Gabriel "Gabe" Saldana is responsible for disseminating news and information about the initiatives and successes of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas. Before joining Texas A&M, he worked as a newspaper reporter and subsequently news editor in the Rio Grande Valley of Deep South Texas. His career with AgriLife Research includes 3 years as communications manager with the agency’s international agriculture institute, covering Texas A&M initiatives in the developing world. His communication efforts each year garner local, regional and global coverage in prestigious popular and scientific outlets including the Wall Street Journal, Science Magazine and most major media outlets across North Texas. Saldana’s photos and instructional videos on AgriLife initiatives continue to be consumed by millions across social media.

Dr. Chandra’s primary responsibility and research interest is breeding (applied and molecular) and cultivar development of warm- and cool-season turfgrass species for home lawns, athletic fields and golf courses. 

Her work employs a holistic systems approach involving cultivar development, marketing, and commercialization through industry collaboration. Chandra is an active contributor across the interdisciplinary functions of turfgrass science: genomics, physiology, entomology, pathology, soils and socio-economics.

Her worked to develop high-throughput greenhouse/growth chamber phenotyping procedures continues to bolster efficiency in evaluating (and mapping) large turfgrass breeding populations for traits of interest, including a wide range of biotic and abiotic stress tolerances.

Dr. Chandra's one page CV is available by clicking here. 

Sandy Wisdorf graduated from The Landscape Career Centre in Anoka, Mn. with a two-year degree in horticulture. She later earned an associates degree from Collin College of Plano, TX. Originally from Minneapolis, Wisdorf served as assistant groundskeeper and indoor horticulturist for General Mills World Headquarters. She is also a Texas Master Gardener.

Genhua Niu, Professor

Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center, 17360 Coit Road, Dallas, TX 75252 | gniu@ag.tamu.edu | 972 852 9226

Education Background

Ph.D. - Horticultural Engineering, Chiba University, Japan

M.S.- Agricultural Engineering, Zhejiang University, China

B.S.- Agricultural Engineering, Zhejiang University, China

Professional Experience

2019 to present: Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Dallas, TX

2016 to 2019: Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, El Paso, TX

2010 to 2016: Associate Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, El Paso, TX

2004 to 2010: Assistant Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, El Paso, TX

2003 to 2004: Visiting Scientist, USDA –ARS, Beltsville, MD

2001 to 2003: Research Director, Southern Sun BioSystems, Inc., SC

1998 to 2001: Research Associate, Michigan State University

1997 to 1998: Japan Society for Promotion of Science, Post-doc fellow, Chiba Univ, Japan

Area of Expertise

• Controlled environment agriculture
• Indoor vertical farming
• Plant stress physiology

Awards and Recognitions  

• 2018 ASHS Outstanding Ornamental Publication Award winner for the 2017 publication “Morphological and Physiological Responses of Ten Ornamental Taxa to Saline Water Irrigation” [HortScience 52(12):1816-1822]. (Corresponding and key contributor)
• 2016 Kenneth Post Award of ASHS (co-author): 'Development of a Rapid Screening Method for Selection Against High Temperature Susceptibility in Garden Roses'.
• 2016 Recipient of the Distinguished Research Award, Southern Region ASHS.
• 2016 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Superior Service Awards, Team member for Texas Strawberry project, Lead PI: Russ Wallace.
• 2014 Extension Communications Award (team), Southern Region ASHS. Earth-Kind Landscape Management.
• 2010 Bridge Fellow of Japan Society for Promotion of Science. Hosted by Chiba University from Nov. 6 to Dec. 11, 2010.
• 2007 USDA CSREES National Water Program Award for Outstanding Integrated Activities for Water Resources, Rio Grande Basin Initiative, Team Member. The first USDA national teamwork award for integrated water resources, ranked number 1 out of 37 nominations.
• 2006 Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence, Rio Grande Basin Initiative, Team Member, Texas A&M University Agriculture Program.

• 1997 – 1998 Post-doctoral Research Fellow of Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS), Chiba University, Japan
• 1992 –1997 Japanese Government Scholarship Recipient, Chiba University, Japan.

Publications – Summary table (September 2019)

Recent representative publications  

1. Liu, Q., Y. Sun, J. Altland, and Niu. 2019. Morphological and physiological responses of Cornus alba to salt and drought stresses. HortScience (in press).
2. Hooks, T., Niu, and G. Ganjegunte. 2019. Seedling emergence and seedling growth of mustard and rapeseed genotypes under salt stress. Agrosystems, Geoscience & Environment. (in press)
3. Niu, G., T.D. Davis, and J. Masabni. 2019. A review of salinity tolerance research in horticultural crops. Journal of Arid Land Studies. Special Issue (in press).
4. Qu, X., Wang, M. Chen, J. Liao, J. Yuan, G. Niu. 2019. Drought Stress Induced Physiological and Metabolic Changes in Leaves of Two Oil Tea Cultivars. Journal of American Society for Horticultural Science (in press).
5. Dou, H., Niu, and M. Gu. 2019. Photosynthesis, morphology, yield, and phytochemical accumulation in basil plants influenced by substituting green light for partial red and/or blue light. HortScience (in press).
6. Wang, Y., Y. Sun, Niu, C. Deng, Y. Wang, and J. Gardea-Torresdey. 2019. Growth, gas exchanges, mineral nutrition of ornamental grasses irrigated with saline water. HortScience (in press).
7. Cheng, Y., D. He, J. He, Niu, and R. Gao. 2019. Effect of light/dark cycle on photosynthetic pathway switching and CO2 absorption in two Dendrobium species. Frontiers in Plant Science. Vol 10, article 659, doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00659
8. Jochum, M.D., K.L. McWilliams, E.J. Borrego, M.V. Kolomiets, Niu, E.A. Pierson, and Y.K. Jo. 2019. Bioprospecting plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria that mitigate drought stress in grasses. Frontiers in Microbiology. 10: 1-9. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02106.
9. Hooks, T. and Niu. Relative salt tolerance of four herbaceous perennials. Horticulturae 2019, 5, 36; doi:10.3390/horticulturae5020036.
10. Xiong, H., F. Zou, D. Yuan, X. Tan, J. Yuan, T. Liao, and Niu. 2019. Comparison of self- and cross-pollination in pollen tube growth, early ovule development and fruit set of Camellia grijsii. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology 21:819-826. DOI: 10.17957/IJAB/15.0960.
11. Xiong, H., F. Zou, S. Guo, D. Yuan, and Niu. 2019. Self-sterility may be due to prezygotic late-acting self-incompatibility and early-acting inbreeding depression in Chinese chestnut. Journal of American Society for Horticultural Science 144(3): 172-181.
12. Sun, Y., Niu, and P. Osuna. 2019. Effects of substrate moisture content on growth and physiological response of chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Agrociencia 53: 59-72.
13. Yan, Z., D. He, Niu, and H. Zhai. 2019. Evaluation of growth and quality of hydroponic lettuce at harvest as affected by the light intensity, photoperiod, and light quality at seedling stage. Scientia Horticulturae. 248: 138-144.
14. Dou, H., Niu, M. Gu, and J. Masabni. 2018. Responses of sweet basil to different DLIs in photosynthesis, morphology, yield, and nutritional quality. HortScience 53(4):496–503. 2018. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI12785-17.
15. Niu, G., Y. Sun, and J. Masabni. 2018. Impact of water quality on plant performance of four leafy vegetables in a recirculating NFT system. Horticulturae 4, 6; doi:10.3390/horticulturae4010006.

Click here for Dr. Randklev's curriculum vitae.

Michael Hart is a research associate/laboratory manager, and freshwater mussel ecologist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Natural Resources Institute Mussel Group. He graduated with a B.S. degree in aquatic resource management at Auburn University, followed by an M.S. degree at Auburn University with an emphasis on freshwater mussel ecology and life history.

Michael brings 7 years of experience studying freshwater mussels both in the field and in the laboratory. His thesis work confirmed host fish species for two large river mussel species to provide evidence and support for increasing fish mobility between river segments impounded by dams.

His research at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center of Dallas now focuses on understanding the effect of environmental stressors on the viability and distribution of freshwater mussels in Texas, and applying these findings to develop conservation strategies for these taxa. Specifically, he is interested in determining factors that cause mussel population decline, such as decreased water quantity and quality, sub lethal stressors, climate change, and other anthropogenic changes.

His research techniques include field monitoring for Zebra mussel larvae in the Trinity River, field surveys for Unionid mussels in Texas rivers, and laboratory experiments. He is working on an experiment to assess salinity toxicity to the Texas Hornshell, a species that is soon to be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Clint Wolfe, Program Manager

Wolfe is the Program Manager for Water University. Clint facilitates a team of water resources professional to assist with research and outreach programming in the areas of water quality, water use efficiency and watershed planning. He is charged to work with local governments, state and federal agencies and other entities to develop programs dealing with water quantity and quality issues. Wolfe specializes in program development, stakeholder facilitation, communications and marketing.

Wolfe and his team have built strong working relationships and partnerships with local municipalities, state and federal agencies, corporations and other entities to develop programs addressing water quantity issues in the urban environment. The team under Clint’s leadership has become a regional and statewide resource for many agencies and municipalities looking for innovative ways to conserve and protect water resources.

Wolfe has a B.S. in Animal Science and a M.S. in Agricultural Economics with a focus on Water and Natural Resources both from Texas A&M University.

Daniel Cunningham, Horticulturist and Project Coordinator

Daniel Cunningham, Horticulturist of the Dallas Center's Water University program, reaches professionals and the public with the most current sustainability information about landscape water use, including design, plant selection, and water-conserving landscape management practices. His primary focus is a holistic approach to landscaping and food production systems. Cunningham  specializes in Texas native plants and trees, vegetable gardening, edible landscaping, and rainwater harvesting. He is also passionate about utilizing landscapes as habitat for beneficial wildlife. He also focuses on the edible value of common landscape plants and is known in the public arena for leading courses on foraging, engaging in the practice as a source of his own food.

Keep up with Daniel by following him on social media @TXPlantGuy, catching his latest article in the Dallas Morning News, watching his latest segment on NBC channel 5 or by tuning in to 95.3 the Range for tips on how to get the most out of your lawn, landscape, or vegetable garden.

Patrick Dickinson, Horticulturist and Project Coordinator

Patrick Dickinson, Horticulturist with Texas A&M AgriLife's Water University program, focuses on landscape water use efficiency and brings 15 years of green industry experience in landscape design and management. Dickinson specializes in plant selection, rainwater harvesting, irrigation design, drip irrigation and new technology. His outreach efforts provide industry professionals and the public with the most current, sustainable information about landscape water use in his disciplines of expertise.

Dickinson holds a B.S. in Horticulture from Tarleton State University, is a ISA Certified Arborist, Texas Licensed Irrigator and American Rainwater Harvesting Association Rainwater Professional. 

Reach Patrick at his @PatrickH2OScape profiles on facebook, twitter, instagram and pinterest. Find his professional profile on linkedin and watch him monthly on “The Green Segment,” WFAA Channel 8.

Tamaron Hunt is program coordinator of the Dallas Center's Water University public outreach and education program. She is the contact person for scheduling classes, events and speaking engagements for the Water University team. Tamaron has worked in water conservation with the Texas Water Resources Institute at Texas A&M University, College Station, and previously with the Dallas Center's urban water program. Tamaron holds a B. S. in Agricultural Economics with a focus on Natural Resources from Texas A&M University.