Dear Ladies and Gentlemen and fellow research workers

Plant roots serve a multitude of important functions. No process in the plant world can be completely understood without knowing something about plant roots. Roots play important roles in the mechanical support of the plants, and in protecting the soil against erosion. They derive functional importance in supplying the aboveground plant parts with water and nutrients. They produce growth-regulating compounds that affect the total plant. Once a root system occupies a soil volume, it affects the microorganisms and the soil fauna in that volume. Extensive root growth requires an adequate supply of carbohydrates and hormones, sufficient soil water and nutrient supply, adequate temperature and oxygen and low soil impedance.

Water and some nutrients move through the soil to the roots, but this is not enough. Roots extend into new areas by means of fast extending root tips. By penetrating the soil substrate, the roots improve soil structure, and the nutrient and soil water holding capacity. Roots compete with each other for carbohydrates, and those occupying favourable soil sites tend to grow at the expense of other components of the same root system. Research on plant root systems and their associated soil microbiology and fauna activity is different under field conditions because soil limits their accessibility for observations. Compared to our knowledge of the aboveground plant organs, our knowledge about root function and behaviour therefore for many reasons still need boosting.

The International Society of Root Research was established in 1982 as a non-profit and non-governmental organisation of scientists interested in plant root research and representing many disciplines and nationalities. Its primary goal is to increase communication, co-operation and research into root, rhizosphere and related topics. Put a group of professional root scientists together for a discussion and, however much they argue, they will end up by agreeing on one issue: every root investigation raises as many new questions as it answers old ones. Indeed, therefore, it appears that there are no limits to possible new directions of root research.

An attempt to combine various topics of root science into a comprehensive symposium programme raises numerous difficulties; my strong impression however is that our 6th ISRR symposium "Roots: the Dynamic Interface between Plants and the Earth" covers extremely well the most important aspects. I want to congratulate the organizing committee and the chairperson himself, Dr Shigenori Morita, for a successful work. To me, it is paramount that we scientists work together to build up societies and to improve life for mankind, regardless of terror and war activities, and create a world that sustainably empowers each person's individual needs. Scientists working together in fruitful discussions of research ideas, testing hypotheses, formulating goal and publishing their new findings provides a great contribution to the unification of the world and to peace. The benefits from our joint co-operation, in the longer run, with no doubt, will be proven in a more sustainable future for mankind.