OPENING ADDRESS

While plum is a very traditional crop throughout Europe, both eastern and western, it has also become widespread as an intensive orchard crop in North America, Japan, China and Southeast Asia thanks to the various species of Prunus and their hybrids. The main goal of this world-wide breeding activity in the last few decades has been the production of new cultivars marked by enhanced yields, large size, intense colouring, firm flesh and improved storage and shelf life. Yet breeders have not always paid sufficient attention to flavour and taste as quality criteria in their priorities before releasing new cultivars to fresh-market consumers and the processing industry.

The ISHS considers genetics and breeding as the main tools enabling scintists to enhance the overall quality of fruits in the plum and prune industry. For these are the techniques that will help growers solve important problems related to the environment, climatic adaptability and resistance to pests and diseases - top of the line priorities in the industry's future.

Another key goal of research should be the development and adaptation of advanced technologies to meet the needs of orchard management. The focus of efforts in this area should be addressed to the introduction of dwarfing rootstocks, high yield efficiency of trees, adoption of integrated production practices and the reduction and more efficient use of such energy inputs as water and nutrients, especially nitrogen.

The next important area for research is post-harvest physiology and technology. Our efforts here must concentrate on offering consumers fresh fruit over a more extended season - a strategy that obviously calls for cooperation and coordination in trade between the two hemispheres so as to supply their respective markets with fresh produce for seven-eight months of the year.

Nor should this cooperation and coordination be restricted to trade alone. Today plum is a crop that invites scientists and researchers in various fields of endeavour to join forces and work together. We can envision a plum network linking, at least at the outset, breeders and pomologists. For we do not know enough about the programs, or the advances being made in them, that are being conducted in countries throughout the world. For the more we promote the exchange of information among researchers, most of whom in this case are members of the ISHS, the more we promote and improve the quality and development level of programs on an international and multi-disciplinary scale.

I am confident that this VI Plum and Prune Symposium will mark an important step in this very direction. The Acta Horticulturae volume of the proceedings will testify to the progress that has been made in the industry over the last few years and the point out the road ahead. The ISHS is confident that the Plum Working Group will continue to pursue its goals with the same intensity and spirit of active participation that has always been its hallmark.

Let me convey the thanks of the ISHS to Dr. Salesses, who chairs the working group, one of the Fruit Section's earliest, and has dedicated most of his distinguished career to plum. I should also like to express the Society's thanks and gratitude to Dr. Grzyb, the convenor, and to all the members and co-workers of the Polish Organising Committee, whose sustained efforts and energies will assure a very successful symposium as well as a very enjoyable stay for all the participants. Let me also add that everyone will also have the advantage of experiencing at first hand the country's way of life, culture and arts and get an inside look at Poland's excellent orchard industry - the fruit of tireless dedication and work.


Silviero Sansavani
President ISHS
Bologna, 11 August 1997