Introduction to The Session

Abstract

Abstract Probably the area of horticultural science changing most rapidly in recent years is that concerned with chemical plant growth regulation. Certainly the technology of fruit production has been dramatically influenced by growth regulators and the list of cultural practices that can benefit from growth regulators is growing steadily. Many of us have been hard pressed to keep up with the required field testing. We have little time to explore more fundamental aspects of growth regulator research such as synthesis and formulation of new materials, or even more importantly, to examine the mode of action of plant growth regulators in our particular horticultural systems. It is hoped that these invited papers, with their emphasis on fundamentals, will help many of us to put our research effort into a more realistic perspective.