FOREWORD AND PREFACE

Pineapple, Ananas comosus L. Merr., is produced in approximately 70 countries. It is highly valued on the world market, with a growing demand that makes it the third most economically important tropical fruit. 80% of the world’s pineapple production is attained by 20 countries, but only five employ state-of-the-art technologies in production, post harvest management and processing. This concentration of technological know-how inhibited the improvement of systems and methods of production in other countries, which could have become producers of fruit meeting the quality and volume requirements of the large international commercial centers (i.e. the United States, Europe and Japan) for many years. This even occurred on their own domestic markets.

The beginning of the 90’s brought dramatic changes around the world. One of the positive trends was a convergence of the scientific, the technical and the business communities in International Symposia focused on the study and production of the pineapple. These symposia offered access to worldwide technological advances and the opportunity for exchange between experts in highly specialized areas, such as plant breeding and biotechnology, to name a few. Under the auspices of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, the International Pineapple Symposium was held in Honolulu, Hawaii in November of 1992. This symposium was then followed by a series of symposia elsewhere: Fort de France, Martinique, France in 1995; Pattaya, Thailand in 1998 and Veracruz, Mexico in 2002.

The symposium in Mexico accomplished the planned goals and was extremely satisfactory for everyone involved in its organization. The event was attended by 300 people from 30 countries, including scientists, technicians, businessmen, and producers. Mexicans represented only 35% of the attendees. The event was held from April 16-19, 2002 at the Hotel Emporio in Veracruz City, Mexico. A total of 94 scientific studies were delivered (48 oral presentations and 46 posters). Symposium proceedings containing abstracts of scientific contributions were available to attendees either in hard copy or CD at the beginning of the sessions. On the third day of the event, participants had the option to take a guided tour to the Papaloapan River Basin via Los Robles-Alvarado-Santiago Tuxtla-Isla. The tour included visits to several commercial pineapple plantations, fresh fruit and ornamental packing and exportation operations. The group headed to the research facilities and pineapple experimental plots of the “Papaloapan Research Station” of INIFAP, where they were warmly received by over 700 pineapple producers, government functionaries and regional artists who shared presentations of traditional jarocho music, dance and cuisine.

The scheduled meeting of the Pineapple Working Group (PWG) of ISHS, held on the second day of sessions, designated South Africa to host the Fifth International Pineapple Symposium in April, 2005.

This issue of Acta Horticulturae is a compilation of the papers presented at the IV International Pineapple Symposium in Veracruz, Mexico in 2002.

The organizers greatly appreciate the contribution of all collaborators and participants at the Symposium for making it a success. Finally, we should like to thank our guests and remind them that your friends in Mexico look forward to welcome you once more in your next visit to our country. We hope to see you all again in South Africa.

The Organizing Committee

PREFACE

The papers contained in this volume of Acta Horticulturae report the Proceedings of the Fourth International Pineapple Symposium. 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 Editor 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 the Editor and reviewers. They have made a significant contribution to improving the quality of this publication.

The ISHS Board of Directors