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Fidelity And Survival Of Breeding Mallards In The Nebraska Sandhills, Zachary J. Cunningham, Larkin Powell, Mark P. Vrtiska

The Prairie Naturalist

Assessment of demographic parameters of a population allows managers to better understand factors affecting populations and increase efficiency of conservation efforts. Few data on demographics exist for mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) breeding in the Nebraska Sandhills. Thus, we used banding data to estimate probabilities of fidelity, survival, band recovery, and recapture of mallards banded in the eastern Sandhills, 2005–2008. Our recapture probability estimate for mallards was 0.074 (95% CI: 0.033–0.158), and the recovery probability estimate was 0.300 (95% CI: 0.156–0.497). Mallard annual survival was 0.795 (95% CI: 0.609–0.906) with a fidelity probability of 0.618 (95% CI: 0.283–0.868). High annual …

Review Of Following The Wild Bees: The Craft And Science Of Bee Hunting By Thomas D. Seeley, Katrina Klett

The Prairie Naturalist

Since the media’s coverage of the sudden losses of worker bee populations in many honeybee colonies during the winter of 2006-07 (a phenomenon that was later termed the Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD), there have been increasingly high levels of popular interest in bees and beekeeping in the United States. While a number of books have followed this wave of interest, Following the Wild Bees: The Craft and Science of Bee Hunting by Thomas Seeley is a fundamentally unique contribution to popular honeybee literature. The focus of the book is not on the current synergy of effects that are leading …

Mapping Qtls And Association Of Differentially Expressed Gene Transcripts For Multiple Agronomic Traits Under Different Nitrogen Levels In Sorghum, Malleswari Gelli, Sharon E. Mitchell, Kan Liu, Thomas E. Clemente, Donald P. Weeks, Chi Zhang, David R. Holding, Ismail M. Dweikat

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Background: Sorghum is an important C₄ crop which relies on applied Nitrogen fertilizers (N) for optimal yields, of which substantial amounts are lost into the atmosphere. Understanding the genetic variation of sorghum in response to limited nitrogen supply is important for elucidating the underlying genetic mechanisms of nitrogen utilization.

Results: A bi-parental mapping population consisting of 131 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) influencing different agronomic traits evaluated under normal N (100 kg.ha⁻¹ fertilizer) and low N (0 kg.ha⁻¹ fertilizer) conditions. A linkage map spanning 1614 cM was developed …

Proteomic Profiling Of Maize Opaque Endosperm Mutants Reveals Selective Accumulation Of Lysine-Enriched Proteins, Kyla J. Morton, Shangang Jia, Chi Zhang, David R. Holding

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Reduced prolamin (zein) accumulation and defective endoplasmic reticulum (ER) body formation occurs in maize opaque endosperm mutants opaque2 (o2), floury2 (fl2), defective endosperm*B30 (DeB30), and Mucronate (Mc), whereas other opaque mutants such as opaque1 (o1) and floury1 (fl1) are normal in these regards. This suggests that other factors contribute to kernel texture. A liquid chromatography approach coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) proteomics was used to compare non-zein proteins of nearly isogenic opaque endosperm mutants. In total, 2762 proteins were identified that were enriched for biological processes such …

Simulating Long-Term Impacts Of Cover Crops And Climate Change On Crop Production And Environmental Outcomes In The Midwestern United States, Andrea D. Basche, Sotririos V. Archontoulis, Thomas C. Kaspar, Dan B. Jaynes, Timothy B. Parkin, Fernando E. Miguez

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

It is critical to evaluate conservation practices that protect soil and water resources from climate change in the Midwestern United States, a region that produces one-quarter of the world’s soybeans and one-third of the world’s maize. An over-winter cover crop in a maize–soybean rotation offers multiple potential benefits that can reduce the impacts of higher temperatures and more variable rainfall; some of the anticipated changes for the Midwest. In this experiment we used the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) to understand how winter rye cover crops impact crop production and environmental outcomes, given future climate change. We first tested APSIM …

Decipher The Molecular Response Of Plant Single Cell Types To Environmental Stresses, Mehrnoush Nourbakhsh-Rey, Marc Libault

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The analysis of the molecular response of entire plants or organs to environmental stresses suffers from the cellular complexity of the samples used. Specifically, this cellular complexity masks cell-specific responses to environmental stresses and logically leads to the dilution of the molecular changes occurring in each cell type composing the tissue/organ/plant in response to the stress.Therefore, to generate a more accurate picture of these responses, scientists are focusing on plant single cell type approaches. Several cell types are now considered as models such as the pollen, the trichomes, the cotton fiber, various root cell types including the root hair cell, …

Organic Struggle: The Movement For Sustainable Agriculture In The United States [Book Review], Charles A. Francis

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Organic Struggle chronicles the challenges encountered by innovators in a growing segment of the U.S. food production and marketing system. Practiced for millennia by farmers before the introduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and first developed more formally in Europe, organic farming practices began to gain prominence in the United States only in the 1950s. Far more than a system for producing food, this strategy has become a focus for those supporting healthy and pesticide-free products, for some who embrace the organic system as a food movement, and by many who disagree with the current domination of the country’s food …

Draft Genome Sequence Of Erwinia Tracheiphila, An Economically Important Bacterial Pathogen Of Cucurbits, Lori R. Shapiro, Erin D. Scully, Dana Roberts, Timothy J. Straub, Scott M. Geib, Jihye Park, Andrew G. Stephenson, Erika Salaau Rojas, Quin Liu, Gwyn Beattie, Mark Gleason, Consuelo M. De Moraes, Mark C. Mescher, Shelby G. Fleischer, Roberto Kolter, Naomi Pierce, Olga Zhaxybayeva

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Erwinia tracheiphila is one of the most economically important pathogens of cucumbers, melons, squashes, pumpkins, and gourds in the northeastern and midwestern United States, yet its molecular pathology remains uninvestigated. Here, we report the first draft genome sequence of an E. tracheiphila strain isolated from an infected wild gourd (Cucurbita pepo subsp. texana) plant. The genome assembly consists of 7 contigs and includes a putative plasmid and at least 20 phage and prophage elements.

Muts Homolog1 Silencing Mediates Orf220 Substoichiometric Shifting And Causes Male Sterility In Brassica Juncea, Na Zhao, Xinyue Xu, Yashitola Wamboldt, Sally Ann Mackenzie, Xiaodong Yang, Zhongyuan Hu, Jinghua Yang, Mingfang Zhang

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) has consistently been associated with the expression of mitochondrial open reading frames (ORFs) that arise from genomic rearrangements. Spontaneous fertility reversion in CMS has been observed in several cases, but a clear understanding of fertility reversion controlled by nuclear genetic influences has been lacking. Here, we identified spontaneous fertile revertant lines for Brassica juncea CMS cytoplasm in which the mitochondrial genome has undergone substoichiometric shifting (SSS) to suppress ORF220 copy number. We placed ORF220, with or without a mitochondrial targeting presequence, under the control of the CaMV35S and AP3 promoters in Arabidopsis to confirm that ORF220 …

New Records Of Basidiomycota From Trabzon, Tokat, And İstanbul Provinces In Turkey, Ertuğrul Sesli̇, İbrahi̇m Türkekul, Ilgaz Akata, Tuula Ni̇skanen

Turkish Journal of Botany

Basidiomata were collected from Trabzon, Tokat, and İstanbul provinces between 2011 and 2015. Standard methods were used during collecting and microscopic investigations. Cantharellus ianthinoxanthus (R.Maire) Kühner, Cortinarius humicola (Quél.) Maire, Cortinarius obtusorum Rob.Henry, Cortinarius rubicundulus (Rea) A.Pearson, Cortinarius sordescens Rob.Henry, Crinipellis subtomentosa

The Role Of Ethylene In Systemic Acquired Resistance In Moss, Keiffer Williams

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The moss species Physcomitrella patens and Amblystegium serpens were used to categorize the effects of the phytohormone ethylene in the plant-pathogen response mechanism systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in non-vascular plants. The results outlined in this thesis found that individual exposure to the ethylene precursor molecules ACC and ethephon both up-regulated ethylene responsive genes in P. patens, demonstrating a positive response to ethylene exposure in the moss. Exposure to ACC and ethephon in A. serpens followed by inoculation with the fungal pathogen Pythium irregulare demonstrated an ambiguous resistance response induced by ethylene exposure in the moss. The growth rate of P. …

Correlating Bulk Density (With Dockage) And Test Weight (Without Dockage) For Wheat Samples, Rumela Bhadra, Mark E. Casada, Josephine M. Boac, Aaron P. Turner, Sidney A. Thompson, Michael D. Montross, Ronaldo G. Maghirang, Samuel G. Mcneill

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

In grain bins, the compaction of stored grain is caused by the overbearing pressure of the bulk material in the bin. To predict the amount of grain in the bin, compaction values must be determined based on the average bulk density (BD) of the stored material. However, BD is determined following the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) guidelines for measuring test weight (TW), which require that dockage be removed prior to measuring wheat TW. Thus, this creates a problem for predicting grain compaction and conducting inventory studies, because the average BD of the grain in a bin for these calculations …

A Review Of Non-Destructive Methods For Detection Of Insect Infestation In Fruits And Vegetables, Nader Ekramirad, Akinbode A. Adedeji, Reza Alimardani

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Insect damage in fruits and vegetables cause major production and economic losses in the agriculture and food industry worldwide. Monitoring of internal quality and detection of insect infestation in fruits and vegetables is critical for sustainable agriculture. Early detection of an infestation in fruits can facilitate the control of insects and the quarantine operations through proper post-harvest management strategies and can improve productivity. The present review recognizes the need for developing a rapid, cost-effective, and reliable insect infestation monitoring system that would lead to advancements in agriculture and food industry. In this paper, an overview of non-destructive detection insect damages …

Nozzle Sensor For In-System Chemical Concentration Monitoring, Joseph S. Dvorak, Timothy S. Stombaugh, Yongbo Wan

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Chemical concentration is a vital parameter for determining appropriate chemical application. This study describes the design and testing of a sensor that attempted to monitor concentration of chemicals upstream from each nozzle body. The sensor is based on an LED and photodiode pair. Its ability to detect chemical concentration within the main carrier was tested with a 2,4-D formulation, a glyphosate formulation, and a powdered Acid Blue 9 dye. The liquid herbicide formulations of glyphosate and 2,4-D were tested across common application concentrations of 0% to 12.5% by volume. The powdered dye produced a much stronger effect on the sensor …

Sem Studies Of Two Riparian New-Caledonian Conifers Reveal Air Channels In Stem Wood; Field Observations, Sherwin Carlquist, Mare Nazaire

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

Two New Caledonian conifers, Dacrydium guillauminii and Retrophyllum minor, both of Podocarpaceae, occupy distinctive habitats in which roots are characteristically inundated. SEM studies of stem wood anatomy of both reveal characteristic vertical intercellular channels, not apparent in light microscope examination. These channels are regular in spacing as seen in radial sections and indefinite in vertical extent; they were observed only adjacent to rays. These channels, not reported in other conifers, are a potential source of aeration for roots and submersed stem portions. Other wood details are reported. In order to provide a more comprehensive picture of adaptation to these …

A Morphometric Analysis Of Arceuthobium Campylopodum And Arceuthobium Divaricatum (Viscaceae), Robert L. Mathiasen, Shawn C. Kenaley, Carolyn M. Daugherty

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

Although the classification of pinyon dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium divaricatum, Viscaceae) has not been controversial to any extent since Engelmann described it in 1878, a recent taxonomic treatment has included this species in western dwarf mistletoe (A. campylopodum). While pinyon dwarf mistletoe is only known to parasitize pinyon pines (Pinus subsection Cembroides), western dwarf mistletoe as it has been known since the late 1800s is a principal parasite of Pinus ponderosa and P. jeffreyi and has never been observed parasitizing pinyon pines. With reservations about the recent classification of pinyon dwarf mistletoe and its treatment …

A New Species Of Plectranthus (Lamiaceae) From Saudi Arabia, Kadry Abdel Khalik

Turkish Journal of Botany

Plectranthus hijazensis Abdel Khalik (Lamiaceae) is described as a new species from Al-Baha Province in Saudi Arabia. Information given on the new species includes a taxonomic description and its affinity to Plectranthus asirensis L. A key to Plectranthus species of Saudi Arabia is provided, and the relationships of the species and the relevant morphological characters, particularly seed, pollen grains, trichomes, and anatomy of stem and leaf, are discussed. A distribution map of the new species and related species is provided.

The Role Of Anthropogenic Habitats As Substitutes For Natural Habitats: A Case Study On Epipactis Helleborine (L.) Crantz (Orchidaceae, Neottieae). Variations In Size And Nutrient Composition Of Seeds, Agnieszka Rewicz, Jeremi Kolodziejek, Anna Jakubska-Busse

Turkish Journal of Botany

Natural and anthropogenic habitats differed greatly in terms of soil nutrients. Soil at the anthropogenic sites contained significantly lower concentrations of nitrogen (N) than those at the natural sites. Seeds of Epipactis helleborine were sampled from these two contrasting growth habitats and their size and nutrient composition were recorded. The 8 populations of E. Helleborine were different in seed and embryo volumes, but there were no significant differences in seed width. Habitat type significantly influenced seed area: in the anthropogenic areas, seed area was greater than in the natural areas. Two distinct groups of populations were evident with regard to …

Synopsis Of The Sect. Hymenocoleus, Sect. Hymenostegis, And Sect. Macrophyllium Belonging To Astragalus (Fabaceae) In Turkey, Seher Karaman Erkul, Zeki̇ Aytaç, Murat Eki̇ci̇

Turkish Journal of Botany

A synopsis of the sect. Hymenocoleus Bunge, sect. Hymenostegis Bunge, and sect. Macrophyllium Boiss. belonging to Astragalus L. in Turkey is given based on a revisional study carried out in Turkey. As a result of this study, an account of 19 species including keys and general distribution as well as their conservation status in Turkey is given. It is determined that A. narmanicus Karaman & Aytaç is new to science and A. expetitus Maassoumi, A. pereshkhoranicus Maassoumi & F.Ghahrem., and A. marivanensis Maassoumi & Podlech do not exist in Turkey. Additionally, the name of the sect. Hymenocoleus is preserved.

Effects Of Seed Applied Fungicide On Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization Of South Dakota Cultivars Of Oat, Soybean, And Corn, Jesse Cameron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate symbionts that form a mutualistic relationship with approximately 80% of terrestrial plant species. These obligate symbionts have a generally beneficial effect on their host such as increased nutrient acquisition, better tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and the improvement of soil qualities. Due to the recent, widespread use of seed applied fungicides on row crops in the U.S. Midwest, there are concerns that the fungicides will inhibit these beneficial mycorrhizae. This study was conducted to evaluate what effect different commonly used seed applied fungicides have on AMF in the presence of different varieties of …

Long-Term Impacts Of Annual Cattle Manure And Fertilizer On Soil Quality Under Corn-Soybean Rotation In Eastern South Dakota, Ekrem Ozlu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dairy and beef manure have been used to enhance soil quality; however, their impacts under long-term application in corn-soybean rotation need to be evaluated. Nutrient based recommended rates of manure applications on soils are important and also need to be monitored. This study, therefore, was conducted at two long-term sites to assess the impacts of manure and inorganic fertilizer application rates on some of the soil quality indicators and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in a corn (Zea mays L.) - soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation system located at Beresford and Brookings in Eastern South Dakota. Study treatments included: …

The Efficacy Of Allopurinol In Suppressing Hypersensitive-Like Symptoms In Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) And In Suppressing Sunflower Rust (Puccinia Helianthi) Symptoms, Thumbiko Walker Gambler Mkandawire

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A mutant wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotype can constitutively produce hypersensitive-like flecks in the absence of any pathogen. The lesions of the mutant are thought to be the result of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which are similarly implicated in hypersensitive reactions to fungal pathogens. Allopurinol can suppress ROS. Consequently, allopurinol was applied to a wheat lesion mutant to test the hypothesis that the same ROS are involved, regardless of the presence of the pathogen. ‘Ning7840’, a lesion mutant and ‘Alsen’, a related genotype that does not express the mutant phenotype were treated with different concentrations of allopurinol under controlled …

The Endophytes Of Pediomelum Esculentum: A Unique Case In Legume Evolution, Tyrel Ryan Deutscher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pediomelum esculentum (commonly prairie turnip) is a perennial legume of the Great Plains, consisting of a deep taproot and large edible tuber, and has served as a nutritious staple in Native American diets. The tuber is capable of storing up to 20 percent protein by weight. P. esculentum is a legume, but not a prominent nodule former; instead, it grows in nitrogen-limited soils and produces large amounts of protein. This suggests the involvement of biological nitrogen fixation. We have investigated the presence of diazotrophic endophytes in P. esculentum. Bacteria were isolated from wild plants on nitrogen free media, identified …

A Molecular Genetic And Physiological Comparison Of The Hybrid Necrosis Response In Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) To Biotic And Abiotic Stress Responses, Devi R. Kandel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Expression of hybrid necrosis in plants can lead to a significant reduction in productivity, or even lethality. Epistatic interactions between divergent loci that have evolved through evolution are proposed as being responsible for the genetic incompatability that is expressed as hybrid necrosis. Hybrid necrosis can also represent an obstacle to the transfer of desirable traits from wild, related species to domesticated bread wheat. In wheat, expression of dominant complementary genes Ne1 and Ne2, located to chromosomes 5B and 2B in a hybrid results the production of necrotic leaf tissue, stunted plant growth, and reduced grain yield, which are similar plant …

Demonstrating Short-Term Impacts Of Grazing Cover Crops On Soil Health In South Dakota, Colin Tobin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Grasslands have been rapidly converted to croplands over the last decade in the northern Great Plains. This conversion can reduce soil health and increase the region’s ability to pollute the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Therefore, the need for integrated crop livestock (ICL) practices that can protect the region’s native prairies are strongly encouraged. Introducing livestock into arable cropping systems can improve nutrient cycling, soil health, and provide economic benefits. However, the detailed information about the impacts of ICL system on soil health is still lacking in the Northern Great Plains region. Therefore, the present study was conducted under a corn …

Evaluation And Identification Of Soybean Aphid Resistance Sources And Mapping Of Soybean Aphid Resistance Loci In Early Maturing Soybean Germplasm Accessions, Siddhi Jeewan Bhusal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) has been a major pest of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in North America particularly in the northern United States and three Canadian provinces. At least four biotypes of soybean aphid have been confirmed in the United States. Identification of soybean aphid resistance sources in early-maturing soybeans and genetic characterization of new sources of resistance will facilitate to expand the gene pool of soybean aphid resistance and thus will help to develop soybean aphid resistant cultivars. To identify new sources of resistance in early maturing soybeans, 330 soybean germplasm accessions from Maturity Group (MG) I, …

Transcriptional And Post-Transcriptional Regulation Of Nodule-Specific Gene Expression In Soybean, Sajag Adhikari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lateral roots and nodules are two important nutrient acquisition organs in soybean. The evolutionary origin of nodules from lateral roots has been highly hypothesized based on morphological similarities and genetic studies, but gene expression profiles during the formation of these organs have not been compared. In addition, the role of post-transcriptional gene regulation during nodule development has not been thoroughly explored. Bridging these knowledge gaps is crucial to develop genetic/biotechnological strategies to optimize nutrient acquisition and sustainable production of crops. To answer some of the outstanding questions about regulation of gene expression during nodule development, (i) global transcriptome analyses of …

Cooperation And Punishment In The Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis: Implications For Resource Exchange & Biological Market Dynamics, Jerry A. Mensah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is arguably the world’s most abundant and important mutualism, and brings together the roots of the majority of land plants and AM fungi to great mutual advantage. The AM symbiosis can increase the uptake of nutrients, such as phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), and improves the abiotic and biotic stress resistance of the host plant. AM fungi have the potential to act as biofertilizers and bioprotectors in sustainable agriculture. However, despite its significance, the mechanisms that control the resource exchange between both partners in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis are largely unknown. The main aim of …

Spatial Variability Analysis And Reclamation Of Saline-Sodic Soils In The Northern Great Plains, Girma Birru

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increased spring rainfall and higher temperatures when combined with changing landuses and extensive tile drainage installation have contributed to the development of sodic and saline/sodic soils in the Northern Great Plains. The objectives of this dissertation were: 1) determine the impact of surface chemical treatments and cover crop on crop yields and soil remediation; 2) determine and describe soil spatial variability and develop a model to identify saline-sodic soils; and 3) evaluate cation impact on dispersion of bentonite clay and selected soils. The research was conducted between 2013 and 2016 at Redfield (Argiustolls, Natrudolls, Calciustolls), White Lake (Argiudolls, Natrudolls), and …

Morphologic And Transcriptomic Response To Weed Pressure In Multiple Maize (Zea Mays L.) Selections And Teosinte (Zea Mays L. Ssp Parviglumis) Lines, Stephanie A. Bruggeman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sweet corn (Zea mays L. convar. saccharata var. rugosa) and modern dent variants (field maize, Zea mays L. indentata) have varying degrees of weed tolerance (ability to maintain yield under weed stress). Maize retains ~30% of its ancestral teosinte’s (Zea mays ssp parviglumis) genetic base. Transcriptomic response to weed pressure in maize and teosinte can lead to manipulation of the maize genome to minimize crop yield loss due to weed presence. In maize and teosinte under weed-free and weedstressed conditions, the objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate transcriptomic responses of 2 teosinte lines; 2) …