thologists at the Center were Dr.
W. B. Shippy (1929-1937), Mr. K.
W. Loucks (1929-1943), Dr. N. C.
Schenck (1956-1969), and Dr. D.
L. Hopkins (1969 to present).
 Entomologists at the Center were
Mr. C. C. Goff (1930-1939), Dr. J.
W. Wilson (1930-1937), Dr. W. C.
Adlerz (1958 to present), and Dr.
C. H. Curran (1961-1971).
 Horticulturists included Mr. L.
H. Stover (1941-1965), Dr. C. F.
Balerdi (1966-1972), and Dr. G.
W. Elmstrom (1969 to present). Dr.
Elmstrom was appointed Center Di-
rector in 1978.
 Geneticists were Dr. J. G. Buch-
ert (1959-1960) and Dr. J. A. Mor-
tensen (1960 to present).
 Agronomists included Dr. E. E.
Hartwig (1942-1943), Mr. C. G.
Helms, Jr. (1950-1955), and Dr. H.
A. Peacock (1957-1958).
 The Laboratory had no faculty
stationed at Leesburg after the res-
ignations of Mr. K. W. Loucks and
Dr. E. E. Hartwig in February, 1943.
Mr. Loren H. Stover, farm foreman
at that time, oversaw the research
program and budget until the arrival
of Dr. Parris in February, 1945. Mr.
Stover became an official staff
member when he was promoted to
assistant in horticulture in July, 1951.

MISSION AND GOALS
 Fruit Crops. The Leesburg cen-
 ter serves as the primary resource
 center for the developing grape and
 wine industries in Florida. A major
 goal of this center is the develop-


ment of cultivars, cultural practices,
and pest controls to enhance the
establishment of these industries.
Responding to the needs of both
commercial vineyardists and home
gardeners is the mission of this cen-
ter in the fruit crops area. Major
emphasis is placed on the under-
standing and control of Pierce's dis-
ease (PD) of grape, a disease caused
by a rickettsialike bacteria; this en-
tails studies on the etiology, epide-
miology, physiology of resistance,
and control. The role of the PD
bacterium in other diseases such as
young tree decline (citrus blight) is
also being investigated.
 A secondary goal in the fruit crops
area is the identification of cultivars
and breeding lines of peaches, ap-
ples, blueberries, and blackberries
suitable for growing in central Flor-
ida. This will be accomplished by
the evaluation of releases and clones
from breeding programs at other lo-
cations, principally Gainesville.
 Vegetable Crops. This center has
statewide responsibility for research
on cucurbits, which include water-
melons, cucumbers, squash, and
muskmelons. A major goal is the
development of watermelon culti-
vars of various sizes and shapes with
resistance to the diseases of water-
melon, high quality eating charac-
teristics, and desirable shipping
characteristics. Control of Fusarium
wilt of watermelon and develop-
ment of an integrated control sys-
tem for the watermelon "old land"
problems are other important goals.
Development of FI muskmelon cul-


tivars and identification of cucurbit
breeding lines and recently-released
cultivars that are superior to the
cultivars currently being grown in
Florida are other important areas of
research.

 RESEARCH
 PROGRAM AREAS
 Fruit Crops. The primary, long-
range objective is the development
of new bunch and muscadine grape
cultivars that are marketable, pro-
ductive, and long-lived in Florida
through planned hybridization. Im-
proved cultivars are needed for fresh
fruit, wine, and juice. Early and late
maturation of cultivars is important
to expand the harvest season. Seed-
less cultivars would be beneficial for
table grapes and raisins. Finally, re-
sistance to fungal diseases and root
feeding insects is of utmost impor-
tance.
 Short-term objectives in this area
of research are release of grape
breeding lines that are superior to
current cultivars. Release of a grape
rootstock superior to the rootstocks
currently available is another short-
term goal. Finally, a continuing
program is the identification of
peach, blueberry, apple, and black-
berry cultivars and breeding lines
adapted to cultivation in central
Florida.
 Another major, long-range goal
is the chemical or biological control
of Pierce's disease (PD). An under-
standing of the epidemiology of this
disease might lead to a control


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