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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Efficiency Of The Nuclease I-Scei In Excising Selectable Marker Genes From The Plant Genome, Elliot E. Pruett, Soumen Nandy, Vibha Srivastava Jan 2016

Efficiency Of The Nuclease I-Scei In Excising Selectable Marker Genes From The Plant Genome, Elliot E. Pruett, Soumen Nandy, Vibha Srivastava

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Gene stacking is a method used in biotechnology by which multiple genes can be placed at a single genomic site, thereby simplifying plant breeding. In this approach, DNA nucleases are used for excising selectable marker genes (SMG), which are the unneeded components of transgenic plants. The goal of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of the nuclease I-SceI in excising DNA in plants. Specifically, this study tests heat-inducible I-SceI through the use of a heat-shock promoter (HS) in order to control SMG excision by heat application. The DNA plasmid containing a visual marker gene flanked by I-SceI target sites …


Evaluation Of Harvest Time/Temperature And Storage Temperature On Postharvest Incidence Of Red Drupelet Reversion Development And Firmness Of Blackberry (Rubus L. Subgenus Rubus Watson), Jack E. Mccoy, John R. Clarke, Alejandra A. Salgado, Andrew Jecmen Jan 2016

Evaluation Of Harvest Time/Temperature And Storage Temperature On Postharvest Incidence Of Red Drupelet Reversion Development And Firmness Of Blackberry (Rubus L. Subgenus Rubus Watson), Jack E. Mccoy, John R. Clarke, Alejandra A. Salgado, Andrew Jecmen

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Since 1964, the University of Arkansas blackberry breeding program has worked to improve fruit quality and shipping capabilities. A major limitation in blackberry fruit is postharvest handling potential for the shipping market. Maintaining fruit firmness in storage is crucial. Red drupelet reversion (or simply reversion) is also an important postharvest disorder in which drupelets change from black to red during storage. It is hypothesized that reversion is increased when fruit is picked at hot temperatures and exposed to a rapid change of temperature. These studies evaluated harvest time/temperature, as well as storage temperature, on berry firmness and the incidence of …


Nutrient Competition Between Algae And Juncus Effusus In The Lake Fayetteville Artificial Spiral Wetland, Toryn Jones, Thad Scott Jan 2015

Nutrient Competition Between Algae And Juncus Effusus In The Lake Fayetteville Artificial Spiral Wetland, Toryn Jones, Thad Scott

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

There is insufficient research focusing exclusively on how nutrient competition between algae and wetland macrophytes affects the growth of these species. This study examined the relationship between nutrient concentrations (N and P), algal concentrations, and the growth of Juncus effusus. Juncus effusus growth in the Lake Fayetteville artificial spiral wetland was monitored over a four month period during the prime growing season. Eighteen plants were taken from the wetland and replanted in 1 of 6 treatments: plant-only, algae-only, combined, plant-only +supplement, algaeonly +supplement, or combined +supplement. The algae and combined environments received an inoculation of algae, and the +supplement treatments …


College Students’ Perceptions Regarding Sensory Aspects Of Conventionally Produced And Unconventionally Produced Foods: Implications For Marketing To The Millennial Generation, Christina Crowder, Catherine W. Shoulders, K. Jill Rucker Jan 2014

College Students’ Perceptions Regarding Sensory Aspects Of Conventionally Produced And Unconventionally Produced Foods: Implications For Marketing To The Millennial Generation, Christina Crowder, Catherine W. Shoulders, K. Jill Rucker

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Consumers vote every day on which products line the shelves of grocery stores, co-ops, and niche markets. Public unrest with regard to the environmental, animal welfare, food purity, and human health impacts of agricultural production practices have led to the rise of unconventionally produced (UP) food products. While the sales of UP foods is increasing, studies regarding the qualities of such products that impact consumer purchases have yielded inconsistent results. This study examined students’ perceptions of sensory aspects of conventionally produced (CP) and UP foods to better understand how sensory aspects impact decisions to purchase. Students reported consistent perceptions regarding …


Nutrient Contents, Color, Texture, And Sensory Evaluation Of 12 Arkansas Grown Soybean Cultivars In Canned Products, Quyen Nguyen, Navam Hettiarachchy, Srinivas J. Rayaprolu Jan 2013

Nutrient Contents, Color, Texture, And Sensory Evaluation Of 12 Arkansas Grown Soybean Cultivars In Canned Products, Quyen Nguyen, Navam Hettiarachchy, Srinivas J. Rayaprolu

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Soybean was introduced in the U.S. in the 1800s, and it has been proven to have several health benefits. New cultivars of soybeans with varying hull colors have been developed using plantbreeding technology. Canning is one of the effective processing methods to extend the shelf life of products. However, very little information is available on canned soybeans. This research studied the composition of 12 soybean cultivars including two cultivars with brown seed coat (R08-4014 and R09-349), three cultivars with black seed coat (R07-1927, R07-10396, and R09-345), and seven regular cultivars with yellow seed coat (R05-1772, R05-4969, R07-2001, R08-4005, R08- 4006, …


Evaluation Of Cover Crops In High Tunnel Vegetable Rotation, Tyler A. Patrick, Neal Mays, Jason Mcafee, Curt R. Rom Jan 2013

Evaluation Of Cover Crops In High Tunnel Vegetable Rotation, Tyler A. Patrick, Neal Mays, Jason Mcafee, Curt R. Rom

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Organic vegetable production within high tunnels allows for an extended growing season, crop protection, and environmental control. The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards mandate evidence that the soil has been maintained and improved over the course of production. Previous studies have indicated the potential of cover crops for reducing competitive vegetation, and improving soil quality, thus resulting in greater plant growth, nutrient uptake, and yield. However, there has been limited work in the confines of high tunnels as part of a tunnel-system rotation. Ten nitrogen-fixing and ten non-legume cover crops were established under a high tunnel and evaluated for …


Characterization Of Seediness Attributes Of Blackberry Genotypes, Bethany Sebesta, John R. Clark, Renee T. Threlfall, Luke R. Howard Jan 2013

Characterization Of Seediness Attributes Of Blackberry Genotypes, Bethany Sebesta, John R. Clark, Renee T. Threlfall, Luke R. Howard

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Fresh market blackberries can feel “seedy” when consumed. This “seediness” is associated with the presence of pyrenes which are comprised of a single seed enclosed in an endocarp. Small pyrene size (


Efficacy Of A Novel Molecular Tool In Silencing Arabidopsis Genes, Chase Purnell, Vibha Srivastava, M. Aydin Akbudak, Scott J. Nicholson Jan 2012

Efficacy Of A Novel Molecular Tool In Silencing Arabidopsis Genes, Chase Purnell, Vibha Srivastava, M. Aydin Akbudak, Scott J. Nicholson

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

RNA interference (RNAi), a pathway capable of silencing genes, has until recently only been achievable in the laboratory by the use of one method, expression of inverted repeat sequences of DNA. These constructs generate a double-stranded RNA, which in turn induce post-transcriptional silencing of other genes that bear sequence homology with the transgene. This approach of targeted gene silencing is extremely useful for studying the function of genes and engineering new traits in both plants and animals. It has recently been discovered that a transgene lacking the polyadenylation signal, called a truncated transgene, is also capable of inducing RNAi in …


Molecular And Phenotypic Comparisons Of Salt Effects On Soybean Cultivars With Differential Chloride Uptake Capacities, Sharon Faye Holifield, Fernando Ledesma Rodriguez, Richard D. Cartwright, Pengyin Chen, Kenneth Korth Jan 2011

Molecular And Phenotypic Comparisons Of Salt Effects On Soybean Cultivars With Differential Chloride Uptake Capacities, Sharon Faye Holifield, Fernando Ledesma Rodriguez, Richard D. Cartwright, Pengyin Chen, Kenneth Korth

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Genetic manipulation of crop plants, through breeding or transgenic approaches, for enhanced tolerance to abiotic stress holds great promise for improving yields and promoting new methods for sustainable agriculture. This study examines the potential role that genes of the soybean, Glycine max L., encoding elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1α) and glyoxalase I (GlxI) might play in response to salt stress. Previous reports have suggested a possible function for both GlxI and EF-1α in conferring enhanced salt tolerance in other plant species. In addition to other possible mechanisms, salt tolerance in soybeans can be regulated by plant uptake and transport of chloride …


A Novel Gene Silencing Vector For Plant Genomics And Biotechnology, Dustin Hoover, Scott Nicholson, Vibha Srivastava Jan 2011

A Novel Gene Silencing Vector For Plant Genomics And Biotechnology, Dustin Hoover, Scott Nicholson, Vibha Srivastava

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Gene silencing is a process of suppressing activity of specific genes by producing “interfering” RNA encoded by foreign genes. This process serves as the principle of genetic modification in plants and animals, which is an important tool in genomics and biotechnology, allowing scientists to manipulate organisms to better meet human demands. New approaches of gene silencing may enable improvements on current practices of genetic modification, and broaden the application and impact of gene silencing in biotechnology. Recently, a novel vector design consisting of the transcription of short gene fragments lacking transcription termination signals was demonstrated to be effective in partial …


Characterization And Inheritance Assessment Of Fruit And Leaf Shape In Unique Vitis Seedlings, Paul J. Sandefur, John R. Clark, Douglas Karcher Jan 2010

Characterization And Inheritance Assessment Of Fruit And Leaf Shape In Unique Vitis Seedlings, Paul J. Sandefur, John R. Clark, Douglas Karcher

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

From August to October of 2009, two separate studies were conducted to assess fruit shape of Vitis section Euvitis hybrid bunch grapes using digital photography (Study 1) and evaluate inheritance of leaf shape in unique populations of V. rotundifolia hybrids (Vitis section Muscadinia) (Study 2). All vines studied were located at the University of Arkansas Fruit Research Station, Clarksville. Study 1 used SigmaScan® digital photography analysis software to calculate shape factor, major:minor axis ratio, and compactness of highly variable, unique-shaped fruit from a population of 182 Euvitis seedlings. SigmaScan® accurately characterized fruit shape elongation as had been recorded in previous …


Letter From The Dean, Lalit Verma Jan 2009

Letter From The Dean, Lalit Verma

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.


Adventitious Shoot Propagation And Cultural Inputs In Nursery Production Of A Primocane-Fruiting Blackberry Selection, Kimberley Dennis, John R. Clark, James A. Robbins Jan 2006

Adventitious Shoot Propagation And Cultural Inputs In Nursery Production Of A Primocane-Fruiting Blackberry Selection, Kimberley Dennis, John R. Clark, James A. Robbins

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Studies were conducted from January to October 2005 to determine the effect of root-cutting length on adventitious shoot yield and the management practices necessary to produce nurseryquality primocane-fruiting blackberry plants. The first portion of the study measured the average number of shoots produced from 7.6 cm- and 15.2 cm-long root cuttings of APF-44 blackberry—a primocane-fruiting genotype from the University of Arkansas breeding program. Cuttings were forced in a shallow bin containing a soilless potting medium. The average number of shoots per root cutting from 7.6 cm- and 15.2 cm- long root cuttings averaged 1.6 and 2.7 shoots per root cutting, …