FOREWORD AND PREFACE

The production and utilization of landscape plants is an ever evolving field. New technologies are being developed evaluated and transferred to growers around the world. As new plants are developed, new challenges also emerge. This volume of Acta Horticulturae is the Proceedings of the 2002 International Society for Horticultural Science Congress Symposium on Nursery Crops - Development, Evaluation, Production and Use. The objective of the symposium was to provide an up-to-date overview on key areas of nursery crop improvement, production, evaluation and utilization. The ISHS International Horticultural Congress in Toronto provided a unique opportunity to bring together a diversity of researchers and reports from around the world in an attempt to advance the development of the ornamentals and nursery crop industry.
A special Keynote address was made on the “Art and Science for Life: Designing and Growing Virtual Plants” by Dr. Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz which demonstrated the application of special computer technologies and programming that can be utilized to develop and test hypotheses. In addition, other invited presentations, contributed oral papers and posters were presented throughout the week. The contributions in this book are organized, following a similar outline as the sessions of the symposium.
We would like to thank the members of the Editorial Board, the Special and Keynote Speakers and all the other colleagues who aided by making presentation or assisted in the editorial process. Special thanks are owed to the session moderators who helped to keep the presentations on time and in sequence. Finally, special thanks to Ms. Darcie Hills for her help with manuscript organization and editing, and assistance in preparing the Proceedings.

T. Fernandez and C. Davidson, Co-conveners

PREFACE

The papers contained in this volume of Acta Horticulturae report the proceedings of a symposium on “Nursery Crops - Development, Evaluation, Production and Use”. Keynote speakers and authors of selected contributed oral and poster presentations were given the opportunity to submit a manuscript for publication.
These manuscripts were reviewed by the symposium editors and other referees. Only those papers judged suitable for publication following the authors consideration of reviewer suggestions appear in this volume of Acta Horticulturae.
The ISHS acknowledges and appreciates the contribution of all editors and reviewers. They have made a significant contribution to assuring the quality of this publication.

The ISHS Board of Directors