FOREWORD

In difficult times like now, organizing congresses is very difficult: for this reason Prof. Damato who convened such a smooth-running and useful symposium should be especially thanked.

It was the second visit of the Working Group to Italy: a good opportunity to see the Apulian horticulture which is quite different from Romagna's. In fact since its foundation in September 1977 at Sutton Bonington (England), the Group met a second time at Castrocaro (Italy) in June 1980, a third at Geisenheim (Germany) in May 1985 and a fourth in Anger (France) in September 1988.

During this seventeen year period the Group has slightly modified its interests: as a matter of fact it changed its name from "Vegetable Seed Production" to "Seed Research". In 1990 it changed also the chairman and I would like to again thank Mr. Raymond George for having founded and lead it for thirteen years. As a result of seed science and technology improvement the Group also deepened its scientific activity, for instance dedicating the Symposia to specific themes: "Agrotechnics and Storage of Vegetable and Ornamentals Seeds", this time; "Technological Advances in Variety and Seed Research" the next.

The interests have changed but the group's philosophy remained constant: it is not possible to have successful results in horticulture if the original plant material (seeds in particular) is not of optimal characteristics (genetical, physiological, sanitary, etc.). With this purpose in mind we continue working.

The chairperson
Luciana Quagliotti