(November 13, 1996)

BACKGROUND

The Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center in Weslaco was established in 1946 with the purchase of 80 acres on which the principal buildings now stand. The center opened its doors in the fall of 1947 as the Texas College of Arts and Industries Citrus and Vegetable Training Center. Citrus was the key focus with vegetable efforts and pecan research phased out after a few years.

The concept of a citrus and vegetable center to support the expanding horticultural industries in the Rio Grande Valley began to take shape in 1944 when prominent South Texas leaders A.L. Cramer, Lon C. Hill Jr. and H.E. Butt met with officials of the Texas College of Arts and Industries (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville) to explore possible educational and research opportunities. The land purchase was underwritten by contributions from businesses and individuals throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

In addition to the original 80 acres, the Citrus Center has acquired 12 acres northwest of Edinburg; 8.5 acres near Bayview; 170 acres south of Weslaco; 27 and 36 acre blocks adjacent to the 170 acres south of Weslaco and 48 acres northwest of Mission. Today, field studies are conducted on some 300 acres in three locations.

The main building contains six research laboratories, administrative and scientists offices, library, two classrooms, a conference room and an auditorium. In addition, there is a graduate student housing facility, five greenhouses, a screen house, packing house, mechanical and carpenter's shop, field laboratory building, and a storage building. The West Farm near Mission has a large farm building and field laboratory.

In 1990 Texas A&I University merged with The Texas A&M University System and the Citrus Center developed its administrative and operational ties with the nearby Texas A&M University Research and Extension Center to better coordinate research activities at the two facilities and to upgrade Valley education.

Since its establishment, the center has had only two directors, one interim director and one assistant director. The initiating director was Dr. P. W. Rohrbaugh from 1947 to 1963. Its second director was Dr. Richard A. Hensz from 1964 to January 1994 when he retired. Dr. Victor French acted as interim director from February 1994 to January 1996.

In February 1996, Dr. Dariusz M. Swietlik was named the assistant center director of the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center and the Texas A&M University Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Weslaco. The Polish-born soils scientist and plant physiologist came to the center in 1984.

Under Swietlik's leadership the center continues its research, extension and teaching mission and plans to expand its graduate student program having completed construction of graduate student housing in 1996. A strong working relationship with the Texas A&M Agricultural and Extension Center in Weslaco furthers cooperative research efforts.

Current research programs include integrated methods of citrus disease, arthropod pests and weed control; fertilization, water and soil management; variety improvement; freeze and

weather protection; propagation and nursery practices; orchard design; tree size control; and post-harvest fruit problems. Some of these projects are conducted jointly with scientists of the Texas Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Weslaco.

The center's faculty teaches courses for academic credit and on a continuing education basis. An example is the current course on Citrus and Subtropical Fruits, taught jointly by the center's faculty and Drs. J. Benton Storey and Luke Howard of the Horticultural Science Department of Texas A&M University in College Station via the Trans Texas Video Network.

The professorial staff is heavily involved in extension activities and advising area citrus growers, packers and other segments of the citrus industry on matters related to growing and handling citrus fruits.

An international exchange of research occurs when scientists frequently visit the center from such countries as Israeli, Jordan, Egypt, South Africa and Japan.

Scientist professors at the A&M-Kingsville Citrus Center in Weslaco include: horticulturist Dr. John Fucik, entomologist Dr. Victor French, plant pathologist Dr. Mani Skari, and soils scientist/plant physiologist Dr. Dariusz Swietlik. Retired Director and Professor Emeritus Dr. Richard Hensz continues some of his variety improvement work. The center is currently searching for a post-harvest plant physiologist.

Quick Facts about the Citrus Center:

- The Citrus Center is located in Weslaco.

- It opened in 1947.

- The Citrus Center developed its administrative and operational ties with the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center in Weslaco after Texas A&I University merged with The Texas A&M University System in 1990.

- The center has 31 full-time employees and a varying number of part-time staff.

- The center conducts research studies on breeding new varieties, evaluation of new citrus rootstocks and all phases of citrus culture including diseases, pest and weed control, fertilization, water management, propagation and nursery practices, orchard design, tree size control, freeze and weather protection, and post-harvest problems.

- The center has a strong technology extension program for commercial citrus growers, packers, nurserymen, and backyard citrus growers.

- The center's teaching program consists of formal classes for academic credit for university students and continuing education credits for growers, industry personnel and the public. The faculty also conducts short courses, workshops and seminars.

Significant Research Accomplishments:

- Development of water saving and environmentally friendly water management practices.

- Development and release of two deep red grapefruit varieties: 'Star Ruby' in 1970 and 'Rio Red' in 1984 by citrus geneticist Dr. Richard Hensz. Now generally marketed as Rio Star.

- Development of tree trunk wraps and soil management practices for protecting citrus trees from freezes.

- Development of new orchard designs and higher planting densities resulting in higher and earlier returns to growers.

- Development and continuous refinement of integrated pest control strategies in Valley citrus orchards including biological and chemical approaches and identification of new exotic pests. Biological methods include the control of citrus black fly and leafminer.

- Development of methods and strategies for controlling of a complex of citrus fungal, virus, and viroid pathogens and soil nematodes. The research includes tree as well as fruit pre- and post-harvest pathogens. An example of virus and viroid control strategies include the development of a virus-free budwood certification program.

- Selection of tristeza-resistant citrus rootstocks for the Valley citrus.

- Development and continuous refinements of modern soil management practices including chemical weed control.

- Optimization of fertilizer management practices in terms of tree yield and fruit quality responses including nitrogen and micro elements particularly zinc, manganese, and iron.

- Development of topping and hedging techniques for controlling the growth of citrus trees in high density plantings.

For more information, contact:

Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center

P.O. Box 1150

Weslaco, TX 78599-1150

(210) 968-2132

-TAMUK-
-Mary Daniel