Life Sciences Commons^™

Evaluation Of Heat Tolerant Cauliflower Varieties On California’S Central Coast, Lauren Booke

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

Heat tolerant trials of vegetable crops will help to improve food security when it becomes affected by rising temperatures due to climate change. By having heat tolerant vegetable crops, we can ensure the well-being of individuals in our society—nutritionally, economically, and socially. California is responsible for 90% of the cauliflower production in the United States. This research aims to determine the overall productivity of three heat tolerant cauliflower varieties (Bishop, Mardi, Flame Star) during the summer months (July- September) on California’s central coast. Stomatal conductance and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured throughout the growing cycle to evaluate plant stress and photosynthetic …

Adaptation Strategies For Wild Blueberry Growers In A Changing Climate: Mulching Effects On Crop Productivity And Fertility Effects On Blueberry Gall Midge, Rebecca Gumbrewicz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton.) cropping systems are considered resilient to environmental changes due to ecological and genetic diversity within each field. However, wild blueberries can be sensitive to weather fluctuations that cause extreme temperature or moisture regimes. Climate change in Maine is represented by increasing rates of warming temperatures, more intense precipitation events, and more frequent atmospheric “blocking” patterns. Warming temperatures result in the northward expansion of pest ranges and altered growing seasons. More extreme rainfall events lead to damaged plantings and soil erosion. Atmospheric blocking leads to an increased likelihood of heat waves and drought. Two experiments were …

Three Lc-Ms Plant Metabolomics Studies Of Hop (Humulus) Species: Wild H. Neomexicanus, Drought Stress, And Agricultural Terroir, Taylan Morcol

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The hop plant (Humulus L., Cannabaceae) is a dioecious, perennial, twining vine with a long history of human use. Nowadays, hop plants are generally grown for their inflorescences (“cones”), which are used in brewing for their phytochemical metabolites. Many of these metabolites are involved in plant stress response and communication. Genetics and environment are two major factors that affect plant metabolism. In three separate metabolomics studies, this project examined the effects of both genetic and environmental factors on hop phytochemistry.

In the first study, 23 hop genotypes were grown in two different locations in the Pacific Northwest region of …

Risk Management Potential Of Supplemental Irrigation For Cotton In A Sub-Humid Climate Under Climate Change, Wen Liu

Masters Theses

Adoption of supplemental irrigation to reduce cotton yield losses is a potential risk management strategy for farmers given increasingly frequent drought periods due to climate change. However, cotton farmers in the rolling landscape areas of the lower Mississippi River Basin (MRB) are concerned about whether an investment in supplemental irrigation is economically feasible. This study determined the impacts of the effects of risk exposure on optimal irrigation strategies for cotton production under climate change in West Tennessee. A crop simulation model was calibrated and validated using measured data from cotton irrigation experiments at Jackson, TN over three years (2006–2008). Simulated …

Utilization And Evaluation Of Treated Wastewater On The Production Technology Of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Under Different Modes Of Cultivation, Fatima Hasan Al Hamedi

Dissertations

In the recent past, the production of wastewater from domestic and industrial sources has been steadily increasing through the population, urbanization, industrial revolution and economic development. In the world, 80% of wastewater consists of several harmful substances and hazardous chemicals that cause many deadly effects to human beings as well as ecosystems. So, the elimination of this toxic substance before discarding into landfills is utilized as an alternative source of water which is an emerging need. Using the treated wastewater for agricultural purposes is an excellent approach for rendering wastewater beneficial. As the quantity of wastewater grows, there is a …

Intellectual Property Rights In The Seed Industry: Barriers To Sustainable Agriculture, Elena A. Filatova

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The dynamics of the dominant industrial agriculture system restrict the seed industry’s innovative landscape, leading to significant negative consequences including an exacerbation of environmental risks which threaten global food security. This thesis explores how exclusionary intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the context of the seed industry constrict innovation, evolutionary pathways, and opportunities for the implementation of sustainable agriculture methods. To overcome these barriers, the application of an open source framework to seed innovation, specifically through the platform of the Open Source Seed Initiative, is evaluated as a tool for enhancing innovative capacities in seed development while broadening the accessibility and …