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Spatial Distribution And Genetic Variability Of Reniform And Lance Nematodes In Cotton Agroecosystems, Claudia Holguin

All Dissertations

Rotylenchulus reniformis (reniform nematode) and Hoplolaimus columbus (Columbia lance nematode) are two of the main plant-pathogenic nematode species affecting cotton production in the United States. For the selection and implementation of effective management practices it is important to understand distribution patterns and population genetic structure of these two nematodes in cotton agroecosystems. In a three-year field study, the spatial distribution of reniform nematode was characterized in two commercial fields in South Carolina to determine the effects of relations with soil texture and crop rotation on reniform nematode distribution (Chapter 1). Results of this project suggest that population densities of reniform …

Chlorovirus Atcv-1 Is Part Of The Human Oropharyngeal Virome And Is Associated With Changes In Cognitive Functions In Humans And Mice, Robert H. Yolken, Lorraine Jones-Brando, David D. Dunigan, Geetha Kannan, Faith Dickerson, Emily Severance, Sarven Sabunciyan, C. Conover Talbot Jr., Emese Prandovszky, James R. Gurnon, Irina V. Agarkova, Flora Leister, Kristin L. Gressitt, Ou Chen, Bryan Deuber, Fangrui Ma, Mikhail V. Pletnikov, James L. Van Etten

James Van Etten Publications

Chloroviruses (family Phycodnaviridae) are large DNA viruses known to infect certain eukaryotic green algae and have not been previously shown to infect humans or to be part of the human virome. We unexpectedly found sequences homologous to the chlorovirus Acanthocystis turfacea chlorella virus 1 (ATCV-1) in a metagenomic analysis of DNA extracted from human oropharyngeal samples. These samples were obtained by throat swabs of adults without a psychiatric disorder or serious physical illness who were participating in a study that included measures of cognitive functioning. The presence of ATCV-1 DNA was confirmed by quantitative PCR with ATCV-1 DNA being …

Genetic And Aggressiveness Variation Among Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum Dry Bean Isolates From Brazil Fields, Willian Luis Antonio Zancan, James R. Steadman, Rebecca Higgins, Rachana Jhala, Jose Da Cruz Machado

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, infection of bean fields, has increased in Brazil. Fungicides application is the control strategy used due to lack of cultivars with complete disease resistance. To guide the use of isolates in resistance screening 25 S. sclerotiorum isolates from Brazilian dry bean fields were characterized using microsatellite markers, mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs) and aggressiveness. Microsatellite primer pairs were used to identify polymorphisms among the S. sclerotiorum isolates and MCGs were determined from interaction of all isolates grown side by-side. Aggressiveness was derived from a straw test where fungal mycelium was placed over a cut bean stem and rated for …

An Eriophyid Mite-Transmitted Plant Virus Contains Eight Genomic Rna Segments With Unusual Heterogeneity In The Nucleocapsid Protein, Satyanarayana Tatineni, Anthony J. Mcmechan, Everlyne N. Wosula, Stephen N. Wegulo, Robert A. Graybosch, Roy French, Gary L. Hein

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Eriophyid mite-transmitted, multipartite, negative-sense RNA plant viruses with membrane-bound spherical virions are classified in the genus Emaravirus. We report here that the eriophyid mite-transmitted Wheat mosaic virus (WMoV), an Emaravirus, contains eight genomic RNA segments, the most in a known negative-sense RNA plant virus. Remarkably, two RNA 3 consensus sequences, encoding the nucleocapsid protein, were found with 12.5% sequence divergence, while no heterogeneity was observed in the consensus sequences of additional genomic RNA segments. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, glycoprotein precursor, nucleocapsid, and P4 proteins of WMoV exhibited limited sequence homology with the orthologous proteins of other emaraviruses, while …

Effect Of Post-Anthesis Fungicide Applications To Manage Fusarium Head Blight In Winter Wheat, Anna Noversoke

Open Access Theses

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat, caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum, is currently considered one of the most economically important diseases on wheat in the North Central United States. The fungus causes light-weight "tombstone" grains to form and produces the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), reducing the yield and quality of the grain. Currently, farmers rely heavily on the sterol demethylase Inhibitor (DMI) triazole fungicide Prosaro (Bayer CropScience) to protect their crop from this disease. The optimal fungicide application timing is traditionally believed to be early anthesis - Feekes Growth Stage (FGS) 10.5.1. However, environmental conditions and uneven flowering across a …

Chlorovirus Skp1-Binding Ankyrin Repeat Protein Interplay And Mimicry Of Cellular Ubiquitin Ligase Machinery, Eric A. Noel, Ming Kang, Jiri Adamec, James L. Van Etten, George A. Oyler

James Van Etten Publications

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is targeted by many viruses that have evolved strategies to redirect host ubiquitination machinery. Members of the genus Chlorovirus are proposed to share an ancestral lineage with a broader group of related viruses, nucleo-cytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDV). Chloroviruses encode an Skp1 homolog and ankyrin repeat (ANK) proteins. Several chlorovirus-encoded ANK repeats contain C-terminal domains characteristic of cellular F-boxes or related NCLDV chordopox PRANC (pox protein repeats of ankyrin at C-terminal) domains. These observations suggested that this unique combination of Skp1 and ANK repeat proteins might form complexes analogous to the cellular Skp1-Cul1-F-box (SCF) ubiquitin ligase complex. …

A Novel Partitivirus That Confers Hypovirulence On Plant Pathogenic Fungi, Xueqiong Xiao, Jiasen Cheng, Jinghua Tang, Yanping Fu, Daohong Jiang, Timothy S. Baker, Said A. Ghabrial, Jiatao Xie

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Members of the family Partitiviridae have bisegmented double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genomes and are not generally known to cause obvious symptoms in their natural hosts. An unusual partitivirus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum partitivirus 1 (SsPV1/WF-1), conferred hypovirulence on its natural plant-pathogenic fungal host, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum strain WF-1. Cellular organelles, including mitochondria, were severely damaged. Hypovirulence and associated traits of strain WF-1 and SsPV1/WF-1 were readily cotransmitted horizontally via hyphal contact to different vegetative compatibility groups of S. sclerotiorum and interspecifically to Sclerotinia nivalis and Sclerotinia minor. S. sclerotiorum strain 1980 transfected with purified SsPV1/WF-1 virions also exhibited hypovirulence and associated traits similar …

Phytochemical, Antioxidant And Antibacterialpotential Of Elaeagnus Kologa (Schlecht.) Leaf., Zoe Merculieff, Shubharani Ramnath, Seethalakshmi Madhukar Sankoli, Sivaram Venkataramegowda, Ganti S. Murthy, Ruben Michael Ceballos

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective To screen different solvent extracts of Elaeagnus kologa (E. kologa) leaf to determine the phytochemicals, potent antioxidant and antibacterial activity to find out the possible source of applied pharmaceutical formulations. Methods Solvent extracts of leaf material were prepared using the Soxhlet apparatus. A study was performed on antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of leaf by 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl method. The phenolic and flavonoid content of all the fractions were determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Leaves were also subjected to protein and carbohydrate test. Results The total phenols, flavonoids were found to be high in petroleum ether as compare to other …

Diversity Of Bacteria Carried By Pinewood Nematode In Usa And Phylogenetic Comparison With Isolates From Other Countries, Diogo Neves Proença, Luís Fonseca, Thomas Powers, Isabel M.O. Abrantes, Paula V. Morais

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is native to North America and has spread to Asia and Europe. Lately, mutualistic relationship has been suggested between the pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus the causal nematode agent of PWD, and bacteria. In countries where PWN occurs, nematodes from diseased trees were reported to carry bacteria from several genera. However no data exists for the United States. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diversity of the bacterial community carried by B. xylophilus, isolated from different Pinus spp. with PWD in Nebraska, United States. The bacteria carried by PWN belonged to Gammaproteobacteria …

Bot Canker Pathogens Could Complicate The Management Of Phytophthora Black Pod Of Cocoa, Idowu Jaiyeola, Rufus J. Akinrinlola, Gbodope S. Ige, Oluwatimilehin O. Omoleye, Abiola Oyedele, Bayode J. Odunayo, Omotayo J. Emehin, Marcus O. Bello, Anthony O. Adesemoye

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Black pod is a major hindrance to cocoa production in Nigeria. It is caused by three different Phytophthora species with Phytophthora megakarya as the most important species in Nigeria and West African subregion. Phytophthora spp. may enhance infections by opportunistic pathogens such as members of the Botryosphaeriacea that cause branch and trunk cankers in many woody plants across the world. Botryosphaeriacea has not been reported in cocoa nor in any woody plants in Nigeria to our knowledge. In the cocoa belt of Nigeria, research and understanding on cocoa black pod and Phytophthora is limited partly because of delayed or no …

Tombusvirus-Yeast Interactions Identify Conserved Cell-Intrinsic Viral Restriction Factors, Zsuzsanna Sasvari, Paulina Alatriste Gonzalez, Peter D. Nagy

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

To combat viral infections, plants possess innate and adaptive immune pathways, such as RNA silencing, R gene and recessive gene-mediated resistance mechanisms. However, it is likely that additional cell-intrinsic restriction factors (CIRF) are also involved in limiting plant virus replication. This review discusses novel CIRFs with antiviral functions, many of them RNA-binding proteins or affecting the RNA binding activities of viral replication proteins. The CIRFs against tombusviruses have been identified in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), which is developed as an advanced model organism. Grouping of the identified CIRFs based on their known cellular functions and subcellular localization in yeast …

Chlorovirus Pbcv-1 Encodes An Active Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutase, Ming Kang, Garry A. Duncan, Charles Kuszynski, George Oyler, Jiayin Zheng, Donald F. Becker, James L. Van Etten

James Van Etten Publications

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are metalloproteins that protect organisms from toxic reactive oxygen species by catalyzing the conversion of superoxide anion to hydrogen peroxide and molecular oxygen. Chlorovirus PBCV-1 encodes a 187-amino-acid protein that resembles a Cu-Zn SOD with all of the conserved amino acid residues for binding copper and zinc (named cvSOD). cvSOD has an internal Met that results in a 165-amino-acid protein (named tcvSOD). Both cvSOD and tcvSOD recombinant proteins inhibited nitroblue tetrazolium reduction of superoxide anion generated in a xanthine-xanthine oxidase system in solution. tcvSOD was chosen for further characterization because it was easier to produce. Recombinant tcvSOD …

Phenotypic Diversity In Lysobacter Enzymogenes In Relations To Biological Control, Ya Li

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Strains of the bacterium Lysobacter enzymogenes have been isolated from various regions of the world and reported to have potential as biological control agents against plant pathogens. Previous research revealed many ecological traits and mechanisms important to biological control by L. enzymogenes. Much of the previous research, however, was conducted on individual strains with little direct comparison of different strains. In this study, L. enzymogenes strains isolated from different locations and source materials (soil, roots, leaves) were compared for biocontrol-related phenotypic traits in vitro, epiphytic and endophytic colonization of leaves, and biocontrol of Bipolaris leaf spot on tall fescue. …

Panicum Mosaic Virus Complex And Biofuels Switchgrass, Catherine Louise Stewart

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

New switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivars are being developed for use as a biofuel pyrolysis feedstock. Viral pathogens have been reported in switchgrass, but their importance in biofuel cultivars is not well known. In 2012 surveys of five switchgrass breeding nurseries in Nebraska, plants with mottling and stunting— symptoms associated with virus infection—had an incidence of symptomatic plants within fields as high as 59%. Leaves from 120 symptomatic plants were analyzed by ELISA for Panicum mosaic virus (PMV) and four other viruses known to infect switchgrass. Most samples (87%) were positive for PMV, and fewer than 8% for the …

Cell Type-Dependent Rna Recombination Frequency In The Japanese Encephalitis Virus, Wei-Wei Chiang, Chingkai Chuang, Mei Chao, Wei-June Chen

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is one of approximately 70 flaviviruses, frequently causing symptoms involving the central nervous system. Mutations of its genomic RNA frequently occur during viral replication, which is believed to be a force contributing to viral evolution. Nevertheless, accumulating evidences show that some JEV strains may have actually arisen from RNA recombination between genetically different populations of the virus. We have demonstrated that RNA recombination in JEV occurs unequally in different cell types. In the present study, viral RNA fragments transfected into as well as viral RNAs synthesized in mosquito cells were shown not to be stable, especially …

Management Of Root Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne Incognita ) In Indiana Soybeans, David Edgardo Perla Martinez

Open Access Theses

The aim of this project was to evaluate different strategies for management of Root Knot Nematode (RKN) on soybean and tomato in Indiana. Seed treatments were evaluated under field and greenhouse conditions, but no effect on RKN populations was observed. Soybean lines evaluated for resistance to RKN under greenhouse conditions showed that six lines may be resistant to RKN. Four different commercial mustard cover crops were evaluated for their bio-fumigant impact on RKN populations in the production of tomato. Euruca sativa, Cv. Nemat was a poor host of RKN. A positive impact on the vigor of the tomato plants followed …

Expression Of Chlorovirus Mt325 Aquaglyceroporin (Aqpv1) In Tobacco And Its Role In Mitigating Drought Stress, Saadia Bihmidine, Mingxia Cao, Ming Kang, Tala Awada, James L. Van Etten, David Dunigan, Thomas E. Clemente

James Van Etten Publications

Main conclusions A Chlorovirus aquaglyceroporin expressed in tobacco is localized to the plastid and plasma membranes. Transgenic events display improved response to water deficit. Necrosis in adult stage plants is observed.

Aquaglyceroporins are a subclass of the water channel aquaporin proteins (AQPs) that transport glycerol along with other small molecules transcellular in addition to water. In the studies communicated herein, we analyzed the expression of the aquaglyceroporin gene designated, aqpv1, from Chlorovirus MT325, in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), along with phenotypic changes induced by aqpv1 expression in planta. Interestingly, aqpv1 expression under control of either a constitutive or …

Coordinated And Distinct Functions Of Velvet Proteins In Fusarium Verticillioides, Nan Lan, Hanxing Zhang, Chengcheng Hu, Wenzhao Wang, Ana M. Calvo, Steven D. Harris, She Chen, Shaojie Li

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Velvet-domain-containing proteins are broadly distributed within the fungal kingdom. In the corn pathogen Fusarium verticillioides, previous studies showed that the velvet protein F. verticillioides VE1 (FvVE1) is critical for morphological development, colony hydrophobicity, toxin production, and pathogenicity. In this study, tandem affinity purification of FvVE1 revealed that FvVE1 can form a complex with the velvet proteins F. verticillioides VelB (FvVelB) and FvVelC. Phenotypic characterization of gene knockout mutants showed that, as in the case of FvVE1, FvVelB regulated conidial size, hyphal hydrophobicity, fumonisin production, and oxidant resistance, while FvVelC was dispensable for these biological processes. Comparative transcriptional analysis of …

Pattern And Rate Of Decline Of A Population Of Carolina Hemlock (Tsuga Caroliniana Engelm.) In North Carolina, Foster Levy, Elaine S. Walker

ETSU Faculty Works

We monitored a population of Carolina Hemlocks in northwestern North Carolina for four years to examine the rate and pattern of decline in response to infestation by Adelges tsugae (Hemlock Woolly Adelgid). Our yearly census of hemlock condition and severity of the adelgid infestation included trees of all sizes. We estimated declines in condition as the portions of the leaf canopy that were lost. Initially, infestation occurred throughout the population but was severe in only a small cluster of individuals. Within 1 year, the area of severe infestation increased in size to encompass 48% of the population. In another region …

A Coordinated Effort To Manage Soybean Rust In North America: A Success Story In Soybean Disease Monitoring, E. J. Sikora, T. W. Allen, K. A. Wise, G. Bergstrom, C. A. Bradley, J. Bond, D. Brown-Rytlewski, M. Chilvers, J. Damicone, E. Dewolf, Ohio State University Dorrance, N. Dufault, P. Esker, T. R. Faske, L. Giesler, N. Goldberg, J. Golod, I. R. G. Gomez, C. Grau, A. Grybauskas, G. Franc, R. Hammerschmidt, G. L. Hartman, R. A. Henn, D. Hershman, C. Hollier, T. Isakeit, S. Isard, B. Jacobsen, D. Jardine, R. Kemerait, S. Koenning, M. Langham, D. Malvick, S. Markell, J. J. Marois, S. Monfort, D. S. Mueller, J. Mueller, R. Mulrooney, M. Newman, L. Osborne, G. B. Padgett, B. E. Ruden, J. Rupe, R. Schneider, H. Schwartz, G. Shaner, S. Singh, E. Stromberg, L. Sweets, A. Tenuta, S. Vaiciunas, X. B. Yang, H. Young-Kelly, J. Zidek

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Existing crop monitoring programs determine the incidence and distribution of plant diseases and pathogens and assess the damage caused within a crop production region. These programs have traditionally used observed or predicted disease and pathogen data and environmental information to prescribe management practices that minimize crop loss (3,69). Monitoring programs are especially important for crops with broad geographic distribution or for diseases that can cause rapid and great economic losses. Successful monitoring programs have been developed for several plant diseases, including downy mildew of cucurbits, Fusarium head blight of wheat, potato late blight, and rusts of cereal crops (13,36,51,80).

Potential Susceptibility Of Canna Flaccida And Two Canna Hybrids To Five Species Of Phytophthora, Kristin Van Kampen

All Theses

The costs and need for clean water are increasing for greenhouse, nursery, and agricultural businesses. Runoff from irrigated agriculture and specialty crops also can take a toll on the surrounding environment, because irrigation runoff water can contain high amounts of nutrients, contaminants, and plant pathogens. To assuage the pollution contributed to runoff water and reduce the overall volume of water used, nurseries are starting to reuse irrigation runoff water. For this to be possible, the water first should be treated before reuse. Constructed wetlands are a biological treatment option that employs vegetation to collect, filter, and store runoff water. Some …

Surface-Soil Properties Of Alder Balds With Respect To Grassy And Rhododendron Balds On Roan Mountain, North Carolina—Tennessee, James T. Donaldson, Zachary C. Dinkins, Foster Levy, Arpita Nandi

ETSU Faculty Works

We analyzed soils in Alder Bald, Grassy Bald, and Rhododendron Bald communities on Roan Mountain to infer the influence of vegetation on soil and to help guide management strategies. In all vegetation types, soils were acid (pH = 4–5) sandy loams. We found vegetation-associated differences for organic content, cation exchange capacity, acidity, two plant macronutrients (K, Mg), and three cations (Fe, Na, Zn). We predicted that nitrogen compounds would be highest in the Alder Bald because Alnus viridis ssp. crispa (Green Alder) can harbor nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Organic content was highest at the alder-bald sites, ammonium was similar among vegetation types, …

Biology And Control Of Rice False Smut Caused By Ustilaginoidea Virens (Teleomorph Villosiclava Virens), Andrew Clayton Jecmen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rice false smut (FS), a disease caused by Ustilaginoidea virens (Cke.) Takahashi (1896), was first reported in northeastern Arkansas counties in 1997. The first objective of this research was to establish a collection of U. virens isolates from geographically diverse regions of Arkansas. Three U. virens isolates and chlamydospores from `Templeton' and `Clearfield-151' rice cultivars were used to determine the effects of temperature and pH on mycelial growth and germination. A nested-PCR protocol and histological methods were used to determine if U. virens infects and colonizes rice seedlings and spikelets on panicles. The sensitivity of three U. virens isolates was …

Relationship Between 1,3-Dichloropropene And Nitrogen Fertility In Cotton In The Presence Of Root-Knot And Reniform Nematodes, Amanda Michelle Greer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The use of soil fumigation for nematode management in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) has become increasingly popular in recent years in the absence of effective resistant cultivars. While soil fumigation is relatively expensive, lint yields have consistently been improved to make this practice profitable in fields with severe nematode pressure. Growers in southern Arkansas have observed changes in cotton growth patterns when severely infested fields are fumigated. The most noticeable change has been excessive (rank) growth resulting in an increased need for growth regulators, especially where the nitrogen fertilization exceeds standard recommendations. Field studies were conducted between 2007 and 2010 to …

Population Dynamics Of Triticum Mosaic Virus In Various Host Species, Melissa S. Bartels

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

It has been established that RNA viruses should be genetically diverse, due to the high error rate of their RNA-dependent RNA polymerases and the lack of proof-reading capabilities. Plant RNA viruses are not as genetically diverse as expected. Evolutionary factors, such as purifying selection and bottlenecks that favor genetic stability, might be affecting plant viral populations. Otherwise RNA virus populations, with their potential for extreme diversity, might acquire a lethal number of mutations leading to the collapse of the population.

Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) populations maintained in a controlled greenhouse environment displayed genetic stability. The mutation frequency per nucleotide of …

Fungicide Resistance In Botrytis Cinerea From Strawberry - Molecular Mechanisms And Management, Anja Grabke

All Theses

The United States is the largest producer of strawberries worldwide, generating approximately $2.4 billion worth of fruit each year. Strawberry production, however, is often threatened by pathogens. One of the most destructive fungal pathogens is Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold disease. The control of gray mold in commercial fields is largely dependent on the application of fungicides, including the dicarboximide iprodione and the hydroxyanilide fenhexamid. Because both fungicides are prone to resistance development, a survey was conducted to determine the occurrence and prevalence of fungicide resistance. Single-spore isolates were collected from strawberry fields in Florida (for …

Efficacy Of Rice Insecticide Seed Treatments At Selected Nitrogen Rates For Control Of The Rice Water Weevil, Lissorhoptrus Oryzophilus Kuschel, Mallory Elise Everett

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Seed-applied insecticides are the standard control method used to prevent rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel) injury to rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots, and often results in greater yields than rice that receives no seed-applied insecticide. Yield increases from seed-applied insecticides often occur even when insect pressure is low and should not cause yield loss. The research objective was to evaluate the effect of urea-nitrogen rate and seed-applied insecticide on number of rice water weevil larvae, nitrogen uptake and rice grain yield. Six trials were conducted at the Pine Tree Research Station (PTRS) and the Rice Research Extension Center (RREC) …

Impact Of Early Infestation Of Two-Spotted Spider Mites (Tetranychus Urticae) On Cotton Growth And Yield, Luis Orellana Jimenez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1836) are pests of vegetables, ornamentals, and row crops around the world. Two-spotted spider mites have become an important long-season pests of cotton, causing injury to cotton from an early vegetative stage. In the past eight years, Arkansas cotton acreage treated for spider mites has more than doubled and most of the increase has been attributed to early season infestations. Yield losses of up to 30% have been observed in other studies where spider mite infestation started at third true leaf. Because of the apparent change in this pest's population dynamics, particularly at …

Noncanonical Role For The Host Vps4 Aaa+ Atpase Escrt Protein In The Formation Of Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus Replicase, Daniel Barajas, Isabel Fernández De Castro Martín, Judit Pogany, Cristina Risco, Peter D. Nagy

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Assembling of the membrane-bound viral replicase complexes (VRCs) consisting of viral- and host-encoded proteins is a key step during the replication of positive-stranded RNA viruses in the infected cells. Previous genome-wide screens with Tomato bushy stunt tombusvirus (TBSV) in a yeast model host have revealed the involvement of eleven cellular ESCRT (endosomal sorting complexes required for transport) proteins in viral replication. The ESCRT proteins are involved in endosomal sorting of cellular membrane proteins by forming multiprotein complexes, deforming membranes away from the cytosol and, ultimately, pinching off vesicles into the lumen of the endosomes. In this paper, we show an …

Characterization Of Microorganisms From Alfalfa Seeds Inoculants, Benedicte Diatta, Kalianna Kennoy, Silvia Rossbach

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

Atmospheric nitrogen fixation can be accomplished by free living microorganisms or by symbiosis between legume plants and rhizobia. The symbiosis between the alfalfa plant and Sinorhizobium meliloti is one example of the symbiotic relationship between legume plants and rhizobia. During the symbiosis, the rhizobia fix nitrogen for the plant and the plant in return provides carbohydrates for the bacteria. In order to maximize the plant’s yield in agriculture, recent technologies used include seed inoculants. Seed inoculation methods rely on coating the seeds with plant-growth promoting bacteria. Besides nitrogen-fixing bacteria, the seeds may also be coated with microorganisms aiding in mineral …