History
Department History
The Department of Botany and Plant Sciences traces its lineage to 1907 when the University of California developed the Citrus Experiment Station in Riverside.
(photo above: The original home of the Riverside Citrus Experiment Station from 1907 to 1917 was this building on 30 acres at the east base of Mt. Rubidoux.)
Plant scientists played a key role in the success of the Citrus Experiment Station. Scientists in the 1940s identified a tristeza-resistant rootstock to solve a disease problem that threatened to wipe out the state's citrus industry. The grapefruit varieties Oroblanco and Melogold - as well as the recently released Gold Nugget, a sweet, seedless mandarin - are among the many citrus varieties bred by plant scientists at UCR.
(Photo above: Original research faculty on the steps of the Mt. Rubidoux facility, circa 1916: Front row: C.O. Smith, J.T. Barrett, L.D. Batchelor, H.S. Reed, W.P. Kelley, H.J. Webber; Back row: H.J. Quayle, E.E. Thomas, W.M. Mertz, H.B. Frost, H.S. Fawcett, W.D. Drew, R.S. Vaile)
The department is fittingly headquartered in Batchelor Hall, named for Leon D. Batchelor, the fourth and longest-serving director of the Citrus Experiment Station who spearheaded the effort to develop better rootstocks and varieties to combat diseases and improve fruit quality.
(Photo above: Leon D. Batchelor, a horticulturalist, served as the second director of the Citrus Experiment Station. Photo courtesy of George Hays).
Department Title Changes
|
Department of Orchard Management |
1914 - 1953 |
|
Department of Horticulture |
1953 - 1961 |
|
Department of Horticultural Science |
1961 - 1970 |
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Department of Plant Sciences (Agronomy and Vegetable Crops were merged at this time). |
1970 - 1978 |
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Department of Botany and Plant Sciences (Seven Botanists were merged into the Department from Biology) |
1978 - Present |