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Dual Biological Control: Characterization Of Fungi And Bacteria To Control Granary Weevil And Fungal Pathogens Of Stored Grain, Gülçin Ercan

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

Cereals are main food sources for humans and animals. However, during storage, cereal grains can be infested by insects and fungi. One of the most important insect storage pests is Sitophilus granarius (L., Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Adults and larvae can cause serious grain losses. In addition to insect pests, fungal pathogens may also invade the grain and cause economic loss, including contamination with mycotoxins, which threaten mammal health by causing serious disease. The most common mycotoxigenic grain fungi are species that belong to the genera Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium. Currently, the most commonly used management strategies for insect and …

Seed Predation By Owyhee Harvester Ants And The Potential Of Seed Introductions In Recovery Efforts For Slickspot Peppergrass, Jennifer A. Brown

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Slickspot peppergrass (Lepidium papilliferum) is a rare plant endemic to the sagebrush-steppe habitat in southwestern Idaho. Within sagebrush-steppe, the plant is restricted to microsites known as “slick spots”– shallow depressions of soil characterized by distinct clay layers and surface water retention that is higher than that of surrounding areas. Having one of the highest extirpation rates among rare plant taxa in Idaho, and considering its unique habitat requirements, limited range, and declining numbers, land managers and conservationists have voiced concern regarding the species’ long-term viability. While range-wide declines in slickspot peppergrass have been attributed largely to the loss …

Rescue And Reestablishment Of Chicken Models For Spontaneously Occurring Hashimoto’S Thyroiditis And Systemic Sclerosis/Scleroderma, Joseph Zolton Hiltz

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The loss of biodiversity is a topic gaining popularity both in the political and scientific forums. Nearly 30 years ago researchers and politicians congregated in Rio de Janeiro (1992) to attend the first Earth Summit. It was the first meeting of its kind discussing the tangible pressing consequences of biodiversity loss as well as the potential long term ramifications. Many of the countries represented at this summit implemented short and long term plans in order to accurately measure losses of biodiversity as well as establishing organizations to help diagnose and remedy the current problems at hand. These new organizations and …

Technologies To Increase Animal Performance In Beef Production Systems, Caleb P. Weiss

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Three monensin levels during a stocker phase (0, 800, 1600 g/ton in a free choice mineral) and two levels during finishing (0 [U] or 37.5 mg/kg diet DM [M]) were used to determine the effects of monensin supplementation during a stocker and subsequent finishing phase on beef calves. Steers (n = 605, BW = 278 ± 27 kg) were fed pearl millet hay with soybean hull and corn gluten feed supplement (0.5% BW daily [AF basis] Block 1) or grazed fall wheat (Block 2), spring wheat (Block 3), bermudagrass (Blocks 4 & 5) or wheat with mixed-grass baleage (Block 6). …

A Bayesian Analysis Of Longitudinal Farm Surveys In Central Malawi Reveals Yield Determinants And Site-Specific Management Strategies, Han Wang, Sieglinde S. Snapp, Monica Fisher, Frederi Viens

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Understanding the challenges to increasing maize productivity in sub-Saharan Africa, especially agronomic factors that reduce on-farm crop yield, has important implications for policies to reduce national and global food insecurity. Previous research on the maize yield gap has tended to emphasize the size of the gap (theoretical vs. achievable yields), rather than what determines maize yield in specific contexts. As a result, there is insufficient evidence on the key agronomic and environmental factors that influence maize yield in a smallholder farm environment. In this study, we implemented a Bayesian analysis with plot-level longitudinal household survey data covering 1,197 plots and …

Genetic Mapping Of Grass Monoculture And Grass-Legume Mixture Compatibility Qtls In Intermediate Wheatgrass, John Mortenson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Due to increased environmental stewardship and fertilizer prices, there is increased interest in using legume mixes in perennial croplands. The objective of this study was to compare quantitative genetic parameters and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) when grown in 1) a non-competitive spaced environment, 2) a polyculture with alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and 3) a monoculture with crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum). Traits evaluated include plant growth characteristics (Zadok’s maturity, height, and tiller count), biomass, and forage nutritive value (CP, NDF, ADF, ADL, IVTD, NDFD, NFC, ME, RFQ). A linkage map …

Explorations And Collaborations On Two Under-Recognized Native American Food Crops: Southwest Peach (Prunus Persica) And Navajo Spinach (Cleome Serrulata), Reagan C. Wytsalucy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Agricultural production among the Native American populations of the Southwest declined significantly during the twentieth century. Corn, beans and squash, the three most recognized traditional food crops, remains widespread, but knowledge regarding the traditional management of these crops was lost. The loss of traditional knowledge for Southwest Indigenous Nations was more pronounced for the Southwest peach (Prunus persica) and Navajo spinach (Cleome serrulata Pursh). The Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni Nations are all seeking to increase the availability of traditional crops for their original uses, such as for food and wool dye. In order to revitalize traditional agriculture …

The Effects Of Clipping On The Biomass Production Of Native Warm Season Grasses On Reclaimed Abandoned Coal Mine Soils, James A K Daniel

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

THE EFFECTS OF CLIPPING ON THE BIOMASS PRODUCTION OF NATIVE

WARM SEASON GRASSES ON RECLAIMED

ABANDONED COAL MINE SOILS

James A K Daniel

Strip mining leaves behind highly disrupted plant and soil communities. Mined land reclamation returns the land back to a natural or economically usable state, however, reclamation cannot completely restore the soils to their original state. Subsequently, normal frequencies of management practices may not be as effective as in undisturbed soils. Understanding how the severity of soil disturbance affects plant production is important for habitat rehabilitation and determining effective management techniques to be implemented following reclamation. This project …

Main And Interactive Effects Of Increased Precipitation And Nitrogen Addition On Growth, Morphology, And Nutrition Of Cinnamomum Burmanni Seedlings In A Tropical Forest, Jun Wang, Dafeng Hui, Hongfang Lu, Faming Wang, Nan Liu, Zhongyu Sun, Hai Ren

Biology Faculty Research

Global change such as altered precipitation patterns and increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition will have significant impacts on seedling growth during plant recruitment. However, how interactive effects of increased precipitation and N deposition on forest seedling performance have not been well investigated. In this study, we conducted a two-year field experiment that manipulating precipitation amount (ambient rainfall and 25% increment during the wet season) and exogenous N addition (0 and 100 kg ha−1 yr−1) in a tropical secondary forest. Seedling growth, morphology and nutritional status of a dominant tree species (Cinnamomum burmanni) were measured. Results showed that increased precipitation had …

Effects Of Silicon And Beneficial Bacteria On Sheath Blight Of Rice And The Microbial Community Of Rice Rhizosphere, Jhonson Leonard

LSU Master's Theses

Sheath blight (ShB), caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, is an economically important soil-borne disease of rice (Oryza sativa) that can cause up to 50 % yield losses. Application of fungicides is the most effective and commonly used method for managing sheath blight. However, the pathogen can develop new resistant strains upon continuous exposure to a fungicide. Moreover, the use of inorganic fungicides is not eco-friendly. The utilization biological control agents (BCAs) can be a more sustainable and safe means of managing ShB. To develop alternate strategies for ShB management, I am exploring the effect of the silicon (Si) …

Forage News [2019-07], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Register for Heart of America and Western Kentucky Grazing Conferences today!
• The Clover Dilemma
• Improve Summer Pastures with Crabgrass
• Fall Grazing School Registration Now Open
• Clip Pastures to Reduce the Risk of Ergot

Nebline, July 2019

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Nebraska’s Bad Buzz: What You Need to Know About Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus

Summertime Snacking With Salsa

Recipes of the Month

Weather Challenges Keep Coming

Block Play Encourages Children’s Development in Multiple Areas

Extension Offers “Block Party” for Childcare Programs

Upcoming Early Childhood Trainings

My Personal Experience With West Nile Virus

Check Landscape Plants for Bagworms

Garden Guides: Things to Do This Month

Greener Town Grant Applications Due Aug. 31

HEART OF 4-H VOLUNTEER AWARD: Kylee Yakel

SUPER FAIR 4-H/FFA ANIMAL ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE BY JULY 1

11 4-H Clubs Helped at Kiwanis Karniva

Many Ways to …

Whole-Genome Assembly Of Atriplex Hortensis L. Using Oxfordnanopore Technology With Chromatin-Contact Mapping, Spencer Philip Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

Atriplex hortensis (2n = 2x = 18, 1C genome size ~1.1 gigabases), also known as garden orach, is a highly nutritious, broadleaf annual of the Amaranthaceae-Chenopodiaceae family that has spread from its native Eurasia to other temperate and subtropical environments worldwide. Atriplex is a highly complex and polyphyletic genus of generally halophytic and/or xerophytic plants, some of which have been used as food sources for humans and animals alike. Although there is some literature describing the taxonomy and ecology of orach, there is a lack of genetic and genomic data that would otherwise help elucidate the genetic variation, phylogenetic position, …

Use Of Plant Growth Regulators To Expand The Period Of Sagebrush Seed Germination And Reduce The Risk Of Restoration Failure: Laboratory Trials, Chelsea Elizabeth Keefer

Theses and Dissertations

Seed germination during unhospitable environmental conditions can be a major barrier to direct seeding efforts in dryland systems. In the sagebrush steppe, Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis and Artemisia arbuscula are important shrub species that are being used in restoration, but seeding success is highly sporadic due to inter-annual and intra-seasonal weather variability. Altering and expanding the period of germination, as a form of bet-hedging, may improve plant establishment. Our objective was to determine if we could expand the period of germination using plant growth regulators (PGRs) applied in a conglomerated seed coating treatment. In a laboratory study, the seed …

Getting To The Root Of Selenium Hyperaccumulation—Localization And Speciation Of Root Selenium And Its Effects On Nematodes, Christine N. Prins, Laura J. Hantzis, Jose R. Valdez Barillas, Jennifer J. Cappa, Sirine C. Fakra, Cecilia Milano De Tomasel, Diana H. Wall, Elizabeth A. H. Pilon-Smits

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Elemental hyperaccumulation protects plants from many aboveground herbivores. Little is known about effects of hyperaccumulation on belowground herbivores or their ecological interactions. To examine effects of plant selenium (Se) hyperaccumulation on nematode root herbivory, we investigated spatial distribution and speciation of Se in hyperaccumulator roots using X-ray microprobe analysis, and effects of root Se concentration on root-associated nematode communities. Perennial hyperaccumulators Stanleya pinnata and Astragalus bisulcatus, collected from a natural seleniferous grassland contained 100–1500 mg Se kg−1 root dry weight (DW). Selenium was concentrated in the cortex and epidermis of hyperaccumulator roots, with lower levels in the stele. The …

Frost Identification Guide For Canola And Pulses, Ben Biddulph, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

Frost damage reduces crop yield and grain quality. Early identification of symptoms allows timely crop salvage decisions to be made.

Forage News [2019-06], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Managing Pastures this Summer
• 2019 Western Kentucky Summer Forage Tour: Resuscitating a Rundown Farm
• The Wonder Grass: The Story of Tall Fescue in the United States now available
• UK Weed Sceicne to Host a Pair of Field Days at UKREC in Princeton
• Grass Decline? Check Your Cutting Height
• We're Producing and Feeding Less Hay

The Effects Of Agricultural Waste-Based Compost Amendments In Organic Pest Management, Gregg T. Stephenson

Master's Theses

Soil-borne pests and pathogens, such as Verticillium dahliae, can devastate a wide range of annual and perennial crops. Current management options for organic production are limited and sustainable management of pathogens, weeds, and arthropods is important for staying profitable and reducing the use of harmful chemicals. Organic soil amendments play an important role in supplying some of the nutritional needs of vegetable crops and improving soil structure, while also contributing to pest control. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of grape and olive-based composts on soil pathogen load, arthropod communities, and weed biomass and diversity. …

Nebline, June 2019

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Understanding How Climate Change Affects Nebraska and Agriculture

Are You Drinking or Eating Enough Dairy Foods for the Health Benefits?

Recipe of the Month

Floods and Trees: Helping Trees Recover

Pretty Things That Pollinate

Perennial Plants for Pollinators

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Pollinator Week: June 17–23

Upcoming Early Childhood Trainings

Nebraska Early Development Network

HEART OF 4-H Volunteer: Glenda Willnerd

JUNE 15 DEADLINE: 4-H Member Online Enrollment; Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Requirements for ANY Livestock Exhibitor; 4-H Projects Updated; Volunteer Online Enrollment; 4-H/FFA Animal IDs

4-H Sewing Help

4-H Clover Kids Animal Showmanship Change …

Floral Dip Transformation Of Camelina Sativa L. With A Myo-Inositol Oxygenase Gene To Potentially Improve Oil Yield, Naina Narayan Rao

Student Theses and Dissertations

Camelina sativa L. has potential as a winter oilseed crop to produce edible oils, livestock feed, biodiesel and jet fuel. Agrobacterium-mediated floral dip transformation of Camelina was performed to transfer the AtMIOX4 gene (Myo-inositol oxygenase from Arabidopsis thaliana) into Camelina as a means to improve agronomic characters. Three Agrobacterium strains LBA4404, GV3101 and EHA105 were used to transform Camelina sativa cultivar ‘Celine’. Recovered seeds were screened for expression of antibiotic resistance marker genes with only 2% survival of putative transgenic plants. Direct PCR analysis for the AtMIOX4 insertion was used to screen putative transgenic plants, giving an average of 10% …

Rapid Profiling Of Soybean Aromatic Compounds Using Electronic Nose, Ramasamy Ravi, Ali Taheri, Durga Khandekar, Reneth Millas

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Soybean (Glycine max (L.)) is the world’s most important seed legume, which contributes to 25% of global edible oil, and about two-thirds of the world’s protein concentrate for livestock feeding. One of the factors that limit soybean’s utilization as a major source of protein for humans is its characteristic soy flavor. This off-flavor can be attributed to the presence of various chemicals such as phenols, aldehydes, ketones, furans, alcohols, and amines. In addition, these flavor compounds interact with protein and cause the formation of new off-flavors. Hence, studying the chemical profile of soybean seeds is an important step in understanding …

Isoprene Emission In Polytrichaceae Mosses, Timea Deakova

Dissertations and Theses

Our first aim was to identify and quantify Biological Volatile Organic Compound (BVOC) emissions, specifically emissions of isoprene, from the moss Polytrichum juniperinum during its earliest stage of life. Isoprene emission from mosses could be a significant component of the total global budget of BVOC emissions. Data concerning the spatial and temporal variability of these emissions are lacking due to poor characterization of the physical and biological factors controlling isoprene synthesis in both vascular and non-vascular plants. We found that P. juniperinum in its early life stage (protonema) can emit isoprene at detectable levels at day five after spore germination. …

A Revised Land Ethic: Sustainable And Spiritual Agriculture, Brooke Maitlan Parrett

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper proposes a return to the land and reconnection of spiritual practices through ethical teachings. Such a land ethic would involve answering the woes of industrial agriculture and providing a framework for farmers, consumers, and policymakers based on sustainable and spiritual considerations of the land. I analyze the loss of spiritual literacy and traditional ecological knowledge in the United States and discuss the spiritual history of agriculture in order to analyze contemporary religious perspectives on farming and agricultural ethics and thereby develop my own recommendations. The land ethic I propose combines sustainability and spirituality to develop intrinsic respect for …

Macronutrient Content Of Winter Annual Cereal Grains With Phosphorus Fertilization, Taylor Anne Young

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Missouri ranks third in the United States in cow-calf production, and much of the land these cattle graze has acidic soil that is low in plant available phosphorus (P). Proper soil fertility is important to ensure that these forages meet the nutritional requirements of cattle. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceum (Schreb.)), has been shown to respond to increased soil P levels with increased growth and leaf concentrations of P, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K). It is unknown if winter annual cereals will respond similarly. The objective of this study is to examine cereal rye (Secale cereal L.), winter wheat …

Purple Passion Fruit, Passiflora Edulis Sims F. Edulis, Variability For Photosynthetic And Physiological Adaptation In Contrasting Environments, Nohra C. Rodríguez, Luz M. Melgarejo, Matthew W. Blair

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. edulis) is a tropical juice source. The goal of this project was to evaluate photosynthetic and physiological variability for the crop with the hypotheses that landraces contain the diversity to adapt to higher elevation nontraditional growing environments and this is dependent on specific parameters of ecological adaptation. A total of 50 genotypes of this crop were chosen from divergent sources for evaluations of their eco-physiological responses in two equatorial locations at different altitudes in the Andes Mountains, a center of diversity for the species. The germplasm included 34 landraces, 8 commercial cultivars, and …

Improving The Food Safety Of Louisiana Strawberry Industry, Jose L. Brandao Delgado

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella sp., and Listeria monocytogenes have been linked to foodborne outbreaks in produce. The most recent outbreaks in produce have been associated with irrigation water due to infiltration of well water or water run-off from contaminated sources. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requires all irrigation water to be safe for use on produce, as a strategy to reduce foodborne illnesses. A surfactant modified zeolite (SMZ) filtration system could provide produce farmers with a sustainable low-cost system for high-quality and safe irrigation water. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of hexadecyltrimethylammonium …

Farmers’ Perspectives On Challenges And Opportunities Associated With Using High Tunnels For Specialty Crops, Analena B. Bruce, Elizabeth Maynard, James R. Farmer

Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture Faculty Publications

High tunnels are an increasingly popular part of the infrastructure among small and diversified farms that market their products directly to consumers. In addition to extending the growing season, research has strongly indicated that high tunnels can increase yield, enhance shelf life, and improve the quality of crops grown. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding, from the perspective of farmers, of the challenges and opportunities associated with adopting high tunnels for specialty crops in Indiana. We collected information through a case study that included questionnaires and in-depth interviews with 20 farmers. We found that the …

Nebline, May 2019

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

25 Years of Earth Wellness Festival: A Generation of Students Have Learned Value of Environmental Resources

Malcolm 4th Graders Learn About Healthy Choices

Recipe of the Month

2019 Cash Rent Survey

Bagworm Control in Windbreaks

Choosing the Best Bug Spray to Protect Your Family From Mosquitoes and Ticks

2019 Herb of the Year

Garden Guide Things to Do This Month

Children and Mindful Eating

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Susan Martin

Babysitting Training, June 18

4-H Announcements for 4-H'ers and Volunteers

Clover College

Upcoming Landscape Workshops

Extension News: New Domestic Water and Wastewater Extension Associate

Extension News: Two New Interns …

Factors Influencing The Spatial Distribution Of Southern Rust In Corn, Justin Bailey

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Southern rust caused by the fungus Puccinia polysora (Underwood) is the most economically important foliar disease in corn (Zea mays) (Linnaeus) (Cyperales: Poaceae)) for Arkansas. The objective of this work was to determine distribution of southern rust in corn and to determine factors that may control its distribution.

During the 2017 and 2018 season, seven corn fields in Arkansas were rated for southern rust. After disease confirmation, fields were marked with GPS sample point locations in a grid pattern across the entire field. Ratings for disease severity were taken below, at, and above the ear leaf at each point every …

Environmental Adaptation Of Leucaena In Western Australia – Challenges And Opportunities, Clinton K. Revell Dr, Geoff A. Moore Mr, Daniel Real, Sam Crouch

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

There is considerable interest from Western Australian (WA) pastoralists on the potential role of leucaena(Leucaena leucocephala) in northern WA, where the potential area for dryland production of species of the genus Leucaenais high. Although it is highly regarded for animal production in other countries and in Queensland, leucaena is a contentious species since its status as an environmental weed currently precludes it from use on pastoral leases in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of WA. Development of sterile/seedless forms would overcome risks of spread of the species as a weed. The key environmental constraints to growth of leucaena are likely …