechanisms of action and elucidating the targets (e.g., flowers, fruits, shoots and roots) of exogenous bioregulators. Much of the public apprehension is ill-founded, especially as regards plant growth regulating chemicals, and many false problems have been identified. Nonetheless, there will be pressure to repeat tasks already accomplished. We can better react to such pressure by redoubling our efforts to understand the physiology of plant growth regulation as affected by gene expression, hormone biosynthesis, hormone transport, hormone receptors, etc., and by study the various modes of action of plant bioregulators. Yet how can we not, as horticultural scientists, continue to emphasize the obvious links to, and the potential of bioregulators to profoundly influence growth, flowering, fruit ripening, organ senescence, organ regeneration from tissue culture, and so on? There can be no doubt that studies involving exogenous applications of synthetic plant growth regulators, with horticultural objectives in mind, have helped us to better understand the roles of endogenous growth substances. This approach remains as valid as ever. With it we may eventually comprehend the phenomenon of the vegetation-reproduction cycle in fruit trees. On the other hand, studies of plant bioregulators at the molecular level will establish the link to genetics which in turn could lead to “engineered” plants with superior productivity or better able to deal with external stresses, etc. Research, like history, has its cycles of ups and downs. Yet it is a mistake to follow trends only and to forget that each step, popular or not, may be important in achieving an objective. In our case the ongoing objective is to understand the place of bioregulators in fruit trees and vine growth, development and cropping so that we can use this knowledge to gain some horticultural advantage. As has been the case in the past, progress toward achieving this objective will be made on several fronts using a variety of approaches. I wish everyone a very successful symposium. | |
