Dr. John da Graça
Dr. da Graca came to Texas from South Africa in 1999 to assume the position of Deputy Center Director of the Texas A & M University-Kingsville Citrus Center and the Texas A & M Experiment Station in Weslaco. In 2008, the administration of these two centers was separated, and Dr. da Graca became Director of the Citrus Center.
He was born in Zimbabwe, and studied Plant Pathology at the University of Natal in South Africa, obtaining his PhD there in 1981. He worked at the Citrus & Subtropical Research Institute in South Africa for 5 years, and then took up a faculty position at the University of Natal until his move to Texas. During his time at the University, he spent sabbaticals in Florida, Israel and Spain, working with some of the world’s leading citrus virologists. From 2004 until 2007, he served as Chairman of the International Organization of Citrus Virologists, and co-edited several conference proceedings of this professional group.
He has authored and co-authored over 100 publications in refereed journals, and has written three reviews on citrus greening disease. He has specialized in graft and insect transmitted citrus diseases, and has a particular interest in budwood certification programs which ensure that nurseries receive pathogen-free material. In addition to overseeing the Texas program, he has served on review panels for the South Africa and Californian programs.