Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Evaluation Of Hazelnuts As A Sustainable Crop In Illinois, Sharon Neva Dubosky

Masters Theses

Production of hazelnuts has historically been limited to regions with mild climates, with almost all hazelnut production in the United States occurring in Oregon. A recent boom in demand, along with an expanded selection of varieties with improved environmental tolerances, has pushed hazelnut production into new regions. Hazelnut production could prove profitable in areas of the Midwest that are less well-suited to the cultivation of maize and soybeans. However, the lack of varieties proven to thrive in the climatological conditions of this region (cold winters, hot summers, frequent drought) presents a barrier to the viability of hazelnut production. A trial …

Effectiveness Of Hand Removal For Small-Scale Management Of Japanese Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Paul V. Switzer, Ryan M. Cumming

Paul V. Switzer

Hand removal is often recommended as a method for small-scale control of Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman). In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of daily hand removal for controlling damage by Japanese beetles on grape plants. We also investigated whether the timing of the removal (at 0800, 1400, or 1900 hours, or at all 3 periods) inßuenced the effectiveness of the technique. We found that hand removal signiÞcantly lowered the number of beetles on, and consequently the damage to, grape plants relative to nonremoval controls. Of the single removal treatments, removal of beetles at 1900 hours was most effective, …

Effectiveness Of Hand Removal For Small-Scale Management Of Japanese Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Paul V. Switzer, Ryan M. Cumming

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Hand removal is often recommended as a method for small-scale control of Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman). In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of daily hand removal for controlling damage by Japanese beetles on grape plants. We also investigated whether the timing of the removal (at 0800, 1400, or 1900 hours, or at all 3 periods) inßuenced the effectiveness of the technique. We found that hand removal signiÞcantly lowered the number of beetles on, and consequently the damage to, grape plants relative to nonremoval controls. Of the single removal treatments, removal of beetles at 1900 hours was most effective, …

Effectiveness Of Hand Removal For Small-Scale Management Of Japanese Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Paul Switzer, Ryan Cumming

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Hand removal is often recommended as a method for small-scale control of Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman). In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of daily hand removal for controlling damage by Japanese beetles on grape plants. We also investigated whether the timing of the removal (at 0800, 1400, or 1900 hours, or at all 3 periods) inßuenced the effectiveness of the technique. We found that hand removal signiÞcantly lowered the number of beetles on, and consequently the damage to, grape plants relative to nonremoval controls. Of the single removal treatments, removal of beetles at 1900 hours was most effective, …

Comparison Of Sweet Corn Vigor With Ions And Sugars In Seed Leachate Of Five Isolene Pairs With Two Endosperm Types, Marla K. Faver

Masters Theses

Supersweet corn contains more sugar and less starch than traditional sweet corn which increases the sweetness of the kernel. Supersweet corn has increased in consumer popularity due to its sweeter flavor and ability to retain this sweeter flavor longer than traditional sweet corn. Two sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. rugosa) endosperm types (traditional and shrunken-2) are popular with consumers. The problem growers face with supersweet cultivars (shrunken-2) is poor seed vigor as shown by low field emergence and non-uniform stands.

Field emergence of plants was compared to laboratory germination for 5 sweet corn isoline pairs (genetically identical except for …

Effects Of Ozone During Soybean Seed Development On Seed Vigor, Karen A. Gerlach

Masters Theses

Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. cv 'Essex', 'Forrest' and 'Clark') seed were obtained from Dr. Mulchi of the University of Maryland. Seed from 1989 and 1990 were from plants which were exposed to three regimes of ozone during seed development including charcoal-filtered (no ozone), non-filtered (ambient ozone), and non-filtered + 40 n11^-1 O₃. Seed from 1994 were developed with four pollutant regimes of ozone during seed development including charcoal-filtered (no ozone), non-filtered (ambient ozone), non-filtered + 40 n11^-1, and non-filtered + 500 u11^-1 CO₂. The objective of this study was to assess …

Anatomical And Sem Studies Of The Pericarp And Aleurone Layer Of Two Supersweet Corn Cultivars, Tufail Ahmed

Masters Theses

Supersweet corn (Zea mays L. var. rugosa.) which contain endosperm mutant shrunken -2 exhibits low seed vigor and poor field emergence especially when soil temperature is 10-15 °C. Based on their emergence in the field at low temperature, they can be divided into two groups as tolerant and sensitive cultivars. Two cultivars 'Illini Gold' (Tolerant) and 'Honey 'n' Pearl' (Sensitive) were studied to see any anatomical differences, holes and cracks in the pericarp and air pockets between pericarp and aleurone layer. Significant differences were found in the thickness of pericarp. 'Illini Gold' cultivar has thicker pericarp and thin walled aleurone …

Leakage Of Solutes From Imbibing Seeds Of Supersweet Corn Cultivars That Differ In Tolerance To Low Germination Temperatures, Linda Kull

Masters Theses

Supersweet types of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var rugosa) with shrunken-2 endosperm are preferred by consumers because of their extra sweetness and postharvest retention of good flavor. However, their acceptance by growers is hindered due to reduced field emergence, especially in cold soils. This reduced emergence is related to seed quality. To examine differences between supersweet corn cultivars which are tolerant and sensitive to low temperatures, two cultivars were chosen based on their emergence in the field at low temperatures (10-15 C). 'Illini Gold' was chosen as the tolerant cultivar and 'Honey'n'Pearl' as the sensitive cultivar. Seeds …

How Potassium Affects Emergence Of Five Supersweet Corn (Zea Mays L. Var. Rugosa) Cultivars With Low Temperatures, Nombasa Tsengwa

Masters Theses

Supersweet types of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var rugosa) are sensitive to low temperature during emergence and thus have difficulty in establishing stands in early spring. This study investigated how banded potash affected establishment of five supersweet cultivars of sweet corn in fields and growth chambers.

In the field, sweet corn cultivars were planted near Urbana, Il on April 18 and July 22, 1991 with three levels of potash (0, 45 and 90 kg/ha) banded at planting. Several parameters of growth and development were measured approximately 2, 4 and 6 weeks after planting. No significant effect of potash was …

Mechanisms Controlling Tolerance Of Lettuce Seed To High Temperatures At Germination And Emergence, Margaret A. Mnichowicz

Masters Theses

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seed germination is inhibited when temperatures are higher than 25-30 C. The extent of this thermodormancy is affected by both genetic and environmental factors. Lettuce seed of four seedlots of "Empire" produced in the summers and winters of two years were sown in the field in late summer and early fall at Yuma, AZ to determine stand establishment with high soil temperatures. The seedlots produced in the summer had higher percent field emergence than those produced in the winter. Also, seed of these four seedlots were germinated in petri dishes in a growth chamber at 20, …

Potential Mechanisms Related To Salt Tolerance In Bean Plants, Sandra Baumgartner

Masters Theses

Phaseolus vulgaris (navy bean) and P. acutifolius (tepary bean) were grown hydroponically and stressed with -0.25 MPa NaCl for 9 days beginning 22 days after planting. Chloride and sodium distribution in leaves and roots as well as percent ion leakage as an indication of membrane integrity in leaves were determined. Chloride levels in NaCl treated plants were significantly higher than in controls. Chloride levels were not significantly different between plant parts or between plant species. Sodium distribution differed significantly between the roots of navy and tepary but not between the leaves of the two species. Navy root tissue contained twice …

The Effect Of A Bacteriophage On The Competition Of Rhizobium Japonicum Strains For Nodulation Of Glycine Max (L.) Merr, Lori Kelley

Masters Theses

The symbiotic relationship between Rhizobium japonicum (Kir.) Buch. and Glycine max (L.) Merr. was the concern of this thesis. This relationship occurs naturally in soybean fields. In the field there are many different strains of Rhizobium. Some of these strains fix atmospheric nitrogen more efficiently than others resulting in a higher crop yield. The problem is the more efficient nitrogen fixers are out-competed by less efficient nitrogen fixers. In order to solve this problem the more competitive strains have to be controlled. There are two main ways to do this. One is to increase the number of the desired …

The Influence Of Atrazine (2-Chloro-4-(Ethylamino)-6-(Isopropylamino-S-Triazine) On The Severity Of Gibberella Zeae-Induced Seedling Blight Of Corn, Louis A. Heaton

Masters Theses

Three corn inbreds were grown in artificially inoculated, steamed greenhouse soil amended with atrazine (2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine) to determine the herbicide's effect on the severity of Gibberella zeae (Schwabe) Petch-induced seedling blight. Corn inbreds used were Gibberella-resistant (FR632), Gibberella-intermediate (FRMo17), and Gibberella-susceptible (C123^HT). Soils were amended with atrazine at rates of 2, 15, and 30 ppm.

Susceptible inbred seedlings showed no response to the herbicide with symptims equally severe in controls and all 3 concentrations of atrazine. Intermediate inbred seedlings grown in all atrazine amended soils showed significantly more severe disease symptoms than controls. Soil amended with …

Production And Utilization Of Sunflower Food Plots At Shelbyville Wildlife Management Area, Illinois, Duane T. Dust

Masters Theses

Three sunflower (Helianthus annuus) fields from 3.2 ha to 1.0 ha in size, planted on the Shelbyville Wildlife Management Area, Illinois were analyzed for seed production and utilization by birds. Seed in heads and on the ground were sampled and species and numbers of birds in the fields were censused at two week intervals from September, 1976 to February, 1977. Decline in seed availability was most rapid in the smallest field and least rapid in the largest field. Fields and portions of fields adjacent to wooded cover were also utilized more rapidly. American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) …