PREFACE: THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON KIWIFRUIT

The 4^th International Symposium on Kiwifruit (Kiwifruit99) was the last of its type to be held in the 20^th century, and the next one should probably not only refer to kiwifruit in the narrow sense, but rather encompass Actinidia as a whole. Thus, the rapid development we were able to be part of as researchers on kiwifruit will evolve into a much fertile field bearing fruits in the near future for which the seed were already sown in this Symposium. The modern techniques brought about by advances in Biology are melting down with traditional Horticulture to give birth to completely new advances, whose inception we were able to bear witness at Kiwifruit99.

The responsibility of organising this Symposium was conferred upon us at the previous symposium held in Greece as agreed by the Kiwifruit Working Group and the Fruit Section of the ISHS. The organisation of this Symposium was shared by the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (Institute for Agricultural Research, INIA-Chile) and the University of Chile and was sponsored by the Chilean Commission of Scientific and Technological Research (CONICYT).

It was a well-attended event, with more than 100 participants from over 20 countries. Keynote lectures, delivered by known experts in the various fields covered by the Symposium, proved to be a valuable introduction to and review of the different topics to be discussed. A lively poster session allowed exchange of views and information and was actively integrated to the rest of the event. There were two main areas, as can be deduced from the number of papers presented, namely Genetics and Breeding and Postharvest Physiology and Technology, even though several papers were also presented in Culture and Management and Pest and Diseases. Interestingly, a strong shift from formerly "Hayward-centered" papers to new Actinidia crops and genetic resources could clearly be perceived.

During the symposium, a field tour was carried out on "Kiwifruit Cropping in the Metropolitan Region". Apart from that, a Pre-Symposium Tour was organised with the aim of covering horticulture in the Region to the north and to the coast of Santiago. A kiwifruit Post-Symposium Tour gave a view of the main area for kiwifruit production in Chile (100–200 km south of Santiago).

Kiwifruit99 was the second event of this nature being held in this remote corner of the Earth and was only possible, leaving aside whether it was successful which is not for us to judge, through the collaboration of a valuable group of co-workers both in Chile and abroad to whom all credit is due and whose names are partly to be found within the relevant committees. Notwithstanding that, I would like to personally give thanks to the closest collaborators being Bruno Defilippi, Reinaldo Campos, my thesis students and, last but not least, my wife Valerie.

Finally, it was agreed that the venue for the 5^th International Symposium will be China (Wuhan Province) and that the Convenor will be Prof. Dr. Honweng Huang, of the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It was recommended that the next Symposium be held in the year 2002 and it was also agreed to keep the responsibility of Head of the Kiwifruit Working Group and Convenor of the next Symposium in the same hands.

Thus, the next Symposium on this fruit crop is going to be a historic event, signalling that researchers on kiwifruit and Actinidia are getting back to the very beginning of the story….

Dr. Julio Retamales
Convenor
Former Head Kiwifruit Working Group, ISHS


OPENING ADDRESS

Professor Dr Luis Riveros (Rector of the University of Chile), Dr David McKee (New Ambassador), Dr Fernando Mujica (President of INIA), distinguished guests, Dr Julio Retemales and colleagues:

On behalf of the International Society of Horticultural Science I welcome you to this opening ceremony for the 4^th International Kiwifruit Symposium.

Today as Chairman of the Postharvest Commission, I represent Dr Chris Brickell, President of the International Society for Horticultural Science board and Dr Norman Looney, Chairman of the Fruit Section, neither of whom could be present and who tender their apologies.

The International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) is truly an international organisation having more than 3000 individual members and 45 country members. The functions of the ISHS are broad ranging as it tries to provide benefits and services to its international membership as well as promote the accomplishments and potential of horticultural science for providing basic food and beauty in an increasingly stressful world.

Functions of the ISHS include:

• organising the International Horticultural Congress every 4 years, the last one being in Brussels, Belgium in 1998 and the next one to be in Toronto, Canada in 2002
• coordinating the 30–40 specialist scientific symposia held each year
• publishing Acta Horticulturae containing the proceedings of the symposia
• publishing the quarterly Chronica Horticulturae with news of the ISHS and its membership
• publishing the Horticultural Research Directory every few years containing details of country members and lists of all scientists involved in horticultural research in all countries.

The structure of the ISHS is designed to cater for both specialist and multidisciplinary cross-commodity interests of members. There are 6 Sections and 12 separate Commissions, and members can belong to more than one group. In addition at the last Board and Executive meeting it was decided to create a new Committee for International Research Cooperation; the idea for this arose out of the World Conference on Horticultural Research held in Rome and is the brainchild of our immediate Past President Professor Sansavini.

Symposia such as this are a vital part of our professional development. They allow interchange and exchange of ideas between scientists young and old, from different countries and organisations. Increasingly Symposium organisers are actively encouraging technologists from private companies to participate in these meetings; this is how it should be especially as many of these companies are now expected to provide sponsorship for such meetings.

I want to encourage all participants to become active members of the ISHS. The Board, Executive and ISHS officers in Leuven are actively working to improve the services available to members. These include discounted prices for Acta Horticulturae, reduced registration fees at Symposia, reduced subscription rate for Scientia Horticulturae and an opportunity to become involved as a country member or Chair of one of the Sections or Commissions and work towards the internationalisation of Horticultural Science. It is important that links between national horticultural societies and the ISHS are strengthened.

This is the first time that many of you have been in Chile, a country of climatic and geographical extremes. Chile has become a formidable international provider of a range of horticultural crops over the past decade. Enormous developments have taken place and are still occurring. Kiwifruit has been a success story for Chile. It is most appropriate that this 4^th International Kiwifruit Symposium should be held in this country after previous meetings in Italy, New Zealand and Greece.

We look forward with anticipation to both the professional and the social sides of this meeting. We look forward to sharing new knowledge about this unique crop. We look forward to renewing old acquaintances and making new friends. Above all we look forward to a challenging and fun time in this beautiful and diverse country.

Finally I wish to thank Dr Julio Retemales and his team of hardworking colleagues on the Organising Committee, who have spent many hours putting together the professional programme, the partners programme and the pre and post Symposium tours. We all understand how much work is involved in organising such a meeting and we greatly appreciate your efforts. Thank you all.

Errol W. Hewett
Chairman, Postharvest Commission
Representing ISHS.