Digital Commons Network^™

Participation Of Leaky Ribosome Scanning In Protein Dual Targeting By Alternative Translation Initiation In Higher Plants, Yashitola Wamboldt, Saleem Mohammed, Christian Elowsky, Chris Wittgren, Wilson B. M. De Paula, Sally Ann Mackenzie

Center for Plant Science Innovation: Faculty Publications

Postendosymbiotic evolution has given rise to proteins that are multiply targeted within the cell. Various mechanisms have been identified to permit the expression of proteins encoding distinct N termini from a single gene. One mechanism involves alternative translation initiation (aTI). We previously showed evidence of aTI activity within the Arabidopsis thaliana organellar DNA polymerase gene POLg2. Translation initiates at four distinct sites within this gene, two non-AUG, to produce distinct plastid and mitochondrially targeted forms of the protein. To understand the regulation of aTI in higher plants, we used Polg2 as a model to investigate both cis- and trans …

Intergenic Transcription By Rna Polymerase Ii Coordinates Pol Iv And Pol V In Sirna-Directed Transcriptional Gene Silencing In Arabidopsis, Binglian Zheng, Zhengming Wang, Shengben Li, Bin Yu, Jin -Yuan Liu, Xuemei Chen

Center for Plant Science Innovation: Faculty Publications

Intergenic transcription by RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) is widespread in plant and animal genomes, but the functions of intergenic transcription or the resulting noncoding transcripts are poorly understood. Here, we show that Arabidopsis Pol II is indispensable for endogenous siRNA-mediated transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) at intergenic low-copy-number loci, despite the presence of two other polymerases—Pol IV and Pol V—that specialize in TGS through siRNAs. We show that Pol II produces noncoding scaffold transcripts that originate outside of heterochromatic, siRNA-generating loci. Through these transcripts and physical interactions with the siRNA effector protein ARGONAUTE4 (AGO4), Pol II recruits AGO4/siRNAs to homologous …

The Impacts Of Global Warming On Appalachian Wildflower Phenologies, Rachel D. Wigginton

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Public and private interest in global warming has prompted exploration of the impacts this phenomenon may impart on ecosystem functions. Flowering phenology has been one of the areas many scientists believe is particularly susceptible to the impacts of anthropogenic warming. Over three weekends in spring of 2008, the vernal herb community was surveyed at five sites within the Great Smoky Mountains regions of the southern Appalachian Mountains. The intent was to capture the naturally occurring elevational gradient and determine if the temperature cue for blooming was the same for all co-flowering species in the study. This information would allow for …

Piñon And Juniper Field Guide: Asking The Right Questions To Select Appropriate Management Actions, Robin J. Tausch, R. F. Miller, B. A. Roundy, J. C. Chambers

Reports

Piñon-juniper woodlands are an important vegetation type in the Great Basin. Old-growth and open shrub savanna woodlands have been present over much of the last several hundred years. Strong evidence indicates these woodlands have experienced significant tree infilling and major expansion in their distribution since the late 1800s by encroaching into surrounding landscapes once dominated by shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. Both infilling and expansion affects soil resources, plant community structure and composition, water and nutrient cycles, forage production, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and fire patterns across the landscape. Another impact is the shift from historic fire regimes to larger and more …

Guide For Quantifying Fuels In The Sagebrush Steppe And Juniper Woodlands Of The Great Basin, Andrea Stebleton, Stephen Bunting

Reports

Prescribed fire is increasingly used for fuels management and ecosystem restoration. Managers and fuels specialists of the Great Basin are often required to estimate fuel loadings to predict fire behavior, recommend fuel treatments, or restore an area to its natural fire regime. Because of invasive species and woodland encroachment, there have been extensive changes in the fire regimes of sagebrush steppe over the past 150 years. After two years of pre-treatment sampling across six states of the Great Basin, the Sagebrush Steppe Treatment and Evaluation Project (SageSTEP) measured many variables including vegetation, soils, hydrology, wildlife, and fuels. These data will …

Agroforestry: Working Trees For Sequestering Carbon On Agricultural Lands, Michele M. Schoeneberger

Working Trees (USDA-NAC)

No abstract provided.

Post Weaning Management Of Heifer Calves Impacts Average Daily Gain And Feed Efficiency As Pregnant Heifers, D. M. Larson, Tonya L. Meyer, L. A. Stalker, Richard N. Funston

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Three experiments evaluated replacement heifer development systems and subsequent effects on gain and efficiency of pregnant heifers. In Exp. 1 and 2, were developed grazing corn residue (CR; 422 ± 5 kg) or fed in a dry lot (DL; 446 ± 5 kg) prior to breeding. In Exp. 1, a subset of pregnant heifers (n = 40) were individually fed a diet composed of 90% grass hay (11.7 % CP; DM basis) and 10% of a wet distillers grains plus solubles/straw mixture (21.8 % CP; DM basis) during late gestation. In Exp. 2, 55 pregnant …

The Effect Of Adjuvants, Pesticide Formulation, And Spray Nozzle Tips On Spray Droplet Size, Robert N. Klein, Jeffrey A. Golus, Kelli L. Nelms

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Many factors, including adjuvants, pesticide formulations, and nozzle tips, affect spray droplet size. It is important to understand these factors as spray droplet size affects both drift and efficacy of pesticides, which is a main concern with pesticide application. A laser particle analyzer was used to determine the spray droplet size and distributions of a range of formulations sprayed through several types of nozzle tips. Nozzles included were extended range flat fan sizes 11003 and 11005 (Spraying Systems XR), air induction flat fan sizes 11005 and 11004 (AI) air induction extended range flat fan size 11005 (AIXR), preorifice flat fan …

Nebline, January 2009

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Creating a Strong Family: Strong Families Have Six Common Characteristics
Ways to Spend Time With Your Family in January
Private Pesticide Applicator Certification Opportunities
Soybean Cyst Nematode Spreading in Nebraska: Free Soil Sampling Kits at Extension Offices
Mystery “Bites”: Unidentifiable Skin Problems Usually Have Non-Insect Causes
Raccoons in the City
2009 Wall Calendar
Beginning Beekeeping 2-Day Workshop
2009 All-America Rose Selections
Shopping for Plants and Seeds
Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month
Birds Need Water In Winter
Attract Winter Birds With Feeders
Top 10 Myths of Entrepreneurship
Winter Houseplant Care
Wishing You a Healthy H-A-P-P-Y N-E-W Y-E-A-R!
$tretch Your …

Nebraska Vine Lines, Volume Xii, Issue 5, October/November 2009

Nebraska Vine Lines (2003–2006)

Baby Doll Sheep Highlight Fall Workshop

A Roller-Coaster Vintage?

Wine Evaluation 101

Nebraska VineLines Calendar of Events

Future Nebraska Winery & Grape Growers Forums

DRAFT PROGRAM: VINEYARD FLOOR MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

Comparison Of Uva Absorbance In Sun And Shade Leaves, James Newton, Kevin Rivera, James Kim

Featured Research

In observing chaparral species’ resistance to abiotic plant stresses, this investigation sought to study plant defense against UVA radiation in sun and shade leaves. We predicted that sun leaves would have higher absorbance of UV radiation considering their day-long exposure to sunlight.

UVA (350nm-400nm) absorbance in sun and shade leaves of Heteromeles arbutifolia and Malosma laurina were measured using an integrating sphere. Four leaves from each group were surveyed for reflectance and absorbance. Using the spectrophotometer, reflectance in the green wavelengths (500-600nm) was measured and divided by reflectance in the red (600-700nm) to give a quantitative estimation of the redness …

Measuring Water Use Efficiency In Large And Small Leaves Of Malosma Laurina, Caitlin Ishibashi, Dan Kaczrowski, Evan Mattiansen

Featured Research

Our study set out to compare Water Use Efficiency (WUE) levels of Malosma laurina plants in both small and large leaves. We collected a total of 3 data sets, with each set consisting of 5 small leaves and 5 large leaves from a single specimen of Malosma laurina located on Pepperdine’s campus. Parameters including transpiration and photosynthesis were measured to calculate WUE of small and large leaves using an LI- 6400 Gas Exchange System. We hypothesized that small leaves would have a higher WUE rate than large leaves of the M. laurina. Analysis of this data via a paired …

The Effects Of Light Intensity And Color Absorption Of Diurnal Leaf Movements Of Malva Parviflora, Amy Lawrence, Ben Young, Matthew Yarborough

Featured Research

Our group measured the heliotropic response rate of the Malva parviflora under various light environments in order to see the effect that light color and intensity had on daily leaf movement. In our experiment we measured the leaf angle of plants under white, blue, red and green light, as well as plants under shade, over a specific duration of time in order to determine the rate of change. We ran a One-Way Analysis of Variance on leaf angle for light color as well as coverage at a 0.05 level using SPSS 17.0. The ANOVA test showed no significance for light …

Natural Microorganisms’ Effect On The Growth Of Lasthenia Californica In Post‐Fire Soil, Bryce Lindley, Taylor Miller, Tyler Gibson

Featured Research

The effect of microorganisms in post‐fire soil on the growth of lasthenia californica was studied by comparing growth in natural soil versus autoclaved soil. It was hypothesized that the seeds from the natural soil would have more growth because the microorganisms have a symbiotic relationship with the plants. Seeds were grown in similar conditions in both autoclaved and natural soil. After 44 days, the plants were uprooted and split into shoots and roots. Shoots and roots were then biomassed. The natural soil had a total shoot biomass of 3.031g and a total root biomass of 89.554g, while the autoclaved soil …

Soil Salinity And Stomatal Conductance On Chaparral Plants, Ron King, Lisa Malyak, Kelly Rausch

Featured Research

In our experiment we evaluated the soil salinity and corresponding stomatal conductance rates of Malosma laurina and Rhus integrifolia located near the coast and farther inland. Our prediction was that stomatal conductance would vary with the change in location of each species. Stomatal conductance was measured using a simple diffusion porometer and soil salinity was measured using a refractometer. We concluded that soil salinity caused a decline in stomatal conductance in both chaparral species. M. laurina was also found to be more sensitive to an increase in soil salinity, as its stomatal conductance rates declined more than that of R. …

Carbon Dioxide Expulsion By Ceanothus Spinosus In Response To Predawn Sunlight, Eian Carter, Jon Pauwels, Brittany Wilkins

Featured Research

In our experiment we studied the respiratory qualities of green bark ceanothus (Ceanothus spinosus). Plants are generally thought to undergo respiration during the night, building up carbon dioxide stores that are released in response to light. In resprouts with large root crowns, such as C. spinosus, we expected to see large amounts of carbon dioxide released right after dawn. This can be shown with the use of a portable gas exchange system. In C. spinosus, we compared normal respiration rates, based on carbon dioxide expulsion, to values obtained at predawn. We were able to show that …

The Effect Of Hydraulic Lift In Quercus Agrifolia On The Health Of Venegasia Carpesioides, Kelly Donovan, Brittany Wagner

Featured Research

Hydraulic lift was studied in live and dead Quercus agrifolia (Coastal Live Oak) in order to test its impact on surrounding Venegasia carpesioides (Canyon Sunflower). Hydraulic lift causes soil moisture to rise around the base of deep-rooted plants where neighboring plants can utilize this excess water. We predicted that the hydraulic lift of the Coastal Live Oak would increase soil moisture, causing higher stomatal conductance and higher water potential in nearby plants. Pvalues of .5258 and .6392 indicated there were no significant differences in soil moisture or in stomatal conductance of the Canyon Sunflowers. A p-value of .0378 showed a …

Root Responses Along A Subambient To Elevated Co2 Gradient In A C3–C4 Grassland, Laurel J. Anderson, Justin D. Derners, H. Wayne Polley, Wendy S. Gordon, David M. Eissenstat, Robert B. Jackson

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

Atmospheric CO₂ (C_a) concentration has increased significantly during the last 20 000 years, and is projected to double this century. Despite the importance of belowground processes in the global carbon cycle, community-level and single species root responses to rising C_a are not well understood. We measured net community root biomass over 3 years using ingrowth cores in a natural C₃–C₄ grassland exposed to a gradient of C_a from preglacial to future levels (230–550 µmol mol^-1).

Nitrogen And Phosphorus Accumulation In Pasture Soil From Repeated Poultry Litter Application, Zhongqi He, C. Wayne Honeycutt, Irenus A. Tazisong, Zachary N. Senwo, Donglin Zhang

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

Poultry litter (PL) is a traditionally inexpensive and effective fertilizer to improve soil quality and agricultural productivity. However, over application to soil has raised concern because excess nutrients in runoff could accelerate the eutrophication of fresh water. In this work, we determined the contents of total phosphorus (P), Mehlich 3 extracted P, total nitrogen (N), ammonium (NH4)-N, and nitrate (NO₃)-N, in pasture soils receiving annual poultry litter applications of 0, 2.27, 2.27, 3.63, and 1.36 Mg/ha/ yr, respectively, for 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. Samples were collected from three soil depths (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm) …

Third Report Of The North Dakota Bird Records Committee: 2004-2005, Dan Svingen, Ron E. Martin

The Prairie Naturalist

Since 1979, North Dakota's bird records committee has collected, evaluated, and archived documentations of rare bird occurrences in the state. In 2004 and 2005, this committee resolved 189 rare bird records. On the basis of these record reviews, six species were ad~ed to the North Dakota state bird list: mottled duck (Anas fulvigula), yellow-billed loon (Cavia adamsii), white-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus), little stint (Calidris minuta), glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens), and great black-backed gull (Larus marinus). Four species were added to the list of nesting species within the state: snowy …

Effect Of Drought And Agriculture On Ring-Necked Pheasant Abundance, Nebraska Panhandle, Charles J. Randel Iii

The Prairie Naturalist

The objectives of my study were to detennine the effects of drought (e.g., Palmer Modified Drought Severity Index; PMDI, Bridges et at. 2001) and/or agricultural practices (e.g., conversion) on RNP abundance in the Nebraska Panhandle (NP).

My RNP survey data were found to be correlated negatively to drought condition (PMDI) in January, February, and April. This was supported by Snyder (1984) and Riley (1995), both of whom reported that decreased precipitation in spring affected RNP production in the western Great Plains and Iowa, respectively. Late winter and early spring drought affect subsoil moisture and decrease primary production (Kiesselbach et al. …

The Prairie Naturalist Manuscript Submission Guidelines, Christopher N. Jacques, Troy W. Grovenburg, Jonathan Jenks

The Prairie Naturalist

These guidelines present The Prairie Naturalist (PNAT) policies and procedures for submitting scientific manuscripts for consideration for publication. In January 2009, a change in Editorial staff occurred and these guidelines address the ongoing transition and update the online "Suggestions for Contributors" guidelines provided on the PNAT website (http://www.fhsu.edu/biology/pn/prairienat.htm); these instructions supersede all previous guidelines. Tables and appendices are included for common word expressions with superfluous wording, examples of correct format and style guidelines for tables accompanying manuscripts, guidance in properly preparing Research Articles and Notes, citing literature, and mandatory abbreviations for tables, figures and parenthetical expressions.

A Nonsense Mutation In A Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase Gene Is Responsible For The Sorghum Brown Midrib6 Phenotype1[W][Oa], Scott E. Sattler, Aaron J. Saathoff, Eric J. Haas, Nathan A. Palmer, Deanna L. Funnell, Gautam Sarath, Jeffrey F. Pedersen

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Recently, bmr6 plants were shown to have limited cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity (CAD; EC 1.1.1.195), the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of hydroxycinnamoyl aldehydes (monolignals) to monolignols. A candidate gene approach was taken to identify Bmr6. Two CAD genes (Sb02g024190 and Sb04g005950) were identified in the sorghum genome based on similarity to known CAD genes and through DNA sequencing a nonsense mutation was discovered in Sb04g005950 that results in a truncated protein lacking the NADPH-binding and C-terminal catalytic domains. Immunoblotting confirmed that the Bmr6 protein was absent in protein extracts from bmr6 plants. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Bmr6 is …

2009 Report : A Multi-Refuge Program To Evaluate The Effect Of Ungulate Browsing On Habitat, Richard B. Keigley, Jeffrey Warren, Wayne J. King

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Discovery: The Student Journal Of Dale Bumpers College Of Agricultural, Food And Life Sciences - Volume 10 2009, Several Authors

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

No abstract provided.

Preface To Lesser Known Large Dsdna Viruses. Current Topics In Microbiology And Immunology 328, James L. Van Etten

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Several large dsDNA-containing viruses such as poxviruses (smallpox) and herpes viruses are well known among the scientific community, as well as the general populace, because they cause human diseases. The large dsDNA insect-infecting baculoviruses are also well known in the scientific community because they are used both as biological control agents and as protein expression systems. However, there are other large dsDNA-containing viruses, including the giant 1.2-Mb mimivirus, which are less well known even though all of them play important roles in everyday life. Seven of these virus families are reviewed in this book.

Effects Of Increased Pco2 And Temperature On The North Atlantic Spring Bloom. Iii. Dimethylsulfoniopropionate, Peter A. Lee, Jamie R. Rudisill, Aimee R. Neeley, Jennifer M. Maucher, David A. Hutchins, Yuanyuan Feng, Clinton E. Hare, Karine Leblanc, Julie M. Rose, Steven W. Wilhelm, Janet M. Rowe, Giacomo R. Ditullio

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

The CLAW hypothesis argues that a negative feedback mechanism involving phytoplankton- derived dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) could mitigate increasing sea surface temperatures that result from global warming. DMSP is converted to the climatically active dimethylsulfide (DMS), which is transferred to the atmosphere and photochemically oxidized to sulfate aerosols, leading to increases in planetary albedo and cooling of the Earth’s atmosphere. A shipboard incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of increased temperature and pCO₂ on the algal community structure of the North Atlantic spring bloom and their subsequent impact on particulate and dissolved DMSP concentrations (DMSP_p and DMSP_{d …}

Effect Of Increased Carbon Dioxide Levels On Urushiol Production In Toxicodendron Radicans And Toxicodendron Toxicarium, Meredith Gilbert

Theses and Dissertations

It is hypothesized that global warming is at least partially due to increased greenhouse gases, one of which is carbon dioxide. An increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide has been shown to stimulate higher rates of plant productivity, including the production of plant toxins like urushiol. Urushiol, a secondary plant compound produced in members of the Anacardiaceae family, causes dermatitis in sensitive individuals. An increase in urushiol production could increase the reactivity of certain individuals to plants like poison oak and poison ivy. To determine how elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide would effect urushiol production, 16 samples of poison ivy …

2009 Wildflower Of The Year: Skunk Cabbage, Symplocarpus Foetidus, W. John Hayden

Biology Faculty Publications

Skunk cabbage is a coarse herbaceous plant. The stem consists of a stout rhizome oriented vertically in the soil. Leaves and flowers arise from the tip of the rhizome which is often not visible, resulting in the appearance of leaves and flowers arising directly from the swampy mires where these plants grow. Flowers appear during the winter, long before the leaves. The flowers are minute, clustered into a ball-like group (spadix) almost entirely enclosed by a fleshy, hood-like, spathe. The spathe ranges from 8 to 15 cm in height, is more or less pear-shaped, widest near the bottom, and tapers …

Skunk Cabbage Flowers: The Heat Is On, W. John Hayden

Biology Faculty Publications

It is a remarkable sight, as striking as it is unexpected: January skunk cabbages emerging from the frozen mires they call home, melting their way through snow and ice. It seems so improbable because in everyday experience plants exist at equilibrium with ambient temperatures. Leave an apple on the front seat of your car in summer, it gets hot; examine your tomato plants on that first frosty morning in autumn, and they are permeated with ice crystals. People, mammals and birds are inherently warm, and pretty much nothing else is. Except, of course, for the exceptions, of which skunk cabbage …