FOREWORD

FOREWORD

This volume contains presentations made at the meeting "Improvement of potato tuber quality: size uniformity, nutritional value and processing attributes" which was held in Viterbo, Italy, 14-16 June 2004. The meeting was organised jointly by the European Association for Potato Research (EAPR), Physiology Section and the International Society for Horticultural Sciences (ISHS). It was the organisers' intention to review and discuss progress in several aspects of potato quality, a topical aspect of potato production, which greatly benefits from research and innovation.

The meeting was attended by 41 scientists from 15 countries (covering four continents!), ensuring a true international relevance to the event. Participants were encouraged to present original data and this contributed to several fruitful and thought-provoking discussions. These continued during the social events, fuelled by some excellent locally produced wine (Est Est Est!). Many new ideas for collaboration and interactions were explored.

The scientific programme included two keynote lectures by Professor Domenico Carputo, University of Naples Federico II, Italy and Dr. Christiane Gebhardt, Max Planck Institute, Köln, Germany. The programme was divided into four sessions titled "Environmental Influences during the Growing Season", "Fertilisation Management", "Tuber Composition" and "Storage, Dormancy and Sprouting". At the end of proceedings, all presenters of oral and poster contributions were invited to submit their presentations for possible inclusion in this volume. All submitted presentations were peer reviewed by the Scientific Committee.

The meeting was a success thanks to the commitment and contribution of many people to whom we are indebted. In particular we wish to mention Mr. Gioacchino Sgueglia who contributed enthusiastically to the organisation of the meeting and tragically passed away in July 2004 at a very young age. We dedicate this volume to his memory.

We also thank Professor Marco Mancini, Principal of the University of Tuscia and Professor Eddo Rugini, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Mr. Giacobbe Tardani and Dr. Bruno Cirica for their help and support. We thank the members of the Scientific Committee, Patrick Du Jardin, Luigi Frusciante, Christiane Gebhardt, Donald MacKerron, Robert Prange, Francesco Saccardo and Giuseppe Colla for the development of the scientific program and for their editorial contribution in the preparation of this volume. Last but not least, we gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the meeting’s sponsors Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Regione Lazio, ARSIAL (Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e l’Innovazione dell’Agricoltura del Lazio), Coldiretti Viterbo, CCORAV (Consorzio Cooperativo Ortofrutticolo Alto Viterbese) and APPAL (Associazione Produttori Patate Lazio).

Raffaele Casa, Convener
Roberto Viola, Chairman of the Physiology Section of the EAPR