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Abiotic Stress Impacts On Macrophomina Root Rot And Nano-Encapsulated Citrus Oils To Control Fruit And Foliar Pathogens Of Strawberry, Marina J. Gutierrez

Master's Theses

Disease remains one of the major constraints to the productivity and economic success of the California strawberry industry. The most important soilborne pathogen is Macrophomina phaseolina, causing Macrophomina root rot (MRR). The most economically significant airborne pathogens include Botrytis cinerea, causing Botrytis fruit rot (BFR), and Podosphaera aphanis, causing powdery mildew (PM).

Disease severity of MRR is highly dependent on environmental factors. Therefore, understanding which abiotic stressors contribute most to disease development is crucial for effective management. A two-year field experiment at Cal Poly, SLO (2024 and 2025) evaluated the effects of drought stress, two elevated chloride …

Antioxidant Enzymes And Osmolyte Accumulation In Okra Cultivars Under Drought Stress, Jawad Ali, Ibadullah Jan, Hidayat Ullah, Muhammad Adnan, Shah Fahad, Hassan Alsberi, Khulud Albalawi, Hakki Akdeniz, Manzoor Ahmmad, Beena Saeed, Noor Us Sabah, Mian Sayed Khan, Abdul Basir, Muhammad Romman, Ayman El Sabagh

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Drought stress brought about by worsening environmental conditions due to climate change has increasingly damaging effects on crop production systems. To mitigate these effects, several physiological and biochemical aspects of plants could be used as markers in breeding for the selection of drought-resistant cultivars. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of 8 okra cultivars (Arka Anamika, Punjab Selection, Posaswami, Tulsi, Subz Pari, Super Green, Local Multani, and Green Star) under well-watered (control), mild drought stress, and severe drought stress conditions by irrigating plants at an interval of 3, 6, and 9 d after 30 d of planting. Results …

Gastropod Assemblage And Biofilm Abundance On Rocky Shores Of Southern Antique, Panay, Philippines, Mia Jane D. Geneblaza, Karen A. Villarta-Lane

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The gastropod assemblage and biofilm abundance, measured as chlorophyll a levels, were examined at 3 rocky shore sites in southern Antique, Panay, Philippines, in February 2024 to address significant gaps in current knowledge and help better understand the ecological dynamics of rocky intertidal zones. A total of 14 families comprising 22 genera and 31 species were identified from the area. The family Littorinidae was the most speciesrich, comprising 9 species. Among these, the scabra periwinkle Littoraria scabra (Philippi 1846) was the most abundant, comprising on average 50.17% of the total abundance across sites. Other identified gastropod families included Muricidae (5 …

Comparative Effects Of Organic-Based Seed Treatments On Seed Viability And Vigor Of Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Varieties, Cielo Luz C. Mondejar

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Access to high-quality rice seeds remains limited for small and marginal farmers due to high costs, while traditional rice varieties favored by many farmers often suffer from poor seed viability. Seed treatment presents a practical and low-cost approach to enhance seed performance. This study conducted 2 independent experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of 3 organic-based seed treatments: vermitea, a Trichoderma solution, and a water hyacinth decoction. In the first experiment, seeds from 4 traditional rice varieties (Redrice, Dinorado, Calatrava, and Arabon) were treated with distilled water (control) and 75% dilute solutions of each treatment. The second experiment involved different seed …

Assessing Male Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia Furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Mating Frequency Via Spermatophore Quantification, Gelyn D. Sapin, Marcela M. Navasero

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), has caused significant yield losses to corn due to its destructive feeding. Bt corn currently controls ACB, but it still poses a threat to Philippine traditional varieties. Random mating of ACB is essential to the insect resistance management (IRM) of Bt corn, and studying the mating behavior, specifically the mating frequency of ACB, is a critical part of understanding the IRM in the Philippines. Currently, there is no available information on the mating frequency of ACB. Here, the male and female ACB were allowed to mate at a ratio of 1 male …

Oviposition Preference And Behavior Of The Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia Furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), On Corn And Non-Corn Plants Under Semi-Field And Mini-Screen Cage Conditions, Merdelyn T. Caasi-Lit, Jessica B. Baroga-Barbecho, John David C. Cortez, Edwin A. Benigno

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Oviposition site selection in Ostrinia furnacalis is a hierarchical, multi-stage process influenced by plant phenology and spatial context. Oviposition preferences under mini-screen cage (Sampaloc) and semi-field (BL2) conditions were evaluated to determine the effects of field size, corn developmental stage, and the presence of non-corn plants on egg deposition patterns. Females deposited significantly more egg masses on 40 DAP (pre-reproductive) corn than on early vegetative-stage plants [Sampaloc: n=437 (40 DAP), n=88 (30 DAP); BL2: n=98 (40 DAP), n=84 (30 DAP)], demonstrating a strong phenological preference, particularly in Sampaloc. The presence of non-corn plants has a negligible …

Oviposition Preference Of The Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia Furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Towards Bt And Non-Bt Corn, And Under Confined Conditions, Merdelyn T. Caasi-Lit, Jessica B. Baroga-Barbecho, John David C. Cortez, Edwin A. Benigno

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Several experiments were conducted on the ovipositional preference and behavior of the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée). Confirmatory tests were conducted in table cages (1.5 m²) to determine if the results would align with those obtained from experiments on semi-field (285 m²) and mini-screen cage (90 m²) spatial scales. Preference for Bt and non-Bt corn was then observed under confined conditions. Table cage test results showed similar oviposition behavior to that observed in prior studies on larger test areas. There is no preference for either Bt or non-Bt corn plants. ACB adults …

Adult Dispersal Of Field-Released Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia Furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), In Northern And Southern Philippines, Mario V. Navasero, Randolph N. Candano, Gelyn D. Sapin, Wilson N. De Panis

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The effectiveness of Bt corn in controlling the Asian Corn Borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée, is well recognized. However, concerns persist regarding the potential development of resistance to Bt toxins by this pest. This resistance could arise from surviving ACB individuals carrying homozygous resistance alleles, potentially leading to resistant offspring if mating between resistant individuals is not prevented or minimized. To address this issue, various studies have investigated the factors that limit or facilitate resistance development. These factors include adult dispersal and mating behavior in the field, as well as ecological conditions such as weather and landscape features. However, there …

The Effect Of Corn Event Mir162 And The Triple Stacked Hybrid, Bt11 X Mir162 X Ga21, On Key Non-Target Organisms Of Corn, Ireneo L. Lit Jr., Merdelyn T. Caasi-Lit, Kristine O. Abenis, Edwin A. Benigno

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Assessments of environmental risks, especially to non-target organisms, are required before genetically modified plants are approved for commercial production. Incorporated genes or traits, whether as single events or stacked or combined with other traits, are treated separately. In compliance with Philippine regulations, confined field trials were conducted to evaluate possible effects of corn event Maximus MIR162 and triple stacked corn hybrid Bt11 x MIR162 x GA21 on non-target arthropods from August 2011 to January 2012 in Laoac, Pangasinan, and Tampakan, South Cotabato. Visual counts and opportunistic sampling, sweep net sampling, pitfall traps, and sticky traps were used at each sampling …

Review Of Dr. Adelina A. Barrion’S Contributions To Basic Studies On The Asian Corn Borer And A Tribute To An Outstanding Entomologist, Ireneo L. Lit Jr., Merdelyn T. Caasi-Lit, John David C. Cortez, Aimee Lynn A. Barrion-Dupo

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The previous works of the late Dr. Adelina A. Barrion, a distinguished Filipino insect geneticist, on the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenee), were retrieved. The works were reviewed and highlighted in relation to the recently funded project entitled “Basic studies on the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenee),” funded by the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines in collaboration with various players in the corn seed industry. The unpublished papers of Dr. Barrion from the 1981 PCARR project entitled “Breeding for Corn Borer Resistance” were important milestones in basic studies on the ACB. Several studies conducted by her team …

Non-Target Organisms And Terrestrial Arthropod Biodiversity In The Corn Agroecosystem: Bt Corn Beyond Acb Pest Management [Review Article], Ireneo L. Lit Jr., Merdelyn T. Caasi-Lit, Kristine O. Abenis

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Assessments of risks of modern biotechnology products to non-target organisms (NTOs) are required before a product can be registered and allowed for commercial production. For Bt-engineered plants, data from such studies become part of environmental risk or impact assessments that are reviewed before a hybrid can be registered and allowed for commercial planting. The approaches and methods vary among countries and researchers. Consequently, the choice of species and groups of organisms or guilds that are monitored or studied may range from narrow to broad and encompassing. The inevitability of adverse changes in agroecosystems, including those that involve the corn crop, …

Basic Studies On The Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia Furnacalis (Guenée), Are Crucial For Insect Resistance Management For Bt Corn In The Philippines, Merdelyn T. Caasi-Lit, Aimee Lynn A. Barrion-Dupo

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The Philippines is considered to be “at the forefront of biotech research and commercialization in Southeast Asia and a model for science-based and thorough regulatory policy in the region” (ISAAA 2016). This is evident in the country's pioneering adoption of Bt corn technology in Asia and in the effective handling and implementation of rules and regulations on biosafety and the application of transgenic crops through the regulatory function of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) under the Department of Agriculture.

Age-Dependent Reproductive Fitness And Behavioral Dynamics Of The Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia Furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera:Crambidae), Marcela M. Navasero, Randolph N. Candano, Maricon Dp Javier, Jethro M. Navasero, Wilson N. De Panis

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study evaluated the effects of parental age of the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), on fecundity, egg hatchability, adult longevity, and the duration of pre-oviposition, oviposition, and post-oviposition periods using arranged mating pairs aged 1 to 5 days old. Mating behavior was also observed and documented. The highest fecundity, measured by the number of egg masses and total eggs produced, was recorded in pairings of 1-day-old males and females, indicating a positive effect of young parental age. In contrast, pairings involving 5-day-old males and females resulted in the lowest egg production, demonstrating an inverse relationship between parental …

Characterization Of Adult Emergence Pattern And Eclosion Behavior Of The Asian Corn Borer, [Ostrinia Furnacalis (Guenée)] (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Under Laboratory And Field Conditions In The Philippines, Marcela M. Navasero, Gelyn D. Sapin, Merdelyn T. Caasi-Lit, Wilson N. De Panis, Randolph N. Candano, Maricon Dp Javier, Jethro M. Navasero, Meijei T. Bangangao

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study focuses on understanding the emergence pattern of Asian Corn Borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenee), in the Philippines vital in crafting integrated pest management schemes, including insect resistance management against pesticides and Bt protein. Although ACB adults are known to be nocturnal and primarily emerge at night, identifying critical windows of emergence for targeted management actions is essential. In the experiments conducted, the scotophase period is the preferred time for adult emergence under laboratory conditions with 248 adults (80.52%) and 60 adults (19.48%) in the photophase period. A similar trend was also observed under field cage conditions with ACB …

Temporal Decline And Spatial Heterogeneity Of Cry1ab Susceptibility In Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia Furnacalis (Guenée), Populations In The Philippines: A Review And Synthesis Of Monitoring Data (2015–2024) [Review Article], Edwin P. Alcantara

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Transgenic corn expressing the insecticidal Cry1Ab protein has been widely utilized in the Philippines to control the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée). Continuous, long-term monitoring is critical to detect shifts in baseline susceptibility and mitigate the risk of field-evolved resistance. This study evaluated the spatiotemporal dynamics of ACB susceptibility to Cry1Ab over nine years (2015–2024). Bioassay data were collected from 12 geographically distinct field populations across the Philippines, alongside a susceptible laboratory reference strain (UPLB). To account for spatial hierarchy and temporal variance, data were analyzed using a Bayesian hierarchical multilevel model with a logit link. Baseline assessments …

Movement Of The Different Larval Stages Of Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia Furnacalis (Guenée), On Conventional Corn Hybrid Under Field Caged Conditions, Merdelyn T. Caasi-Lit, Mark Bryan A. Lontoc, Victor V. Alpuerto, Abigail P. De Leon, Jenifer Bigkas-Naungayan, John David C. Cortez, Edwin A. Benigno

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Larval dispersal is crucial in pest population establishment in crop fields. The movement of Ostrinia furnacalis (ACB) larvae within corn plots was observed to determine which factors affect larval dispersal in the field. Conventional corn plots (3 rows, 0.70 m apart x 9 plants, 0.20 m apart) were artificially infested with different combinations of larval age and pest density. The distributions of larvae were recorded through destructive sampling at 4, 8, 12, and 16 days after infestation (DAI). The behavior of ACB from the time the hatching larvae break open the egg mass shell to ballooning to start actual movement …

Patch Mow Grazing: Investigating The Effects Of Mowing On Forage Nutritive Value, The Biomass–Nutritive Value Relationship, And Herbivore Selection, Trace R. Stauble

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

Herbivore foraging behavior plays a critical role in shaping grassland structural heterogeneity, with selection often driven by forage biomass and nutritive value. Currently, it is thought that herbivores primarily select areas that are greater in nutritive value, and low in biomass. More specifically, disturbances like fire and grazing have been thoroughly studied showing that recently burned and grazed areas are not only higher in nutritive value but disproportionately selected by herbivores in comparison to undisturbed areas. However, most studies address only narrow ranges of defoliation, comparing intensely defoliated sites (< 10 cm) to those that are either not defoliated or have experienced a much longer time since defoliation, thereby decreasing grazing pressure as biomass increases. However, one of the most widely used methods of defoliation in grasslands, mowing, hasn’t been thoroughly studied for its effects on nutritive value, and how it impacts herbivore selection. Our study aimed to (1) evaluate how mowing treatments—i.e., short (5 cm), medium (18 cm), and tall (>30 cm, unmown)—affect nutritive value and herbivore selection, (2) assess …

Cover Crop Influence On Arthropod Biodiversity And Soil–Water Dynamics In A Semi-Arid Maize–Soybean Sequence Of The Nebraska High Plains, Carlos Eduardo De Oliveira Martins

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

With the expansion of cover crop (CC) use in semi-arid regions, producers in the Nebraska High Plains are increasingly interested in understanding how CCs influence both beneficial arthropods and soil-water within maize-soybean (Zea mays L., Glycine max [L.] Merr.) rotations. Integrating CCs in these systems can enhance soil water availability and beneficial insect activity, but potential trade-offs include higher early-season water use by CCs and the risk of increasing potential pest populations. This thesis addresses these questions through two complementary studies conducted under field conditions near Brule, Nebraska. The first study evaluated the effects of a multi-species CC mixture …

Post-Fire Soil Health Assessment Of The Grasslands And Woodlands In The Semi-Arid Nebraska Sandhills, Stephanie M. Lugo

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

Grasslands in the Nebraska Sandhills are shaped by natural wildfires, which help maintain the structure and function of native grasslands. In recent decades, afforestation with ponderosa pine and eastern redcedar has introduced new woodlands that altered the region’s fire dynamics and raised important questions about the effects of wildfire on different vegetation types. As wildfires become more frequent, understanding their impacts on soil health in grasslands and woodlands becomes increasingly important. This study examines the short-term effects of the 2022 Bovee Fire on physical, chemical, and biological soil properties in native grasslands and ponderosa pine and eastern redcedar afforested woodlands. …

Root Analysis Of Glechoma Hederacea, Austin Z. Shiner

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Glechoma hederacea, or commonly referred to as ground ivy, is a weed that can be found in many places such as parks, yards, and landscapes. A mutant genotype of Glechoma hederacea that was exhibiting virescence was collected from a single mutant branch of the wildtype ground ivy. The collected mutant has delayed chloroplast development, and this appears to impact plastidial terpenoid synthesis resulting in damage to leaf tissue. Since a range of plant hormones include isoprene units, altered IPP synthesis may have visible impacts beyond the green tissues of the plant, so this study aimed at addressing this question. …

Seagrass Carbon Standing Stock In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico: The Role Of Seagrass Beds In Mississippi As Potential Blue Carbon Sinks, Devan Hildebrand

Master's Theses

Organic carbon stored in marine ecosystems is known as blue carbon. Seagrass beds have the ability to contribute to global blue carbon standing stocks through the uptake and sequestration of carbon from the water column. Through coastal management and conservation best practices, blue carbon habitats have the potential to help mitigate the effects of climate change. Although widely studied, knowledge gaps exist on the sediment carbon standing stock of seagrasses. I aim to better understand how persistent seagrass meadows surrounding barrier islands in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico contribute to long-term blue carbon standing stocks. Subaqueous sediment cores were collected …

Skeleton Weed Program 2024-25: Annual Report To Grain Growers, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Skeleton weed is a major pest of grain crops and can significantly reduce grain crop yields by competing for moisture and nutrients (mainly nitrogen), due to its deep perennial root system.

Skeleton weed is a declared plant in WA under section 22 of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act (2007) and is assigned to control category 2 (Eradication) for the whole of the State, except in the Narembeen and Yilgarn Shires, where it is category 3 (Management).

Modelling indicates that under a nil management scenario, the cost to WA broadacre agriculture will be approximately $19.2 million per year after twenty …

Nutrient Utilization Efficiency And Antioxidant Profile Of Bc2 Abaca (Musa Textilis Née) Hybrids, Roberto Barba Jr, Antonio Lalusin

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Abaca (Musa textilis Née) is an important fiber crop widely recognized for its superior tensile strength, yet its productivity remains constrained by nutrient inefficiency, poor cropping management, and climatic stresses under manual production systems. Efficient nutrient utilization and an understanding of antioxidant compositions are practically relevant to the productivity of the abaca fiber crop. However, despite the crop’s economic importance, limited studies have examined nutrient uptake dynamics and internal utilization efficiency related to fiber synthesis. This study aimed to demonstrate the nutrient utilization efficiency and antioxidant profiles of BC₂ abaca hybrids in relation to fiber yield and quality. Fiber …

Evaluating Metamitron Efficacy For Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus Palmeri) Management In Sugarbeet Across The Central High Plains, Abraham Akuoko

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

Herbicide-resistant (HR) Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) is regarded as one of the most prominent weeds within sugarbeet fields across the Central High Plains, with limited chemical control options. Although a few herbicides are available, their use is restrictive due to crop injury concerns and can only be applied at or after the 2–4 true leaf (TL) growth stage, which will provide no control for already emerged weeds. However, Palmer amaranth often emerges between sugarbeet planting and the 2 TL sugarbeet growth stage. Consequently, as of 2023, there were no herbicide options to control Palmer amaranth in sugarbeet …

Proso Millet In Us High Plains Dryland Agriculture: Systems Resilience, Phenology, And Consumer Preferences For Alternative Grains, Pratiksha Baishya

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Dryland crop production in Nebraska's semi-arid High Plains faces challenges from fluctuating weather impacts of climate change, including extreme temperatures, short growing seasons, and recurring droughts. Proso millet is an alternative crop used to build a more robust three-year rotation in the region, rather than the traditional two-year wheat-fallow cycle. This dissertation provides a systems-level assessment of proso millet, a climate-resilient crop with great potential to support sustainable cropping systems in the US High Plains. Using a field-to-consumer approach, it highlights its agronomic and environmental advantages in dryland rotations, develops a phenological framework to aid future research on production, crop …

An Integrated Modeling Framework To Evaluate Circularity Of The Corn–Water–Ethanol–Beef Nexus, Heydi Han

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation examines the transition from conventional linear agricultural and food bioenergy systems toward more circular, resilient, and resource-efficient configurations. Prior research indicates that spatial and temporal variability in soil, weather, animal biological responses, and management decisions strongly influences productivity, nutrient-use efficiency, and profitability. Studies have also shown that a diversified circular system can buffer these sources of variability, improving stability and adaptive capacity. Building on these insights, the central focus of this work is to develop an integrated modeling framework to evaluate circularity within the Corn-Water-Ethanol-Beef (CWEB) nexus and explore how climate variability and management choices shape system-wide performance. …

Evaluating Fall And Spring Planted Cover Crops For Integrated Management Of Herbicide Resistant Palmer Amaranth And Effect On Soil Health, Vipin Kumar

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) pose a severe threat to agronomic crop productivity in the United States, including corn and soybean production in Nebraska. Therefore, there is an urgent need for diversified and sustainable management approaches. Integrating cover crops (CCs) with herbicide programs represents a promising strategy to achieve Palmer amaranth suppression, sustain crop yields, and contribute to long-term soil health in irrigated corn–soybean production systems in Nebraska.

A meta-analysis of 41 studies and 595 paired observations demonstrated that CCs reduced Amaranthus spp. density and biomass by 37–59% depending on the growing season, with grasses and mixtures …

Assessing Crop Rotation Productivity, Soil Health, And Fertility, And Economic Performance, To Enhance Semi-Arid High Plains Cropping Systems Sustainability, Ezequiel Maria Villamil

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Sustainable crop production in the semi-arid High Plains of Nebraska faces challenges from limited precipitation, high interannual variability, and economic risk. This dissertation investigates the long-term productivity, water use, soil health, and economic sustainability of dryland crop rotations, with emphasis on the role of pulses as alternatives to fallow.

Chapter 1 analyzes nearly three decades (1995–2023) of on-farm data from the High Plains Agricultural Laboratory (Sidney, Nebraska) to compare seven crop rotations, including wheat, corn, millet, sunflower, and field peas. Results showed that wheat–corn–fallow (W–C–F) consistently outperformed traditional wheat–fallow (W–F) and more intensified four-year rotations, providing the highest grain yields, …

Assessing Native Tallgrass Prairie Species As Main Roadside Vegetation In Arkansas, Sarah Paschal

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tallgrass prairies are among the most endangered ecosystems in North America, with Arkansas having lost over 99% of its native grasslands. This research evaluated the potential for using native tallgrass prairie species in Arkansas roadside vegetation. Two field experiments were conducted from 2022 to 2024. The first assessed seven native seed mixtures at three roadside locations (Clarksville, Huntsville, and Newport). Seed mixture composition significantly influenced establishment outcomes, with early-establishing forbs such as black-eyed Susan, partridge pea, and Illinois bundleflower performing well, though establishment varied by location. A second trial compared planting date (Autumn, Winter, Spring) and planting method (broadcast, drill …

Characterizing The Germination Process And Establishing Best Practices For Seed Propagation Of Tamaulipan Thornscrub Species For Habitat Restoration, Saroj Dhakal

Theses and Dissertations

Tamaulipan thornscrub is an imperiled plant community of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. Given its importance for biodiversity conservation, stakeholders have been involved in restoration programs using seedlings grown from wild seeds. However, stakeholders often report that insufficient seedling supply is a challenge. To address knowledge gaps in seed germination behavior limiting seedling production, this study was conducted on 18 Tamaulipan thornscrub species, identified by growers as difficult to germinate. Seeds of all studied species are orthodox except Amyris texana, which have recalcitrant properties. Nine species have physical dormancy that was successfully addressed with mechanical and/or chemical scarification. Other species …