PREFACE

The ISHS Board of Directors

PREFACE
It is a great pleasure for us to publish the Proceeding of the Second International Symposium on Cucurbits, held from Sept. 28 till Oct. 1, 2001 at Tsukuba Science City in Japan under the sponsorship of the International Society of Horticultural Science and the Japanese Society of Horticultural Science. The one hundred sixty eight participants came from 25 different countries. Recent results of research on all aspects of science and technology on Cucurbits were presented and actively discussed in 36 oral and 59 poster presentations. The program was divided into 5 sessions, namely: Biotechnology, Genetics and Breeding, Environmental Physiology, Disease Resistance and Post-harvest.
Many interesting studies were reported. In the Biotechnology session for instance technologies for efficient haploid and doubled haploid production in melon were presented as well as information on DNA markers and genetic maps of melon and watermelon and on fruit development and maturation mechanisms. During the Genetics and Breeding session among other subjects the India origin of the no-netted melons in Asia, as well as the small seeded melons such as the variety ‘Makuwa’, widely produced in East Asia, was disclosed. In the Environmental Physiology session interesting information was presented on the modeling of greenhouse cucumber production based on studies about the partitioning of photo-assimilates within a plant. Also results of research were reported on a marked change in cytokinine composition by grafting of cucumber and on the possible involvement of auxin-inducible genes in the hydrotropic response of the clinorotated roots. Classification of pathogenesis in 21 strains of Pseudoperonospora cubensis in cucurbits collected from European countries was presented in the Disease Resistance session, and in the Postharvest session, amongst other items guidelines for quality maintenance of melon in the United Stats were given as well as information on extension of the shelf life of melon fruit by the ethylene inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene and on nondestructive evaluation methods of fruit quality using laser. In all sessions there was a marked increase in presentations on molecular studies in cucurbits as is the case in other fields.
The highlight of the Symposium was the Open forum entitled “Cucurbits of Silk Road” which was specially planned by the Organizing Committee because the cucurbits symposium was held in Asia for the first time. In the Forum five Asian researchers gave interesting introductions to the participants of the symposium and the citizens of Tsukuba city on many varieties of Asian cucurbits and their research topics from Turkmenistan, India, China, Korea and Japan. In the general discussion the importance of the maintenance of genetic diversity in these regions was stressed by many participants. It was concluded that efforts to this effect should be made.
The first International Symposium on Cucurbits was held in Turkey in 1997. Before and after the Symposium, Cucurbit meetings have been internationally held in Europe and the United States independently. A few Asian scientists on Cucurbits have attended the meetings. Therefore, it is very significant to hold the International Symposium worldwide including Asian and African scientists under the sponsorship of the International Society of Horticultural Science. I would hope this Symposium and the studies on Cucurbits could develop more and more by international cooperation in the future.
Finally, I would like to extend the deepest appreciation to all of the members of the Organizing Committee and to those of the Scientific Committee for their sincere contributions to the Symposium. I would like to express my great esteem also to the Japanese government, Ibaraki prefecture government, many associations and companies in Japan which give us great financial support.

2002. 3. 28.
Prof. Dr. Shigeo Nishimura
Representative of the editors