Digital Commons Network^™

Long-Lasting Insecticide Netting For Protecting Tree Stems From Attack By Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Christopher M. Ranger, Christopher T. Werle, Peter B. Schultz, Karla M. Addesso, Jason B. Oliver, Michael E. Reding

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are destructive wood-boring insects of horticultural trees. We evaluated long-lasting insecticide netting for protecting stems against ambrosia beetles. Container-grown eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis, trees were flood-stressed to induce ambrosia beetle attacks, and deltamethrin-treated netting was wrapped from the base of the stem vertically to the branch junction. Trees were deployed under field conditions in Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, and Mississippi with the following treatments: (1) flooded tree; (2) flooded tree with untreated netting; (3) flooded tree with treated ‘standard mesh’ netting of 24 holes/cm²; (4) flooded tree with treated ‘fine mesh’ netting of 28 …

Embryogenic Cell Suspensions For High-Capacity Genetic Transformation And Regeneration Of Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum L.), Christine A. Ondzighi-Assoume, Jonathan D. Willis, Wilson Kihugu Ouma, Sara M. Allen, Zachary King, Wayne A. Parrott, Wusheng Liu, Jason N. Burris, Scott C. Lenaghan, C. Neal Stewart

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Background

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a North American prairie grassland species, is a potential lignocellulosic biofuel feedstock owing to its wide adaptability and biomass production. Production and genetic manipulation of switchgrass should be useful to improve its biomass composition and production for bioenergy applications. The goal of this project was to develop a high-throughput stable switchgrass transformation method using Agrobacterium tumefaciens with subsequent plant regeneration.

Results

Regenerable embryogenic cell suspension cultures were established from friable type II callus-derived inflorescences using two genotypes selected from the synthetic switchgrass variety ‘Performer’ tissue culture lines 32 and 605. The cell suspension cultures …

Household’S Perception And Their Willingness To Pay For Pesticides-Free Fruits In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Kp) Province Of Pakistan: A Double-Bounded Dichotomous Choice Contingent Valuation Study, Jahangir Khan, Abbasullah Jan, Kar Ho Lim, Syed Attaullah Shah, Aditya R. Khanal, Ghaffar Ali

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

This study investigated household’s willingness to pay (WTP) for pesticide-free locally produced fresh fruits in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A Contingent Valuation Survey Method (CVM), constructed with a double-bounded WTP elicitation format, was used to interview a randomly selected sample of 600 households. Survey data revealed that households were willing to pay on average rupees 26 more per kilogram of pesticides free fruits. Results from regression analysis showed that age of the household head and his awareness of pesticides use over fruits, household size and their total monthly income were significant determinants of their WTP. In addition, health concern and environment …

Impact Of Cover Crop Usage On Soilborne Diseases In Field Nursery Production, Sujan Dawadi, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Karla M. Addesso, Jason B. Oliver, Terri Simmons

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Soilborne pathogens are a significant economic problem for nursery production in the Southeastern United States. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of cover crops on soilborne disease suppressiveness in such systems. Soils from red maple (Acer rubrum L.) plantation fields grown with and without cover crops were sampled, either while the cover crops were growing (pre-disked) or post-season, following cover crop incorporation into the soil (post-disked). Greenhouse bioassays were conducted using red maple seeds on inoculated (with Rhizoctonia solani (J.G. Kühn) or Phytophthora nicotianae (Breda de Haan)) and non-inoculated field soils. The damping-off, root rot disease …

Effect Of Winter Canola Cultivar On Seed Yield, Oil, And Protein Content, Edmund T. Tetteh, Jason P. De Koff, Bharat Pokharel, Richard Link, Chris Robbins

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Canola (Brassica napus L.) is an oilseed crop that can produce healthy cooking oil and animal feed byproducts. Although it is a relatively new crop, approved for human consumption less than 40 yr ago, advances in breeding have allowed for its production as a winter crop in the southeastern United States. There is little published research, however, related to its performance and quality in this region. Therefore, a study was conducted during the 2014–2015 (Year 1) and 2015–2016 (Year 2) seasons in Tennessee. Twenty-three varieties were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications across both years …

Unmanned Aircraft System (Uas) Technology And Applications In Agriculture, Samuel C. Hassler, Fulya Baysal-Gurel

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Numerous sensors have been developed over time for precision agriculture; though, only recently have these sensors been incorporated into the new realm of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). This UAS technology has allowed for a more integrated and optimized approach to various farming tasks such as field mapping, plant stress detection, biomass estimation, weed management, inventory counting, and chemical spraying, among others. These systems can be highly specialized depending on the particular goals of the researcher or farmer, yet many aspects of UAS are similar. All systems require an underlying platform—or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)—and one or more peripherals and sensing …

Container Size And Shade Duration Affect Growth Of Flowering Dogwood, Anthony L. Witcher, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Eugene K. Blythe, Donna C. Fare

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a valuable nursery product typically produced as a field-grown crop. Container-grown flowering dogwood can grow much faster than field-grown plants, thus shortening the production cycle, yet unacceptable crop loss and reduced quality continue to be major issues with container-grown plants. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of container size and shade duration on growth of flowering dogwood cultivars Cherokee Brave™ and Cherokee Princess from bare-root liners. In 2015, bare-root liners were transplanted to 23-L (no. 7) containers and placed under shade for 0 months (full sun), 2 months (sun4/shade2), …

Detection Of Novel Allelic Variations In Soybean Mutant Population Using Tilling By Sequencing, Reneth Millas, Mary Espina, C. M. Sabbir Ahmed, Angelina Bernardini, Ekundayo Adeleke, Zeinab Yadegari, Korsi Dumenyo, Ali Taheri

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

One of the most important tools in genetic improvement is mutagenesis, which is a useful tool to induce genetic and phenotypic variation for trait improvement and discovery of novel genes. JTN-5203 (MG V) mutant population was generated using an induced ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis and was used for detection of induced mutations in FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B genes using reverse genetics approach. Optimum concentration of EMS was used to treat 15,000 bulk JTN-5203 seeds producing 1,820 M2 population. DNA was extracted, normalized, and pooled from these individuals. Specific primers were designed from FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B genes that are involved in …

Assessing Root System Architecture Of Wheat Seedlings Using A High-Throughput Root Phenotyping System, Ekundayo Adeleke, Reneth Millas, Waymon Mcneal, Justin Faris, Ali Taheri

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Background and aims Root system architecture is a vital part of the plant that has been shown to vary between species and within species based on response to genotypic and/or environmental influences. The root traits of wheat seedlings is critical for the establishment and evidently linked to plant height and seed yield. However, plant breeders have not efficiently developed the role of RSA in wheat selection due to the difficulty of studying root traits.

Methods We set up a root phenotyping platform to characterize RSA in 34 wheat accessions. The phenotyping pipeline consists of the germination paper-based moisture replacement system, …

Evaluation Of Fungicides And Biofungicide To Control Phytophthora Root Rot (Phytophthora Cinnamomi Rands) And Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) On Flowering Dogwoods Exposed To Simulated Flood Events, Matthew S. Brown, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Jason B. Oliver, Karla M. Addesso

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Phytophthora root rot causes major economic losses in woody ornamental nurseries, especially in plants exposed to flooding. Ambrosia beetles, which attack stressed trees, are also important pests of woody plants. In this study, several products were evaluated for control of Phytophthora root rot and ambrosia beetles on containerized flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida L.) exposed to simulated flood events under field conditions. In two trials, preventive (7 days preflooding) or curative (1 day postflooding) sprench (combination spray and drench) treatments were applied to containerized dogwoods artificially inoculated with Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. The plants were flooded by maintaining standing water for 1, …

Rapid Profiling Of Soybean Aromatic Compounds Using Electronic Nose, Ramasamy Ravi, Ali Taheri, Durga Khandekar, Reneth Millas

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Soybean (Glycine max (L.)) is the world’s most important seed legume, which contributes to 25% of global edible oil, and about two-thirds of the world’s protein concentrate for livestock feeding. One of the factors that limit soybean’s utilization as a major source of protein for humans is its characteristic soy flavor. This off-flavor can be attributed to the presence of various chemicals such as phenols, aldehydes, ketones, furans, alcohols, and amines. In addition, these flavor compounds interact with protein and cause the formation of new off-flavors. Hence, studying the chemical profile of soybean seeds is an important step in understanding …

Effect Of Organic Inputs And Solarization For The Suppression Of Rhizoctonia Solani In Woody Ornamental Plant Production, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Md Niamul Kabir, Prabha Liyanapathiranage

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Soilborne diseases are the most economically significant problem faced by Southern region nursery producers. The goal of this research was to improve Rhizoctonia root rot disease management through the use of soil solarization alone and in combination with biofumigant cover crops—arugula ‘Astro’ (Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa), mustard green ‘Amara’ (Brassica carinata), and turnip ‘Purple top forage’ (B. rapa); good quality compost and mustard meal amendment. The experiments were established as on-farm trials in 2016 and 2017 with prevalent Rhizoctonia solani population in propagation beds. All three biofumigant cover crops, arugula ‘Astro’, mustard green ‘Amara’, and turnip ‘Purple top forage’ in …

Purple Passion Fruit, Passiflora Edulis Sims F. Edulis, Variability For Photosynthetic And Physiological Adaptation In Contrasting Environments, Nohra C. Rodríguez, Luz M. Melgarejo, Matthew W. Blair

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. edulis) is a tropical juice source. The goal of this project was to evaluate photosynthetic and physiological variability for the crop with the hypotheses that landraces contain the diversity to adapt to higher elevation nontraditional growing environments and this is dependent on specific parameters of ecological adaptation. A total of 50 genotypes of this crop were chosen from divergent sources for evaluations of their eco-physiological responses in two equatorial locations at different altitudes in the Andes Mountains, a center of diversity for the species. The germplasm included 34 landraces, 8 commercial cultivars, and …

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi And Exogenous Glutathione Mitigate Coal Fly Ash (Cfa)-Induced Phytotoxicity In Cfa-Contaminated Soil, Olushola M. Awoyemi, Ekundayo O. Adeleke, Kudjo E. Dzantor

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Coal fly ash (CFA) makes a bulk of the coal combustion wastes generated from coal-fired power plants. There are several environmental mishaps due to coal ash spills around the world and in the United States. Management of CFA-polluted sites has proven inefficient resulting in soil infiltration, leaching, and phytotoxicity. This study assessed the mitigation strategies for CFA-induced phytotoxicity using biological [arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)] and chemical [exogenous glutathione (GSH)] agents. Indices of phytotoxicity include seed germination, plant morphometrics, lipid peroxidation and genomic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in switchgrass plant (Panicum virgatum). Experiments include laboratory screening (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% …

Impact Of Cover Cropping On Non-Target Arthropod Pests Of Red Maple Trees In Nursery Production, Sujan Dawadi, Jason B. Oliver, Paul A. O'Neal, Karla M. Addesso

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Cropping practices can affect the complement of arthropod pests present in production. The impact of cover cropping on key red maple (Acer rubrum [L.]) (Sapindaceae) nursery pests was evaluated. Cover cropping has been identified as a sustainable management method for a key maple pest, flatheaded appletree borer (Chrysobothris femorata [Olivier]) (Buprestidae), but the impact of the cover crop on other non-target arthropod pests in maple production also must be taken into account when determining the usefulness of cover cropping as a pest management tool. In addition to flatheaded appletree borer, other important arthropod pests of red maple in …

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) Management In Forest, Landscape, And Nursery Production, Elizabeth P. Mccarty, Karla M. Addesso

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae (Annand) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), has caused significant damage to both eastern [Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière] and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana Englemann) (Pinales: Pinaceae) since it was first reported in the eastern United States. This adelgid is particularly damaging to these hemlock species due to a lack of co-evolved plant defenses and natural enemies able to suppress hemlock woolly adelgid populations. Management of hemlock woolly adelgid relies heavily on insecticides to prevent death of vulnerable trees. Biological control programs have released natural enemies of hemlock woolly adelgid to aid in control at the landscape level. …

A Review Of Breeding Objectives, Genomic Resources, And Marker-Assisted Methods In Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.), Teshale Assefa, A. Assibi Mahama, Anne V. Brown, Ethalinda K. S. Cannon, Jean Claude Rubyogo, Idupulapati M. Rao, Matthew W. Blair, Steven B. Cannon

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), one of the most important grain legume crops for direct human consumption, faces many challenges as a crop. Domesticated from wild relatives that inhabit a relatively narrow ecological niche, common bean faces a wide range of biotic and abiotic constraints within its diverse agroecological settings. Biotic stresses impacting common bean include numerous bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases and various insect and nematode pests, and abiotic stresses include drought, heat, cold, and soil nutrient deficiencies or toxicities. Breeding is often local, focusing on improvements in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses that are particular challenges …