Lakshmi Reddi Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer | nmsu.edu
Lakshmi Reddi Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer | nmsu.edu
Roy Nakayama, a significant figure in New Mexico's chile industry, is credited with developing the 'NuMex Big Jim' chile cultivar, known for its large pepper pods. His work at New Mexico State University (NMSU) alongside other horticulture researchers resulted in some of the most popular green chile varieties available today. These cultivars reportedly generate over $10 million annually for producers in New Mexico.
"His impact in the world was very significant," stated Frank Matta, a retired horticulturist and former graduate research assistant under Nakayama at NMSU. "The chile cultivars that he developed go all over the world. He had a very big impact."
Born in 1923 near Las Cruces to Japanese immigrant parents, Nakayama was one of eight children. He attended New Mexico A&M (now NMSU) but paused his studies to serve in World War II. Captured during the Battle of the Bulge, he spent seven months as a prisoner of war in Germany. The experience left him weighing just 87 pounds upon liberation and affected his ability to perform heavy farm labor.
Upon returning to Las Cruces after the war, Nakayama faced initial refusal for re-admission to New Mexico A&M due to sentiments toward Japanese Americans at the time. However, with support from former professors, he completed his degree in botany in 1948 and later earned advanced degrees from Iowa State University before returning to teach and conduct research at NMSU.
Matta described Nakayama as patient and thorough: "While we worked in the field, he would teach," said Matta. "He would talk about the structures of the flowers, the pollination, everything." Nakayama focused on consumer and producer needs by developing hotter chiles and more productive plants.
One notable project led by Nakayama and Matta was 'NuMex Española Improved,' designed for faster maturation suitable for northern New Mexico's climate. This variety was selected for NASA’s Plant Habitat-04 experiment aboard the International Space Station in 2021.
Nakayama also contributed to pecan cultivation techniques suitable for New Mexico's conditions. Beyond agriculture advancements, his legacy continues through scholarships like The Roy Nakayama Memorial Scholarship at NMSU supporting agronomy students.
Although Roy Nakayama retired in 1984 and passed away four years later, his contributions continue through family-established professorships honoring their parents at NMSU’s College of ACES and College of Engineering.
For more stories like this one originally published in ACES Magazine Fall 2024 issue visit https://nmsu.news/aces-magazine-fall-2024.
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