Life Sciences Commons^™

4r Nitrogen And Water Optimization Combinations For Intermountain West Field Crops, Tina Sullivan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The concept of 4R (right source, rate, placement, and timing) management needs little introduction due to the surplus of nutrient studies in the literature for most cultivated crops. However, few studies have looked at these practices in the Intermountain West with nitrogen use, and fewer looked at 4R irrigation management. A survey was conducted to explore the interactions of nitrogen and irrigation management, test sensitivity to supply and price changes of nitrogen and irrigation for Utah and Idaho growers of small grains, corn, and potatoes, and determine the current adoption of precision agriculture options and identify the opportunities to improve. …

Genetic Characterization And Genome-Wide Association Mapping For Dwarf Bunt Resistance In Bread Wheat Accessions From The Usda National Small Grains Collection, Tyler Gordon, Rui Wang, David Hole, Harold Bockelman, J. Michael Bonman, Jianli Chen

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Key message

Dwarf bunt-resistant bread wheat accessions and SNP markers associated with DB resistance identified in this study are valuable resources for characterization and deployment of DB resistance in bread wheat.

Abstract

Dwarf bunt (DB), caused by Tilletia controversa J.G. Kühn, can significantly reduce grain yield and quality on autumn-sown wheat in regions with prolonged snow cover. DB can be managed with the use of resistant cultivars. The objectives of the present study were to characterize DB resistance in a large set of bread wheat accessions from the National Small Grains Collection and use a genome-wide association study approach to …

Genomic Variation Of Introduced Salvinia Minima In Southeastern United States, Carol A. Rowe, Donald P. Hauber, Paul G. Wolf

Ecology Center Publications

Common salvinia, Salvinia minima Baker (Salviniaceae), is a small, floating aquatic fern native to Central and South America that has invaded fresh water bodies in southeastern United States since the 1930s. We examined genetic variation across much of the introduced range of this species in the United States using codominant RAD-seq markers. Data from over 600 variable loci showed a reduction in heterozygosity from east to west in addition to a corresponding trend in assignment of samples to one of two genetic groups. Our data are consistent with previous published work and with the hypothesis that common salvinia had a …

Synthesizing Research And Education: Ecology And Genetics Of Independent Fern Gametophytes And Teaching Science Inquiry And Content Through Simulations, Aaron M. Duffy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The mission statements of Utah State University and the Department of Biology, as well as the requirements of funding agencies like the National Science Foundation encourage an integration of teaching and research. I have attempted to achieve that in my dissertation work by using tools I originally created to support and inform my biological research projects to teach science content and inquiry to middle school and undergraduate students.

Chapter 2 of this dissertation reports the results of surveys for Hymenophyllum wrightii, a fern with independent gametophyte populations in the Pacific Northwest, which improved our understanding of the range, distribution, …

The Ecology And Genetics Of Schoenoplectus Maritimus, An Important Emergent Macrophyte, Across Diverse Hydrologic Conditions—Implications For Restoration, Amanda Clare Sweetman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Wetlands in the Intermountain West are typically dominated by large monotypic stands of emergent wetland plants, are highly productive, and support millions of migratory birds as important stops along the Pacific Flyway. In systems with low species diversity, such as these, diversity within a species (intraspecific diversity) can play an important role in population fitness and ecosystem functioning and can impact restoration success. Our research was designed to inform future restoration and management activities by studying the pattern of diversity within and among natural plant populations, and by studying how hydrology and plant materials used in restoration (source and diversity …

Apoptotic And Epigenetic Induction Of Embryo Failure Following Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, Aaron Patrick Davis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The cloning of domestic species has tremendous potential, as the technology can be used in selective breeding, conservation, and the production of transgenic animals. The technique of cloning involves the transplant of DNA from a cell to a recipient gamete. Following transfer to a surrogate, the cloned embryo may successfully complete development to a live offspring. Despite intensive research, the success rate of cloning remains prohibitively low, and the potential benefits of cloning have not yet been realized. Embryos produced from cloning suffer from high rates of embryo degradation, implantation failure, and abortion. The goal of this dissertation research project …

Investing In Genetics, Bridger Feuz, Dillon M. Feuz

All Current Publications

Agriculture Extension professionals as well as other agriculture industry professionals often extol the virtues of being the” low cost producer.” In most cases being the low cost producer does lead to an increase in profitability. However, two different data sets have suggested a couple of areas that high profit producers actually spend more money on then low profit producers.

The Status Of Dwarfed Populations Of Short-Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma Hernandesi) And Great Plains Toads (Anaxyrus Cognatus) In The San Luis Valley, Colorado, Megan E. Lahti

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The San Luis Valley is a large valley formation in Colorado surrounded on either side by mountain ranges exceeding 4,267 m. Within the Valley, two of the 14 amphibian and reptile species are dwarfed: the short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi) and the Great Plains toad (Anaxyrus cognatus). Since its initial reporting in 1968 and confirmation in 1981, no research further investigating this dwarfism has been conducted. I collected morphological measurements to determine the extent and patterns of dwarfism of both species. I then investigated the genetics of both species using mitochondrial DNA to determine whether they are …

The Seventh Internationalconference On The Genetics Of Streptococci, Lactococci And Enterococci, R. A. Burne, D. Bessen, Jeff Broadbent, J. P. Claverys

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

The Seventh International Conference on the Genetics of Streptococci, Lactococci, and Enterococci, sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology, was held 18 to 21 June 2006, overlooking the sea in Saint Malo, Bretagne, France. The conference began in 1981 as the Streptococcal Genetics meeting, at a time when the genera Enterococcus and Lactococcus were still classified as Streptococcus spp. Through the years, this meeting has served as a quadrennial platform to showcase cutting-edge advances in the dissection of the underlying genetics of growth control, metabolism, extrachromosomal elements, substrate utilization, competence development, antibiotic resistance, and virulence of this fascinating group of …

Emerging Research Techniques & New Instrumentation For Plant Biology, Bruce Bugbee

Techniques and Instruments

We have not achieved an efficient food production system in US Agriculture by manipulating only the environment.

Genetic engineering techniques now allow us to quickly develop new crop cultivars.

Identification Of Key Genes Required For Abiotic Stress Response In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Saori Endo

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

To identify key genes that are required for stress response, a reverse genetics approach was taken to manipulate expression of candidate genes in plants. In this project, two potential regulatory genes which were originally identified as stress-responsive genes from a microarray experiment in Arabidopsis were examined for their roles in stress tolerance. Over-expression of gene A, which was up-regulated under stress conditions based on the array data, caused earlier flowering and improved plant growth under salinity and dehydration stress conditions at the seedling stage. Over-expression of gene B, which was down-regulated under stress conditions based on the array data, resulted …

Obesity: Environment Vs. Genetics, Kammi Marie Reeder Hansen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The prevalence of overweight and obese individuals is rising. Between 1980 and 1990 there was an 8% increase in the prevalence of obesity. Obesity is associated with many diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Over $39 billion dollars is spent annually on the illnesses associated with obesity. Our American culture has been blamed for the rise in obesity, yet there are obviously many people living in the American culture that are not obese. Researchers have turned to genetics to explain this phenomenon. This article will examine the many environmental factors that contribute to obesity and …

Evolutionary Genetics Of Canyon Treefrogs (Hyla Arenicolor), Roy A. Murray

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Population genetics is the study of the mechanisms that cause genetic change in populations over time. Genetic changes may lead to both adaptive evolution and speciation. While the former process is fairly well understood, many questions remain unanswered with regard to the process of speciation. How important is population isolation in the process of speciation? How long must populations be isolated before speciation is complete? Are the genetic changes that take place during speciation caused mainly by natural selection or does genetic drift play a substantial role? Can genetic drift alone lead to reproductive isolation? These types of questions have …

Carbon Allocation And Partitioning In Aspen Clones Varying In Sensitivity To Tropospheric Ozone, M.D. Coleman, R.E. Dickson, J.G. Isebrands, D.F. Karnosky

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Carbon Allocation In Aspen Clones Varying In Ozone Sensitivity, M.D. Coleman, R.E. Dickson, J.G. Isebrands, D.F. Karnosky

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Genetics And Applications Of Nisin Production In Lactococcus Lactis Subsp. Lactis And Conjugal Exchange Of This Trait, Jeffery R. Broadbent

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Chapter I reviews current literature on gene transfer systems in lactic acid bacteria, how genetically altered microorganisms for food are presently regulated, and how nisin is used as a food preservative.

Chapter II investigates previous reports which linked genes for nisin biosynthesis and sucrose utilization (Nip⁺Suc⁺) to plasmid DNA in two well characterized L. lactis subsp. lactis strains. Plasmid curing studies, conjugations, and DNA-DNA hybridizations indicated that these genes were encoded by chromosomal loci in all Nip⁺Suc⁺ strains examined. Similar results were noted in nisin-sucrose transconjugants of L. lactis subsp. cremoris and S. …

Ecotypic Differences In Heat Resistance Of Aspen Leaves, K.M. Peck, S.J. Wallner

Aspen Bibliography

Heat resistance of aspen (Populus tremuloides) leaves was assessed by stressing leaf discs in vitro and measuring electrolyte leakage. Leaves were obtained from trees growing at elevations of 1960, 2195, and 2454 m. Heat tolerance was greatest in leaf samples from trees growing at the lowest site. Trees propagated from these sites and grown at 1520 m for 2 years showed some increase in heat tolerance, but apparent ecotypic differences persisted

Natural Variation In Merchantable Stem Biomass And Volume Among Clones Of Populus Tremuloides Michx, G.A. Lehn, K.O. Higginbotham

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Variation Among Healthy And Deteriorating Aspen Clones, George A. Schier, R.B. Campbell

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Observations On The Ecology And Evolution Of Quaking Aspen, Populus Tremuloides, In The Colorado Front Range, Jeffry B. Mitton, Michael C. Grant

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Preliminary Assessment Of Defect Variation Among Aspen Clones In Northern Ontario, Jerry A. Kemperman, S. Navratil, J.T. Basham

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Genetics Of Quaking Aspen, Dean W. Einspahr, Lawson L. Winton

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Genetic Control Of Sex Ratio, Earliness And Frequency Of Flowering In Populus Tremuloides, F.A. Valentine

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Genetic Control Of Susceptibility To Hypoxylon Mammatum In Native Aspens, F.A. Valentine, P.D. Manion

Aspen Bibliography

Hypoxylon canker, caused by Hypoxylon mammatum (Wahl.) Mill. (sy., H. pruinatum (Slot.) Cke.) is one of the more serious diseases of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) but is rare on bigtooth aspen (P. grandidentata Michx.) (Graham et al., 1963).