WELCOMING ADDRESS

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to Israel and to open the 5th International Symposium on “Orchard and Plantation Systems”

This is the first time the meeting of the WG is taking place outside Europe. This should widen the scope of people interested in our working group as well as increase the diversity of fruit crops dealt with by this working group. Orchard growing systems were long been considered as a key issue in orchard management and the trends in higher density plantings led the way in temperate crops especially apples to the modern and advanced orchards of present times. With change of climate, difference in response to rootstocks and management is evident. Different solutions have to be sought.

This piece of land was defined in the Bible as a “Land of milk and Honey” blessed by 7 species of wheat and barley and 5 fruits, the grapevine, the fig the pomegranate, the olive and the date palm. Since those times the mentioned species are still grown but many others were introduced to cover an enormous array of fruit species. Israel is bridging between continents. Typically migrating birds by the millions are flying over from Europe and Western Asia to Africa and back every year. In our wild flora, plants from the north and the south can be found in the fields. With regards to tropical species we are located in the northern border of potential growth, allowing us, by careful introduction and selection, to grow successfully quite a few of such species. With temperate fruits we are located close to the southern barrier, but especially in the mountains where cool winter prevail we are growing the whole typical species of the cold temperate climate. In addition, adapted subtropical fruit species especially citrus sp. are a major segment of our fruit production.

Furthermore the interest in exporting fruit, is leading to testing of new species from all corner of the world increasing further the range of fruits we grow.

The Middle East has a different climatic pattern than Europe, we have a much warmer and drier climate, we totally depend on irrigation, use of irrigation equipment and techniques are critical for our agriculture as water in this part of the world is scarce. Quality of water and its best use is another cardinal matter in our production.

In offering Israel as the site for this meeting I was looking forward to increase the connection between experienced researchers working with traditional crops like the apple and those involved with species younger in culture and in their initial search for a different growing system. I believe that during the meeting we could increase your interest in new species, their problems with regards to orchard systems as well as have the Israeli participants get a first hand report on the latest advancements in orchard systems around the world.

I would like to mention that we have about 100 participants from 22 countries around the world.

Finally, I would like to thank the ISHS and its Secretary General, Dr. van der Borg for supporting 2 young scientists to attend our meeting and I hope this help will continue in the meetings to come.

Again I would like to welcome you to Israel, have a good and fruitful time and enjoy the sessions and the trips.


OPENING ADDRESS

The symposia on 'Orchard Design & Plantation Systems' have their own history that began about twenty years ago together with high density plantations. It was the transition from extensive apple orchard management with its tall trees to an intensive system based on smaller trees and dwarfing rootstocks that suggested the change in design. And not only for apple: for it was pear, which had for years been trained to high density thanks to quince rootstocks, that had opened the way via two methods: increased planting density and change of training system.

This was the moment in which the term 'high density planting' was coined. It became common currency in 1976 with the first of the four symposia held to date in the UK and The Netherlands - at East Malling, Long Ashton, Wye College and Wilhelminadorp - and later gave way to the term 'Research & Development in Orchard and Plantation Systems' (the symposia at Lana d'Adige in 1980, Montpellier in 1984, Dronten in 1988 and the present one here at Tel Aviv). Indeed, it may again be time to revise this title too.

Much indeed has changed over these 15–20 years, not least the concept itself of high density planting. Spacings, of course, have continued to diminish but it is the very concept of planting density that has really altered - a change that has been fostered by genetics (with the combined use of compact, spur or weak cultivars and rootstocks that are ever more dwarfing, columnar trees), by planting techniques (eg. multiple rows, bed system, full field, and the super spindle, Tatura trellis, low open centre, free bush training systems), crop management methods (mulch grass, drip irrigation, root restriction, etc), by the application of growth regulators, and above all by new orchard architecture and pruning techniques in relation to light interception, CO₂ assimilation, carbohydrate partition, stomatal resistance, water potential and so on.

Although the meadow orchard was abandoned after the initial experiments in apple (yet adopted in forced tunnel plantations of peach), one idea that has since come a long way is that density can be considerably increased within certain limits without detrimental economic effects thanks to the ability to manipulate the entire orchard design and management system. 'Within certain limits' is something of a misnomer, however, as they already have been exceeded to a certain extent, beyond the system's control, almost everywhere we look today.

But when is density high and what are its consequences? Density is a relative concept in that it is to be measured against the tree's vegetative growth potential as well as in relation to the adult age of the orchard. This because in the initial years of life, say, up to the fourth or fifth year, the effect is minimal, and hence the higher density has an advantage over a low one as it promotes early orchard fruiting (even, at times, of the individual trees themselves) and increases productivity. The drawbacks arise, however, at a certain stage in the orchard's development: loss of fruit size, colour, the adverse effect of inter- and intracanopy shading and competition between trees (reduction of assimilates, loss of water use efficiency, etc), and inconsistent fruiting and alternate bearing.

The previous symposia made clear the list of negatives and indicated appropriate action in order to achieve a balance between high (though not too high) density and yield performance. For the final measure is product quality, which in no way is to be adversely affected. Today quality is paramount with respect to quantity according to the principles of integrated fruit production.

Thus there is much work yet to be done on high density: physiological, ecological and in terms of management and techniques. I am convinced that both high density and quality can be achieved together, as growers in the Tyrolean Alps are showing with the super spindle at plantings of over 4,000 apple trees/ha. Research is more essential now than ever.

High-density orchards are now dictated by circumstance rather than by fad. International cooperation is the order of the day if we are to overcome both old and new obstacles. I recall with pleasure in this connection the joint European trial initiated by Dr. Jackson, the WG's founder and chairman, and Dr. Palmer on high-density apple orchard models and designs carried out from 1980 to 1988 in five countries.

Genetics offer continuous chances to alter varieties not only as to fruit but also as to growth habit and bearing. Vertical growth, compact dwarfing and prospects of exploiting the interaction of genetic traits and crop management techniques (eg. root system restriction and timely summer pruning) are some examples of approaches that can at times make possible what had not been so before.

Research efforts must become interdisciplinary in direction and scope and conducted in the most suitable areas. Biophysics, and ecophysiology, genetics and integrated pest control, mechanization and economics are but examples of the many disciplines that must become involved.

No longer are yield, plantation cost, orchard depreciation and overhead the sole parameters of research. To them must today be added energy inputs, efficient use of natural resources (H₂O, light, CO₂, nutrients), environmental impact, and changes in the agri-ecosystem, all the while bearing in mind that the grower must produce and be competitive in a market system. Whence the importance of fruit quality and an adequate production standard based on guidelines designed to promote an eventual trademark ensuring cultivation system and quality.

It is to be hoped that the ODPS Working Group, which has achieved so much to date, will be able to adapt itself to today's most pressing issues, for the fruit-growing industry is changing, developing but cannot return to the past. It is our task to further this evolution, so that together with the many researchers who are part of the ISHS Group we can generate a wide-ranging creative effort.

This symposium is being called on to analyse these issues, contribute ideas, methods and findings, to compare our notes and to lead us to reflect, for the new fruit-growing industry awaits with confidence the guidelines of tomorrow and not a motion of censure or of condemnation.

Let me conclude these remarks by warmly thanking Dr. Amnon Erez, a friend of many ISHS symposia and projects, and the other Organizing Committee members for their many selfless efforts in making this symposium a successful one.

S. Sansavini
Fruit Section Chairman

Tel Aviv, 21–26 June, 1992