Preface to Special Issue

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is grown from sea level up to 4,000-m altitudes and between the latitudes of 70 °N and 50 °S. In terms of total fresh matter production, potato ranks fourth after maize, rice, and wheat. The crop is very versatile, as it can be used fresh or processed into a variety of products, such as French fries, crisps, mashed potatoes, flour, alcohol, starch, and its derivatives. Potato tubers and leaves are also used as animal feed. Tubers are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Its high yield potential and high nutritional quality have made potato one of the most important plant food sources in the world: Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) stated that “The potato is on the frontline in the fight against world hunger and poverty”. To make maximum use of the potential of potato production and potato utilization, research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) play a crucial role. The European Association for Potato Research (EAPR) is an organization aiming to create platforms for scientific exchange: the EAPR offers an excellent forum for discussion and distribution of the results of studies conducted on potato all over the world by organizing conferences and section meetings. This special issue contains the proceedings of the International Symposium on Agronomy and Physiology held as the first meeting of the merged EAPR sections Agronomy and Physiology. The meeting was organized by staff of the Mustafa Kemal University and the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and held in Nevsehīr, Turkey, from 20 to 24 September, 2010. A total of 70 researchers from 18 countries in Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, and North America participated in the Potato Research (2010) 53:253–254 DOI 10.1007/s11540-010-9171-0