Dear colleagues,

On behalf of the Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, I am very pleased to welcome you to Bulgaria and to the IV Balkan Symposium on Vegetables and Potatoes. Scientists from all over the world have gathered here in Plovdiv to exchange information on vegetables and potatoes breeding:plant and genetic resources, genetics and breeding, technologies in vegetable growing, plant protection and agroecology, molecular breeding and biotechnologies on vegetables and potatoes.

Experts in the various fields have been invited to present lectures on the symposium topics. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Organizing, International Scientific Committees and the Editorial Board for their help, the organizations and seed companies for their support, and International Society for Horticultural Sciences for their contribution in organizing this event. I hope you will find this to be fruitful meeting and unforgettable visit to Plovdiv.

Liliya Krasteva, Convener