Croatian Society of Plant Physiologists (HDBF)

    The Croatian Society of Plant Physiologists was founded 1977 by a group of plant physiologists and became an autonomous nongovernmental professional organization of plant physiologists in Croatia. HDBF was a part of the Yugoslav Society for Plant Physiology and the Yugoslav Union of Biological Societies until 1991, when our Society withdraw its membership from both societies. The Society has 75 members, being dedicated to the development, promotion and dissemination of plant physiology knowledge and improvement of communications between Croatian and international scientists. The main goals of our Society are:

a) to expand scientific knowledge in plant biology, especially in plant physiology

b) to improve communications between plant physiologists from Croatia and other countries

c) to work on nature protection and biological diversity

Former presidents of the Society were: Zvonimir Devide (1977-1979), Sibila Jelaska (1980-1984), Mercedes Wrischer (1985-1986), Branka Pletikapić- Kolevska (1987-1988), Zdenko Rengel (1989-1990), Ivan Regula (1991-1992), and Marijana Krsnik-Rasol (19931994).

The Society offers only regular membership, Although the majority of our members are biologists (scientists and teachers), HDBF also gathers scientists having B.Sc, and Ph.D. degrees in other disciplines (agronomy, forestry and pharmacy).

In the year 1986 the Society organized a symposium on seed biology, and in 1995 a seminar on statistical methods in biology.

In 1992, HDBF became a member of the International Association for PlantTissue Culture (IAPTC), and of the Federation of European Societies of Plant Physiology (FESPP). The national correspondent for IAPTC is Branka Pevalek-Kozlina, and for FESPP Ivan Regula.

HDBF collaborates with other Croatian societies with goals relate to biology in general.

The Croatian Society of Plant Physiologists successfully collaborates with the Slovenian Society for Plant Physiology as well as with Austrian plant physiologists, while members are participating in some joint projects.

Although the Croatian Society of Plant Physiologists is a small society, it has made efforts through all these years to gather scientists and to promote knowledge and education in plant physiology.

Branka Pevalek-Kozlina

PERIODICUM BIOLOGORUM VOL. 99. (1997) 152.