FOREWORD AND PREFACE

FOREWORD

The Eleventh Eucarpia Symposium on Fruit Breeding and Genetics was held in Angers from 1-5 September 2003. The symposium, hosted by the INRA Angers Centre, was attended by 250 participants from 35 countries from the five continents. A total of 71 oral presentations and 144 posters were presented. They were divided into eight topics: New Approaches in Fruit Genetics; Genetic Advances in Disease and Pest Resistance; Fruit Quality and Tree Architecture; In Vitro Culture and Genetic Transformation; Management and Research of Genetic Resources; New Developments in Fruit Breeding; Cultivar and Rootstock Testing and Releasing.

The main goal of the scientific committee was to take into account the changes in fruit genetics and breeding over the last few years, in particular the huge development of biotechnology. Most of the papers in the previous symposia on this topic focused mainly on conventional breeding. At Angers, a good balance was reached between papers dealing with new methodologies (genetic transformation, genomics) and presentations of conven¬tional breeding programmes or descriptions of new cultivars (posters). Oral and poster ses¬sions alternated to allow scientists working on different areas to meet and hold discussions. After an opening ceremony and welcome by Dr. Y. Lespinasse, on behalf of the President of INRA Angers Centre and an inaugural address by Mr. Lardeux, President of Anjou Council, Dr. F. Laurens, chairman of the symposium gave some introductory remarks to the 250 researchers coming from 35 countries from five continents. Dr. Marianne Lefort, Head of the INRA Plant Genetics and Breeding Department then presented an excellent review entitled Genetics and Fruit Breeding: Main Features and Prospects.

Molecular markers are now widespread in fruit species and are used for many purposes. The symposium started with the session New Approaches in Fruit Genetics which underlined the importance of codominant molecular markers, such as micro¬satellites, to develop syntenic and consensus maps both in pome and stone fruits. A new pedigree-based approach has been developed to identify QTLs more accurately. The comparison of genetic and physical maps in plums proved to be very successful to localize the Ma gene for resistance to Meloidogyne. The first oral session on New Developments in Fruit Breeding was introduced by a keynote lecture from Dr. E. Legg. His talk was very informative, illustrating the integration of new technologies in commercial vegetable breeding programmes. Various aspects of conventional breeding were presented through many oral presentations and posters such as: general aspects including the new policy of the Community Plant Variety Rights for the fruit sector, development of new breeding and selection methodologies, including marker assisted selection (MAS), and the exploitation of biodiversity for breeding.

Management and Research of Genetic Resources was one of the richest topics of the symposium displaying a large diversity of fruit crops and a wide range of approaches. A special focus was made on the results of phenotypic and molecular evaluation of Malus sieversii seedlings populations collected in Central Asia in the last decade. The authors verified that M. sieversii is very diverse and has all the qualities present in Malus ×domestica. Many other phenotypic, biochemical and molecular studies were presented on a large range of wild and cultivated species from various genera: Ficus, Malus, Olea, Prunus, Rosa, Vaccinium, Vitis. Special emphasize was also put on studies on incompatibility in pears and cherries.

Two oral and one poster sessions were dedicated to the latest results obtained in genetic transformation. Current gene transfer strategies are now efficient at improving important agronomic traits in many crops; the most advanced models have been developed on disease and pest resistance. Currently, many studies are investigating new strategies involving clean vector technologies.

A large part of the symposium was dedicated to disease and pest resistance (4 oral sessions and 2 poster sessions). Conclusions of the European project DARE (Durable Apple Resistance in Europe) were presented through oral papers and posters. A combination of knowledge in apple genetics and pathology resulted in good progress in the understanding of the interactions between apple and the two most serious diseases: scab, caused by Venturia inaequalis and powdery mildew, caused by Podosphaera leucotricha. Molecular markers have also been widely used in other interaction studies either to localize resistance genes (Woolly apple aphid for apple; Colletotrichum and Phytophtora for strawberry) or to better understand resistance mechanisms (Fireblight for apple; Tristeza virus for Citrus).

In the sessions focused on Genetic Advances on Fruit Quality Traits, classical genetic studies on inheritance of the main fruit traits were presented on various species as well as recent genomic approaches on apricots, pears, apples and strawberries. Two papers dealt with genetic factors of allergens in apples. A special session dealt with Genetic Advances in Tree Architecture. Oral papers and posters covered quantitative genetic studies on various species (apple, apricot, peach, almond), molecular studies on apples and the first genomic approaches to graft compatibility on peach.

The social events were as rich as the scientific programme. Lunches and the Gala dinner exhibited various facets of French Cuisine. Wednesday’s excursions included visiting the INRA centre and two famous apple nurseries. It was also an opportunity to enjoy tourist attractions such as the Château de Brissac as well as taste some very good wines from this famous region: Les Pays de la Loire.

I would like to thank the members of the local organizing committee, particularly Dr. Marie Hélène Simard, Jean Luc Gaignard and Chantal Fremont for their great involvement in this event. I am also very grateful to the colleagues of the scientific committee who helped in the selection of the papers and in the scientific organization of the symposium and to the sponsors for their generous financial contributions. We must gratefully acknowledge the colleagues who reviewed the manuscripts for publication in Acta Horticulturae, especially Dr. Kate Evans, co-editor of the proceedings and Anne Caudron, Béatrice Dubuc and Juliette Saliou for preparing the final editing of the book. I would also like to sincerely thank Kelly Van Dijck, who did the technical processing of this volume of Acta Horticulturae, for her great professionalism: she did a great job to make this book published in time.

Eventually, I express my thanks to all the participants who made this symposium not only a great event from a scientific point of view but also a social success!

François Laurens
Convener

PREFACE

The papers contained in this volume of Acta Horticulturae report the Proceedings of the Eleventh Eucarpia Symposium on Fruit Breeding and Genetics. 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 members of the Editorial Board. 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 improving the quality of this publication.

The ISHS Board of Directors