5. Conclusions

* The Netherlands are country number 1 in the world for lily culture.

* Breeding activities by private companies are situated on a high level.

* Breeding Lilium longiflorum for local Dutch conditions resulted in a large increase of the acreage with new cultivars.

* Interspecific hybridization research proves to be very promising and resulted in a new hybrid group of lily: the LA-hybrids.

* Virus-free propagation of lily stocks fasten the introduction of healthy material of new cultivars.

* Research on culture and breeding in combination with a well organized bulb business is attributed to the success of lily production in the Netherlands.

* Extensive present research is directed to reduce the use of chemical control in bulb culture (Urgency Program for Diseases and Breeding of Bulbs).