Life Sciences Commons^™

Interactions Observed With Clomazone Plus Pendimethalin When Mixed With Postemergence Rice Herbicides, Matthew Osterholt

LSU Master's Theses

A study was conducted at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center’s H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station (RRS) in 2017 and 2018 to evaluate whether the pre-packaged mixture of clomazone plus pendimethalin should be applied delayed preemergence (DPRE) or postemergence (POST) within a herbicide residual overlay with saflufenacil, clomazone, or quinclorac. POST applications also included penoxsulam or halosulfuron in combination with the second residual application. No differences were observed with barnyardgrass control at 14 DAT across all treatments with 92 to 98% control. At 42 DAT, barnyardgrass treated with either clomazone plus pendimethalin applied at either timingin combination with either …

Distribution And Incidence Of Mosaic And Evaluation Of Susceptibility In Louisiana's Current Sugarcane Germplasm, Jancee Rice

LSU Master's Theses

Mosaic is a viral disease of sugarcane caused primarily by Sorghum mosaic virus (SrMV) in Louisiana. Low mosaic incidence has resulted from successful breeding for resistance. However, mosaic was detected in breeding program experimental clones and a new cultivar, HoCP 09-804.Therefore, multiple research approaches were undertaken to assess the current status of mosaic in Louisiana sugarcane and prevent it from re-emerging as an important problem. Field surveys conducted during 2016-2018 of breeding program yield trials and experimental clone seed-cane increases determined disease incidence and distribution. Mosaic was detected in three of five sugarcane production areas and incidence ranged from 0 …

Synergistic Effects Of Temperature And Salinity On The Gene Expression And Physiology Of Crassostrea Virginica, Hollis Jones

LSU Master's Theses

Crassostrea virginica, the eastern oyster, forms reefs that provide critical services and benefits to the resiliency of the surrounding ecosystem. Changes in environmental conditions, including salinity and temperature, can dramatically alter the services oysters provide by affecting their population dynamics. Climate warming may further exacerbate the effects of salinity changes as precipitation events increase in frequency, intensity, and duration. Temperature and salinity independently and synergistically influence gene expression and physiology in marine organisms. We used comparative transcriptomics, physiology, and a field assessment experiment to investigate whether Louisianan oyster are changing their phenotypes to cope with increased temperature and salinity …

An Evaluation Of Sciaenid Growth In The Gulf Of Mexico, Shane Flinn

LSU Master's Theses

Growth models estimate life history parameters that are used in the management of fisheries stocks. The most commonly used growth model in fisheries is the von Bertalanffy growth model (VBGM), yet it has been shown to provide a poor fit for length-at-age data of some species and other models exist. I reviewed 196 peer-reviewed age and growth studies and 50 NOAA stock assessments to examine temporal trends in the use of growth models and model selection in fisheries. I found that the use of multi-model frameworks has increased since the year 2000 and information theoretic approaches are replacing goodness-of-fit and …

Identification Of Quantitative Trait Loci (Qtl) For Tolerance To Metribuzin In Soft Red Winter Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.), Hugo Alfonso Anzueto Ponciano

LSU Master's Theses

Wheat is one of the world’s most important food crops and provides nearly 20% of the calories consumed. Wheat is the third most important crop after corn and rice on a global production scale. In Louisiana wheat harvest was about 6000 hectares in 2017. Wheat production is negatively affected by several biotic and abiotic factors including weather, diseases, and weeds. Metribuzin is a broad-spectrum herbicide commonly used in wheat because it is inexpensive and controls most of the common weeds in wheat fields. Metribuzin has benefits for the grower controlling weeds that might cause yield loss in varieties or lines …

The Effects Of Juvenile Exposure To Sub-Lethal Concentrations Of Pesticides On The Adult Reproductive Biology Of The Male Southern House Mosquitoe, Culex Quinquefasciatus, Shiloh Dean Judd

LSU Master's Theses

Mosquitoes transmit pathogens capable of causing significant diseases, the worst of which can permanently disfigure or kill. Mosquito control efforts can be strengthened by better understanding all aspects of mosquito biology, but there is deficient information regarding sperm production in male mosquitoes. Understanding the sperm production and capacity of vector species may reveal new control strategies.

The goal of this research was to determine if larval exposure to sub-lethal concentrations, defined as killing less than half of the sample population, of pesticides negatively impacts the adult male reproductive health of the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say. This study quantified …

Baldcypress And Black Willow Growth Response To Contrasting Flood Regimes, Climate, And Competition, In The Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana, Alicia Louise Mcalhaney

LSU Master's Theses

Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems distinguished by their dependence on fluctuations of hydrologic influence. Although it is generally accepted that that flooding is a strong influence on growth, and that effects vary depending on whether water is stagnant or flowing, several aspects of flood characteristics and several tree species remain poorly investigated. One source of variability that has not been investigated is how flooding, climate, and competition among trees interact to control growth of individual trees. The objective of this study was therefore to 1) investigate effects of temporally varying hydrology and climate on growth of baldcypress and black willow trees …

Using Local Fishery Monitoring To Understand Small-Scale Coastal Fisheries In Tanzania, Matthew Robertson

LSU Master's Theses

Nearshore marine fisheries provide the main source of protein for nearly 9 million people in the coastal villages of Tanzania, yet for decades the fisheries have shown signs of overexploitation. These fisheries are small-scale and co-managed by local coastal communities in groups known as Beach Management Units (BMUs). BMUs monitor individual fishing trip data (e.g. gear, vessel, taxa); however, these data have only been analyzed in nationally aggregated statistics and to our knowledge, are not presently used in management decision making. The present thesis aimed to identify the forms of data and information that local fishery monitoring can record about …

Almond Milk Powder Fortification With Flaxseed Oil (Linum Usitatissimum) As An Alternative Non-Dairy Milk Powder For Infants And Toddlers, Federico Bueno

LSU Master's Theses

Lactose intolerances in toddlers have become a major concern. Almond milk (AM) has nutritional benefits and a texture like dairy milk without the content of lactose. Because of longer stability and storage, milk is often stored in powdered form. An almond milk fortified with flaxseed oil in powdered form may be an alternative. Flaxseed oil (FO) contains high amounts of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which is a precursor to DHA and EPA. The objectives of this study were: the development of an AM spray-dried powder with microencapsulated FO (AMFOP), the determination of the mass and energy balance of that AMFOP production, …

Influences Of Spiciness And Visual Color Cue On Salty Taste Intensity Perception In Reduced-Sodium Cheese Dips, Valentina Rosasco Silva

LSU Master's Theses

The current high levels of dietary sodium intake are negatively affecting consumers’ health. Reducing sodium consumption to the recommended amount could help prevent around 2.5 million deaths yearly and save up to $18 billion dollars in health care costs worldwide. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the possibility of increasing the saltiness perception and acceptability of reduced-sodium cheese dips by using the multisensory approach and analyzing gender differences towards salty taste expectations. Two experiments were conducted: I) The combined effects of gender and visual color cue on salty taste expectations, liking, and purchase intent (PI) of cheese …

Ecology Of Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus Planipennis: Buprestidae) In Louisiana, Balwinder Kaur

LSU Master's Theses

In 2015, emerald ash borer (EAB) was detected in North Louisiana (LA). There is no information on wood inhabiting insects of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall) trees, phenology and parasitoid establishment in LA. The first objective of the study was to quantify the insect assemblages and to compare their diversity, abundance and evenness within the epicenter of the EAB infestations in North LA including regions in Central and South LA where EAB has not been detected yet. We established four treatments, based on log diameter: small and large; and log condition: dead and live for green ash. All the …

Residual Effects Of Termiticides On Mortality Of Formosan Subterranean Termites, Coptotermes Formosanus Shiraki, In Substrates Subjected To Flooding, Rajani Sapkota

LSU Master's Theses

Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki) are one of the most important economic insects in the Southern US since they cause severe and costly damage to properties. Soil treatment with termiticides is the most widely used and reliable method for termite prevention, but their efficacy after a home floods, an all too common event for a homeowner in recent years, has prompted many pest control companies to suggest a new treatment is necessary. This can be expensive and possibly unnecessary. However, several factors such as termiticide water solubility and binding properties, soil type and soil leachability and the inherent …

Susceptibility Of Field-Collected Pupations Of The Corn Earworm, Helicoverpa Zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) From Three Southern States Of The U.S. To Cry1a.105 And Cry2ab2 Proteins, Gagandeep Kaur

LSU Master's Theses

The corn earworm (CEW), Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major target pest of pyramided Bt corn and Bt cotton in the U.S. In 2016 and 2017, notable corn ear damage and larval survival of CEW were observed on pyramided Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2 corn in some fields in northeast Louisiana. The objectives of this study were 1) to determine if the ear damage and larval survival observed in the area were due to resistance development to the Bt proteins in the plants, and 2) if resistance had occurred, to determine the approximate distributions of the resistance in the southern region of …

Evaluation Of Microbial Safety And Quality Of Louisiana Strawberries After Flooding, Shifa Shiraz

LSU Master's Theses

Rainfall and flooding have impacted the strawberry industry in Louisiana. Floodwater is an ideal medium for microbiological growth and may cause contamination of soil, agricultural water, and fresh produce with foodborne pathogens. This research aimed to evaluate the microbial safety and quality of strawberries after flooding. Three strains of generic Escherichia coli were used to establish a baseline population of approximately 10⁶ CFU/L (high contamination) and 10² CFU/L (low contamination) in floodwater. Five raised beds were filled with water to simulate a flooding event. Simulated floodwater was mixed with cow manure and spiked with generic E. coli then …

Within Season Hematological Changes In College Athletes With Sickle Cell Trait, Michael E. Owens

LSU Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To explore the hematological differences in African-American athletes with sickle cell trait (SCT) and healthy controls (CON) before preseason camp and the changes that occur after a full season. METHODS: Sixteen (n=8 SCT; n=8 position matched, CON) NCAA Division 1 athletes (12 football, 2 each women’s soccer and volleyball) had blood drawn before preseason camp, after and at the end of the season, and analyzed for Hb electrophoresis (Hb-A, Hb-A2, Hb-S, and Hb-F), complete blood count with differential, chemistry panel 26, and prothrombin time, activity and international normalized ratio (INR). RESULTS: Baseline total Hb was …

Effect Of Vitrification On Epigenetic Modifications And The Meiotic Spindle Of Bovine Oocytes, Emilio Jose Gutierrez-Castillo

LSU Master's Theses

While oocyte vitrification has become a common practice, it still faces some challenges such as the low survival rates after warming, probably related to cryoinjuries and cryoprotectant (CPA) toxicity. Evidence suggests that vitrification might have an effect on the patterns of some epigenetic marks including DNA methylation and histone acetylation. During fertilization and embryogenesis, key events for healthy and adequate embryo development take place, not only governed by the information contained within the DNA sequence, but also by epigenetic mechanisms.

This study was aimed at determining the effect of vitrification and CPA exposure, using a combination of ethylene glycol (EG) …

Paclitaxel Enhances Oncolytic Potential Of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 In Cancer Cells, Misagh Naderi

LSU Master's Theses

Taxanes are spindle poisons that bind to and stabilize microtubules resulting in mitotic arrest. Herpes simplex Typ-1 (HSV-1) virions utilize the microtubular network for intracellular transport during both virus entry and virus egress from infected cells. It has been reported previously that taxanes may synergize with oncolytic herpes simplex viruses in the treatment of experimental prostate and breast tumors in mice. Other reports have indicated that taxanes may inhibit viral replication in infected cells. In this study the previously characterized Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (OSVP), which was constructed in Kousoulas lab was used in conjugation with paclitaxel (taxol) …

Effects Of Application Timing And Soil Type On Optimal N Rate Requirement Of Sugarcane (Saccharum Spp.) And Changes In Soil Inorganic And Leaf N Concentrations, Joseph Martin Garrett

LSU Master's Theses

Research is limited on the effects of soil types and early nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications to N management strategies in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) production in Louisiana. This study was established in 2015 at two locations in St. Gabriel, LA to 1) determine the effect of fertilizer application timing and soil type on the optimal N rate requirement and yield of sugarcane and 2) relate the relationship of soil and leaf N content to yield at different growth stages with sugarcane yield. Treatments were set in a randomized block design on a clay soil and in a complete randomized …

Functional Plain Yogurt Enhanced With Inulin And Aloe Vera, Janny Melissa Mendoza Mencia

LSU Master's Theses

Yogurt has been recognized as a healthy food. Nutritional value of yogurt can be increased with the addition of aloe vera juice (AVJ) and inulin. People are interested in consuming products without artificial ingredients and with high content of bioactive compounds. The aims of this study were to develop a functional plain yogurt enhanced with inulin and AVJ, to evaluate the physicochemical properties, the enumeration of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, inulin content, and consumer acceptability. Six treatments were evaluated at day 1, 7, 14 and 30 at 4°C. Treatments were prepared using 2% fat milk, ABY culture, 5 …

Whole Tart Cherry Improves Disease Activity Index In Rat Model Of Dextran Sulfate Solution – Induced Ulcerative Colitis By Downregulating The Janus 1 And Janus 3 Kinases And Tnf - Alpha, Johana Alexandra Coronel

LSU Master's Theses

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disabling inflammatory bowel disease. UC is characterized by chronic, relapsing inflammation of the colon and rectum. Current treatments such as monoclonal antibodies against TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12/p40, adhesion molecules, Janus kinases (JAK) inhibitors have side effects or lose their effects over time. Alternative approaches with fewer side effects for patients are needed. Montmorency tart cherries (Prunus cerasus) are a good source of anti-inflammatory flavonoids. We hypothesized that regular consumption whole tart cherry (TC) standardized to its major anthocyanin content, namely cyanidin-3-glucosyl-rutinoside, would be effective in reducing inflammation in UC. The aim of this research was to …

Cloning, Purification, And Preliminary Dna-Binding And Unfolding Results For The Dna Polymerase I From The Psychrophile Psychromonas Ingrahamii, John Tod Baker

LSU Master's Theses

Psychromonas ingrahamii is a psychrophilic bacterium that lives in Arctic polar sea ice and grows at a temperature range of -12 to 10º C. This bacterium resides within veins inside the ice where the salinity is high, resulting in a freezing point depression and liquid water. The large fragment of DNA polymerase I from Psychromonas ingrahamii, called Klenpin, has been cloned, expressed, and purified in our laboratory. Although enzyme kinetic studies have been performed on a few psychrophilic enzymes, the thermodynamics of ligand binding and of protein stability have not been well studied for this class of extremophilic proteins. …

Effects Of Enhanced Efficiency Nitrogen Fertilizers On Agronomic Parameters And Loss Pathways In The Subtropical Mississippi Delta Region, Scott Michael Pensky

LSU Master's Theses

Minimizing nitrogen (N) loss is critical for improving N use efficiency (NUE) in crop production and reducing its effects on the environment. Management practices such as seasonal application timing of N fertilizers and the addition of enhanced efficiency N fertilizers (EENFs) were investigated for the high N requirement of the two most common cereal crops globally, corn (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), in the subtropical climate of Louisiana. Field research was established during the 2016 and 2017 seasons at the LSU Agricultural Center’s Dean Lee and Central research stations to examine the effect of different EENFs and …

Effects Of Dimethyl Sulfoxide And Glycerol Based Vitrification Protocols On Zona Pellucida Hardening In Mature Bovine Oocytes, Kaci Denise Rogers

LSU Master's Theses

Zona pellucida hardening is a natural process that occurs after oocyte fertilization to prevent polyspermic fertilization and to protect embryonic development. Pre-fertilization hardening of the zona pellucida however, decreases fertilization rates. Cryoprotectants have also been shown to negatively affect fertilization rates, one possible mechanism of which being through zona hardening. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different cryoprotectants on hardening of the zona pellucida using fresh mature bovine oocytes and vitrified mature bovine oocytes. Oocytes were post-slaughter from mixed breed cows. After collection, oocytes were randomly assigned to three cryoprotectant treatment groups: dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), glycerol or …

Evaluation Of Controlled-Release Nitrogen And Potassium Fertilizer In Louisiana Sugarcane Production, Samuel Kwakye

LSU Master's Theses

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp) production is an integral part of Louisiana's economy. Proper fertilizer management, particularly nitrogen (N) and potassium (K), optimizes sugarcane production. An experiment was established in 2015 at the LSU AgCenter Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, Louisiana to: (1) assess the effect of N and K fertilizer sources on sugarcane yield and quality parameters, and (2) monitor the changes in inorganic N and K levels in the soil at different sugarcane growth stages. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design on a Sharkey clay soil and complete randomized design on a Commerce …

Impact Of Sorghum Cultivar, Phenology, Nitrogen, And Silicon Fertilization On Melanaphis Sacchari Biology, Luna Lama

LSU Master's Theses

The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is an invasive pest of grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Since its first outbreak in sorghum in 2013, severe infestations have spread throughout the southern U.S. causing high economic losses. While insecticidal control has mitigated some of the impacts of this pest, a sustainable ecology-based management program is needed to reduce reliance on chemical control. We studied the effects of silicon (rates equivalent to 0 and 3360 kg Si/ha) and nitrogen (rates equivalent to 0, 110, and 220 kg N/ha) on M. sacchari growth and reproduction on resistant (DKS 37-07) and …

Role Of Mucin 19 In The Respiratory Tract, Kaitlin Mcbride

LSU Master's Theses

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a negative sense, single stranded RNA virus belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, and represents an important pathogen that causes severe respiratory disease worldwide. There is currently no vaccine against HMPV, so it is important to study the aspects of the immune response induced by HMPV. Because infiltration of mucus is a hallmark of HMPV infection, it is warranted to study the role of mucus in the disease process. Mucin proteins make up the major component of mucus and can be found within the airway and lungs. Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated a high upregulation of …

Determining Growth Characteristics And Control Programs For Nealley's Sprangletop (Leptochloa Nealleyi Vasey), Trace Buck

LSU Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Research was conducted at the LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research and Extension center near Alexandria, La in 2016 and 2017 to evaluate the growth characteristics and control of Nealley’s sprangletop. Nealley’s sprangletop is a relatively new weed with little research available to understand its growth habit and effective control strategies.

Nealley’s sprangletop undergoes a more drastic height increase of 212 to 742 mm, 4 to 6 WAE than Amazon sprangletop 377 to 612 mm in the same time frame. Averaged across harvest interval tiller and leaf number of Nealley’s sprangletop was approximately 50 and 40% less than Amazon sprangletop. …

Characterizing The Physiological Role Of Inward Rectifier Potassium (Kir) Channels In Tick Salivary Gland Function, Zhilin Li

LSU Master's Theses

The tick salivary gland is a critical tissue that enables blood feeding, maintenance of the ionic gradients, and facilitates pathogen transmission. Therefore, the broad objective of this investigation was to leverage pharmacological approaches to investigate the role of potassium ion channels to salivary gland function of Amblyomma americanum in an effort to identify a tractable target site for therapeutic development.

Data collected in Chapter 2 clearly illustrated that the A. americanum salivary gland is reliant upon inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channels for fluid secretion, which was similar to previous work performed by our laboratory on Drosophila salivary gland. Therefore, the …

Evaluation Of Growth Characteristics, Yield, Marketability And Nitrate Levels Of Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L) Cultivars Produced In South Louisiana, William D. Afton

LSU Master's Theses

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is an important leafy vegetable crop grown in worldwide food systems with the United States ranking second behind China in total production. In 2009 the USDA Food Economic Research Service reported 1,057,715 hectares of lettuce grown in the world. Lettuce is a common market crop grown across the United States. Nitrate (NO^3-) accumulation in lettuce and other leafy vegetables has been found to be a potential health threat and when consumed by humans, potentially causing methaemoglobinaemia and other diseases. There are four main types of lettuce and numerous cultivars within each type. Fresh …

Crayfish Harvesting Practices In The Southern Atchafalaya River Basin: Quantitative And Qualitative Assessment Of Harvester Techniques And Hydrologic Connectivity Influence On Harvesting Strategies, Ivan A. Vargas-Lopez

LSU Master's Theses

Fisheries produce important impacts around the world through the exploitation of a wide range of species. In Louisiana, crayfish is the most emblematic crustacean and supports a multi-million industry based on pond culture and harvest from natural habitats. Although the economic value (USD) of wild-harvested crayfish has decreased from 10% to 3% of total crayfish value from 2013 to 2015, wild harvested crayfish are highly desired by many consumers and have a strong socio-cultural importance in Louisiana and other Gulf of Mexico coastal regions. This project evaluated harvesting practices by: 1) field observation and mapping of harvest sites in southwestern …