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Effect Of Aluminum Treatment On Proteomes Of Radicles Of Seeds Derived From Al-Treated Tomato Plants, Ikenna Okekeogbu, Zhujia Ye, Sasikiran Sangireddy, Hui Li, Sarabjit Bhatti, Dafeng Hui, Kevin J. Howe, Tara Fish, Yong Yang, Theodore W. Thannhauser

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major constraint to plant growth and crop yield in acid soils. Tomato cultivars are especially susceptible to excessive Al³⁺ accumulated in the root zone. In this study, tomato plants were grown in a hydroponic culture system supplemented with 50 µM AlK(SO₄)₂. Seeds harvested from Al-treated plants contained a significantly higher Al content than those grown in the control hydroponic solution. In this study, these Al-enriched tomato seeds (harvested from Al-treated tomato plants) were germinated in 50 µM AlK(SO₄)₂ solution in a homopiperazine-1,4-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) buffer (pH 4.0), and …

Agricultural Management Decisions Impact Isoprene Emission And Physiology Of Arundo Donax, An Emerging Bioenergy Crop, Jason Charles Maxfield

Dissertations and Theses

Arundo donax (Giant Reed) is quickly being developed as a rapidly-growing, robust, and highly productive bioenergy crop, with large scale cultivation of this species planned for the Columbia River basin of the Pacific Northwest (USA). Despite its potential as a next generation biomass crop, relatively few studies have examined the physiological performance of A. donax under agricultural conditions. Unlike traditional crops, A. donax is known to be a high-emitter of the volatile compound isoprene, which may significantly impact regional air quality, but it has not been widely cultivated in North America and little is known about how this species will …

Development Of A Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Rt-Pcr) Assay For Plant Species, Kayla Curtis, Heather Miller Coyle

Forensic Science Publications

In order to facilitate optimal plant DNA quantitation and identification, an assay has been developed that uses generic plant PCR primers that amplify a region in the chloroplast genome of plant samples. The assay uses the SYBR green detection dye to detect the PCR product with a universal PCR primer set to the large subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, rbcL, but can be used with any of the universal barcode primers for land plants (rbcL, matK, trnH, psbA). Standard dilutions of control wheat DNA of varying concentrations were tested to create a standard curve. Several plant DNA extractions of different …

Water Availability As The Driving Factor Of Growth And Physiological Function Of Co-Occurring Scrub Species In Central Florida, Tammy Foster

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Florida scrub is a xeromorphic upland shrub community dominated by evergreen oaks that resprout after fire, occurring on moderately to excessively well-drained nutrient-poor sand. Scrub is home to several threatened and endangered animal species (e.g., Florida scrub-jay, gopher tortoise, and indigo snake) and rare and endemic plants. Urban development and agriculture has greatly reduced and fragmented scrub habitat, and because of this Florida scrub is considered one of the most endangered ecosystems in the United States. Climate change is a further threat to Florida scrub. Under a warmer and drier climate, scrub species will be exposed to more frequent and …

Calorespirometric Determination Of The Effects Of Temperature, Humidity, Low O2 And High Co2 On The Development Of Musca Domestica Pupae, J. J. Joyal, L. D. Hansen, D. R. Coons, G. M. Booth, B. N. Smith, D. D. Mill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Evolutionary fitness [1, 2] and physical activity [3] are related to the metabolic activity of organisms. The metabolic rate of an organism may be measured as the rates of CO2 or heat production, or of O2 consumption [4–6, 7]. Calorespirometric data on both heat and CO2 rates allows calculation of anabolic rates, calculation of efficiencies of conversion of substrate into anabolic products, and provides information on the nature of the substrate carbon source [6, 7]. In this study, heat and CO2 production rates of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) pupae were measured during exposure to varied humidity, temperature, decreasing O2 partial …

Extracts Of Trichostema Lanatum Inhibit The Growth Of Gram-Positive Bacteria And An Escherichia Coli Δtolc Mutant Strain, Matthew C. Fleming

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The Chumash Native Americans of Southern California have well-documented traditions of using plants for medicinal purposes. If a specific plant has traditionally been used for the treatment of cuts, wounds and infections, it may contain chemicals with anti-bacterial properties. One plant that fits these criteria is Trichostema lanatum (woolly blue curls). We tested extracts of T. lanatum for their ability to inhibit the growth of a variety of bacteria. Because of the widespread use of antibiotics over the past sixty years bacteria are evolving greater resistance to known antibiotics, but unfortunately the rate of antibiotic discovery has diminished during the …

Qtl Architecture Of Reproductive Fitness Characters In Brassica Rapa, Jennifer M. Dechaine, Marcus T. Brock, Cynthia Weinig

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

Background

Reproductive output is critical to both agronomists seeking to increase seed yield and to evolutionary biologists interested in understanding natural selection. We examine the genetic architecture of diverse reproductive fitness traits in recombinant inbred lines (RILs) developed from a crop (seed oil) × wild-like (rapid cycling) genotype of Brassica rapa in field and greenhouse environments.

Results

Several fitness traits showed strong correlations and QTL-colocalization across environments (days to bolting, fruit length and seed color). Total fruit number was uncorrelated across environments and most QTL affecting this trait were correspondingly environment-specific. Most fitness components were positively correlated, consistent with life-history …

Characterization Of Glomerella Strains Recovered From Anthracnose Lesions On Common Bean Plants In Brazil, Quélen L. Barcelos, Joyce M.A. Pinto, Lisa J. Vaillancourt, Elaine A. Souza

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum is an important disease of common bean, resulting in major economic losses worldwide. Genetic diversity of the C. lindemuthianum population contributes to its ability to adapt rapidly to new sources of host resistance. The origin of this diversity is unknown, but sexual recombination, via the Glomerella teleomorph, is one possibility. This study tested the hypothesis that Glomerella strains that are frequently recovered from bean anthracnose lesions represent the teleomorph of C. lindemuthianum. A large collection of Glomerella isolates could be separated into two groups based on phylogenetic analysis, morphology, and pathogenicity to beans. Both …

Effects Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Infection And Common Mycelial Network Formation On Invasive Plant Competition, Rachael Elizabeth Workman

Dissertations and Theses

Understanding the biotic factors influencing invasive plant performance is essential for managing invaded land and preventing further exotic establishment and spread. I studied how competition between both conspecifics and native co-habitants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) impacted the success of the invasive bunchgrass Brachypodium sylvaticumin early growth stages. I examined whether invasive plants performed and competed differently when grown in soil containing AMF from adjacent invaded and noninvaded ranges in order to determine the contribution of AMF to both monoculture stability and spread of the invasive to noninvaded territory. I also directly manipulated common mycelial network (CMN) formation by AMF …

P-01 The Effects Of Celite Formulated Rhizobium Rubi And Tryptophan On Velvetleaf Plant Growth, Jonathon Ahn

Honors Scholars & Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium Programs

Rhizobium rubi AT3-4RS/6 and tryptophan may be useful in replacing chemical herbicides as biological control agents. Previous research has shown that Rhizobium rubi AT3-4RS/6 produces IAA-like compounds that are deleterious to weed growth. In this project R. rubi AT3/4RS/6 will be formulated in Celite, a granular, diatomaceous earth carrier. The purpose of this research is to analyze if tryptophan influences R. rubi AT3/4RS/6 populations in the velveltleaf rhizosphere, and if this colonization is associated with reduced root weight and shoot length. The experiment design consists of five soil treatments (bacteria+tryptophan+celite, tryptophan+celite, bacteria+celite, celite alone, and soil alone) with 10 velvetleaf …

A Preliminary Study Of The Role Of Nickel In Enhancing Flowering Of The Nickel Hyperaccumulating Plant Alyssum Inflatum Nyár. (Brassicaceae), R. Ghasemi, Z. Zare Chavoshi, R.S. Boyd, Nishanta Rajakaruna

Biological Sciences

Alyssum inflatum is a native of serpentine soils and is able to hyperaccumulate nickel (Ni), but the importance of Ni to reproduction in the species is unknown. We investigated if reproductive fitness is enhanced by Ni in the growth medium, and included a treatment involving a relatively high level of Mg to provide a comparison with elevated levels of another metal. Seedlings were grown in a modified Hoagland solution culture in an inert medium of Perlite and were treated with Ni (100 μM), a high concentration of Mg (5 mM), or under control conditions (solution culture without Ni or the …

Effects Of Covering System, Sealing Time, And Packing On Fermentation, Nutritional Quality, And Organic Matter Loss Of Corn Silage In A Drive-Over Pile, Katie Rose Nutcher

Dairy Science

This project involved an experiment conducted using a 550-ton capacity drive-over pile of whole-plant corn silage. The main effects compared were: packing the final forage surface with a loader or crawler, delay or immediate sealing, and covering with standard plastic or an oxygen barrier film.

Numerous studies have shown that the absence of oxygen in silage stored in a bunker silo or pile is crucial for proper fermentation and to ensure the highest quality silage at feed out. When oxygen is allowed to permeate through the covering material, it leads to visible spoilage. This trial showed that the oxygen barrier …

Updated Ethography For European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris) In Central Coast Vineyards, Vic A. Guerrero

Wine and Viticulture

No abstract provided.

Common Sunflower Seedling Emergence Across The U.S. Midwest, Sharon A. Clay, Adam Davis, Anita Dille, John Lindquist, Analiza H. M. Ramirez, Christy Sprague, Graig Reicks, Frank Forcella

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Predictions of weed emergence can be used by practitioners to schedule POST weed management operations. Common sunflower seed from Kansas was used at six Midwestern U.S. sites to examine the variability that 16 climates had on common sunflower emergence. Nonlinear mixed effects models, using a flexible sigmoidal Weibull function that included thermal time, hydrothermal time, and a modified hydrothermal time (with accumulation starting from January 1 of each year), were developed to describe the emergence data. An iterative method was used to select an optimal base temperature (Tb) and base and ceiling soil matric potentials (ψb and ψc) that resulted …

Proceedings Of The 41st Annual Meeting, Southern Soybean Disease Workers (March 5-6, 2014, Pensacola Beach, Florida), Edward Sikora, Clayton A. Hollier, Craig Rothrock, Myra Purvis, Danise Beadle, Stephen R. Koenning

Southern Soybean Disease Workers: Conference Proceedings

Contents

Schedule

Southern United Station Soybean Disease Loss Estimates for 2013. Compiled by SR Koenning

Graduate student paper competition (Ed Sikora, moderator)

Association of Phomopsis longicolla and Macrophomina phaseolina with zone lines in soybean roots at maturity. ML Zaccaron, JC Rupe, and RT Holland

Molecular Phylogenetic Redefinition of Cercospora kikuchii. S Albu, P Price, V Doyle, and R Schneider

The effects of salinity on Pythium rot of soybean. TJ Stetina, CS Rothrock, and JC Rupe

Distribution of Cercospora sojina and sensitivity to Qol fungicides in Mississippi soybean fields. J Standish, M Tomaso-Peterson, TW Allen, S Sabanadzovic, N Aboughanem-Sabanadzovic

Effect …

What Kind Of Seed Dormancy Might Palms Have?, Jerry M. Baskin, Carol C. Baskin

Biology Faculty Publications

Palm diaspores are reported to have various kinds of dormancy. However, (1) the embryo is underdeveloped; (2) the endocarp is water permeable; and (3) the diaspores take a long time to germinate. Thus, we conclude that the diaspores of the majority of palm species have morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). The ones that do not have MPD are morphologically dormant.

Nebline, March 2014

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: Make a Difference -- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Food & Health

Family Living

Farm & Acreage

Home & Family Living

Horticulture

Pests & Wildlife

4-H & Youth

Extension Calendar

and other extension news and events

Bulk Elastic Moduli And Solute Potentials In Leaves Of Freshwater, Coastal, And Marine Hydrophytes. Are Marine Plants More Rigid?, Brant W. Touchette, Sarah E. Marcus, Emily C. Adams

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Bulk modulus of elasticity (ɛ), depicting the flexibility of plant tissues, is recognized as an important component in maintaining internal water balance. Elevated ɛ and comparatively low osmotic potential (Ψ_π) may work in concert to effectively maintain vital cellular water content. This concept, termed the ‘cell water conservation hypothesis’, may foster tolerance for lower soil-water potentials in plants while minimizing cell dehydration and shrinkage. Therefore, the accumulation of solutes in marine plants, causing decreases in Ψ_π, play an important role in plant–water relations and likely works with higher ɛ to achieve favourable cell …

Priming In The Microbial Landscape: Periphytic Algal Stimulation Of Litter-Associated Microbial Decomposers, Kevin A. Kuehn, Steven N. Francoeur, Robert H. Findlay, Robert K. Neely

Faculty Publications

Microbial communities associated with submerged detritus in aquatic ecosystems often comprise a diverse mixture of autotrophic and heterotrophic microbes, including algae, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. Recent studies have documented increased rates of plant litter mass loss when periphytic algae are present. We conducted laboratory and field experiments to assess potential metabolic interactions between natural autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial communities inhabiting submerged decaying plant litter of Typha angustifolia and Schoenoplectus acutus. In the field, submerged plant litter was either exposed to natural sunlight or placed under experimental canopies that manipulated light availability and growth of periphytic algae. Litter was collected …

The Pythium Suppressive Ability Of Glomus Intraradices In Cherry Tomato Propagation, Stanley Graham

Biological Sciences

No abstract provided.

First Report Of The Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne Enterolobii Parasitizing Watermelon From Veracruz, Mexico, A. Ramírez-Suárez, L. Rosas-Hernández, S. Alcasio-Rangel, Guillermo Pérez Valenzuela, T. O. Powers

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

In early April 2012, a sampling of watermelon crop Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai, 1916 cv. Sunsugar took place as part of the National System of Epidemiological Phytosanitary Surveillance (SINAVEF-MEX). This sampling was conducted at Riachuelos locality, Tecolutla, Veracruz, located at the geographic coordinates: 20.42008° N and 96.9627° W, within 50 meters of the Gulf of Mexico. Plants showed yellowing, stunting, and high levels of infection expressed by extensive galling on the roots. These symptoms were reproduced in the greenhouse on watermelon cv. Sunsugar. Egg masses were extracted to obtain juveniles (J2). Female necks and perineal patterns were mounted …

Vascular Plants Of Big Lagoon County Park Humboldt County, California, James P. Smith Jr

Botanical Studies

No abstract provided.

Riparian Vegetation Assemblages And Associated Landscape Factors Across An Urbanizing Metropolitan Area, Christa Von Behren, Andrew Evans Dietrich, J. Alan Yeakley

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

While diverse, native riparian vegetation provides important functions, it remains unclear to what extent these assemblages can persist in urban areas, and under what conditions. We characterized forested riparian vegetation communities across an urbanizing metropolitan area and examined their relationships with surrounding land cover. We hypothesized that native and hydrophilic species assemblages would correlate with forest cover in the landscape. For each of 30 sites in the Portland–Vancouver metro area, we recorded vegetation at 1-cm intervals along 3 transects using the line-intercept method. Land cover was characterized at 2 scales: within 500 m of each site and across the entire …

From The Inside Out, And Through., Dominique Ovalle

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

These photographs describe “Science” born of consumerism, hijacked by me, economically disenfranchised, or rather—temporarily embarrassed, artist. I was putzing around Malibu—my old college stomping ground, looking for free food; maybe a sample of some gourmet $5 chocolate, and all I got were these photographs.

Genome Wide Association Mapping Of Grain Arsenic, Copper, Molybdenum And Zinc In Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Grown At Four International Field Sites, Gareth J. Norton, Alex Douglas, Brett Lahner, Elena Yakubova, Mary Lou Guerinot, Shannon R.M Pinson, Lee Tarpley, George C. Eizenga, Steve P. Mcgrath, Fang-Jie Zhao

Dartmouth Scholarship

The mineral concentrations in cereals are important for human health, especially for individuals who consume a cereal subsistence diet. A number of elements, such as zinc, are required within the diet, while some elements are toxic to humans, for example arsenic. In this study we carry out genome-wide association (GWA) mapping of grain concentrations of arsenic, copper, molybdenum and zinc in brown rice using an established rice diversity panel of ~300 accessions and 36.9 k single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The study was performed across five environments: one field site in Bangladesh, one in China and two in the US, with …

Development And Assessment Of Plant-Based Synthetic Odor Baits For Surveillance And Control Of Malaria Vectors, Vincent O. Nyasembe, David P. Tchouassi, Hillary K. Kirwa, Woodbridge A. Foster, Peter E.A. Teal, Christian Borgemeister, Baldwyn Torto

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Recent malaria vector control measures have considerably reduced indoor biting mosquito populations. However, reducing the outdoor biting populations remains a challenge because of the unavailability of appropriate lures to achieve this. This study sought to test the efficacy of plant-based synthetic odor baits in trapping outdoor populations of malaria vectors. Methodology and Principal Finding: Three plant-based lures ((E)-linalool oxide [LO], (E)-linalool oxide and (E)-β-ocimene [LO + OC], and a six-component blend comprising ( E)-linalool oxide, (E)-β-ocimene, hexanal, β-pinene, limonene, and ( E)-β-farnesene [Blend C]), were tested alongside an animal/human-based synthetic lure (comprising heptanal, octanal, nonanal, and decanal [Blend F]) …

Mechanisms And Consequences Of Conifer Expansion In Aspen Forests, Sam St. Clair

Journal of Undergraduate Research

We fully met the objectives of the study and have published numerous papers from the proposed work.

The mentoring environment was highly successful based on the high number of student co-authors and the more than 15 undergraduate students mentored during that two year period.

Transmission Electron Microscopy Study Of Tobacco Seed Endosperm Transformed With Zein Protein Genes From Zea Mays, Susan Eldredge, Dr. Craig E. Coleman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Zein proteins represent the prolamin (alcohol soluble) fraction of maize storage proteins. Zeins constitute approximately 50 percent of the total seed protein in maize, and therefore greatly affect the overall amino acid balance of the maize grain (1).

Molecular Evolution Among Populations Of The Silky Pocket Mouse (Parognathus Flavus), Taylor Maxwell, Dr. Duke Rogers

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Mexico is classified as a “megadiversity” country, which means that it has more species of plants and animals than the vast majority of other countries in the world. For example, there are ca. 4,750 species of mammals known to science, and more than one of every seven can be found in Mexico. The reasons that Mexico has so much biodiversity are complex, but in part, it is due to the fact that the region is climatically and topographically diverse. Habitats range from lowland tropical rain forest in the south to dry deserts in the north with a multitude of intervening …

Locating Resistance To The Tomato Virus Disease “Tomov” With Rflp Markers On Chromosome 6, Heidi Lynn Stevens-Robbins, Dr. Eric N. Jellan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and tomato mottle virus (ToMoV), are both geminiviruses, and are considered major limiting factors in the commercially grown tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in Florida and the Middle East (1). These viruses have been identified as reducing yields and/or reducing fruit quality in an infected crop. TYLCV appears to have originated in Old World and has been recently identified in Florida (1). ToMoV was originally identified in Florida and has since been found throughout the Southeastern United States (2).