Digital Commons Network^™

Sp307-K-Pruning Neglected Fruit Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

When trees have not been properly pruned and trained, fruit yields and quality may decline. As trees grow taller and more dense, lower limbs and interior limbs lose their ability to produce quality fruit, due to increased shading. Many of these weakened limbs will die. Over time, most fruit will be produced in the outer periphery of the tree, primarily in the top, as this is the only area exposed to adequate sunlight.

These trees often can be pruned back and restored to a point where quality fruit may be obtained once again. It may require several years to restore …

Pb1764-Managing Pests In Childcare Facilities, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

Everyone agrees it is important to protect children and childcare workers from needless contact with products used to manage pests. It is equally as important to make sure children and workers are not harmed or made sick by coming in contact with pests. For example, many people do not know that cockroaches can make people sick. German cockroaches are the most common pests in kitchens. They, along with flies and other pests, can spread germs that can cause food poisoning. Cockroaches can even cause someone with asthma to have an attack. Mosquitoes, ticks, rodents and birds can transfer organisms that …

An Anaerobic Methane Oxidizing Community Of Anme-1b Archaea In Hypersaline Gulf Of Mexico Sediments, Karen Lloyd, Laura Lapham, Andreas Teske

Microbiology Publications and Other Works

Sediments overlying a brine pool methane seep in the Gulf of Mexico (Green Canyon 205) were analyzed using molecular and geochemical approaches to identify geochemical controls on microbial community composition and stratification. 16S rRNA gene and rRNA clone libraries, as well as mcrA gene clone libraries, showed that the archaeal community consists predominantly of ANME-1b methane oxidizers; no archaea of other ANME subgroups were found with general and group-specific PCR primers. The ANME-1b community was found in the sulfate-methane interface, where undersaturated methane concentrations of ca. 100 to 250 _M coexist with sulfate concentrations around 10 mM. Clone libraries of …

Third Thursday 11-2006, Institute Of Agriculture

Third Thursday

No abstract provided.

Pb1766 Saving Trees And Making Money In Residential Development, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

It’s a common sight in developments that are 3 – 5 years old. A homeowner had initially purchased a property for its wooded and natural aesthetic appeal and thinks he or she has succeeded in preserving this beauty. When the home is finished and the nearby trees still cast shade, the owner considers the trees to be past the critical stage. It isn’t until after the interior is furnished and the lawn is established that the homeowner soon notices he or she is picking up a few more fallen branches in the yard than is customary. Eventually, the owner looks …

Sp683 Tree Wounds - Response Of Trees And What You Can Do, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Trees are commonly wounded and the causes are many: broken branches; impacts, abrasions and scrapes; animal damage; insect attack; fire; etc. Wounds usually break the bark and damage the food- (phloem or inner bark) and water- (xylem or wood) conducting tissues. Wounds also expose the inside of the tree to organisms, primarily bacteria and fungi that may infect and cause discoloration and decay of the wood. Decay can result in structurally weakened tree stems and unsightly trees and can shorten the life of a tree. Decay in a tree cannot be cured. However, proper tree care can limit the progress …

Sp682 Watering Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Water is the most limiting factor for tree survival and growth. Trees use water during photosynthesis and lose water during transpiration. Water shortages affect both young and old trees. Drought conditions can lead to tree decline, making the tree more susceptible to pest problems. Supplemental watering can greatly assist trees during stressful drought periods in the summer and in the dormant season when soil moisture is limited. Desiccating winds and lack of precipitation can increase transpiration in evergreens (conifers) and create soil moisture deficits even during the winter.

Sp684 Selecting A Tree-Care Company, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Choosing a tree-care company is similar to choosing most any professional service. The people performing the work must be knowledgeable, properly equipped, safetyconscious and have the experience to perform the service. Outlined below are a few questions that will help the informed consumer select a tree-care company and expect quality work at a reasonable cost.

Sp686 Dieback And Decline Of Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Tree decline is a general loss of vitality throughout the entire tree caused by a systemic disease or by a sequence of stressing events that causes the tree to deplete its energy reserves. Twig and branch dieback is initiated in the tree as a response to poor growing conditions, physical injury to the tree and/or pest attack. Usually a combination of physical, climatic and pest problems lead to decline and dieback of trees. The factors that contribute to this decline are the subject of this publication, as well as management practices to prevent decline.

Sp685 Landscaping Guidelines To Protect Your Home From Wildfire, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

As Tennessee’s population continues to grow, more people are building homes in rural forested areas. Each year Tennessee experiences approximately 2,000 wild (forest) fires. With the influx of new homeowners in and around forest land, the chances of wildfires damaging home structures increase. Improper landscaping around homes increases the likelihood of fire damage, while also hindering the activities of firefighters.

Pb726-Common Ticks Of Tennessee And Their Control, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

Ticks are external parasites of mammals, birds and reptiles and feed only on the blood of their hosts. They can be distinguished from insects and spiders because the head, thorax and abdomen are fused into a single, sac-like body region. They have four pairs of jointed legs and no antennae. Ticks are found walking on or attached to their hosts or in areas frequented by their hosts. These areas include woodlands, weedy or brushy areas, lawns, dag kennels an dog runs. Ticks frequently wait for a host on vegetation along trails and paths traveled by people or animals.

Sp341-O-Silverfish And Firebrats, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

Silverfish and firebrats eat a wide variety of food, including glue, wallpaper paste, bookbindings, paper, starch in clothing, rayon fabric, wheat flour, cereals, dried meats and dead insects. Usually they are found trapped in a bathtub, sink or washbasin.

Sp290-A-European Hornets Tapping At Your Window At Night, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

If you've seen hornets attracted to lights at night, most likely it is the European hornet, Vespa crabro. This species can be quite intimidating as they buzz and beat against lighted windows at night. They are very defensive, so be sure to maintain a safe distance between you and the hornet.

Pb1599-Carpenter Ants - Those Big Ants In Your Kitchen And Bathroom, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

Ever wondered about those big, black ants in your house? You know, the ants you spray every time you see them in the kitchen and bathroom — but they keep coming back. Or, maybe it took the occurrence of a mating flight of the winged forms (usually in the spring or summer) to alert you to their presence, since the worker ants (no wings) are most active at dusk or in the evening. This publication will help you deal with this challenging pest problem.

Pb1596-Chemical And Nonchemical Management Of Fleas, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Figure 1), is the most common flea found on cats and dogs in Tennessee. These fleas are about 1/16 inch long and are reddish-brown in color. Fleas have bodies flattened from the sides with backward projecting spines so they can easily walk through animal hair. Parts of the legs are enlarged for jumping, which allows an adult flea to jump almost 200 times its height.

Most of us are well aware of the flea and the itch produced by its bite. Not only are flea bites irritating, but fleas can also transmit several disease-causing organisms …

Sp341-I-Carpet Beetles, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

Carpet beetles feed on animal and plant substances such as wool, fur, feathers, hair, hides, horns, silk and bone, as well as cereals, cake mixes, red pepper, rye meal and flour. Other substances include powdered milk, dog and cat food, leather, book bindings, dead insects, cotton, and linen and rayon when stained with spilled food or animal excreta. The larvae cause the damage. They crawl from room to room and live behind baseboards and moldings and in heating system air ducts, dresser drawers, carpets, clothing and furniture. Adult beetles fly readily and may feed outdoors on flower pollen. Four species …

Sp341-S-Head Lice, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

In the United States, approximately 10 – 12 million people, mostly children, are infested annually with head lice, Pediculus humanus capitis DeGeer. The first indication of an infestation is the itching and scratching caused by these bloodsucking insects. Examination of the hair and scalp will usually reveal the white or grayish crawling forms (about the size of a sesame seed) and yellowish- white eggs (nits) attached to the hair shafts close to the scalp.

Lice are usually transferred by the sharing of combs, brushes, hats or bedding, or resting one’s head on upholstered furniture or pillows recently used by an …

Sp503-B-Mosquito Control Around Homes, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

There are strategies you can use to reduce the mosquito population around your home! This fact sheet will describe the different types of mosquitoes found in Tennessee as well as strategies residents can use to prevent the buildup of the most common species found around homes, mainly those species that have larvae in containers such as tires, etc.

Third Thursday 10-2006, Institute Of Agriculture

Third Thursday

No abstract provided.

Rna:Protein Ratio Of The Unicellular Organism As A Characteristic Of Phosphorous And Nitrogen Stoichiometry And Of The Cellular Requirement Of Ribosomes For Protein Synthesis, Tatiana V. Karpinets, Duncan J. Greenwood, Carl E. Sams, John T. Ammons

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- General Biology

Background

Mean phosphorous:nitrogen (P:N) ratios and relationships of P:N ratios with the growth rate of organisms indicate a surprising similarity among and within microbial species, plants, and insect herbivores. To reveal the cellular mechanisms underling this similarity, the macromolecular composition of seven microorganisms and the effect of specific growth rate (SGR) on RNA:protein ratio, the number of ribosomes, and peptide elongation rate (PER) were analyzed under different conditions of exponential growth.

Results

It was found that P:N ratios calculated from RNA and protein contents in these particular organisms were in the same range as the mean ratios reported for diverse …

Pb1633-Improving Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Wildlife and Fisheries

Wildlife viewing is becoming one of the most popular forms of outdoor recreation in America. Observing wildlife in one’s own backyard is not only enjoyable, but convenient as well. In some areas (especially rural settings), excellent wildlife habitat exists and viewing opportunities can be abundant. However, in a growing number of areas (especially suburbia), wildlife habitat has deteriorated or been destroyed entirely. This is particularly true in many subdivisions where the landscape was bulldozed and leveled-off prior to home construction. In either case, there are lots of ways to improve wildlife habitat around your home.

Pb1763-Bed Bugs - Making A Comeback In Tennessee, Too!, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

“Red coats,” “wall louse,” “bed louse” and “mahogany- flat” – do you recognize any of these terms? These are just some of the many common names given to the bed bug, a not-so-common bug making a comeback. Bed bugs take shelter in or near the cracks and crevices of beds and in bedrooms. They feed on human blood at night, often leaving an itching lump as a result of a bite.

Third Thursday 9-2006, Institute Of Agriculture

Third Thursday

No abstract provided.

Pb1731 Identifying Oak Trees Native To Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

From the bottomland swamps in the west to the mountain peaks in the east, Tennessee is enriched with a medley of forest trees like few other states. Diversity in soil types, climate and elevation give Tennessee an environmental gradient that provides habitats for approximately 190 native forest trees and large shrubs.

Oak trees are an important component of many Tennessee forests and are of particular interest to landowners, homeowners, the forest industry, students and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Oaks are deserving of special recognition, due to their important role in Tennessee’s history, both ancient and modern. Unmatched in economic and biological …

Third Thursday 8-2006, Institute Of Agriculture

Third Thursday

No abstract provided.

A Statistical Investigation Of Normal Regional Intra-Subject Heterogeneity Of Brain Metabolism And Perfusion By F-18 Fdg And O-15 H2o Pet Imaging, Ching-Yee O. Wong, Joseph Thie, Marianne Gaskill, Richard Ponto, Jack Hill, Hai-Yan Tian, Helena Balon, Dafang Wu, Darlene Fink-Bennett, Conrad Nagle

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- General Biology

Abstract

Background

The definite evaluation of the regional cerebral heterogeneity using perfusion and metabolism by a single modality of PET imaging has not been well addressed. Thus a statistical analysis of voxel variables from identical brain regions on metabolic and perfusion PET images was carried out to determine characteristics of the regional heterogeneity of F-18 FDG and O-15 H₂O cerebral uptake in normal subjects.

Methods

Fourteen normal subjects with normal CT and/or MRI and physical examination including MMSE were scanned by both F-18 FDG and O-15 H₂O PET within same day with head-holder and facemask. The …

Third Thursday 7-2006, Institute Of Agriculture

Third Thursday

No abstract provided.

Sp677 Hardwood Plantations As An Investment, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Deciding what to do with a piece of land is not always easy. Appraisers use the phrase “highest and best use,” which implies that one should use the land for its maximum “economic/monetary value.” For example, would the landowner make more money by building a new shopping center or residential subdivision (with a substantial investment required) or would he or she do “better” renting to a livestock producer for grazing or cutting hay? Many acres are valuable as cropland growing annual crops such as soybeans, wheat or cotton. The choices for using land are many.

One choice that should be …

Sp676 Oak Shelterwood - A Technique To Improve Oak Regeneration, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

The oak shelterwood method has been developed to enhance the regeneration potential of oaks growing on intermediate and high-quality sites. The method involves a welltimed mid-story removal to improve the number and vigor of oak advance regeneration and a subsequent overstory removal to facilitate regeneration of the stand.

Sp678 Forest Management Strategies To Minimize The Impact Of The Gypsy Moth, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Use of silviculture to manage gypsy moth effects gives foresters additional tools for developing integrated pest management programs. Silvicultural actions should be taken prior to gypsy moth outbreaks to reduce or minimize the potential damage that arises in stands vulnerable to gypsy moth. Three approaches to reduce stand susceptibility to gypsy moth are applicable. First, change the stand composition by reducing the proportion of favored species and increasing the number of non-favored species in the stand. This can be accomplished through intermediate thinning treatments. The percentage of favored species that remain should be less than 30 percent of total composition. …