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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Influence Of Six Herbicides Applied To Silage Corn On Fall Planted Rye And Radish Cover Crop Growth In South Dakota Soils, Sydney Pridie May 2020

Influence Of Six Herbicides Applied To Silage Corn On Fall Planted Rye And Radish Cover Crop Growth In South Dakota Soils, Sydney Pridie

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Spring preemergence herbicide applications are often used for burndown of existing weeds and residual control, eliminating weed presence during early season crop growth. There has been an increase in the interest in planting cover crops soon after cash crop removal, due to the potential soil and production benefits. However, soil herbicide residuals may result in poor cover crop growth. This study examined the growth of radish (Raphanus sativa) and rye (Secale cereal), species often used as cover crops, in soils that had been treated with residual herbicides about 100 d prior to cover crop planting. The …


Evaluating Physiological Responses Of Ten Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa Subsp. Falcata) Germplasm To Drought Treatments, Austin Hanson Jan 2015

Evaluating Physiological Responses Of Ten Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa Subsp. Falcata) Germplasm To Drought Treatments, Austin Hanson

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alfalfa is the most widely produced perennial forage legume in North America. However, its use in the semiarid northern Great Plains is limited due to poor stand establishment and persistence under drought condition. The development of drought-tolerant alfalfa cultivars is of great need. Some Medicago sativa subsp. falcata populations have demonstrated promising drought resistance when compared to M. sativa. Morphological and physiological mechanisms play a critical role in drought tolerance by influencing seedling survival, stand establishment and drought recovery. Assessment of variability in physiological responses to drought among germplasm lines to drought is necessary for developing cultivars with improved drought …


Identifying Promising New Falcata Alfalfa Populations For Use In Semiarid Rangelands, Derek Kannenberg Jan 2014

Identifying Promising New Falcata Alfalfa Populations For Use In Semiarid Rangelands, Derek Kannenberg

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a valuable crop worldwide. In addition to its use as forage, the nitrogen fixation capabilities of root nodules make it a valuable component for improving soil health. Unfortunately, the semi-arid region of the Northern Great Plains introduces a number of environmental stresses that are detrimental to stand establishment and persistence. The ability to produce adventitious shoots from roots is generally considered a favorable trait for increasing stress resistance. This study aimed to identify alfalfa populations possessing the ability to produce adventitious shoot from root segments. Seven Plant Introductions (PIs), selected from the National Plant …


Contributions Of Seed Bank And Vegetative Propagules To Vegetation Composition On Prairie Dog Colonies In Western South Dakota, Emily R. Helms Jan 2012

Contributions Of Seed Bank And Vegetative Propagules To Vegetation Composition On Prairie Dog Colonies In Western South Dakota, Emily R. Helms

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Characterizing the contributions of the seed bank and vegetative propagules will enhance our understanding of community resiliency associated with prairie dog disturbances. Our objective was to determine the effects of ecological condition (EC) and distance from burrows on the soil seed bank and vegetative propagules. Based on species composition of the extant vegetation, two prairie dog colonies were selected on the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands in western South Dakota. Within each colony, two prairie dog burrows were randomly selected at each of three sample points located about 150m apart. Two soil cores were taken at 0.5m, 1.0m, and 1.5m distances …


Seedling Root Morphology Of Six Alfalfa Populations, Brianna J. Gaughan Jan 2012

Seedling Root Morphology Of Six Alfalfa Populations, Brianna J. Gaughan

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Seedling root morphology plays a crucial role in seedling survival and stand establishment. Naturalized yellow-flowered alfalfa (YFA) (Medicago sativa subsp. falcata) has demonstrated adaptation to semiarid conditions of the Northern Great Plains and tolerance to grazing. Seedling stage root morphology is poorly defined. Our objective was to compare morphological traits of seedling roots for six alfalfa populations. Six entries were evaluated: one M. sativa population as a control, two M. falcata entries, with reported “spreading characteristics” and three naturalized YFA populations. Uniform seeds of each entry were scarified with 320 grade sand paper and inoculated with rhizobium before planting. A …


Prevalence And Behavior Of Blastobasis Repartella (Dietz) In Switchgrass, Krista Hegge Jan 2012

Prevalence And Behavior Of Blastobasis Repartella (Dietz) In Switchgrass, Krista Hegge

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is growing in recognition as a potential source for biomass. In order to use switchgrass optimally as a crop for biofuel production potential pests need to be detected and studied. Currently, one pest being studied is the stem-boring larva of the moth Blastobasis repartella. The objective of this experiment was to compare effects of larval feeding on rhizome buds for two cultivars of switchgrass, and to observe and document feeding behavior of the larva. The two cultivars of switchgrass used were Pathfinder (PTH), a lowland variety, and Sunburst (SBS), an upland variety. Six, 15-cm2 samples of rhizome …


Shoot Morphology Of Eleven Alfalfa Populations, Jessica A. Schmuck Jan 2012

Shoot Morphology Of Eleven Alfalfa Populations, Jessica A. Schmuck

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a major component of feed for dairy and beef cattle and one of the most productive forage species in North America. Alfalfa has been planted on millions of acres. More than 100 varieties have been developed in North America over the past 100 years. However, historically, alfalfa persistence under grazing in semiarid rangeland has generally been poor. Recently, it was discovered that naturally-selected populations of predominantly yellow-flowered alfalfa have been proven to be adapted to rangelands of western South Dakota and adjacent areas. A study was initiated in May 2006 to evaluate persistence and vigor …


Selection Of Winter Wheat Mutant Lines Resistant To Drought Stress, Brian Kontz, Sean Franklin, Charles Brunel Jan 2009

Selection Of Winter Wheat Mutant Lines Resistant To Drought Stress, Brian Kontz, Sean Franklin, Charles Brunel

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Mutated winter wheat lines were screened for improved drought resistance compared to the wildtype by withholding water for 3 weeks after 9 weeks of normal growth, and noting their responses upon re-watering. Of the 146 mutants grown, 73% were either killed due to water stress or showed poor recovery, while 27% recovered better than the wildtype line. This experiment enabled the selection of candidates for further investigation to better understand the genetic basis of drought tolerance in winter wheat.


Effects Of Stratification, Warm Treatment, And Mechanical And Acid Scarification On The Emergence Of Yellow-Flowered Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa Subsp. Falcata) Seeds, Diane Narem Jan 2009

Effects Of Stratification, Warm Treatment, And Mechanical And Acid Scarification On The Emergence Of Yellow-Flowered Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa Subsp. Falcata) Seeds, Diane Narem

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Yellow-flowered alfalfa (YFA) has great potential to improve rangelands in the Northern Plains. Greater than 99% of YFA seeds from soil were viable but less than 4% germinated under standard laboratory conditions. The objective was to determine if low germination was due to physical or physiological seed dormancy. The experiment utilized a random complete block design with two trials, eight replications per trial. Each replication consisted of ten treatments plus a control, four stratification treatments consisting of a combination of two temperatures (-5°C, -20°C) and two durations (48 hr, 72 hr), one warm treatment (4 min, 60°C), four sandpaper scarification …


Time And Temperature Requirements For Effective Removal Of High Molecular Weight Rna From Winter Wheat Genomic Dna With Licl, Benjamin Meyerink, Ryan Geraets Jan 2009

Time And Temperature Requirements For Effective Removal Of High Molecular Weight Rna From Winter Wheat Genomic Dna With Licl, Benjamin Meyerink, Ryan Geraets

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Numerous protocols are available for the isolation of plant genomic DNA. Often times, these protocols utilize a wide variety of solutions. The primary purpose of this project was to examine the use of LiCl for the removal of RNA contaminants within genomic DNA samples and its dependency on incubation time and temperature. Our results indicate that LiCl is sufficient for the removal of high molecular weight RNA contaminants from genomic DNA. In addition, our results illustrate varying incubation times with LiCl yield minimal differences in the recovery of genomic DNA and the removal of RNA contaminants. Alternatively, different incubation temperatures …


15n Effects On Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Ryan Geraets, Brett Kollars Jan 2008

15n Effects On Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Ryan Geraets, Brett Kollars

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Non-radioactive isotopic labeling has become a regular technique for efficiently labeling a wide range of macromolecules. The overall goal for this project was to develop a method of globally measuring plant protein turnover rates. In order to do so, an isotopic labeled environment that does not induce stress had to be used. The objective of this particular segment of research was to develop a 15N-labeled Tris-Acetate-Phosphate (TAP) media in which Chlamydomonas reinhardtii can successfully grow without eliciting stressed physiological responses. Our results illustrate that we have successfully developed 15N-labeled TAP that does not stress Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.


Effects Of Deuterium On Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Brett Kollars, Ryan Geraets Jan 2008

Effects Of Deuterium On Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Brett Kollars, Ryan Geraets

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

In order to develop software tools to monitor rates of total protein turnover in plants, attempts were made to maximally label all the proteins in vivo. Our study focused on the use of the stable isotope of hydrogen, deuterium, to label proteins of C. reinhardtii. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of the label on algal growth. C. reinhardtii is a unicellular green algae that is heterotrophic, photoautotrophic and mixotrophic. The results showed that increasing concentrations of deuterium in the algal growth medium had a negative effect on the growth of the algae. These preliminary results …


The Fate If 2, 4-D In Intact Soybean (Glycine Mix), Laura Hummel, Anthony Mayer Jan 2005

The Fate If 2, 4-D In Intact Soybean (Glycine Mix), Laura Hummel, Anthony Mayer

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

About 479,000 pounds of 2,4-D (2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) was applied to South Dakota's crops in 2000. 2,4-D can injure or reduce yield of soybean (Glycine max) if deposited on growing plants. This study determined uptake, translocation, and metabolism of ring-labeled-2,4-D in soybean at the third trifoliate (V3) stage of growth. Plants were harvested and partitioned into four parts from 1 hr (HAT)to 10 d (DAT) after treatment. Thin layer chromatography techniques were used to determine if remaining in the tissue was parent chemical or metabolite. 2,4-D uptake ranged from 39% at 1 HAT to 74% 6 DAT.By 10 DAT, translocated …


Engineering For Expression Of The Cold Regulated Barley Protein Hvcr21 In E. Coli, Kathleen Graupman Jan 2003

Engineering For Expression Of The Cold Regulated Barley Protein Hvcr21 In E. Coli, Kathleen Graupman

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

HVCR21 is a barley protein known to be cold regulated at the mRNA level. However, its function as well as the affect of low temperature on its translation are unknown. The purpose of this project was to engineer E. coli to express recombinant HVCR21. PGR primers were designed for the 5' and 3' ends of the HVCR21 coding region. The primers were also designed with a 5' SacI restriction site and a 3' Pst I restriction site. After ligation of the PCR product into the pCR4-TOPO vector, bacteria were transformed and plated and the successful transformant verified by PCR. The …


Gene Family Encoding Hordeum Vulgare Translation Elongation Factor 1 Alpha (Ef-1a): Assignment Based On Bioinformatic Analysis Of Cdna Sequences, Jackson Moeller Jan 2003

Gene Family Encoding Hordeum Vulgare Translation Elongation Factor 1 Alpha (Ef-1a): Assignment Based On Bioinformatic Analysis Of Cdna Sequences, Jackson Moeller

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Search of international DNA database, Genbank, produced eight barley cDNA EFlα sequences with unique accession numbers. The length of these sequences varied from an incomplete 502 bp to a full length 1646 bp encoding a 447 amino acid protein. The knowledge that there are four EF-lα gene family members in barley led us to query whether all four genes were represented in the group of eight database submitted sequences. Also of great importance was the correct assignment of gene family member to its mRNA and protein expression profiles. Before we could begin to address the expression studies, we undertook the …