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Variation In The Growth Parameters And Biomass Of Rhizophora Mangle Seedlings With Distances From Playa Estrella, Bocas Del Toro, Panama, Thiny Tep

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mangrove is a salt-tolerant, intertidal, tropical tree or shrub and make up a rich community of various organism. On the Caribbean coast of Panama, in Bocas del Toro, mangrove forests cover 28 km² and are dominated by R. mangle, followed by L. racemosa and A. germinans. Simultaneously, Isla Colón, the most populated and developed among all islands in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, is a tourist center. Unfortunately, tourism comes at the price of environmental degradation via alteration of natural habitats, solid and wastewater pollution. Therefore, this study aims to gain a preliminary understanding on how the …

Experimentation On Nebraska Farms For Sustaining Soil Health Management, Fernanda Souza Krupek

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

Soil health management practices have increasingly been promoted across US agroecosystems to address many interrelated environmental and economic food system challenges. Sustaining conservation behavior – through farmer’s adoption and continued use of practices – is key for achieving many soil health-related intended social-ecological benefits. Using a range of scientific methods, from lab-based experiments to on-farm research to farmer interviews, the overall objective of this dissertation research was to explore soil and human dimension considerations to design farming and knowledge transfer systems for sustaining soil health management in the US Midwest. In a multivariate analysis of ten on-farm research sites, we …

Characterization Of Physical And Biochemical Traits In Wheat And Corn Plants Using High Throughput Image Analysis, Kantilata Thapa

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Plant phenotyping has been recognized as a rapidly growing field of research due to the labor-intensive, destructive, and time-consuming nature of traditional phenotyping methods. These phenotyping bottlenecks can be addressed by advancements in image-based phenotyping like RGB and hyperspectral imaging for the assessment of plant traits important for breeding purposes. This study aims (1) to characterize the physical and biochemical traits of wheat and corn plants using RGB and hyperspectral imaging in the greenhouse, and (2) to estimate leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) content using hyperspectral imaging and an analytical spectral device (ASD spectrometer) and compare the …

Life Line Spring 2023, Otterbein Biology And Earth Science Department

Life Line - The Biology Department Newsletter

In this Issue:

Feathered Friends Living on Campus; The Hidden Mussels of the Olentangy River; Early Assurance Program Students Graduate from HCOM; Students Present at American Society for Microbiology Microbe 2022 Meeting; Environmental Science Upgrades Its Remote Monitoring Capabilities; Speed!; UK Students Visit Local Attractions; That's a Lottl Axolotls.

Growing South Dakota (Spring 2023), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

[Page] 3 Developing Climate-Smart Beef and Bison Commodities
[Page] 5 Joseph Cassady Leads CAFES as New Dean
[Page] 7 Inaugural Class of Klingbeil Scholars
[Page] 9 Jackrabbits to Future Veterinarians
[Page] 11 Protecting South Dakota’s Grasslands
[Page] 13 Growing Youth Programs
[Page] 15 Partnerships for Positive Growth
[Page] 17 Building Highly Effective Boards
[Page] 19 SDSU Extension Podcasts
[Page] 21 Providing Good Food for All
[Page] 23 Improving Seed Varieties
[Page] 25 CAFES Endowed Positions
[Page] 29 Jackrabbits Now and Then

Biocultural Diversity Of Medicine In Tsum Valley, Ashira Weinreich

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Health is intrinsically connected to biodiversity in the Himalayan mountains of Tsum Valley. Medicinal plants have historically been integral to primary health care in this region. The main objectives of this paper are to explore the role of biocultural diversity on perceptions of health and to demonstrate that medicinal plant knowledge contributes to health sovereignty in times of cultural and environmental change. The nutritional and medicinal significance of plants were examined in the daily lives of villagers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from April to May 2023. Preliminary results are analyzed ethnographically. Interviews and participant observation will provide a rich understanding …

Foliar Expression Of Candidate Genes Involved In Condensed Tannin Biosynthesis In White Clover (Trifolium Repens), Stephen N. Panter, J. Simmonds, A. Winkworth, A. Mouradov, G. C. Spangenberg

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Bloat disease in cattle and sheep is caused by the rapid microbial degradation of protein-rich fodder in the rumen. This leads to the production of protein foams that trap gases, causing bloat, a condition that is often fatal to livestock and costly to farmers. Condensed tannins (CTs) are phenolic polymers produced by the phenylpropanoid pathway of plants (Figure 1). CTs bind to proteins under acidic to neutral conditions, such as those present in the rumen, slowing their breakdown. A diet with a CT content of between 2% and 4% by dry weight, which is provided by some pasture legumes (e.g. …

Discovery, Isolation And Characterisation Of Promoters In White Clover (Trifolium Repens), C. M. Labandera, Y. H. Lin, E. Ludlow, M. Emmerling, U. John, P. W. Sale, C. Pallaghy, G. C. Spangenberg

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The availability of a suite of promoters with a range of spatial, temporal and inducible expression patterns is of significant importance to control targeted expression of genes for molecular breeding in forage species. A range of resources and tools have been developed for promoter isolation and characterisation in white clover (Trifolium repens L.), including a comprehensive BAC library and a 15K unigene microarray.

Novel Genotypes Of The Subtropical Grass Eragrostis Curvula For The Analysis Of Apomixis (Diplospory), S. Cardone, P. Polci, J. P. Selva, M. Mecchia, S. C. Pessino, P. Voigt, G. C. Spangenberg, V. Echenique

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees is a variable grass native to Southern Africa. Its several forms, known as lovegrasses, were introduced to Australia, USA and Argentina as forage perennial grasses. Apomixis is a common trait in the genus Eragrostis, with diplospory being the most frequent type. Sexual reproduction also occurs in Eragrostis, although not frequently. Since most tetraploid Eragrostis lines are apomictic, the generation of a sexual tetraploid strain is a requirement for linkage analysis of the gene(s) governing the apomictic character. Furthermore, isogenic lines of the same ploidy, reproducing alternatively by sexuality or apomixes, represent an ideal system …

Isolation And Characterisation Of Genes Encoding Malate Synthesis And Transport Determinants In The Aluminum-Tolerant Australian Weeping-Grass (Microlaena Stipoides), R. M. Polotnianka, E. Ribarev, L. Mackin, K. A. Sivakumaran, G. D. Nugent, U. P. John, G. C. Spangenberg

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Acid soils cover some 40% of the Earth’s arable land where they represent a major limitation to plant production. Plant growth on acid soils is primarily limited due to aluminium (Al) solubilized by acidity into toxic Al³⁺ cations which will inhibit root growth resulting in poor uptake of water and nutrients. Many important pasture species lack sufficient Al tolerance within their germplasm to allow effective breeding for this character.

Development And Use Of A Tool For Automated Alignments Of Genes In The Rice Bac's Genbank Card Against Other Species, P. Barre, G. Darrieutort, J. Auzanneau, B. Julier

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In many cases, the analysis of the genetic bases of any trait requires molecular markers and if possible co-dominant PCR-based ones. In perennial fodder species, the number of publicly available markers (microsatellites and Sequence Tagged Site (STS)) is limited. Our goal is to use sequences from model grass species, i.e. rice, wheat, maize, barley, in L. perenne in order to develop STS markers in interesting regions such as under a QTL (Quantitative Trait Loci) or around a candidate gene,. As the genome sequence of rice is now available, the objective was to use the sequences of genes included in the …

Application Of Molecular Markers Derived From Medicago Truncatula In White Clover (Trifolium Repens L.), C. Jones, M. T. Abberton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

White clover is the major forage legume of temperate areas. Genome maps have been produced recently (Jones et al., 2003; Barrett et al., 2004) and the location of QTL for important agricultural traits reported (Abberton et al., 2004). White clover is closely related to the model legume Medicago truncatula and there is likely to be considerable benefit in applying genomic resources from model to crop. However, the extent of synteny between the species must be established. Here we present preliminary results detailing progress towards this goal.

Screening Of Perennial Grasses And A Mutant Maize Collection By Fourier-Transformed Infrared (Ftir) Spectroscopy For Improved Biofuel Traits, S. C. Thain, P. Morris, S. Hawkins, C. Morris, I. S. Donnison

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Currently the potential of biomass crops, including grasses, is limited because most species have not been bred for this purpose. However traits such as lignification, phenolic cross-linking and carbohydrate accessibility, which are also important for nutritive quality in forage grasses, can affect potential biofuel quality in applications such as combustion, fast-pyrolysis or fermentation. A collection of Lolium and Festuca species known to exhibit a range of lignin, cell wall phenolic and carbohydrate concentrations have been used to test optimum characteristics for biofuel processing. This collection formed a “calibration” set for subsequent high through-put FTIR chemical screening of additional plant lines: …

A Proposal For An International Transcriptome Initiative For Forage And Turf: Microarray Tools For Expression Profiling In Ryegrass, Clover And Grass Endophytes, T. Webster, N. Nguyen, C. Rhodes, S. A. Felitti, R. Chapman, D. Edwards, G. C. Spangenberg

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Knowledge of the expression pattern of genes provides a valuable insight into gene function and role in determining the observed heritable phenotype. High–density cDNA and oligonucleotide microarrays represent powerful tools for transcriptome analysis to gain an understanding of gene expression patterns for thousands of genes. Internationally coordinated efforts in transcriptome analyses and sharing of microarray resources will benefit the advancement of our understanding of gene function in forage and turf species.

Louisiana Resident Perceptions On Invasive Aquatic Plant Species And Their Management, Anna Ribbeck

LSU Master's Theses

Determining the public perception of invasive species in Louisiana is an important tool to help shape and develop future management decisions, educational material and ultimately public policy. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of adult Louisiana residents regarding invasive aquatic plant species and their management. An online survey was used to collect data on registered Louisiana residential boaters’ perceptions towards invasive aquatic plants and their management. A postcard with a quick response code leading to the survey was mailed to 6,000 randomly selected Louisiana registered residential boaters. Of the 230 Louisiana registered boaters that …

Ethanol Extracts From Selected Tanzanian Medicinal Plants Selectively Inhibit Plasmodium Falciparum Growth In Vitro, Robert Christopher, Amina Msonga, Heinrich C. Hoppe, Fabrice F. Boyom

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study aimed to assess the in vitro antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of ethanol extracts from the root barks, leaves and stem barks of seven medicinal plant species growing in Tanzania. The antiplasmodial activities of extracts against chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and multidrug-resistant (Dd2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum were determined using a SYBR green I-based fluorescence assay, while the cytotoxicity of active extracts was determined against the human HepG2 cell line using a resazurin-based assay. Out of twenty-one extracts screened, two of them, namely, DFRE from Dracaena fragrans root bark (IC50Pf3D7 = 2.4 mg/mL) and EHSE from Erythrina haerdii stem bark (IC50Pf3D7 …

Polyphenolic Content And Radical Scavenging Activities Of The Peel, Pulp And Seed Of Avocado (Persea Americana Mill.) Grown In Tanzania, Ibrahim Juma, Jan-Eric Englund, Rodomiro Ortiz, Mulatu Geleta, Donatha D. Tibuhwa, Anders S. Carlsson, Agnes Nyomora, Moneim Fatih, Helena Persson Hovmalm

Tanzania Journal of Science

Avocado is a healthy fruit and the consumption is continuously growing worldwide. The fruit contains polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant effects. Globally, research has been devoted to exploring the fruit quality, especially compounds with antioxidant effects, from different avocado-growing sites. However, the fruit quality of the Tanzanian avocado has so far not been investigated. In this study, the contents of polyphenols in peel, pulp and seed of avocados sampled in south-western Tanzania are described. The levels of total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents were measured, and antioxidant activity was evaluated using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The total polyphenolic content was highest in …

Screening Genes For Association With Loci For Nitrogen-Use Efficiency In Perennial Ryegrass By PyrosequencingTm, O. Dolstra, D. Dees, J. -D. Driesprong, E. N. Van Loo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The application of marker-assisted selection to improve quantitative traits in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is cumbersome. It requires a priori knowledge on the association of markers and genes. The knowledge on the chromosomal location of major genes for quantitative traits as well as on gene sequences is rapidly growing. However, determination of the genetic constitution of parents prior to their use in breeding still is impractical. More realistic is to collect association data along with the testing activities needed for breeding new varieties. This study uses changes in allele frequency due to selection as a criterion for gene-trait …

Gene-Associated Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (Snp) Discovery In Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne L.), J. W. Forster, N. O. I. Cogan, A. C. Vecchies, R. C. Ponting, M. C. Drayton, J. George, J. L. Dumsday, G. C. Spangenberg, K. F. Smith

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is the most important grass species for temperate pasture systems world-wide. Varietal improvement programs for this obligate outbreeding species are based on polycrossing of multiple parents to produce heterogeneous synthetic populations. The complexity of breeding systems creates challenges and opportunities for molecular marker technology development and implementation. Previous research has led to: the generation of a comprehensive suite of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, reference genetic map construction, comparative genetic studies, QTL identification, and population structure analysis. Emphasis has now shifted from the use of anonymous genetic markers linked to trait-specific genes to the …

Isolation Of Candidate Genes Involved In Cold Temperatures Response In Festuca Pratensis Huds., Using Suppression Subtractive Hybridisation And Microarray Approaches, H. Rudi, V. Alm, L. Opseth, A. Larsen, O. A. Rognli

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective of this work was to isolate candidate genes which are differentially expressed following cold-acclimation and develop SNPs to test for associations between candidate genes and frost tolerance. The ability to develop sufficient levels of tolerance against freezing temperatures through cold-acclimation (hardening) is crucial for survival of grasses and winter cereals in temperate climate. Meadow fescue (Festauca pratensis Huds.) is one of the most important forage grass species in Northern Europe. The preference of Festuca instead of Lolium in Norway is due to its superior combination of winter hardiness and forage quality.

Positive Effect Of Increased Aflp Diversity Among Parental Plants On Yield Of Polycross Progenies In Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne L.), R. Kölliker, B. Boller, F. Widmer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In outbreeding forage crops such as perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), genetic diversity among parental plants may greatly influence the success of a cultivar through mechanisms such as heterosis and inbreeding depression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to select polycross parents with contrasting levels of genetic diversity and to analyse genetic diversity and agronomic performance of first and second generation synthetic progenies (Syn1, Syn2).

Ryegrass Astra: A Web-Based Resource For Lolium Est Analysis, G. C. Spangenberg, T. Sawbridge, E. K. Ong, C. G. Love, T. A. Erwin, E. G. Logan, D. Edwards

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is a major grass species of temperate pastoral agriculture.

Genomic Constitution Of Festulolium Varieties, D. Kopecky, V. Cernoch, R. Capka, J. Dolezel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Hybrids between species of ryegrass (Lolium) and fescue (Festuca) combine useful agronomical characteristics such as rapid establishment from seed and fodder quality from ryegrass and tolerance against abiotic and biotic stressses from fescue. The superior potential of hybrids has stimulated breeding programs generating so called Festulolium varieties. While the varieties have been evaluated extensively for their agronomic characteristics, little information is publicly available on their genomic constitution. The aim of our study was to analyse genomic constitution of a representative set of commercially available European Festulolium cultivars. To do this, we have employed genomic in situ …

Genetic Changes Over Breeding Generations Of Festulolium, M. Ghesquière, P. Barre, L. Barrot

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Festulolium hybrids are a valuable breeding source for tolerance to abiotic stress and to make grass more persistent under drought and in cold environments. In 2004, the EU Commission enlarged the definition of Festulolium which may now include all hybrids between Lolium sp. and Festuca sp. and not only those between L. multiflorum and F. pratensis. We here report allele frequencies at two unlinked PCR-based marker loci in populations derived from tetraploid (2n=4x=28) L. multiflorum x F. glaucescens hybrids where breeding history enables us to test the effects of selection vs that of genetic drift.

Development And Testing Of Novel Chloroplast Markers For Perennial Ryegrass From De Novo Sequencing And In Silico Sequences, S. Mcgrath, T. R. Hodkinson, S. Barth

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Chloroplast DNA is uniparentally inherited and non-recombinant in Lolium perenne. These properties make the chloroplast genome a useful tool for studying inter- and intra- specific relationships. Previous genetic studies on L. perenne have used chloroplast sequence data. However, the relative lack of variation in the chloroplast genome limits its usefulness for analysis at the single individual level within a species. However, chloroplast SSR markers have recently been shown to have high levels of polymorphism (Provan et al., 2004). This is the first study to design and employ such markers for L. perenne. The objectives of this study …

Genetic Analysis Of The Interaction Between Perennial Ryegrass And The Fungal Endophyte Neotyphodium Lolii, E. Van Zijll De Jong, A. C. Vecchies, M. P. Dobrowolski, N. O. I. Cogan, K. F. Smith, G. C. Spangenberg, J. W. Forster

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The fungal endophyte Neotyphodium lolii is widely distributed in perennial ryegrass pastures, especially in Australia and New Zealand. The presence of the endophyte is associated with improved tolerance to water and nutrient stress and resistance to insect pests, but is accompanied by reduced herbivore feeding. The molecular mechanisms responsible for these endophyte-related traits are in general poorly understood. Comparisons of different grass-endophyte associations show that endophyte-related traits are affected by both endophyte and host genotype, and environmental interactions.

Microarray-Based Transcriptome Analysis Of The Interaction Between Perrenial Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne) And The Fungal Endophyte Neotyphodium Lolii, S. Felitti, P. Tian, T. Webster, D. Edwards, G. C. Spangenberg

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Neotyphodium lolii, Neotyphodium coenophialum and Epichloë festucae are common symbiotic fungal endophytes of the temperate pasture grasses perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and red fescue (Festuca rubra), respectively. A genomic resource of 13,964 expressed sequence tags (ESTs), representing 7,585 unique endophyte genes, has been established for Neotyphodium and Epichloë fungal endophytes.