ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The support by the following sponsors is gratefully acknowledged:

Chief Scientist - Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Science & Technology, The Flower Board of Israel, Danziger "Dan" Flower Farm, Soli Ltd., Agdia US, Agrilab, Ben Zur Nurseries, Biological Industries - Beth Haemek, Shemi Nurseries, Mizpor Nurseries, ASA Nurseries, Giva't Hamoreh Nurseries, Solomon Nurseries, Ringel Nurseries, A. Asis Farms, Hadar Nurseries, Yodfat Nurseries, Rahan Meristem, Bioreba, Keren-Zur Nurseries, Stichting The Netherlands, Yeuval - Agricultural Products, Rozelman Nursery.


PREFACE

The Ninth International Symposium on Virus Diseases of Ornamental Plants was held from March 17–22, 1996 in Herzliya, Israel. The symposium was held under the auspices of the International Working Group on Virus Diseases of Ornamental Plants and the International Society for Horticultural Sciences. The symposium was organized by a local organizing committee with the help of the permanent council of the Working Group.

This symposium was the latest of a series, previous symposia having been held in Littlehampton, England (1964), Copenhagen, Denmark (1968), Maryland, U.S.A. (1972), Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands 1976), Bad Harzburg, Germany (1980), Ithaca, U.S.A. (1984), San Remo, Italy (1988), and Prague (1992).

The Symposium was attended by 54 participants from 17 countries and 33 papers and 22 posters were presented. The major topics included: new viruses, novel methods for detection and identification of viruses, improvements of health standards, viruses infecting commercially-important ornamental crops, and vector and epidemiological studies.

A.F.L.M. Derks was again elected as chairperson, A. van Zaayen as secretary and J. Hammond vice-chairperson of the ISHS Working group on Virus Diseases of Ornamental Plants. A. Gera will join the council.

It was proposed that the 10th International Symposium on Virus Diseases of Ornamental Plants will be organized in 2000 in the U.S.A.

G. Loebenstein


OPENING ADDRESS

Ladies and Gentlemen, Participants of the Ninth Symposium of Virus Diseases of Ornamentals.

It is a pleasure to welcome you all - delegates from 17 countries, to this symposium which is the latest of a series; the last which were held in San Remo and Prague.

Israel is at the crossroads of 3 continents - Asia, Europe and Africa, with 3 major climatic influences - Mediterranean. Saharo-Sindi and Irano-Turonian - all leaving their footprints on the natural vegetation. The number of botanical species, especially wild flowers, is large compared to Israel's size, with some of them already mentioned by the biblical poet: "I am the rose of Sharon the lily of the valleys" (The Song of Solomon II, 1). This variation in climate from relatively cool in the North to tropical in the Jordan Valley enables cultivating a variety of crops from decidious fruits on one hand to bananas and mangos on the other hand.

These climatic conditions together with creating favorable microclimatic environments by advanced technology - facilitated the development of our ornamental industry - at present the largest agricultural export commodity - reaching an annual value of about 250 million US$. These achievements of the ornamental industry are strongly linked to disease control in general and viruses in particular. Marked developments of the ornamental industry is noted in many countries as Zimbabwe, Columbia, Ecuador, Eastern Europe, etc. Export markets - as we all know - are highly competitive and in order to remain on the market new product development and high quality products are essential. Control of virus diseases is a prerequisite to obtain these goals of producing high yields of quality products. This meeting will undoubtedly help the industry in this direction.

I want to thank the organizing and program committee who did a great job in organizing this meeting.