Dr Greg Lang is a Professor in Tree Fruit Physiology at Michigan State University, USA. He is the current Chair of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Workgroup on Orchard Systems and has been a plenary speaker at numerous international conferences on tree fruit production and research around the world, including the past four ISHS Cherry Symposia and the most recent ISHS Orchard Systems Symposium. Professor Lang has authored or co-authored more than 200 published papers and book chapters, edited numerous books and proceedings, and was named as one of the top 100 Innovative Horticulturalists of the past 125 years by the American Fruit Grower Magazine.

• Part 1 Physiology and genetics1.Advances in understanding fruit tree root–rhizosphere relationships for enhanced plant health: Mark Mazzola and Shashika S. Hewavitharana, USDA-ARS, USA; 2.Advances in the development and utilization of rootstocks: a case study for apple Gennaro Fazio, USDA-ARS Plant Genetics Resources Unit, USA; and Terence Robinson, Cornell University, USA; 3.Advances in understanding fruit tree growth: Ted DeJong, University of California-Davis, USA; 4.Advances in understanding reproductive development in fruit-bearing plants: Tomoya Esumi, Shimane University, Japan; and Ryutaro Tao, Kyoto University, Japan; 5.Advances in fruit genetics: Ksenija Gasic and Christopher Saski, Clemson University, USA;Part 2 Optimizing sustainable cultivation and quality6.Optimizing production of quality nursery plants for fruit tree cultivation: Stefano Musacchi, Washington State University and Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, USA; and Davide Neri, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy; 7.Optimizing precision in orchard irrigation and nutrient management: Denise Neilsen and Gerry Neilsen, Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada; 8.Optimizing plant growth, yield and fruit quality with plant bioregulators: Duane Greene, University of Massachusetts, USA; 9.Optimizing fruit production efficiencies through mechanization: Manoj Karkee, Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Washington State University, USA; Jacqueline Gordón, Washington State Tree Fruit Association, USA; Bernardita Sallto, Washington State University, USA; and Matthew Whiting, Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Washington State University, USA; 10.Optimizing pest management in fruit cultivation; Arthur Agnello, Cornell University, USA; 11.Optimizing disease management in fruit cultivation: Sara M. Villani, North Carolina State University, USA; Kerik D. Cox, Cornell University, USA; and George W. Sundin, Michigan State University, USA; 12.Pre- and post-harvest strategies to optimize fruit quality and shelf-life: Peter M. A. Toivonen, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada;13.Bioactive/nutraceutical compounds in fruit that optimize human health benefits: Federica Blando and Miriana Durante, Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), Italy; and B. Dave Oomah, formerly Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Canada;

Dr Greg Lang is a Professor in Tree Fruit Physiology at Michigan State University, USA. He is the current Chair of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Workgroup on Orchard Systems and has been a plenary speaker at numerous international conferences on tree fruit production and research around the world, including the past four ISHS Cherry Symposia and the most recent ISHS Orchard Systems Symposium. Professor Lang has authored or co-authored more than 200 published papers and book chapters, edited numerous books and proceedings, and was named as one of the top 100 Innovative Horticulturalists of the past 125 years by the American Fruit Grower Magazine.

• Part 1 Physiology and genetics1.Advances in understanding fruit tree root–rhizosphere relationships for enhanced plant health: Mark Mazzola and Shashika S. Hewavitharana, USDA-ARS, USA; 2.Advances in the development and utilization of rootstocks: a case study for apple Gennaro Fazio, USDA-ARS Plant Genetics Resources Unit, USA; and Terence Robinson, Cornell University, USA; 3.Advances in understanding fruit tree growth: Ted DeJong, University of California-Davis, USA; 4.Advances in understanding reproductive development in fruit-bearing plants: Tomoya Esumi, Shimane University, Japan; and Ryutaro Tao, Kyoto University, Japan; 5.Advances in fruit genetics: Ksenija Gasic and Christopher Saski, Clemson University, USA;Part 2 Optimizing sustainable cultivation and quality6.Optimizing production of quality nursery plants for fruit tree cultivation: Stefano Musacchi, Washington State University and Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, USA; and Davide Neri, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy; 7.Optimizing precision in orchard irrigation and nutrient management: Denise Neilsen and Gerry Neilsen, Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada; 8.Optimizing plant growth, yield and fruit quality with plant bioregulators: Duane Greene, University of Massachusetts, USA; 9.Optimizing fruit production efficiencies through mechanization: Manoj Karkee, Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Washington State University, USA; Jacqueline Gordón, Washington State Tree Fruit Association, USA; Bernardita Sallto, Washington State University, USA; and Matthew Whiting, Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Washington State University, USA; 10.Optimizing pest management in fruit cultivation; Arthur Agnello, Cornell University, USA; 11.Optimizing disease management in fruit cultivation: Sara M. Villani, North Carolina State University, USA; Kerik D. Cox, Cornell University, USA; and George W. Sundin, Michigan State University, USA; 12.Pre- and post-harvest strategies to optimize fruit quality and shelf-life: Peter M. A. Toivonen, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada;13.Bioactive/nutraceutical compounds in fruit that optimize human health benefits: Federica Blando and Miriana Durante, Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), Italy; and B. Dave Oomah, formerly Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Canada;

Dr Greg Lang is a Professor in Tree Fruit Physiology at Michigan State University, USA. He is the current Chair of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Workgroup on Orchard Systems and has been a plenary speaker at numerous international conferences on tree fruit production and research around the world, including the past four ISHS Cherry Symposia and the most recent ISHS Orchard Systems Symposium. Professor Lang has authored or co-authored more than 200 published papers and book chapters, edited numerous books and proceedings, and was named as one of the top 100 Innovative Horticulturalists of the past 125 years by the American Fruit Grower Magazine.

• Part 1 Physiology and genetics1.Advances in understanding fruit tree root–rhizosphere relationships for enhanced plant health: Mark Mazzola and Shashika S. Hewavitharana, USDA-ARS, USA; 2.Advances in the development and utilization of rootstocks: a case study for apple Gennaro Fazio, USDA-ARS Plant Genetics Resources Unit, USA; and Terence Robinson, Cornell University, USA; 3.Advances in understanding fruit tree growth: Ted DeJong, University of California-Davis, USA; 4.Advances in understanding reproductive development in fruit-bearing plants: Tomoya Esumi, Shimane University, Japan; and Ryutaro Tao, Kyoto University, Japan; 5.Advances in fruit genetics: Ksenija Gasic and Christopher Saski, Clemson University, USA;Part 2 Optimizing sustainable cultivation and quality6.Optimizing production of quality nursery plants for fruit tree cultivation: Stefano Musacchi, Washington State University and Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, USA; and Davide Neri, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy; 7.Optimizing precision in orchard irrigation and nutrient management: Denise Neilsen and Gerry Neilsen, Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada; 8.Optimizing plant growth, yield and fruit quality with plant bioregulators: Duane Greene, University of Massachusetts, USA; 9.Optimizing fruit production efficiencies through mechanization: Manoj Karkee, Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Washington State University, USA; Jacqueline Gordón, Washington State Tree Fruit Association, USA; Bernardita Sallto, Washington State University, USA; and Matthew Whiting, Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Washington State University, USA; 10.Optimizing pest management in fruit cultivation; Arthur Agnello, Cornell University, USA; 11.Optimizing disease management in fruit cultivation: Sara M. Villani, North Carolina State University, USA; Kerik D. Cox, Cornell University, USA; and George W. Sundin, Michigan State University, USA; 12.Pre- and post-harvest strategies to optimize fruit quality and shelf-life: Peter M. A. Toivonen, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada;13.Bioactive/nutraceutical compounds in fruit that optimize human health benefits: Federica Blando and Miriana Durante, Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), Italy; and B. Dave Oomah, formerly Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Canada;