Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of Poultry Litter Biochar On Early Season Cotton Growth, Taylor D. Coomer, David E. Longer, Derrick M. Oosterhuis, Dimitra A. Loka

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Cotton is known for being sensitive to cool, wet soils, especially in the early stages of growth. Amendments to soil can aid cotton seedlings in development and nutrient uptake. However, soil amendments can be costly and detrimental to the environment, and alternatives such as the addition of biochar have been considered. Biochar is produced from biomass that has gone through pyrolysis and has been shown to improve plant yield, microbial response, soil structure, soil cation–exchange capacity, and water use efficiency. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar on early season cotton growth. The aim of this study …

International Polar Year (Ipy) Back To The Future (Btf): Changes In Arctic Ecosystem Structure Over Decadal Times Scales, Sandra Villarreal

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Arctic vegetation communities are responding to climate warming through shifts in species composition and diversity but most observations have been made over relatively short time frames, and/or in association with experimental manipulations. Because vegetation plays a key role in regulating ecosystem productivity, nutrient cycling, surface energy budgets, and trophic interactions in the Arctic, there is a need to better understand shifts in tundra vegetation communities over decadal time scales. Understanding these shifts and their impact on ecosystem structure and function in the Arctic has important implications for predicting the future state of both the Arctic and the Earth System. Long …

The Effects Of Multiple Abiotic Stressors On The Susceptibility Of The Seagrass Thalassia Testudinum To Labyrinthula Sp., The Causative Agent Of Wasting Disease, Nichole Danielle Bishop

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the past century, seagrasses have experienced massive die off episodes in what has been collectively referred to as “wasting disease.” Researchers generally agree that wasting disease is caused by a protist of the Labyrinthula genus, and that environmental stressors can make some populations of seagrasses more susceptible to infection. The purpose of this study was to examine the combined effects of elevated salinity, elevated temperature, elevated sulfide and night-time hypoxia on Thalassia testudinum health and its response to Labyrinthula sp. infection under controlled conditions. To test these effects, microcosms were utilized and individual seagrass shoots were randomly assigned to …

Does Pitcher Plant Morphology Affect Spider Residency?, Marc A. Milne, Deborah A. Waller

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Spiders are often found as residents in association with Sarracenia purpurea ( Purple Pitcher Plant). Many spiders choose web locations based on environmental cues such as vegetation structure and composition, prey density, temperature, and humidity. To determine if spiders use cues from the Purple Pitcher Plant to build their webs, we conducted a field study using variants of the plant that separated various morphological features: nectar, pigment, and the presence of prey. There was no difference in spider residency across all treatments and no difference in male/female or mature/immature residency. Linyphiids were the most common residents, possibly due to pitcher …

Size-Fractionated Phytoplankton And Nutrient Dynamics In The Inner Part Of İzmir Bay, Eastern Aegean Sea, Serkan Kükrer, Hasan Baha Büyükişik

Turkish Journal of Botany

İzmir Bay has been one of most polluted bays of the Mediterranean for a long time. When the 'Big Channel Project' was completed in 2000, sewage flow into the bay ended. Hence, the influence of creeks, which are the only source of water transportation to the inner bay, was investigated in the current study. Monthly samples of creek water and seawater were taken. Basic water quality variables and nutrients were measured. In addition, the phytoplankton community was arrayed into size fractions to assess the contribution of each size fraction to biomass and pigment concentrations. Analyses showed that the creek waters …

Vegetation And Soil Relationships In The Inland Wadi Ecosystem Of Central Eastern Desert, Egypt, Fawzy Salama, Monier Abd El-Ghani, Noha El-Tayeh

Turkish Journal of Botany

In January 2010, torrential rains that had suddenly swept away a limited area in the Eastern Desert facing Qena Province in Upper Egypt resulted in the enriching of the vegetation of some extremely dry wadis at this location. A vegetation survey carried out shortly after this event, in April, revealed the prevalence of annuals in considerable abundance, which are hardly recognisable in such usually dry habitats. The normally scarce perennial vegetation had flourished, too. A total of 32 species, 11 annuals, and 21 perennials that belong to 27 genera and 15 families were recorded. The life-form spectrum in the present …

Pollen Morphology Of The Genus Onobrychis (Fabaceae) In Turkey, Süleyman Avci, Cengi̇z Sancak, Alp Can, Aydan Acar, Nur Münevver Pinar

Turkish Journal of Botany

The pollen size and morphology of 20 Onobrychis Adans. taxa from Turkey were studied using both light and scanning electron microscopy. Of the taxa studied, Onobrychis fallax Freyn & Sint. and Onobrychis elata Boiss. & Balansa showed the smallest size of pollen grains, while the largest were found in Onobrychis aequidentata (Sibth. & Sm.) d'Urv. and Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. The pollens of all taxa studied represent the tricolpate type of pollen and are prolate in shape. The type of exine found in the studied taxa is reticulate (sect. Dendobrychis DC. and sect. Laphobrychis Hand.-Mazz.), suprareticulate (sect. Onobrychis), or microreticulate (sect. …

New Staining Technique For Fungal-Infected Plant Tissues, Joao Paulo Rodrigues Marques, Marli Kasue Misaki Soares, Beatriz Appezzato-Da-Glória

Turkish Journal of Botany

The use of histological techniques, combined with the use of dyes, facilitates the visualisation of fungi present in tissues, allowing the details of plant-pathogen interactions in many different pathosystems to be revealed. The purpose of this study is to present a new double-staining method that uses cotton blue and safranin to identify fungal structures in plant tissues. With this staining method, the fungal hyphae stain blue and plant cell walls stain orange. The new method was tested on 2 pathosystems. The technique distinguishes between fungal and plant cell walls, giving it great practical utility. This is a staining technique that …

Cellular And Molecular Aspects Of The Interaction Betwen Maize And The Anthracnose Pathogen Colletotrichum Graminicola, Maria F. Torres

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Maize anthracnose, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum graminicola, is an economically important species contributing to major yield losses. C. graminicola is a hemibiotroph; initially it invades its host while it is alive, and then it switches to destructive necrotrophic growth and the host is killed. Establishment of compatible interactions by biotrophic pathogens is usually associated with suppression of host defenses and cell death, while necrotrophic pathogens typically secrete phytotoxic compounds and induce cell death. To understand the relationship of hemibiotrophy in C. graminicola to biotrophy and necrotrophy, I compared a compatible and an incompatible interaction, utilizing a non-pathogenic …

Overexpression/Silencing Of Selected Soybean Genes Alters Resistance To Pathogens, Mohamed H. El-Habbak

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Plant diseases remain a major obstruction to meeting the world’s increased demand for soybean oil and protein. Reducing the losses caused by diseases in order to improve crop production is a high priority for agricultural research. The need for novel strategies for plant disease control cannot be overstated. In the present study, selected defense-related genes were silenced and/or overexpressed in soybean using a virus-based vector and the resultant plants were tested for their responses to pathogens. The first part of the study focused on Rps1k (Resistance to Phytophthora sojae) gene. The two conserved domains encoding ‘P-Loop NTPase’ and ‘PLN03210’ …

Managing Soil Microbial Communities With Organic Amendments To Promote Soil Aggregate Formation And Plant Health, Shawn T. Lucas

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

The effects of managing soil with organic amendments were examined with respect to soil microbial community dynamics, macroaggregate formation, and plant physio-genetic responses. The objective was to examine the possibility of managing soil microbial communities via soil management, such that the microbial community would provide agronomic benefits. In part one of this research, effects of three amendments (hairy vetch residue, manure, compost) on soil chemical and microbial properties were examined relative to formation of large macroaggregates in three different soils. Vetch and manure promoted fungal proliferation (measured via two biomarkers: fatty acid methyl ester 18:2ω6c and ergosterol) and also stimulated …

Transformations, Bioavailability And Toxicity Of Manufactured Zno Nanomaterials In Wastewter, Sewwandi Rathnayake

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

In order to properly evaluate the ecological and human health risks of ZnO Manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) released to the environment, it is critical to understand the likely transformation products in the wastewater treatment process and in soils receiving biosolids. To address this critical knowledge gap, we examined the transformation reactions of 30 nm ZnO MNMs in single component and multi-component systems, with phosphate and natural organic matter (NOM). We also assessed the influence of nano ZnO transformation on the bioavailability, and toxicity of ZnO transformation products to Triticum aestivum. The data revealed that ZnO MNMs react with phosphate at …

The Role Of Polyadenylation In Seed Germination, Liuyin Ma

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Seed germination has many impacts on the uses of seeds, and is an important subject for study. Seed germination is regulated at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Therefore, it is important to study how polyadenylation regulates gene expression during seed germination. To this end, a modified Illumina GAIIx sequencing protocol (described in Chapter Two) was developed that allows deep coverage of poly(A) site position and distribution.

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) regulates gene expression by choosing one potential poly(A) site on a precursor RNA consequentially shortening/lengthening the mRNA relative to other possible sites. To further explore this phenomenon, genes affected by APA …

Effects Of Excess And Deficient Boron And Niacin On The Ultrastructure Of Root Cells In Daucus Carota Cv. Nantes, Hati̇ce Demi̇ray, Ayli̇n Eşi̇z Dereboylu

Turkish Journal of Botany

The effects of excess and deficient boron and niacin on vascular tissues of carrot roots (Daucus carota L. cv. Nantes) were investigated in plants grown in medium both rich and poor in boron and also boron with niacin. Five media were investigated: control (MS medium), boron-deficient MS medium, MS medium with excess boron, niacin-deficient MS medium, MS medium with niacin excess, and MS medium with excess boron and niacin. In anatomical cross sections, lignification was seen in middle lamellar pectins in the tracheary cells of boron deficit grown carrot roots, while in the other applications including excess boron lignification was …

Effects Of Short-Term Dewatering On Grazer Abundance And Algal Biomass In A Wastewater Treatment Algal Turf Scrubber, Emily Husted

Theses and Dissertations

Finding a new, clean, and sustainable energy source to replace fossil fuels is one of society’s most daunting challenges. Algae biomass is a promising renewable resource for biofuel production due to its efficient conversion of solar energy into chemical energy. Algal turf scrubbers (ATS™) systems mimic natural streams, flowing wastewater over hard substrates designed to encourage attached algae growth. This study focuses on the use of replicated ATS™ systems, because they are low maintenance, are effective for removing nutrient pollutants, model natural stream ecosystems, and can produce large volumes of harvestable algal feedstock for biofuel production. A challenge that occurs …

Potential Roles Of Wrky Transcription Factors In Resistance To Aspergillus Flavus Colonization Of Immature Maize Kernels, Jake Clayton Fountain

LSU Master's Theses

The infection and colonization of maize (Zea mays L.) by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Aspergillus flavus results in contamination of kernel tissues with carcinogenic mycotoxins known as aflatoxins, resulting in severe economic losses as well as negative effects on human and animal health. Resistance to A. flavus is mediated by both inducible and constitutively expressed defense proteins; however the mechanism regulating the expression of these defenses is poorly understood. This study examined the potential roles of six maize WRKY transcription factors, ZmWRKY19, ZmWRKY21, ZmWRKY53, ZmWRKY53.1, ZmWRKY67, and ZmWRKY68, in regulating defense responses against …

Experiments To Measure The Effects Of Timber Harvesting Equipment On Surface Lithic Scatters, Douglas J. Baughman

All Master's Theses

The importance of cultural resource preservation cannot be overstated; however local economies are at least as important. Due to conservative archaeological site protection practices in Region 5 of the United States Forest Service, the economy of Northeastern California is being adversely affected. In an attempt to help the Forest Service make more informed management decisions and improve the Northeastern California economy, I undertook experiments on the effects of timber harvesting on lithic scatters on Modoc National Forest. The experiments involved placement of 225 glass tiles (proxy lithics) in each of three plots subject to vehicle traffic and log dragging by …

Uses Of Phage Display In Agriculture: A Review Of Food-Related Protein-Protein Interactions Discovered By Biopanning Over Diverse Baits, Rekha Kushwaha, Christina M. Payne, A. Bruce Downie

Horticulture Faculty Publications

This review highlights discoveries made using phage display that impact the use of agricultural products. The contribution phage display made to our fundamental understanding of how various protective molecules serve to safeguard plants and seeds from herbivores and microbes is discussed. The utility of phage display for directed evolution of enzymes with enhanced capacities to degrade the complex polymers of the cell wall into molecules useful for biofuel production is surveyed. Food allergies are often directed against components of seeds; this review emphasizes how phage display has been employed to determine the seed component(s) contributing most to the allergenic reaction …

Seed Coat Ultrastructure Of Hard-Seeded And Soft-Seeded Varieties Of Vicia Sativa, Hati̇ce Nurhan Büyükkartal, Hati̇ce Çölgeçen, Nur Münevver Pinar, Nesli̇han Erdoğan

Turkish Journal of Botany

The mature seed coat structure in hard-seeded and soft-seeded varieties of Vicia sativa L. was examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy to investigate differentiation in cytological and morphological features between these varieties. The outer layer of the seed coats was composed of macrosclereid (Malpighian) cells in the hard-seeded and soft-seeded varieties of Vicia sativa. The walls of the macrosclereid cells were thickened, and the cell vacuoles were filled with tannin. The cytoplasm of the macrosclereids contained small- and large-sized vacuoles and ribosomes, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum. Under this layer there was a hypodermal layer composed of osteosclereids separated by …

Exploring The Potential Of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract (Mle) As A Seed Priming Agent In Improving Wheat Performance, Azra Yasmeen, Shahzad Maqsood Ahmed Basra, Abdul Wahid, Wasif Nouman, Hafeez Ur Rehman

Turkish Journal of Botany

Seed priming with plant extracts and chemicals has been used as an important growth enhancement tool in crop plants; however, the mechanisms of their action are not fully explored. In this research, an attempt was made to understand the mechanism of various seed priming treatments in greenhouse-grown wheat. The seed priming treatments used were hydropriming, on-farm priming, moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaf extract (MLE) priming, and CaCl_2 priming. Results showed that all the seed priming treatments were effective in improving germination and seedling growth attributes of wheat over the control. However, MLE followed by CaCl_2 emerged as the most effective …

Carbon Farming In Wa, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia, Department Of Regional Development And Lands, Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

Fact sheets:

1. Applying biochar to improve soil quality and crop productivity

2. Reducing methane emissions from cattle using feed additives

3. Cattle breeding for lower greenhouse gas emissions

4. Managing genetic codes to reduce methane emissions from cattle

5. Managing pastures and stocking rate to reduce methane emissions from cattle

6. Claying as a method of increasing soil carbon content

7. Green and brown manuring as part of carbon farming

8. Permanent environmental plantings to earn carbon credits

9. Nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils

10. Sheep genetics in methane reduction

11. Managing sheep pastures to reduce methane production …

Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis Of Lignocellulosic Biomass Using Infrared Techniques: A Mini-Review, Feng Xu, Jianming Yu, Tesfaye Tesso, Floyd Dowell, Donghai Wang

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Current wet chemical methods for biomass composition analysis using two-step sulfuric acid hydrolysis are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and unable to provide structural information about biomass. Infrared techniques provide fast, low-cost analysis, are non-destructive, and have shown promising results. Chemometric analysis has allowed researchers to perform qualitative and quantitative study of biomass with both near-infrared and mid-infrared spectroscopy. This review summarizes the progress and applications of infrared techniques in biomass study, and compares the infrared and the wet chemical methods for composition analysis. In addition to reviewing recent studies of biomass structure and composition, we also discuss the progress and prospects for …

Opportunistic Pathogenic Bacteria Colonize Thorns Of Native Rio Grande Valley Plants, Felicia A. Charles, Sergio Cepeda, J. Andrew Mcdonald, Kristine L. Lowe

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Thorns serve as mechanical defenses of plants against herbivory. However, plant thorns harbor microorganisms that are potentially pathogenic. These pathogens may be transferred to herbivores and other animals and provide an additional defense for the plants. Thorns from 5 plant species native to the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas were collected and used to isolate bacteria colonizing the thorn surface. Thorns, leaves and stems of plants were visualized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to observe any bacteria on the plant surface. Isolated bacteria were tested for their ability to grow in aerobic versus anaerobic environments, to produce hemolysis, carbon …

Functions And Toxicity Of Cadmium In Plants: Recent Advances And Future Prospects, Tuan Anh Tran, Losanka Petrova Popova

Turkish Journal of Botany

Heavy metals are important environmental pollutants and their toxicity is a problem of increasing significance for ecological, evolutionary, nutritional, and environmental reasons. Of all non-essential heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) is perhaps the metal that has attracted the most attention in soil science and plant nutrition due to its potential toxicity to humans, and also its relative mobility in the soil-plant system. This review emphasises Cd toxicity on plants with regards to ecological, physiological, and biochemical aspects. It summarises the toxic symptoms of Cd in plants (i.e. growth and plant development, alterations in photosynthesis, stomatal regulation, enzymatic activities, water relation, mineral …

Archaeobotanical Studies At The Urartian Site Of Ayanis In Van Province, Eastern Turkey, Tuğba Solmaz, Emel Oybak Dönmez

Turkish Journal of Botany

Archaeobotanical macro remains recovered from the Ayanis fortress and the outer town of the Urartian period of the Iron Age (685-645 BC), located in the area of Van (Turkey), were investigated. Most of the remains were charred due to fire. Large quantities of Hordeum vulgare L. (hulled barley), Panicum miliaceum L. (broomcorn millet), and Setaria italica (L.) P.Beauvois (foxtail millet) were found at the study site, indicating the storage of agricultural surplus. Other types of cereal remains were also recorded, including Triticum aestivum L. (bread wheat) and Secale cereale L. (rye). Ground wheat grains were also recovered and their starch …

Airborne Pollen Content Of Kuşadası, Aycan Tosunoğlu, Ayşe Yeni̇gün, Adem Biçakçi, Kayi Eli̇açik

Turkish Journal of Botany

Atmospheric pollen grains of Kuşadası were captured using Durham samplers and investigated in 2005. The total number of pollen grains and the pollen grains/cm^2 were calculated from slides that were changed weekly. During the study period a total of 12,980 pollen grains/cm^2 belonging to 44 identified taxa and unidentified pollen grains were recorded at 2 stations. At the first station (S1), 7346 pollen grains were counted per cm^2, while only 5634 pollen grains were counted at the second station (S2). The majority of the investigated pollen grains were from Olea europaea L. (34.46%), Cupressaceae/Taxaceae (30.04%), Pinus spp. (19.71%), Platanus spp. …

Seasonal Changes Of Inorganic And Organic Osmolyte Content In Three Endemic Limonium Species Of Lake Tuz (Turkey), Gökçen Baysal Furtana, Hayri̇ Duman, Ruki̇ye Tipirdamaz

Turkish Journal of Botany

The levels of inorganic (Na^+, K^+, Ca^+^2, Mg^+^2, Cl^-) and organic (proline, carbohydrates) osmolytes and quaternary ammonium compounds were measured in 3 endemic Limonium Mill. species [L. lilacinum (Boiss. & Bal.) Wagenitz, L. iconicum (Boiss. & Heldr.) Kuntze, and L. anatolicum Hedge] of Lake Tuz in central Anatolia, Turkey. Samples were collected between May and October from plants growing in their natural habitats. Soil samples also were taken from the plant root zone at the time of plant sampling. The results of pH, electrical conductivity (EC) values, and mineral composition in the soil showed seasonal changes. The highest EC and …

Morphological And Ecological Evidence For A New Infraspecific Taxon Of The Wallflower Erysimum Cheiri (Brassicaceae) As An Indigenous Endemism Of The Southwestern Mediterranean, Samira Ouarmim, Chloe Dubset, Errol Vela

Turkish Journal of Botany

The wallflower Erysimum cheiri is a horticultural cruciferous growing as garden-escaped with a wide distribution in West and South Europe. In Algeria, it is locally found on the northern cliffs of the National Park of Gouraya (Kabylia). The aim of this study is to compare the populations of E. cheiri identified in Algeria with those found in Mediterranean France. To study the differences between both sites, a morphological and ecological analysis was undertaken on 6 populations growing in Algeria and France. Ecological communities where wallflower is growing in Algeria are dominated by indigenous plants with a significant proportion of endemic …

Euglenozoa Occurring In Adzopé Reservoir, Côte D’Ivoire, Ble Alexis Tardy Kouassi, Allassane Ouattara, Kouhete Philippe Da

Turkish Journal of Botany

The Euglenozoa flora of the Adzope Reservoir in Côte d'Ivoire was investigated from January to December 2005. The species composition of the assemblage was compiled, accompanied by illustrations. Forty-four taxa were identified in the temporal survey. Ten taxa (22.22%) are new for Côte d'Ivoire. The taxonomic structure presents 22.32% of the species common to the freshwater of West Africa, with most of the taxa (89.5%) found to be cosmopolitan. An endemic taxon, Trachelomonas pisciformis var. bicoronata Coute & Iltis (Euglenaceae), was observed. The assemblage was dominated by Trachelomonas Ehrenberg and Phacus Ehrenberg, which represented 47.72% and 29.54% of identified taxa, …

Natural Treatment Systems As Sustainable Ecotechnologies For The Developing Countries, Qaisar Mahmood, Arshid Pervez, Bibi Saima Zeb, Habiba Zaffar, Hajra Yaqoob, Muhammad Waseem, Zahidullah, Sumera Afsheen

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

The purpose of natural treatment systems is the re-establishment of disturbed ecosystems and their sustainability for benefits to human and nature. The working of natural treatment systems on ecological principles and their sustainability in terms of low cost, low energy consumption, and low mechanical technology is highly desirable. The current review presents pros and cons of the natural treatment systems, their performance, and recent developments to use them in the treatment of various types of wastewaters. Fast population growth and economic pressure in some developing countries compel the implementation of principles of natural treatment to protect natural environment. The employment …