ISHS Acta Horticulturae 91: Symposium on Growth Regulators in Floriculture
AN OPENING ADDRESS TO THE PARTICIPANTS |
| Authors: | R. M. Rudnicki, W. Gala, W.-U.v. Hentig, S. A. Pieniazek, K. Mynett | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract:
Ladies and Gentlemen, As a chairman of the organizing commitee I have a special privilege to welcome all delegates to the First International Symposium on Growth Regulators in Floriculture, organised by the ISHS, the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture in Skierniewice, Poland. We are greatly honoured by the presence of our distinguished guests: Mr. Wladyslaw Gala - Vice-Governor; Prof. Dr. W.-U. von Hentig - Director of the Research Institute of Ornamental Plants, Geisenheim, GFR, and Chairman of the Ornamental Plants Section of International Society for Horticultural Sciences; Prof. Dr Szczepan Pieniazek - Vice-President of Polish Academy of Sciences, Past President of ISHS, Director of the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture. Skierniewice is a small town that has been for over 30 years the main center of horticultural research in Poland. Two large research institutes in horticulture have been established in Skierniewice: the Research Institute of Pomology, in 1951, and the Research Institute of Vegetable Crops, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. These two institutions have earned good scientific reputation and are well known among horticulturists in the whole world. In 1969 the Department of Ornamental Plants, headed by Dr K. Mynett, was organized at the Research Institute of Pomology. There, research on various ornamental and floricultural crops was started including: plant breeding, protected crop production, nursery of shrubs, trees and perennials, production of bulbous and tuberous plants, plant protection, plant physiology, organization of plant production and economics and extension service in floriculture. In Poland, over the last few years, the ornamental horticulture industry has faced increasing demands for the improvement of production technology and quality of crops and, for the extension of the internal market for floricultural products. Also, the group of people within the Department of Ornamental Plants has been steadily increasing, now including approximately 50 scientists with academic backgrounds, 12 with PhDs. For these reasons the Ministry of Agriculture has obliged the Research Institute of Pomology for more extensive development of research on ornamental plants and also approved the change of its name to the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture. Although our Director, Professor Pieniazek maintains that there is no more ornamental plant than an apple tree in bloom, we have our opinion on that subject. We want to develop production of a least a dozen species that will equal or even surpass the beauty of the fatal paradise tree to which Adam and Eve succumbed with dire consequences. Consequently, we hope to draw the attention of our officials and buyers to floricultural and ornamental crops such as it already exists for apples and other fruits. We are especially honoured by the fact that in the 10th year anniversary of the floricultural research division at the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture, we have been invited by the International Society for Horticultural Science to organize an international symposium devoted to floriculture. We are very much satisfied that over 100 participants from 17 countries decided to join our meeting which is the first international symposium of ISHS devoted fully to floriculture and ornamentals and that has been organized in Eastern Europe. We do hope that it provides a good occasion for extending the scientific cooperation between the eastern and western countries within this field of horticulture not only concerning more intensive production and better quality of flowers offered to the people, but also in creating for the people more opportunities to offer flowers as symbols of friendship and admiration. 53 years ago, when T.W. Went isolated the first endogenous auxin from oat coleoptiles he had probably not imagined how much of a fundamental base was created for understanding the regulatory processes of growth and development in plants. Tremendous development of basic and applied research since then has resulted in discovery of several groups of hormones present endogenously in plants. Furthermore, many chemicals possessing various growth regulatory activities have been synthesized, many of which have found direct application in agricultural and horticultural production. The development of modern agriculture and horticulture would be impossible without the application of several growth regulatory substances for weed control, rooting acceleration, growth retardation or acceleration, chemical pruning and pinching, defoliation, formation of the plant shape, regulation of flowering, plant propagation etc. Ornamental horticulture is an especially open area for search of and for application of chemicals to plants. There are no special limits for using any chemical, unless it is harmful to the horticulturist, unlike their restricted counterparts in food production. Chemicals used in ornamental floriculture do not contribute so much to environmental pollution as they do in agriculture due to comparably small areas of cultivation in the field or fully protected areas in cultivation indoors. Thus any tested chemical of desirable activity may be applied within a shorter period in the production of ornamental crops than in the production of food for man or animals. The limitation of its use is entirely economic, based on the balance of the costs of its production and distribution and the effectiveness and profits reached as a result of its application. The development of new technologies and wider introduction of regulatory substances into ornamental horticulture requires very tight cooperation of plant biochemists and physiologists with horticulturists, to ensure the elaboration of new fields for the application of growth regulatory substances.
The recognition of the mechanisms of plant growth and development is necessary for finding proper chemicals and for receiving the desired effect after their application.
This was the reason why we decided to start our symposium with a general session, concerning various aspects of hormonal regulation in plants.
We then divided contributed papers and introductory papers into four other sections: bulbous plants, tissue culture, cut flowers and other ornamental plants.
Our intention was to give each participant the opportunity to join all the sections and as a result we have few sessions each day and not much free time left for other activities before lunch time.
As a reward for such hard work in the morning we have organized several tours of professional and of tourist in character.
We shall see some experiment stations, state and private floricultural farms and some interesting tourist attractions at distances of less than 100 km from Skierniewice.
I wish you a profitable and pleasant time during your stay in Skierniewice and many good impressions of horticulture and floriculture in our country. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to welcome warmly the participants of the International Floriculture Symposium on behalf of the governors of the voivodship of Skierniewice. The conference beginning today is an important event in the life of our voivodship, because of its character and the role that agricultural production plays in our region. The voivodship of Skierniewice that has been created as a result of the reform of the administrative system - encloses within its borders regions of various levels of social and economical development, which are however united by numerous social, economical, and cultural links, created in a natural way by historical processes. The formation of the new voivodship created good conditions for rational and dynamic development of towns and villages, as well as new opportunities for rapid and equal development of the whole area in all fields of life. Universally and vigorously has been developing the town of Skierniewice, the seat of political and administrative authorities of the voivodship, and the town in which for more than twenty years scientific institutions such as the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture and the Research Institute of Vegetable Crops have been developing. These two leading, not only in our country, scientific centers dealing with pomology, floriculture and vegetables, have introduced their scientific accomplishments both in state, and private farms, located in our region. It should be emphasized that in the voivodship of Skierniewice 248 farms specializing in fruit or vegetable production have been formed. Owners of these farms apply readily the practical suggestions offered to them by the scientists from the institutes, who are responsible for the rational production in orchards and in vegetable plantations. The region of Skierniewice is an area of intensive development, therefore, the governing authorities also consider each scientific postulate while accepted programs are being put into practice in the field of widely understood agricultural production. The realization of these ambitious, but difficult problems, does and will constitute considerable input of the society of the voivodship of Skierniewice into the great plan of the development of socialist Poland. I think that the Symposium beginning today will also contribute, through the exchange of experience by those present in this room, to the development of our pomology and floriculture. While wishing the participants fruitful and creative sessions, I would like to express my confidence that besides getting acquainted with the problems of the development of our horticultural economy and the achievements of Polish science in this field, you will also preserve for a long time associations connected with the region of Skierniewice. Respected guests of honour, ladies and gentlemen, first I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to say a few words on the occasion of this opening ceremony. In addition, I would like relay the regards of section members who unfortunately could not attend and especially those of our former chairman and current vice-chairman Erling Strømme. We are very grateful that once again an interesting and well attended symposium can begin with the cooperation of our section. May I give you a short remark to the present stage of the Section for Ornamental Plants of ISHS. To day 68 members of 28 countries belong to it. We hope that in future the number of countries as well as the number of members will increase. Some countries with important research in floriculture are not represented already. The theme of growth regulators is steadily of gaining importance. Research in this field constantly shows us new causes of the thus far known and unknown reactions of plants and widens our knowledge about all possible events in ways undreamed of just a few decades ago. The most fascinating discovery for all of us, however, continues to be the possibility of manipulating plant reactions. With this, however - and this is something we must never forget -, we continue to accept a large responsibility at the same time. Therefore it should be our continued concern, also in ornamental plant research, to-prevent unnecessary burdening of the environment. As I have said, and I am sure this applies to all those are present, it is a special joy to stand on the threshold of another interesting symposium, but please allow me to make two remarks thereto: First I would like to thank the hosts and organizers of the symposium. They were always ready to cooperate in any way possible during the preparations for this meeting and they have made an immense effort, so that we could be here to day to experience an interesting week-long program. Reflecting on the extremely successful congress in Warsaw in 1974, I am certain that we will, once again, experience the same esteemed hospitality as we did then. I am sure we all looking forward to this. Secondly I believe that we must be thankful for every opportunity we get to discuss in a friendly atmosphere as good colleagues our common professional interests. With that also the human contacts will be promoted. Much success for this symposium. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to welcome you on behalf of the Polish Academy of Science, of the Executive Committee of the International Society for Horticultural Science, and of the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture at Skierniewice. These three institutions contributed to the organization of the Symposium. We decided to hold this Symposium in a small town far away from busy large cities. This small city is, however, the center of Polish horticultural science. Warsaw Agricultural University established here as far back as in 1918 its horticultural research agencies. The first Polish experimental orchard was planted in 1928 just back of this building. After the last war Warsaw Agricultural University transferred its activities to Ursynow within the Great Warsaw city limits and two Research Institutes were organized by the Ministry of Agriculture in Skierniewice - the Research Institute of Pomology and the Research Institute of Vegetable Crops. Our Institute was organized in 1951. It included apiculture in addition to pomology. Apiculture was at first a part of the Institute of Animal Husbandry. The Ministry came soon to a conclusion, however, that the bee has more in common with an apple tree in bloom that with a cow on the greenest pasture and that is how we inherited apiculture. During the first 20 years after the war not much research work on floriculture was done in Poland. We have a proverb that says "Do not feel sorry for roses when the forests are ablaze". The country was devastated and the Ministry of Agriculture concentrated its attention on the production of food. The years went by, however, the forests were not ablaze any more. The time came to think not only of roses but even of orchids. That is how first a department, then a section of floriculture was organized at our Institute headed by a deputy director for floriculture - Professor Rudnicki. From the beginning of our work we tried to do what we could to expand our international cooperation. In 1956 we organized the first East-West horticultural meeting in Europe. About 20 pomologists from socialist and 20 from Western European countries took part in it. This meeting was the beginning of many other East-West contact that followed. We were proud to be able to organize in 1974 the International Horticultural Congress in Warsaw in which half of the participants came from the East and half from the West. Some of you, that were old enough to attend it, I remember. We are happy that this Symposium could be organized in Skierniewice.
On behalf of our Institute and on the occasion of its first international venture in floriculture I have a great pleasure indeed to welcome you and, as a pomologist, I cannot do otherwise but wish you a very FRUITFUL meeting. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a special privilege for me to welcome you to our symposium and to give you a short announcement according the present state of our polish ornamental plant production and education. In a few weeks we will celebrate the 35th anniversary of our newbirth after the Second World War and each of us in Poland can celebrate this holiday with two special bouquets produced by our floriculture. The first bouquet will contain flowers produced in greenhouses as shown in the table below. Number of flowers produced in greenhouses in Poland in 1978
The whole greenhouse area in our horticulture in 1978 consisted of 1308 ha and ornamental plants were grown on 370 ha which is circa 30 % of our whole greenhouse area. The greenhouse cut flower production is predominated by carnations: they are still in great demand on our market and our carnation export grows from year to year, last year reaching over 20 %. Other cut flowers such as Alstroemeria, Anthurium, Strelitzia and orchids are still being grown although on a small area and it is hard to evident this material in hectares. Considerably low is our pot plant production and we hope that the good growth regulators, that you will tell us about, will increase this group of our ornamentals. The second bouquet for our holidays we will celebrate in the near time, consists of a number of flowers cut from the outdoor production. It contains mainly bulbous and annual plants such as - asters, snapdragons, stocks and gladioluses, tulips and daffodils and roses out from the open. In 1977 we sold in our flowershops circa 600 mil. and this is more than 17 flowers for each of us. The prognostics say about 20 flowers per person in 1980 and watching the growing demand of flowers we can be sure that this figure will be reached in advance. Ornamental trees, shrubs and perennials were produced in nurseries in 1978 on a total area of 2600 ha. This section of ornamental horticulture is gaining in special importance. The increase in our export especially for roses and the great need of our domestic market connected with the city building, has led to a rapid growth of this branch of our horticulture. Seed production of our ornamentals has a good tradition in our country. Seeds are actually produced on an area of 645 ha and we harvested in the last year - a very bad one for seed production - 38 tons. Polish seeds of flowers are well known in western european countries, where a significant part of our production is exported. 40 % of seed production is concentrated in the state sector and 60 % comes from the private production, as there are still reserves of labour at farms of individual growers. Bulbous production / tulips, daffodils, gladioluses / covers an area circa 400 ha and it is concentrated at our sea coast close to Gdansk, where each year in the middle of May a tulip festival is celebrated. In Poland at present, five University Centres deal with floriculture and the figure below will make you more familiar with their geographical position. Main floriculture education centres in Poland In these centres, education of students is the main aim and research is done here in a smaller range. Our Institute is some what in the centre of our country and it has become a central function in a widely realized research programme. Moreover, research connected with floriculture is being done in the Botanical Garden in Wroclaw and Warszawa, in the Polish Academy of Sciences, in the Agriculture and Horticulture Seed Association, in a few horticulture state farms and in the Centre of Investigation on Cultivars in Slupia Wielka. This what I have told you was just a light pencil drawing before starting a large painting - that what floriculture really means. But I am sure you will have the occasion on our excursions to discuss and see what polish floriculture looks like. At the end I would like to remind you of an old saying, a little bit modified for today - that, "What sunshine - and I may add today - and good growth regulators - are to flowers, a smile is to humanity" So, I wish all of you a sunny and a smiling and a most profitable and pleasant stay during our symposium in Skierniewice. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
