WELCOMING ADDRESS

It is our pleasure to welcome you to Washington and to British Columbia, to the United States and to Canada, the two venues for the ISHS Symposium "Integrating Canopy, Rootstock and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems." The term "integrating" was chosen to emphasize research progress within three closely related ISHS working groups: Orchard and Plantation Systems, Rootstock Breeding and Evaluation, and Environmental Physiology of Fruit Crops. Drs. John Jackson, Tony Webster, and Jim Flore, respective chairmen of the working groups, concurred on the unique concept and opportunity of a combined symposium. It is clear that sustained progress in fruit growing is not possible without input from research in all three working groups. This philosophy is expressed in the theme of the symposium, " Enhanced performance of orchard systems through knowledge of canopy and rootstock physiology."

This is the first time a symposium of the Orchard and Plantation Working Group has been held in North America, the previous five symposia have been held in the UK-Netherlands, Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Israel. The Pacific Northwest has a unique growing environment with special challenges for orchardists. The interior valleys of the Pacific Northwest, described as a cold desert, although technically grasslands, have ample sunshine, low relative humidity, inadequate rainfall, adequate water for irrigation in the growing season, and cold winters. Although known around the world for the production of Delicious apples, other major crops include sweet cherries, pears, peaches and apricots.

It is indeed a pleasure to welcome 121 participants from 22 countries to the Pacific Northwest.

As a note of Orchard and Plantation Systems Working Group business, during the symposium, Dr. John Jackson stepped down as chairman of the Orchard and Plantation Systems Working Group. The new chairman is Dr. Terence Robinson, New York Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University. It was agreed that the next symposium would be held in the year 2000 in the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand.

Symposium Co-Conveners
Bruce H. Barritt	Frank Kappel
Washington State University	Agriculture And Agri-Food, Canada
Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center	Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre

Symposium Theme :

“Enhanced Performace of Orchard Systems through Knowledge of Canopy and Rootstock Physiology.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

As co-conveners of this symposium and members of the Organizing Committe, we have had the generous support of the following Organizing Committee members in planning and connducting bthe symposium and editing the manuscripts: Tony Webster, UK; Don Elfving, USA; Harvey Quamme, Canada; Jim Flore, USA; Greg Lang,USA. They have given unselfishly of their time and energy to make the symposium succesful. We would also like to acknowledge the advice and support of Dr. Norm Looney, ISHS Fruit Section Chairman, and Dr. SIlviero Sanavinui ISHS President. The seven members of the organizing committee served as associated editors and carefully reviewed and corrected each manuscript for inclusion in this volume of Acta Horticulturae devoted to the symposium.

OPENING REMARKS

This Symposium, "Integrating Canopy, Rootstock and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems," is an exceptional occasion because it is being held not only at two important research centers of American and Canadian fruit science-Wenatchee and Penticton-but it also brings together three symposia that had originally been planned as separate events. It is an excellent opportunity to further strengthen the operational exchange among and interaction of the Fruit Sections' three Working Groups with common denominators-Orchard and Plantation Systems (this would have been its sixth symposium after the combined meeting in 1976 at East Mailing-Long Ashton-Wilhelminadorp), Rootstock Breeding and Evaluation and Environmental Physiology in Fruit Crops (a new Working Group).

It also marks the first time that a triple-headed tour de force of such scientific reach has been attempted, with the express goal, in theory at least, to extend participation to members of Working Groups that usually operate as separate entities. The credit for taking up such a challenge surely goes to Norm Looney, Chairman of the Fruit Section; Bruce Barritt, Symposium Co-convener; and Anthony Webster and Jim Flore, Working Group Chairmen. It is also to be hoped that their efforts will be appreciated by ISHS, ASHS and CSHS members and all our friends from the United States, Canada, and other countries attending, who are warmly invited to become ISHS members if they are not already.

The ISHS is particularly committed to working with the individual national horticultural societies, as these often represent their respective countries on our governing Council, and we hope that these bonds become even stronger in the future. This reciprocal relationship is evident here today between the ISHS and the ASHS, the world's largest horticulture society, with which we have undertaken joint efforts not only in organizing international conferences (like the memorable 1986 one at UC-Davis) but even in promotional and editorial initiatives.

It is in this connection that I would like to announce here that the ISHS and the ASHS will jointly organize the first World Conference on Research in Horticulture in 1998. This conference is being held to take stock of the overall role that research plays in horticulture, from the issues it addresses, problem-solving and crop development to cultural exchanges, trade and promotion and protection of the environment and genetic resources. This focus will be not only on this worldwide role but also on priorities and public and private funding options. This is also why plans call for the involvement of government bodies, policy-making groups, agricultural agencies and private industry. The official announcement will be made soon.

The ISHS is thus constantly at work to establish and consolidate contacts with national horticultural societies. We all have the common institutional goals and professional affinities, we pursue similar objectives and share the ambition of elucidating and furthering innovations and advances in horticulture in our respective countries and throughout the world. We hope that this common sense of purpose and intent can help to

solve not only scientific problems and technological applications but also to diminish trade contrasts, to promote international cooperation and to improve and disseminate horticultural crops. This is because we are fully cognizant of horticulture's great legacy, the very foundation of our own profession and a keystone of our civilization, and its underlying objective to improve the quality of life of the world's population.

Though unforeseen commitments have prevented me from attending, I am confident that the Symposium will be a success and all of you in attendance will find it rewarding and enriching. Let me thank everyone who has come here to share knowledge and experience-the very essence of that success.

OPENING ADDRESS

Friends, Colleagues and Honored Guests,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you, on behalf of the International Society for Horticultural Science, to the 6th International Symposium on Integrating Canopy, Rootstock and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems. Previous symposia in this series (see volumes 65, 114, 160, 243 and 349 of Acta Horticulturae) were organized by the Orchard and Plantation Systems Working Group. In this case, however, three Fruit Section Working Groups have joined forces to assemble a program that meets multiple but highly inter-related needs. I heartily commend Dr. J.E. Jackson, Chair of the Orchard and Plantation Systems Working Group; Dr. A.D. Webster, Chair of the Working Group on Rootstock Breeding and Evaluation; and Dr. J.E. Flore, Chair of the Environmental Physiology in Fruit Crops Working Group, for the very positive and helpful way that they have worked with the conveners to make this project such a success.

The rationale for this joint symposium is strong. Many here today conduct research in all three areas. Others have felt the need for a stronger grounding in one or more of these sub-disciplines. They recognized this as the perfect venue to hear the latest on rootstocks, on management systems, or on the important and often manageable effects of orchard environment. All recognize that they can gain new knowledge and insights from colleagues who have come from 24 countries. It is highly worthwhile spending some days with congenial colleagues listening to papers, visiting research plots and commercial orchards, and taking the time to get better acquainted with colleagues from distant lands. There can be no doubt that pomological science will gain importantly from this "experiment" in symposia organization.

With respect to location, it is certainly appropriate that these meetings are held in Washington and British Columbia. Washington is a major player in world apple production and significant producer of many other deciduous fruit crops in large, well-managed orchards. The move to British Columbia will provide participants with an interesting opportunity to see smaller holdings on expensive land. There the future seems to depend on the production of high value fruit crops for specialty markets. Both locations feature first class horticultural research facilities. Clearly, the stage is set for revealing some important advances in fruit crops science and technology.

However, I would like to focus my remarks this morning on some other important outcomes of a symposium such as this. A major objective of all ISHS-sponsored meetings and publications is to promote international cooperation in horticultural science. Our symposia and congresses bring together scientists from many countries, whether these countries are considered rich or poor, technologically advanced or "developing." We all gain from this admixture. Scientists here this week also represent a cross-section of ages, experience and interests. There are researchers/academics presenting their first paper to an international audience. Other scientists have major achievements and years of experience. Still others represent industry and have a practical vision of what is needed by way of new discoveries. The mixing of these people in an atmosphere of genuine interest and a spirit of camaraderie will result in lasting friendships and productive associations. I commend the organizers for their recognition of this important "networking" objective.

A second important product of this meeting will be the proceedings, published by ISHS as a volume of Acta Horticulturae. This book has great value to the participants as a permanent record of the event. As such, it must be the goal of the Conveners and the Editorial Committee to include all of the talks and posters presented at Wenatchee and Penticton and to complete the preparation of the Acta as quickly as possible. However, the Acta must also be thought of as an important product for promotion and distribution to

libraries, to individual scientists unable to attend the symposium and, increasingly, to producers and others in industry and commerce. In fact, since post-Congress sales of Acta help to sustain the operations of the Society, we must keep in mind that the reputation of all ISHS publications is influenced by each volume.

It is with these realities in mind that I look forward to working with the editorial committee, the conveners, and with the three Working Group leaders to ensure that the Acta arising from this meeting is an accurate and complete record of what was presented, is carefully edited to remove errors and ensure clarity of presentation and adherence to the prescribed format. ISHS headquarters will see that it is attractively and professionally published.

The final kind of outcome that I would like to mention here is the opportunity provided by events such as this for young scientists to gain recognition and develop the leadership skills that will lead to increased professional stature over the years. I have seen many young scientists move to positions of great influence as a result of regular participation in ISHS symposia, the Society's quadrennial International Congress (next in Brussels, August 2–7, 1998), and by becoming involved in the leadership of ISHS Working Groups, Sections and Commissions. Maintaining annual membership in the Society, of course, is the best way to stay informed of all of these opportunities!

I am pleased and proud to represent a Society so clearly dedicated to horticultural science in all of the ways mentioned above and I am especially proud of the dedicated individuals that make the Society work. I want to mention, in particular, Dr. John Jackson, Leader of the Orchard and Plantation Systems Working Group from 1974 to 1996 and a driving force behind previous symposia in the UK (1976), Italy (1980), France (1984), Netherlands (1988) and Israel (1992). Dr. Jackson has been a tireless champion of the concept that the production of perennial fruit crops can often be more efficient and profitable with increased plantation density and by improving various aspects of and inputs to the overall orchard management system. Coming from his time in Africa, John's production efficiency vision includes all perennial fruit crops, whether they be temperate or tropical. It is fitting that this present symposium has such a strong flavor of the importance of integrating horticultural sub-disciplines. This is beautifully consistent with Dr. Jackson's view of how horticultural science moves forward.

I also would also like to applaud the dedication and strong leadership provided by the co-conveners of this present symposium, Drs. Bruce Barritt and Frank Kappel. Organizing and hosting an international conference is one of the most generous contributions one can make in the course of a professional career. It is important that the benefaction of these scientists receives the recognition it deserves.

Finally, I extend my sincere thanks and very best wishes to all who made the effort to come to Washington and British Columbia for this event. Your enthusiasm and active participation will make this a meeting to remember.
Norman E. Looney, Chair, ISHS Fruit Section
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Summerland, B.C.
CANADA