Digital Commons Network^™

Production, Process Design And Quality Characterization Of Catfish Visceral Oil., Subramaniam Sathivel

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Between 45--55% of viscera, head, skin, intestine and slurries are generally generated as byproducts or waste from catfish filleting process. Our preliminary study showed that the crude fat content of the whole catfish viscera was 30--35% (wet basis) and the total o-3 fatty acids of oils recovered from the whole and/or portioned viscera ranged from 4.3--20.9 mg/g (dry basis). Catfish viscera may serve as an excellent source of health-promoting oil. Yield of purified (deodorized) catfish visceral oil was 65.7% and contained considerable amounts of DHA (1.21 mg/g of oil) and omega-3 fatty acid (4.6 mg/g of oil). A rapid microwave-assisted …

Patterns Of Reef Fish Larval Supply To Petroleum Platforms In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico., James Marvin Tolan

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Surveys of ichthyoplankton assemblages were conducted from four oil and gas platforms located in the northern Gulf of Mexico from November 1994 through July 1997. Diurnal collections, supplemented with light trap collections from the surface and -20 m depth, were taken quarterly during 1994 and 1995. Quarterly ichthyoplankton sampling at dawn and dusk only during 1996 and 1997 were supplemented with surface "lighted plankton net" collections. Of the 36,676 individuals collected, epipelagic (neretic and oceanic Clupeiformes, neretic Carangidae and Lutjanidae, as well as oceanic Scombridae) and mesopelagic (Myctophidae and Gonostomatidae) families comprised the majority of the ichthyoplankton. Reef-dependent (e.g., Pomacentridae, …

Glyphosate- And Glufosinate -Resistant Technologies: Weed Management And Off-Target Crop Response., Jeffrey Mark Ellis

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Utility of preemergence soil-applied herbicides at full and half label rates were evaluated in glyphosate-resistant soybean. In most instances, differences in early season weed density and height were not noted when rates were reduced. None of the herbicides provided complete weed control, but some delayed weed growth providing an extra 3 to 7 days before the first postemergence glyphosate application was needed. Based on weed control and soybean yield, use of glyphosate alone was as effective as when preemergence herbicides were followed by glyphosate. In another study, barnyardgrass control with glyphosate at 0.84 and 1.12 kg ai/ha was not antagonized …

Remediation Of An Oil Contaminated Wetland And The Effects Of Crude Oil And Brine On Two-Year Old Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda) Seedlings., Dean Anthony Goodin

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The goal of this project is to introduce a successful remediation and restoration plan for a wetland and pine forest contaminated by an oil well blowout. A field study focused on the effectiveness of ammoniated bagasse (ABG) to enhance the bioremediation of the contaminated wetland. A comprehensive soil and vegetation greenhouse study investigated the effects of oil and brine on loblolly pine tree seedlings and the effectiveness of ABG to remove and remediate oil contaminated forest soils. The most effective, ecologically sound, and economical plan to remove the oil from the wetland was to burn the area. Once the area …

Effects Of Energy Source And Soil Reaction On Redox, Soil Color, And Sesquioxide Transformation For The Moreland And Sharkey Soils., Jang-Hung Huang

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Moreland clay (very fine, smectitic, thermic, Oxyaquic Hapluderts) derived from Red River alluvium does not exhibit redoximorphic features, though it is saturated for more than 2 months during the growing season. Sharkey clay (very-fine, smectitic, thermic Chromic Epiaquerts) derived from the Mississippi River alluvium exhibits redoximorphic features. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of energy sources and adjusted pH on Eh, pH, and iron transformation on these two Vertisols in Louisiana. Laboratory analysis was used to evaluate the factors controlling the formation of redoximorphic features. The first experiment was designed to predict the effects of 10 …

The Effect Of Calcium Silicate On Rice Yield And Sheath Blight Disease., Chris Raymond Robichaux

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Sheath blight caused by fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani can cause significant yield loss in rice, especially in warm, high rainfall environments. Integrated pest management (IPM) is the key to sheath blight control. This system utilizes disease resistance, pesticides, cultural practices and biological control to control multiple pests. Silicon fertilization is an additional cultural practice that can reduce sheath blight severity and increase grain yield. Studies were conducted in the greenhouse and field to determine the effect of calcium silicate on sheath blight severity, rice grain yield, and leaf silicon concentration. Results in the greenhouse study showed that sheath blight severity …

The Role Of Kernel Epicuticular Wax In Zea Mays Resistance To Aspergillus Flavus And Aflatoxin Production., You-Keng Goh

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The physical and chemical roles of Zea mays (corn) kernel epicuticular wax in conferring resistance to aflatoxin production were examined. There was no evidence of a correlation between the amount of epicuticular wax and aflatoxin production in a kernel development experiment. Aflatoxin levels decreased as kernels developed. Epicuticular wax removal reduced aflatoxin at the earlier stages of development but increased aflatoxin in some genotypes at the later stages, indicating the importance of epicuticular wax during late-stage development and hinting of different defense mechanisms between the early- and late-stage kernels. The amount of epicuticular wax from mature kernels of 23 commercial …

Spatial Variability And Isotopic Studies Of The Prairie -Forest Transition Soil In Louisiana., Asfaw Bekele

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The calcareous prairies of Louisiana are among the most endangered ecosystems in North America. The major threat to this ecosystem is the invasion by woody and herbaceous plants, primarily eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana ). The restoration and management of these rare plant communities require a thorough understanding of the soils supporting them. Geostatistical, fractal, and stable isotopic procedures were integrated to study the soil and vegetation spatial variability. The prairie soil was alkaline, the forest soil was acidic, and the transition soil was neutral. The spherical model described the spatial variability of virtually all the soil properties considered with …

Molecular Systematics Of Eastern Cottonwood Using Aflp And Rapd Markers., Xiaohong Ma

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr.) is the fastest growing tree in southeastern United States with great potential as a biomass source. DNA-based molecular marker techniques are playing increasingly important roles in elucidating genetic diversity within species. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were employed to study genetic relationships among 57 clones from subregion Lower Mississippi river, West Central, and West Gulf. A total of 101 polymorphic RAPD markers were amplified from 14 primers. Six AFLP primer pairs resulted in a total of 457 polymorphic markers. Both RAPD and AFLP markers were able to uniquely …

Physicochemical, Functional And Spectroscopic Analysis Of Crawfish Chitin And Chitosan As Affected By Process Modification., Sandeep Kumar Rout

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Traditional isolation of chitin from crawfish shells involves three sequential steps: demineralization (DM, removing calcium carbonate/phosphate), deproteinization (DP), and decolorization (DC, removing mainly astaxanthin). The first two steps can be reversed (i.e., DMP or DPM). Chitin is converted to chitosan by deacetylation (DA). Isolation steps may be shortened, depending on intended applications of chitosan. The first study investigated effects of (1) reversing sequence and (2) eliminating DP and DC steps on physicochemical and functional properties of chitosan and conversion efficiency of chitin. Twelve different processes: DM, DP, DPM, DMP, DPMC, DMPC, DMA, DMCA, DPMA, DMPA, DPMCA, DMPCA were investigated. DA …

Maasai Oxen, Agriculture And Land Use Change In Monduli District, Tanzania, Andrew Bernard Conroy

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines the sustainability of the use of oxen by the Maasai and Arusha (WaArusha) people, in Monduli District, Tanzania. Traditionally pastoralists, the Maasai are undergoing a social and agricultural transformation process of sedentarization in this region. The villages included in the case study were Arkatan, Engaruka, Esilalei, Lashaine, Lendikenya, Lolkisale, Losirwa, Mbuyuni, Mswakini, and Selela. Using semi-structured interviews the heads of 130 Maasai homesteads (bomas), as well as, other informants were interviewed. The history, issues of technology transfer and future prospects of animal traction were examined, as well as, the obstacles and constraints facing the Maasai in their …

Detection Of Giardia Lamblia And Cryptosporidium Parvum In The Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica) Harvested From The Great Bay Estuary, Kim Marie Stowell

Doctoral Dissertations

The Great Bay Estuarine system is being impacted by point source and nonpoint source pollution that affect shellfish quality. Many outbreaks of human gastroenteritis are potentially caused by the consumption of raw or undercooked oysters in which the protozoan pathogens, Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum are present. The development of a rapid and sensitive technique to detect infectious protozoa in oysters is a necessity.

Immunofluorescence has been employed as a technique for the detection of these organisms in drinking water. Cross reactivity with algae and the production of false positive results limits the usefulness of this technique in environmental studies. …

Effects Of Lipids, Amino Acids, And Beta-Cyclodextrin On Gelatinization, Pasting, And Retrogradation Properties Of Rice Starch., Xiaoming Liang

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the addition of lipids, amino acids, and beta-cyclodextrin effects on commercial rice starch gelatinization, pasting, and retrogradation properties by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rapid visco analysis (RVA), and x-ray diffractometry (XRD). Analyses from commercial rice starch showed that the presence of 0.6% monopalmitin (MP) increased the peak viscosity (PV), minimum viscosity (MV), and final viscosity (FV) by 38, 27, and 72 RVU respectively. The pasting temperature was also increased by 6°C, whereas the total setback (TSB) was increased by 45 RVU. Incorporation of lysophosphatidylcholine (LC) and lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LE) also showed …

Effect Of Chromium, Dried Brewers Yeast, And Mannan Oligosaccharides On Sow Productivity And Growth Performance Of Weanling Pigs., Frederick Masson Lemieux Jr

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Five experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of mannan oligosaccharides (Bio-Mos) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and pork quality of pigs. The first two experiments evaluated 0.20 and 0.30% Bio-Mos. The data indicated that the 0.20% level of Bio-Mos was more effective, and this level was used in the remainder of the experiments. Interactive effects of Bio-Mos and excess dietary Zn were evaluated in Exp. 2 and 3 and Trial 2 of Exp. 4. In Trial 1 of Exp. 4, Bio-Mos was fed with and without an antibiotic. In addition to the weanling pig experiments, 0.30% Bio-Mos was fed …

Evaluating The Taxonomic Status Of The Great White Heron (Ardea Herodias Occidentalis) Using Morphological, Behavioral And Genetic Evidence., Heather Louise Mcguire

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The Great White Heron was originally described as a distinct species (Ardea occidentalis), but is currently considered to be the white morph of a polymorphic Great Blue Heron subspecies (A. herodias occidentalis). Great White and Great Blue heron breeding ranges overlap in the Florida Keys (USA), providing an opportunity to evaluate the degree to which these two taxa are reproductively isolated. The current classification leads to predictions of no significant size difference (H01), random mate choice (H02), and no genetic divergence (H03) between sympatric white and blue herons. Sympatric Great White and Great Blue herons did not differ significantly in …

Crop Response And Weed Control With Glufosinate In Rice., David Yves Lanclos

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Studies were conducted to evaluate crop tolerance and yield of glufosinate-resistant rice lines treated with glufosinate throughout the season. In addition, studies were conducted on harvested seed treated with glufosinate at various growth stages to evaluate seed weights, germination, and seedling vigor. Weed control with glufosinate alone and in combination with other herbicides was evaluated. Red rice control with different glufosinate rates and timings under 5, 10, and 20 cm permanent flood depths was also evaluated. In the tolerance study, CPRS PB-13 injury was less than 10% for all timings and no differences in yield were detected when compared with …

Cytopathology, Detection, And Identification Of Viruses Infecting Sweetpotato., Jeonggu Sim

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Studies with the transmission electron microscope were used to detect and attempt to identify viruses infecting sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas ) and other Ipomoea species. Flexuous-rods, short curved-rods, and spherical virus-like particles were observed in cells of symptomatic plants. Also, various cytopathic changes such as crystals, vesicles, fibril structures, and cylindrical inclusions were observed. Some of these cytopathic changes were associated with specific viral groups such as genus Crinivirus and Potyvirus and therefore helpful in diagnosis. Some molecular and biological properties of an isolate of Sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus from the sweetpotato cultivar White Bunch (SPCSV-WB) were determined. Two species of …

Optimization Of Agrobacterium-Mediated Genetic Transformation Of Soybean Using Glufosinate As A Selective Agent., Shaomian Yao

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] is one of the most important oil crops. Genetic transformation techniques can provide new tools for soybean improvement. The production of transgenic soybean has been limited. This research integrated a modified soybean regeneration system into a transformation protocol to optimize the production of transgenic soybean. Soybean hypocotyls and cotyledonary nodes were cultured on Gamborg B5 medium containing thidiazuron (TDZ). TDZ at 0.16 muM was found superior to other concentrations for inducing multiple shoot formation. Explants isolated from seedlings germinated on medium containing 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP) greater than 7 muM produced more multiple shoots than when on …