Lindcove REC calls for research proposals

Lindcove Research & Extension Center (LREC), located in the foothills of Tulare County, has land, labor and facilities available for 2021-22 research projects. The Research Advisory Committee reviews proposals and projects are evaluated based on scientific merit and regional need. While LREC is primarily a citrus research center, avocado, walnut and olive trees are also grown there and other crops are welcome. 

Field 81E has .45 acres of open ground available for planting.

Citrus orchards available for research:

• Cutter Valencia on C35 rootstock (Field 21), 4.10 acres, planted 1992
• Washington Navel on Troyer rootstock (Field 93), 4.5 acres, planted 1983
• Valencia strains on mixed rootstock (Field 11S), 2.5 acres, planted 1993
• Mixed Clementines on Carrizo rootstock (Field 73N), 1.72 acres, planted 2004
• Lemons on unknown rootstock (Field 82E), 1.15 acres

Facilities and support staff

The electronic fruit grading system in the packline provides individual fruit data including weight, size, volume, number, scarring, texture, Brix and color. The packline also has a high-pressure fruit washer, waxer and dryer. Three cold storage rooms that hold 60 fruit bins each, walk-in cold boxes, and de-greening rooms have the capability for ethylene gassing. 

The Fruit Quality Evaluation Laboratory is capable of evaluating rind thickness, granulation, texture, puff and crease, juice weights, Brix, sugar/acid ratio and the California standard. A staff research associate located at the center is available to provide field and laboratory data collection.

Proposal process

Proposals are due May 28, 2021. To submit a proposal, go to the UC LREC website http://lrec.ucanr.edu/, click on the “research” tab, then the “submitting a proposal” tab, then the “proposal management” tab. Detailed instructions of how to submit a proposal can be downloaded using the “User Guide” link on the RAC project management page. 

If you have any questions regarding research, contact Ashraf El-Kereamy, director, at (559) 592-2408 Ext 1154 or ashrafe@ucr.edu.

If you have any questions regarding land, labor or facilities, contact Kurt Schmidt, superintendent at (559) 592-2408 Ext 1153 or krschmidt@ucanr.edu.

For information on submission of proposals, contact Jasmin Del Toro, business officer, at (559) 592-2408 Ext 1151 or jzdeltoro@ucanr.edu.

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