Life Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Chemical Variation On Competition And Insect Communities Across Solidago Altissima Genotypes, Bryan Scott Foster Ii

Masters Theses

Individuals within a plant species can differ greatly from one another, especially regarding the range of chemical compounds produced. However, the functions of many of these chemicals are unknown, but likely include defenses against herbivores, attractants for pollinators and seed dispersers, as well as mechanisms for resource competition. To assess the effects of foliar chemical composition on interspecific plant competition and insect communities, I conducted a common garden and greenhouse experiment using 24 genotypes of the allelopathic species Solidago altissima for which the foliar chemistry had been characterized. Using these data and chemical profiles of S. altissima, I linked …

Comparative Leaf Anatomy Of C3 And Cam Species In Oncidiinae (Maxillarieae, Orchidaceae), Samuel A. Eident

Masters Theses

The subtribe Oncidiinae is a diverse group of mostly epiphytic orchids within the tribe Maxillarieae, consisting of 55 genera and 1700 species. In this group, there have been many studies examining morphological and anatomical variation as well as metabolic pathways of carbon fixation, but most have not integrated morphological and anatomical variation with a physiological aspect of inquiry. The objective of my research was to establish a suite of anatomical characteristics that can be used to distinguish between C₃ and CAM species. Secondarily, I hoped to use that suite of characteristics in determining whether intermediate CAM species (those that …

Successional Changes In Leaf Nutrient Concentrations Of Woody And Herbaceous Species, Daniel Walter Kuchta

Masters Theses

Leaf nutrient concentrations are an example of a functional trait, a trait that can be used to understand community dynamics by observing how plants interact with their environment. I explored how leaf nutrient concentrations were affected over successional time by environmental changes. The majority of prior research on functional traits focuses on either woody or herbaceous species, but not both life forms simultaneously. To address this, I also explored the successional changes to leaf nutrient concentrations, separating the plant community into woody and herbaceous species.

Healthy, mature leaves were taken from 122 taxa of woody and herbaceous species in a …

The Functional Role Of Leaf Nutrients In An Old-Field Successional Community, Kirstin I. Duffin

Masters Theses

In functional ecology, traits that capture aspects of plant performance are used to understand how organisms interact with their environment. Leaf nutrients are an example of a functional trait that directly links to plant metabolic processes and therefore may describe plant assemblage dynamics. Multivariate leaf nutrient analyses may be used with other functional traits to understand ecological strategies because they are a direct measure of leaf metabolic processes and can describe nuances in plant allocation patterns. In this thesis, I explored (1) whether a suite of leaf nutrients (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) was related to plant growth …

Morphological And Ecological Investigations Of Species Of Bulrush (Scirpus) In Illinois, Julian G. Moore

Masters Theses

Two closely related species of bulrush, Scirpus atrovirens (Green bulrush) and Scirpus georgianus (Georgia bulrush), are widely distributed in Illinois. They are difficult to separate in the field, but readily distinguishable under magnification in the lab. These two species have been found in moist meadows, shallow marshes, edges of wet forests, and ditches. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological and ecological distinctness of the species with the aim toward discovering and describing other features to distinguish them reliably. Eighty plants of Scirpus atrovirens and 80 of Scirpus georgianus were examined. Fifty S. atrovirens and 50 S. …

Tissue Culture In Rice (Oryza Sativa L. Subsp. Japonica Var. Lemont), Young M. Woo

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to obtain callus induction and subsequent plantlet regeneration from various explants of rice (Oryza sativa L. subsp. japonica var. Lemont). Callus induction occurred from the somatic cells of ovary wall, immature and mature embryos, immature endosperm, stem nodes, and seedlings. Plantlets were regenerated from embryo-, endosperm-, and stem node-derived calli on differentiation media. Stem nodes were the most responsive to callus induction. Requirements for optimal callus formation and plantlet regeneration differed from each culture. The study investigated the effects of cold treatment of explants, initial culture in darkness, media, and subculture for individual explant …

Callus Formation And Differentiation In Embryos Of The Coconut Palm (Cocos Nucifera L.), Jyoti Mangesh Desai

Masters Theses

Embryos of Cocos nucifera L. were allowed to develop on various agar based, plant tissue culture media. Environmental conditions, temperature, light intensity levels and photoperiod were regulated throughout the period of the experiment. The anatomy of commercially available embryos (excised from the "seed") and tissues that developed in culture (calli, roots and leaves) was determined. Prepared slides and tissues obtained in culture were photographed and printed. Callus, root and shoot formation were successful. However, "embryoids" which would have eventually led to free living plantlets were not obtained during this study. Successful regeneration of plantlets in culture would require improved techniques.

Some Effects Of Viterra 2 Hydrogel On Soil Physics And Plant Growth, Julia E. Maserang

Masters Theses

The effects of hydrogel on various aspects of plant growth and soil physics were determined for Tagetes patula (marigold) and Vinca rosea growing in 'PRO-MIX' soilless potting medium.

The addition of hydrogel at various concentrations to the potting medium increased the water-holding capacity of the medium, thus extending the hours-to-wilt of plants growing in this medium. While hydrogel had no effect on plant height, flowering time, plant color, soil pH or soil nitrate concentration, plant weight and flower number did appear to increase between the control and highest hydrogel treatment. As hydrogel concentration within the medium increased, percent total seed …

Juglans Cinerea: The American White Walnut, Dennis Robert Hattermann

Masters Theses

The American white walnut Juglans cinerea L. is a native North American tree in the Juglandaceae, or walnut family. It prefers rich, moist, rather neutral to slightly basic lowland soils. This is an in depth study of its taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, age, size, growth habit, distribution, ecology, propagation, economic importance, medicinal uses, toxicity, folklore, diseases and pests, and chemical constituents.

J. cinerea L. is monoecious and confined in its distribution to the eastern and central parts of North America. It can be easily identified by its large, pinnately compound leaves and ashy-gray bark with broad, flat plates and deep furrows. …

Some Effects Of Simulated Acid Rain On Cool Season Turfgrasses, Robert C. Morrow

Masters Theses

Six varieties of cool season turfgrasses were exposed to simulated acid rainfall with treatments consisting of a sulfuric acid solution, a nitric acid solution, and a 50-50 mixture of both. Each solution was used to make "acid rain" of pHs 3.0, 2.5, 2.0, and 1.5.

Height measurements showed decreases in growth throughout the experiment for all treatments except the nitric and 50-50 acid treatments at pHs of 2.0 and 1.5, which maintain fairly constant growth. Analysis of nitrate, phosphorous, and potassium levels in the soil indicated heavy leaching of the nitrates and potassium from most soil samples, which probably account …

The Effects Of N-Serve On The Availability Of Urea And Ureaformaldehyde Nitrogen On Lolium Perenne L., Ronald E. Schroll

Masters Theses

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of "N-Serve" (DOW) on the availability of urea nitrogen and the subsequent greening effect on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seedlings as compared to the availability of nitrogen and subsequent greening from a controlled release ureaformaldehyde fertilizer. A low organic matter sandy loam soil and a high organic matter clay loam soil were used in this study. Soil treatments of urea and ureaformaldehyde fertilizers were applied and incorporated at concentrations of 0, 25, 38, and 50 ppm-N. N-Serve at concentrations of 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 ppm active ingredient were applied and …

Translocation Of C14-Labeled Assimilates In Squash Petioles, William John Raupp

Masters Theses

A qualitative analysis of sieve tube sap was undertaken to help determine the method of assimilate movement in phloem. Hydroponically-grown squash plants (Cucurbita melopepo torticollis Bailey) were trimmed to a mature, fully-expanded leaf (the source) and one or more immature, unexpanded leaves (the sinks). The blade of the source leaf was exposed to C¹⁴O₂ in air for 10 minutes and allowed to translocate for 20 or 50 minutes in ambient air. Petioles of treated leaves were cut into sections and ground in cold buffer with a chilled mortar and pestle to extract materials from the translocation stream. …

Biosystematic Studies Of Impatiens Pallida And Impatiens Biflora (Balsaminaceae), Sandra M. Buening

Masters Theses

Impatiens pallida Nutt. and Impatiens biflora Walt. are two closely related species which grow together in mixed populations but do not hybridize. Flower buds of each species were enclosed with glycine bags to prevent insect pollination. These were left isolated until after anthesis to test for self-pollination and self-compatibility. Neither capsule formation nor seed set were observed.

Chromosomal smears showed that each species has a haploid number of ten chromosomes. Polyploidy was not observed.

Field observations of insect pollinators (primarily bees) showed indiscriminate visitation.

Flower buds were again bagged as before. During anthesis, individuals of the two species were cross-pollinated …

The Cirsium Altissimum - Discolor Complex In Illinois, Dennis R. Bischoff

Masters Theses

Cirsium altissimum, C. discolor and suspected hybrids used in this study were collected during September 1977 from three locations in east central Illinois. All were combined for subsequent taking of data because the study dealt with incidence of hybridization and morphological discriminators rather than degrees and directions of introgression. Ten possible discriminators were chosen by examination of herbarium specimens of parental plants: I, Involucre width; II, Involucre height; III, Pubescence of upper leaf surface; IV, Angle of departure of main veins from the midrib; V, Number of spines per cm along the margin; VI, Length of indurate portion of …

Aquatic Plant Communities Of Vermilion County, Illinois, John A. Wiedman

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Megasporogenesis And Early Embryogeny Of Sanguinaria Canadensis L. (Bloodroot), Stephen R. Foor

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Broomsedge In Illinois, David F. Kunz

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Photoperiodism And Dormancy In Silver Maple Seedlings, Maria Regis Kilkenny

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Ethnobotanical Studies On Selected Plants Of Northeastern Mexico, Wayne M. Pichon

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Survey Of The Lichen Flora Of Turkey Run State Park In Parke County, Indiana, Charles J. Mertz

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Old Field Succession In Pinellas County, Florida, Roger T. Poole

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Vegetation Survey Of Floodplain Forests Along The Wabash River, Philip E. Phillippe

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of 1-Naphthaleneacetic Acid And Kinetin On Leaf Abscission In Coleus Blumei Benth, Armand R. Loffredo

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of The Ontogeny Of Macrosclereids And Osteosclereids In The Integument Of Cassia Fasciculata And Desmodium Canadense, Philip John Arnholt

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.