PREFACE

The Congress was attended by 40 participants from South Africa and representatives of the following 9 countries: Argentina (1), Bolivia (1), Israel (2), Italy (12) Turkey (1), Germany (1), Chile (3), Mocambique (1) and Zimbabwe (1). Additional participants included growers as well as extension officers and private consultants.

The Congress was divided into five scientific sessions: Crop physiology, Breeding and selection, Irrigation and ferilization, Miscellaneous, Marketing and uses

A total of Thirty-four papers were presented divided both into oral (25) and poster presentations (9).

The congress gave a sound contribution on the development of the knowledge on different specific subjects such as dormancy and thermal time requirement for fruit growth; flower bud initiation; genetic resources; field variability in yield and fruit development. The session on marketing showed the trend of consumers as related to fruit colour and size in different european markets and gave a clear idea on the potential for fruit consumption during the winter months. Finally, aspects concerning fruit utilization and processing have been covered.

The post-congress tour covered different areas for cactus pear growing in the Northern Province. It was a unique experience to see the wide variability of the South African genetic resources, in terms of tree shape, chilling requirement and fruit colour and the response of the plant to different environmental conditions which range from mild winter temperature to very hot summers with intensive as well as agroforestry plantation systems.

As editors we wish to thank all the authors of the papers included here in for the accurate preparation of their manuscripts.