Honoring his legacy and advancing innovation in global viticulture
By Amit Dhingra, Professor & Head, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University
Mr. T.V. Munson, the “Da Vinci of Denison,” was a Texas horticulturist who changed the course of the global wine industry. From designing new horticultural tools to flying machines, and from developing new ornamental and fruit varieties including magnolia, strawberries, and over 300 grape varieties this U.S. horticulture legend traveled more than 50,000 miles on horseback across the southern United States searching for wild grapes. He was recently inducted into the American Society for Horticultural Science Hall of Fame, a recognition that places him among the most influential horticulturists in history.
More than a century ago, Thomas Volney Munson (1843–1913) dedicated his life in Denison, Texas, to studying native American grape species, meticulously cataloging, breeding, and testing hundreds of varieties. He conducted this work during a time when Europe’s vineyards were being devastated by the root-feeding insect Phylloxera. Munson recognized that the wild grape species of North America carried natural resistance to this destructive pest. Through his collaboration with French scientists, he supplied resistant rootstocks that ultimately saved European vineyards and secured the future of the wine industry worldwide.
For his groundbreaking contributions, Munson was awarded the Chevalier du Mérite Agricole by the French government. His work remains one of the most significant horticultural achievements in history, placing Texas at the heart of global viticulture. Yet his influence extends far beyond grapes. His meticulous record-keeping, belief in biodiversity, and deep understanding of adaptation continue to inspire scientists who see in his work a model for how agricultural heritage and modern innovation can come together to address global challenges.
The Munson Legacy Project: Science in Service of Heritage
Building on this remarkable legacy, Texas A&M University’s Department of Horticultural Sciences has launched the Munson Legacy Project, which is a multi-year research and education initiative designed to preserve, characterize, and celebrate Munson’s scientific contributions through the integration of modern genomics, data science, and student training.
The Munson Legacy Project represents a convergence of heritage and cutting-edge research. Its mission is to safeguard Munson’s cultivars for future generations while uncovering new insights into their unique traits. The project aims to source and authenticate as many of T.V. Munson’s grape varietals as possible, map their genomes through DNA sequencing, and share that information globally via an open-access repository of DNA-tested cultivars.
Using state-of-the-art molecular tools, Dr. Amit Dhingra’s research team is sequencing and analyzing Munson’s hybrids and parental lines to identify genetic factors that confer resilience to drought, heat, and disease—traits that are critical for profitable production under increasingly extreme environmental conditions.
The project also serves a vital educational purpose. It provides hands-on training for graduate students and research personnel in horticultural genomics, molecular biology, and data curation, aligning perfectly with Texas A&M’s land-grant mission to integrate education, discovery, and service. Students participating in the program gain practical skills that prepare them for careers at the intersection of science, technology, and profitability.
A key component of the project is its collaboration with Grayson College, which houses the historic T.V. Munson Collection. Texas A&M’s Horticultural Sciences team will provide correctly identified materials, DNA data, and repository access to Grayson College and other designated partners. This collaboration ensures that both the physical vines and their digital genetic profiles remain preserved, validated, and publicly accessible for research and teaching worldwide.
Connecting Past & Future
Munson’s original work demonstrated that the diversity of native grape species holds the key to environmental resilience. The Munson Legacy Project extends that vision into the genomic era. By analyzing the DNA of these cultivars, scientists can trace evolutionary relationships among species, identify adaptive genes, and use that knowledge to inform modern breeding and biotechnology approaches.
The data generated through this project will have broad applications, including:
Rootstock improvement: Identifying genetic traits that enhance drought and pest resistance.
Environmental resilience: Breeding vines suited to emerging viticultural regions with changing climates.
Biodiversity conservation: Preserving unique genotypes that might otherwise be lost through neglect or environmental pressure.
Historical preservation: Providing a scientifically validated archive that honors Munson’s contribution to the heritage of Texas and the world.
In doing so, the project transforms Munson’s 19th-century field notebooks into a 21st-century scientific resource which will be a living bridge between the past and the future.
From Denison to College Station: A Texas Legacy Continues
Texas A&M University is uniquely positioned to carry Mr. Munson’s legacy forward. The state’s vast ecological diversity that ranges from arid plains to humid coastlines, mirrors the environmental gradients that shaped Munson’s original breeding programs. With its 1300 soil types and 11 different growing regions, Texas is the world’s laboratory of all types of terroir and is home to one of the fastest-growing wine-producing regions in the United States, and the department’s research directly supports the needs of this expanding industry. By linking genomic data with field performance, the Munson Legacy Project aims to provide Texas growers with new, scientifically validated tools to improve productivity, sustainability, and product quality.
Beyond its local impact, the project holds international significance. The online data and DNA-certified plant repository will be accessible to viticulturists, geneticists, and historians worldwide, enabling collaboration and cross-referencing with other germplasm collections. In this way, Munson’s legacy originally born in Texas will once again serve a global community.
Celebrating Munson’s Legacy through the Spirited Learning™ Program
While the Munson Legacy Project anchors the scientific effort, the Department of Horticultural Sciences also celebrated Munson’s life and achievements through the Spirited Learning™ program, an experiential learning and professional development platform for Texas A&M students that fosters engagement with the Texas horticulture industry and the broader community.
In September 2025, the program hosted a special event titled “Texas A&M Honors T.V. Munson: Savior of the World’s Vineyards.” The event brought together more than 500 attendees, including students from over 100 majors, faculty, administrators, alumni, and leaders from the pecan, wine, nursery, and other horticultural sectors.
The program included the celebration of T.V. Munson’s induction into the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Hall of Fame in 2024, the highest honor bestowed by the Society to individuals whose contributions have profoundly shaped the field. During the event, the ASHS Hall of Fame plaque was formally presented to members of the Munson family by Dr. Jeffrey Savell, Vice Chancellor and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, symbolizing both national acclaim and Texas A&M’s stewardship of Munson’s legacy.
Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences, called Munson’s impact “a powerful reminder of the difference one person can make.”
“He made a tremendous impact on the wine industry, and his legacy continues to shape agriculture and horticulture more than century later,” Savell said.
The event highlighted how historical insight and modern science converge through the Munson Legacy Project, illustrating how legacy can inspire innovation. It also encouraged students to view horticulture not only as a discipline of cultivation but as a dynamic field that connects science, technology, art, business, culture, and sustainability.
Through this celebration, the department not only honored one of Texas’s greatest scientific figures but also strengthened its commitment to engaging the public in understanding horticulture’s relevance to everyday life from vineyards and orchards to urban gardens and global food systems.
Texas A&M at the Forefront of Global Horticulture
Horticulture is an interdisciplinary profession that integrates the science, technology, art, and business of producing and improving high-value, healthful, edible, and beautiful plants, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, tea, coffee, flowers, wine, medicinal plants, turf, and ornamental plants, along with the design and management of landscapes and interior spaces. Horticulture emphasizes sustainability, food security, wellness, and environmental enhancement, supporting both human well-being and ecosystem resilience.
The Munson Legacy Project is one of several initiatives positioning Texas A&M University as a global leader in horticultural innovation, including the genetic conservation of grapevine germplasm. It reflects a broader vision shared by the department’s faculty and staff to unify research, teaching, and Extension around the principles of sustainability, wellness, and food security.
By combining historical preservation with genomic research, the project offers a model for how traditional agriculture can connect with high-technology innovation. It also underscores the importance of public–private partnerships in supporting long-term, mission-driven research that benefits society.
The project’s outcomes are expected to contribute to international databases and collaborative networks focused on plant biodiversity and climate adaptation. Its findings will also inform industry training, student education, and policy dialogue, ensuring that Munson’s legacy continues to influence not just vineyards but the broader scientific and horticultural communities.
Looking Ahead
As the Munson Legacy Project advances, the team envisions expanding its reach to create a comprehensive digital atlas of grape diversity, integrating DNA data with environmental, phenotypic, and historical information. The goal is to provide an enduring platform for innovation that adapts to new technologies while preserving the wisdom embedded in Munson’s original work.
The project exemplifies Texas A&M’s commitment to connecting heritage with innovation. It embodies the university’s land-grant mission to serve society through science and education, demonstrating that the lessons of the past remain vital tools for addressing the challenges of the future.
Through the Munson Legacy Project, T.V. Munson’s spirit of inquiry, resilience, and collaboration continues to guide the work of scientists, students, and growers. His vines, once rooted in Texas soil, now grow in the digital landscapes of global science, a living proof that a legacy nurtured with vision can bear fruit for centuries to come.
