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Ecotypic Adaptation Of Medicago Polymorpha Along A Gradient In Central Chile: Growth And Seed Production, A Del Pozo, C Ovalle, J Avendano

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Relative growth rate, total dry weight and seed yield on 19 accessions of burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L.) from different bioclimatic conditions, were assessed at Cauquenes (35°58’;72°17’W) in the subhumid mediterranean region. The accessions were sown in microplots over raised beds during two years (1991 and 1992), and swards cut periodically at 2, 6 and 10 cm height. There were significant differences between accessions in both total dry weight and seed yield (P < 0.001, Table 1), but the interaction between accessions and height of cutting was not significant (P > 0.05). Total dry weight was positive correlated with days to flowering (r2 = 0.81; P > 0.01).

Effects Of Nitrogen On The Growth Of Hyparrhenia Diplandra, J Nkandza

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The nitrogen effects on Hyparrhenia diplandra were studied. Plants were grown on nutrient solutions of variable concentrations in nitrogen. The supplied nitrogen increased tillering, leaf production, lamina area, total dry matter accumulation and total nitrogen accumulation in lamina. A detailed examination showed that the effect on tillering was the main cause of the differences observed in dry weights between different treatments. The nitrogen supply elongated significantly the lamina and nitrogen deficiency increased its thickness; but this was not enough to compensate the loss of weight in lower nitrogen treatment. The lamina area as well as nitrogen accumulation in the lamina …

Biochemical And Isoenzyme Analysis Of Seven Pennisetum Purpureum (Schum.) Cultivars, E E. Bach, V B.G. Alacantara, P B. Alcntara, E A. Veasey

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study characterized seven Pennisetum purpureum cultivars, namely cv. Anão, Bajra, Cameroon, Guaçu, Roxo, Taiwan A-144 and Uruckwami, through biochemical analysis, including protein, glucose and fructose contents, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using the esterase system, by sampling 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 dayold leaves. Cultivar Taiwan A-144 presented the highest number of nodes per stem and percentage of emerging buds. Protein concentration decreased gradually after 60 days for all cultivars, except for Anão. Cultivar Guaçu presented the highest level of glucose in 90 day old plants, whereas Cameroon presented the highest levels at 120 and 150 days. The esterase …

Effect Of Phosphorous Fertiliser On The Competition Between Two Tropical Grasses And Two Tropical Legumes, F D. Hu, R J. Jones

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effect of P fertiliser on the competition between grass and legume in four grass-legume mixtures : Urochloa mosambicensis cv. Nixon/ Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano; Nixon/S.scabra cv. Seca; Bothriochloa pertusa cv. Bowen/Verano and Bowen/Seca were studied. Each mixture was grown in a low P, low N soil, in pots. A standard replacement series design with two P levels (0 and 10 kg/ ha equivalent) and 3 replicates were used. Seventy days after sowing, Nixon mixtures outyielded Bowen mixtures, and Verano mixtures outyielded Seca mixtures. P increased top and root yields of all mixtures but there was no significant (p …

Selection And Agronomic Characterization Of Leucaena Spp. Genotypes For Cold Tolerance. I. Dry Matter Yield., M C. Goldfarb, J F. Casco

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Biotypes of Leucaena spp (56) were evaluated in order to identify those with tolerance to low temperature and with desirable characteristics as a forage crop. Selection was done at two phases. Phase I: 92 days old seedlings (n=2800) were subjected at two temperatures treatments during 14 hours: T1= -8 °C and T2= -3 °C. Selection criteria was established as 50% of live leaves remained after treatments were applied. Phase II: Plants that survived phase I were planted at field conditions and agronomic characteristics were measured. Seventeen plants were selected from eleven different biotypes, resulting one from T1 and the rest …

Effect Of Snowtrapping And Fertilization On Production Of Crested Wheatgrass And Native Pastures In Southwest Saskatchewan, M P. Schellenberg, J Waddington

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The benefits of increasing soil water with snow management and fertilizer for annual and perennial crops have been demonstrated for semiarid environments. We examined the combined effect of snow management and fertilizer on forage production. In 1985, vertical wood slat or slotted plastic snow fencing (0.7m high) were erected on crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) pasture. In 1986, five rates of fertilizer: 400, 200, 100, 50, 0 kg ha-1 nitrogen each with 50 kg ha-1 phosphorous and a sixth treatment with no fertilizer were applied to each side and type of the snowfence. A second site was selected on …

Light Quality Effects On Grass Seedling Growth And Development, P G. Jefferson, R Muri

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The poor establishment success of Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea Fisch. Nevski) limits its use. Our hypothesis was that Russian wildrye (RWR) was more sensitive to light competition than crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum Fischer ex Link) or Dahurian wildrye (Elymus dahuricus Turcz. Ex Grieseb.). Seedlings were grown under plastic filters that altered both quantity and quality of light. Tiller counts, leaf counts, leaf area, light intensity and red:farred light ratio (above and beside each seedling) were recorded each week for four weeks after planting. Seedling dry weights were determined at four weeks. Low light intensity significantly reduced tiller …

Morphogenesis And Growth Analysis Of Panicum Maximum Cultivars, A Gomide, C A.M Gomide

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Four cultivars of Panicum maximum, grown in pots, were evaluated regarding their leaf appearance and elongation rates, tillering appearance rate, as well as growth indices. Differences among cultivars were found as to leaf appearance and elongation rates and tillering rates. Main tiller leaf appearance was higher relative to primary tiller in the seedling growth, only. Primary tiller showed higher leaf elongation rate in the aftermath growth. No difference among cultivars was found for drymatter yield after 52 d growth period, leaf mortality, net assimilation rate, leaf area ratio and relative growth rate.

Competitive Interactions Between Palatable And Unpalatable Grasses: Effects Of Selective Defoliations Of The Palatable Grasses, R A. Distel, A S. Moretto

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Selective herbivory of the palatable species appears to be a dominant mechanisms contributing to species competitive replacement in grasslands. Selective herbivory of the palatable species allows unpalatable species to realize a competitive advantage within the community. To test this hypothesis we compare the competitive ability of the unpalatable grasses Stipa trichotoma or S. gyneriodes in the presence of nondefoliated and defoliated plants of the palatable grass S. clarazii. The three species are native to a temperate semiarid grassland of Argentina. The response variables estimated in S.trichotoma and S.gynerioides, at both plant and tiller levels, were higher (P < 0.05) in the presence of defoliated than in the presence of undefoliated plants of S.clarazii. These results support the hypothesis that selective herbivory of the palatable species confers unpalatable species a competitive advantages, contributing to species competitive replacement within the community.

Allelopathic Interactions Among Forage Grasses And Legumes, A P.S Souza Filho, T De J.D. Rodrigues, L.R. De A. Rodrigues, R A. Reis

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Aqueous extracts at 10% were prepared with the shoots of the grasses Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú, B. decumbens, B. humidicola, and of the legumes Calopogonium mucunoides, Leucaena leucocephala, Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirão. The effects of the extracts were evaluated on the germination and on the radicleelongation of the forages. The pH, the electric conductivity and the osmotic potential of the extracts were determined. The germination and radicle biossays were conducted in germination chambers, with controlled temperature and photoperiod. The pH and the presence of ions did not contribute to the effects observed. The extracts of the legumes tended …

Early Ontogenetic Responses Of Six Commercial Chloris Gayana Cultivars To Salinity, E Taleisnik, H Perez, G Peyrano, C Arias

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Some physiological aspects relevant to pasture establishment under saline conditions were evaluated in six cultivars of Chloris gayana . Two tetraploid cultivars: Boma and Callide, and four diploid ones: Bell, Katambora, Pioneer and a local accession of Pioneer, were analyzed. The effect of salinity on seedling emergence, the number of stolons per plant and frost tolerance were evaluated in the field, while effects on germination, early vegetative growth, regrowth after clipping, ion accumulation and stolon rooting were assessed in the greenhouse. Salinity had a negative effect on seedling emergence. Saline solutions delayed or altogether inhibited germination, but seeds retained viability …

Interpreting Indicators Of A Transfer Of N From Legume To Grass In Competition Studies, P G. Tow

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The transfer of N from legume to grass in mixtures is important for regulating competition. In competition studies which include both monocultures and mixtures, N transfer should be detectable by grass N measurements but may be masked by competitive reductions in grass growth. In the study reported here, whole plant DM and N were measured in Panicum maximum var trichoglume and Neonotonia wightii grown in monocultures and additively in mixtures. While competition reduced whole grass plant DM and N in mixture relative to monoculture, higher grass shoot % N and N yield in the mixture at early harvests appeared reliable …

A Comparison Of Production And Soils In Modified Mixed Prairie Community, S W. Porter, W D. Willms, J F. Dormaar, B H. Ellert, H H. Janzen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study examined the effects of reseeding a Stipa-Agropyron- Bouteloua community to monocultures of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Geartn.), Russian wild rye grass (Elymus junceus Fisch.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on above and below ground biomass and indicators of soil quality. Summer fallowed wheat produced 10817 kg ha-1 and 4090 kg ha-1 of above ground below ground biomass respectively whereas the native community produced 3191 kg ha-1 above ground and 13013 kg ha-1 of below ground biomass. However wheat, crested wheatgrass and Russian wildrye grass generally showed a lower biological index, phosphatase and dehydrogenase activity.

Nitrogen Use Efficiency Of Timothy Populations, G Belanger, C Murray, R Michaud, F Gastal, J E. Richards

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective of this study was to determine the variability in N use efficiency among field-grown timothy (Phelum pratense L.) populations. Shoot biomass and N uptake were measured at the end of the spring growth cycle on six timothy populations fertilized with three N rates at two sites in Eastern Canada. The variability in shoot biomass among populations was similar under limiting and nonlimiting N conditions. The ranking of the populations, however, differed under limiting and non-limiting N conditions, and also between the two sites under limiting N conditions. The differences in shoot biomass among populations under highly N …

Characterization Of The Leaf Anatomy Of Panicum Virgatum Germplasm, D S. Fisher, J C. Burns, J P. Pienaar

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Both the yield and digestibility of C4 grasses have been related to anatomical characteristics. The objectives of the current work were to test switchgrass with varied yield and digestibility for variation in anatomical measurements and to develop a method of graphically representing the anatomy. Six accessions were established in replicated field plots and the lamina were sampled, dehydrated and embedded for anatomical study. Midrib dimensions were excluded from study but perimeters of primary and secondary vascular bundles in the lamina were measured. Lamina thickness was determined at the primary bundle, secondary bundle and at the minimum between the bundles. The …

Relation Of Root And Shoot Morphology Of Grass Seedlings, L E. Moser, A J. Smart

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grass seedling establishment is dependent on adventitious root development. However, evaluating the establishment status of a seeding by excavating a population of seedlings and determining root morphology is difficult and generally will not be undertaken. Based on both field and greenhouse studies we have found that root and shoot morphological development is closely related within species, for intermediate wheatgrass, [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkw. and D.R. Dewey], smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) seedling populations. Easily observable developmental stages of seedling shoots were related to adventitious root development. …

Effect Of Weekly And Triweekly Application Of Growth Hormone Gibberellin On Dwarf Millet Plants, Holly Harding, Kendall Klewer, Delanee Miller, Therie Moore, Clara Gallapoo

2024 Student Academic Showcase

Plant biology students teamed up with statistics students to examine the effects of the plant growth hormone gibberellin on mutant millet plants. Dwarf mutant millets exhibit stunted growth either because they do not produce gibberellin on their own, or because they lack the mechanisms to effectively use gibberellin. By growing some of these mutants in the greenhouse, applying a gibberellin solution to them, and observing their growth response, we can identify which kind of mutant the plant is. We are also examining the importance of frequency of gibberellin application, with some plants receiving one application of gibberellin per week, and …

Pilot Project: Plant Hormones And Soil Bacterial Populations In Plant Growth Enhancement, Ada Sardana Sambola

2024 Student Academic Showcase

The way microorganisms affect plant health, through the contribution of nitrogen or phosphorus fixation by bacteria to the growing plants, has been thoroughly studied. Commonly referred to as Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPBs), these organisms play a key role in enhancing plant growth by assisting in the production of indole acetic acid (IAA), facilitating the uptake of nutrients via mechanisms like phosphorus solubilization, and producing inhibitory substances that protect plants from pathogens. However, the reverse of this phenomenon has not been studied as deeply. This study will focus on how the addition of plant hormones, more specifically, gibberellins, affects the …

Gibberellic Acid Influence On Mutant Millets: An Exploration Of Effects, Fokam Felix Thierry Foading, Kennedy Femmer, Blake Reiger, Matthew Turray

2024 Student Academic Showcase

Setaria viridis, commonly known as green foxtail millets, exhibits diverse physical traits, including instances of dwarfism. Our study investigated the effect of gibberellic acid on millets, focusing on growth responses in normal and mutant plants, including dwarf variants. Gibberellic acid plays a vital role in stem elongation, and its deficiency may lead to hindered growth. We conducted experiments applying a gibberellic acid concentration of 0.5g/L to determine its impact on plant height. Two mutant types, Setaria Viridis 11970 Mutant 4 and Setaria viridis 03054 Mutant 6, were studied alongside the normal millet type Setaria Viridis A10.1 wild type. Results showed …

An Undergraduate Laboratory Module Integrating Organic Chemistry And Polymer Science, Arya Patel, Michael Arik, Amrita Sarkar

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Polymer science is receiving wider acceptance in the organic chemistry community; thus, it is imperative to include it in the undergraduate organic chemistry curriculum. Despite the ever-increasing popularity of the topic of polymer chemistry in undergraduate curricula, a comprehensive laboratory experiment module describing a polypeptide synthesis by ring-opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydride (NCA ROP) and a homopolymer synthesis by activators-regenerated by electron-transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) has yet to be proposed. Herein, we report a semester-long, ten week undergraduate laboratory module focusing on the synthesis and analytical characterization of polyalanine and polystyrene for an advanced organic chemistry class. …

Utilizing Aromatherapy To Decrease Anxiety In Adults Experiencing Homelessness, Thomas A. Clawson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This scholarly project analyzes health disparities faced by people experiencing homelessness, specifically in regard to their mental health and how they experience heightened levels of anxiety when compared to individuals who have stable housing. Through a literature review, the use of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) was analyzed and has shown to be an effective non-pharmacologic treatment for anxiety in a multitude of settings. Utilizing a theoretical framework distilled from Margret Newman’s theory Health as Expanding Consciousness, and Martha Rogers’ The Science of Unitary Human Beings. The quality improvement project was implemented at an inner city resource center for people experiencing homelessness. …

Ty4 Retrotransposon Presence In Yeast Strains, Maria P. Walters, Eric T. Gillock

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Yeast is used in everyday life. It is important to understand the genetic components of yeast. In various laboratory yeast strains, there are findings of TY1, TY2, and TY3. TY1 through TY3 have been well studied, while TY4 and TY5 are retroelements that have yet to be thoroughly studied. It is known that TY4 is found at only one to three copies per haploid genome.

TY4 is a retrotransposon, which shares similarities with retroviruses, making it essential to study its presence in

yeast. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of TY4 among lab strains, brewing strains, and baking strains …

Using Artificial (Ai) To Predict A Structure Of Protein Complex, Yiqing Zang

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Proteins play pivotal roles in essential life processes and elucidating their three-dimensional (3D) structures is crucial for understanding their functions. AlphaFold2, an advanced artificial intelligence-based method developed by Google DeepMind, has emerged as a promising tool for predicting protein structures. In this study, we evaluated the predictive capabilities of AlphaFold2. Our findings highlight AlphaFold2's efficacy in providing valuable insights into protein structure prediction, albeit with certain limitations. While AlphaFold2 represents a significant advancement in the field, its utility is best realized when integrated with complementary experimental approaches. Consequently, combining the strengths of AlphaFold2 with experimental validation remains essential for achieving …

Anything But Another Essay: Understanding Undergraduate Stem Student Perceptions Of Creative, Project-Based Learning, Emily M. Redding, Lorelei E. Patrick

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The training of innovative and diverse scientists starts with creative teaching practices. Much of the pedagogy literature on incorporating nontraditional teaching practices in college STEM courses focuses on the use of in-class active learning activities. Less study has been devoted to creative, project-based assignments, such as “UnEssays”. The “UnEssay” is a semester-long assignment that challenges students to complete a library research project on a topic of their choosing and present it using anything but an essay. Although gaining popularity, few studies have assessed STEM student's perceptions of the assignments. To do so, Zoology students were asked to complete pre- and …

Screening Environmental Soil Samples For Antibiotic Production, Paige Mattick

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Antibiotic resistance is a detrimental worldwide challenge, producing bacterial infections that are progressively more difficult to treat and cure. To attempt to help alleviate this issue, we screened soil samples for the presence of antibiotic-producing microorganisms. Soil samples were collected and diluted to 1:100 and 1:1000 ratios of soil and distilled water. These soil mixtures were then streaked onto tryptic soy agar (TSA) plates and incubated at 30℃ until colonies developed. These colonies were then selected and plated on a lawn of Serratia marcescens, which was utilized as the target organism.

Serratia marcescens was selected due to its known resistance …

A Novel Study Of Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota) Feather Coloration In Relation To Habitat Characteristics, Colony Size, And Body Condition, Sonja Brandt, Medhavi Ambardar

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Feather coloration is used for social signaling in many avian species, and can be associated with their ability to live and breed in habitats with high quality resources (Jenkins et al. 2013, Saino et al. 2013). It can signify individual quality, (Saino et al. 2013) and influence mate choice (Bennet et al. 1996). We analyzed different aspects of Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) feather coloration in relation to morphology and habitat characteristics. We measured luminance, hue (theta and phi), and saturation for four different color patches on the swallows. We predicted that individuals in brighter coloration would be able to settle …

Presence Of Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus C In Domestic Pigs In Kansas, Avery Welton, Eric T. Gillock

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

There is currently a shortage of organs available to perform allotransplants in humans, prompting the exploration of xenotransplantation as an alternative. Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of living tissues between different species, with porcine tissues being a promising option. However, concerns arise regarding cross-species transmission, particularly in relation to Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses (PERVs). PERVs are retroviruses that are integrated into the germ-line cells of pigs and are permanently embedded in the host cell’s DNA, allowing for vertical transmission. Of significant concern is the infectious nature of two PERV subtypes, A and B, to humans, which can potentially recombine with the third …

Exploring Strategies For Placement Stability Among Foster Care Children, Gabrielle Sewester

Dissertations

Children in foster care are considered a vulnerable population because of the maltreatment and abuse that previously occurred. In addition to the trauma resulting from previous abuse or neglect, children in foster care face ongoing exposure to trauma due to the lack of stability within the system. Instability in the foster care system is displayed by frequent changes in placement providers, multiple school changes, inconsistent mental and physical health treatment, prolonged permanency, and loss of connections with biological family members. The aim for this study is to fill the gap in the literature on foster parent’s experiences with successful placement …

Quantifying And Characterizing The Behavior Of Dissolved And Suspended Icp-Oes Detectible Elements In Utah Lake, Rachel Ann Valek

Theses and Dissertations

For Utah Lake in Utah, USA, we analyzed a uniquely comprehensive and longitudinal water quality dataset that extended over two summer sampling seasons. We measured 61 parameters using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), YSI ProDSS water sondes, and laboratory procedures to quantify and characterize dissolved and suspended behavior of trace elements in Utah Lake. We analyzed the data using principal component analysis (PCA) and multidimensional scaling (MDS) to understand the lake geochemistry and inform Utah Lake management decisions regarding nutrients and algal blooms. We found that 1) sediments rich in phosphorus (P) act as a source for bioavailable …

Data-Driven Modeling Of Core Gene Regulatory Network Underlying Leukemogenesis In Idh Mutant Aml., Ataur Katebi, Xiaowen Chen, Daniel Ramirez, Sheng Li, Mingyang Lu

Faculty Research 2024

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of poorly differentiated myeloid cells, with a heterogenous mutational landscape. Mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 are found in 20% of the AML cases. Although much effort has been made to identify genes associated with leukemogenesis, the regulatory mechanism of AML state transition is still not fully understood. To alleviate this issue, here we develop a new computational approach that integrates genomic data from diverse sources, including gene expression and ATAC-seq datasets, curated gene regulatory interaction databases, and mathematical modeling to establish models of context-specific core gene regulatory networks (GRNs) for a …