FOREWORD AND PREFACE

FOREWORD

The ISHS Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates was held in Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.A. (just outside the gates to Walt Disney World) from March 23-27, 2004. This was the first meeting of this Working Group held outside of the Mediterranean area. The ISHS Symposium was sponsored by the Commission for Protected Cultivation and its Working Group Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates.

Over 140 participants from 30 countries and 11 U.S. states attended and presented 51 oral and 70 poster papers. Subject matter stressed production practices of crops grown under protected structures (mostly greenhouses), engineering structures to be more light and energy efficient, the latest pest management practices, especially those related to IPM and biological control organic production in greenhouses, and factors leading to global competition.

The Symposium Organizers are deeply appreciative of the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Office of Conferences, especially Ms. Beth Miller-Tipton, and our sponsors for help making the Symposium possible. We are also indebted to Mr. Richard Tyson and his tour committee for structuring and organizing three excellent tours. The original art work and commemorative print by Ms. Lynda Chandler entitled, Protected Culture, highlighted the objectives for the Symposium and we thank her for all her efforts on our behalf.

The permanent record of this meeting is contained herein and represents 107 of the 119 papers given.

Daniel Cantliffe, Convener

PREFACE

The papers contained in this volume of Acta Horticulturae report the Proceedings of the ISHS Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates. 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. 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 the editors. They have made a significant contribution to improving the quality of this publication.

The ISHS Board of Directors