PREFACE

ISHS Acta Horticulturae 601: II International Persimmon Symposium

PREFACE

Authors:

ISHS Board of Directors, R. Collins

Abstract:
PREFACE
The Second International Persimmon Symposium was held at Twin Waters, Queensland, Australia from 10-13 September 2000, following the first such symposium in Pattaya, Thailand in July 1996.
The Symposium was very well attended, especially considering the distance many delegates had to travel. More than one hundred delegates from 12 countries made the trip to beautiful Queensland, and some stayed on to attend the Sydney Olympics, which started just two days after the Symposium finished. The location at Twin Waters Resort on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast was ideal. Not only is this region home to Australia’s premier sub-tropical fruit research institute, the Maroochy Horticultural Research Institute, but it is also the region in which some of Australia’s first non-astringent persimmons were grown commercially some 30 years ago.
The Symposium welcomed delegates at a traditional Australian ‘barbecue on the beach’ under the moonlight. The Symposium was officially opened by the Mayoress of the Maroochy Shire, the Director of the Queensland Horticulture Research Institute, and the Chair of the International Persimmon Working Group, Professor Akira Sugiura. Professor Sugiura gave the opening address.
Over the three days of the Symposium, a total of 30 papers were delivered, and almost 30 posters presented. The Symposium theme, “Science Meets the Market” was reflected in three days of presentations, each day with its own theme. Day one was titled ‘Advances and Productivity’, day two ‘Innovation and Profitability’, and day three ‘Meeting the Market’.
Papers on day one focused on breeding, biotechnology and physiology, and included contributions from scientists from Japan, South Korea, Italy and New Zealand. Day one concluded with a grand ‘Australiana Dinner’ overlooking the lake. The highlight was traditional singing from each country represented at the Symposium, led by the irrepressible Professor Suranant from Thailand.
Day two’s presentations turned the focus to innovation, with sessions on product improvement and production systems. In the afternoon, visits were made to the Australia Zoo (the Crocodile Hunter), and the Maroochy Horticultural Research Institute. It ended with another typically Australian experience, a walk along one of the region’s most beautiful beaches and dinner at the Mooloolaba Surf Livesavers Club.
The final day turned the attention to markets and marketing, with presentations on advances in postharvest, consumer research and industry development strategies. At the closing ceremony, much discussion centered around the question of ‘where to from here’? The proposal from the South Korean delegation to hold the 2004 Symposium in their country was accepted with pleasure. A number of issues for more collaborative work were identified, with the intention of presenting results at the next Symposium.
This Symposium not only provided a chance to share the latest findings in persimmon research across many countries, but it also helped to forge new friendships and gave international visitors an experience of the beauty of Australia and the hospitality of its people.
Editing of the Proceedings from the Symposium were unfortunately delayed by the ill-health of the editor.

Ray Collins

PREFACE
This volume of Acta Horticulturae is the Proceedings of the 2^nd International Persimmon Symposium. Invited and keynote speakers and selected authors of offered oral papers and posters had the opportunity to submit their manuscripts for publication in this volume of the series Acta Horticulturae.
Submitted manuscripts were reviewed by the Editor and members of the Editorial Board and amended according to the referee suggestions prior to acceptance.
The ISHS acknowledges the cooperation received from the Editors on reviewing the manuscripts which was a significant contribution to the overall quality of the publication.

The ISHS Board of Directors