More than 200 scientist, breeders, consultants and some growers from 37 countries met from June 22 to 28, 2019, for the 12th International Rubus & Ribes (raspberries and blackberries, as well as redcurrants and gooseberries) Symposium held by the working group of the ISHS (International Society of Horticultural Science) in Germany and Switzerland. The event was organized by E. Krüger, Geisenheim University's Department of Pomology, Dipl. Ing. G. Muster, Referat Obstbau of the Staatliche Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt für Wein- und Obstbau Weinsberg, as well as C. Carlen, Head of the Strategic Research Area for Plant Production Systems, Agroscope Schweiz. The syposium began with a three-day pre-syposium excursion, in which eight fruit-producing companies along the Rhine river and the Swiss side of Lake Constance opened their doors to the 100 participants. Various methods of production could be seen, such as raspberries in tunnel cultivation and blackberries in open-field and tunnel cultivation. It was impressive to see how companies were using, especially in raspberry production, different plant material and different cultivation techniques, to ensure continual production of domestic fruit from mid-April to November. In spite of the high temperatures, the mood of the participants was good and interest in the companies visited remained high right into the late afternoon.
The excursion participants were then joined by a further 100 delegates at ETH Zürich, where 45 lectures and 70 posters were presented. Here, the main focus areas were genetics and breeding, plant physiology, plant protection as well as quality and post-harvest processes. Excellent keynote speeches highlighted the importance of modern technology in breeding, the various cultivation techniques and the huge investment costs involved in all-year raspberry cultivation, as well as buying behavior regarding taste relevance. Possible problems in flower-development and dormancy in raspberry, blackberry and redcurrant plants in connection with climate change were illustrated, as well as current and future strategies for dealing with the huge threat to the berry industry caused by the cherry vinegar fly (Drosophila).
The international professional network enjoyed a very interesting week, in which old contacts were strengthened and new ones estalished.
Translated from an article by Dr. Erika Krüger
