HISTORY OF THE RIO RED GRAPEFRUIT

Developed by Richard A. Hensz


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1951 Seeds of the Ruby Red planted at Texas A&I Citrus Center. Buds from seedlings propagated to rootstock.
1953 14000 Ruby red trees grown from seedling buds planted for study.
1959-1960 Buds taken trees in 1953 that were selected for quality and protection, propagated and planted in a 10 acre block.
1963-1965 Buds taken from plantings in 1953-1965, sent to Brookhaven Laboratories, Long Island NY, and irradiated with thermal neutrons. Buds returned to Texas propagated and trees planted for further observations.
1969-1971 Fruit on a tree in 1969-1971 was much redder than Ruby Red. Budwood was selected from this tree, propagated and these young trees, placed in a cultivar test planting with red grapefruit.
1976 A limb on a tree in the test planting in 1969-1971 was discovered with fruit much redder than the rest of the tree. Budwood taken from this limb and propagated.
1970-1980 A planting of the trees in 1976 was established (800 trees in 1979, 475 trees in 1980) for observation and budwood increase.
1983 Trees survived the Dec. 1983 freeze. Fruit harvested after the freeze 330 3-year-old trees averaged 50 lbs of fruit per tree 400 4-year-old trees averaged 150 lbs/tree.
1984 RIO RED cultivar named through contest held by TexaSweet Advertising. Budwood released to Texas nurseryman.

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    Cluster of Rio Fred fruit on 2-year-old                       Discovery limb with first Rio Red                                        Juice and fruit of Ruby Red,
     trees held by Humberto Garza                                   (December 1976. Designated A&I-I-48S                             Ray Ruby  Rio Red (I-48S)
     (October 1984)                                                          until officially named in November 1984                             and Star Ruby (October 1984)

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