Agriculture Commons^™

Evaluation Of Ten Alternative Treatments For The Management Of Harlequin Bug (Murgantia Histrionica) On Brassica Crops, Sarah Clark

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

This thesis investigates the efficacy of exclusion netting and selected biopesticides in controlling the common brassica pest harlequin bug (Murgantia histrionica); it assesses the phytotoxic effects caused by selected essential oil products; and it evaluates whether selected treatments caused mortality in common beneficial insects. This is one of the first studies to investigate the potential pest controlling properties of commercially produced bokashi fermented composting products as well as their effect on natural enemies.

During both the first and second year of the study, none of the commercially produced essential oil products or bokashi products were effective in controlling …

Weed Management Impacts On Wild Bees In Agroecosystems, Amanda Denny

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

In agricultural landscapes, bee communities are shaped by factors including the plant community, land management, and pesticides. These factors are critical in the late winter and early spring (LWES) when floral resources are scarce and many bee species are becoming active. In this dissertation, I characterize the flowering weed community of Central Kentucky agroecosystems in the LWES, examine the response of wild bee communities to the total cover and diversity of these flowering plants, and assess the risks of glyphosate exposure on developing ground nesting bees. I found that the flowering plant community was similar across land cover types and …

Assessing Endophyte Frequency Distributions And The Effect Of Epichloë Brachyelytri In The Chemotypic And Genotypic Diversity Of Brachyelytrum Erectum, Rachel Ann Sneed

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Seed-transmissible epichloid fungal endophytes are best known for their roles as defensive mutualists in cool-season grasses. Historically, the discovery of fungal endophytes was driven by investigations of plant toxicity to livestock, followed by extensive study of their alkaloids and protection against insects and nematodes. Epichloae can produce four classes of alkaloids: ergot alkaloids, lolines (saturated aminopyrrolizidines), indole–diterpenes, and peramine. It is increasingly evident that these hereditary symbionts have much more diverse chemical profiles both in individual populations and between them. To this end, differences in chemotypic profiles of these symbionts may translate to different evolutionary and environmental advantages across plant …

Temporal Changes In The Genome Of Apicomplexan Parasite Sarcocystis Neurona Sn3, Jamie Norris

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Sarcocystis neurona is an apicomplexan parasite and the main etiologic agent behind Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), the most diagnosed neurologic disease in horses living in the Americas. Technical advances that arose from the human genome project between 1990 and 2003 and the corresponding “omics” revolution in research have allowed scientists novel approaches to study organisms. Herein, we sought to leverage bioinformatic advances and new sequencing platforms to provide an improved understanding of the biology of S. neurona. At the outset of this project, reference genomes from two different S. neurona strains (SN3.e1 and So SN1) were available. A new and …

Manrrs Advisors And Their Perceptions Of Their Mentor Strategies, Dallas L. Cooks

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences, also known as MANRRS, is an organization with chapters nationwide. Their main focus is to provide professional development, academic advancement, and networking to those in agriculture and related sciences. This research focuses on the advisors of MANRRS chapters across the country and at various institutions. Advisors were asked a series of questions through a Qualtrics survey about their mentor strategies with their students. Chapter Advisors were asked demographic, Likert Scale, and questions based on their personal MANRRS experience. As a result of the data, five research questions were answered. Chapter Advisors and …

Autism In Agricultural Education: A Case Study Of An Adolescent With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Their Parent On Career And Technical Education, Grace Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a unique and often misunderstood diagnosis. Little is known about the experiences of adolescents with ASD. As students with ASD graduate high school, many are under- and unemployed. Career and technical education (CTE) in U.S. schools is intended to prepare all students for careers post-secondary. Agricultural education is one of the predominate career clusters within CTE. This qualitative single case study sought to create a platform for both a student and their parent to share their experiences in agricultural education and CTE. Participants were an adolescent with ASD who had taken at least one year …

Cold Hardiness In Vitis Interspecific Hybrid 'Chambourcin'-Based Population, Tabinda Shahid

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The susceptibility of grapevines to low-temperature injury presents a significant challenge, particularly in the United States. Traditional European grape cultivar, Vitis vinifera ‘Cabernet sauvignon’, faces bud damage at temperatures below freezing. On the other hand, Vitis interspecific hybrid ‘Chambourcin’, exhibits greater tolerance to sub-zero temperatures. The objective of this research was to conduct Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) on 273 F₁ hybrid genotypes generated from a cross of ‘Chambourcin’ × ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ to quantify bud cold hardiness by identifying the freezing exothermic reactions. Low temperature exotherm (LTE) profiles, over two dormant seasons (December to February 2022-2024), revealed 15 interspecific hybrid …

Financial Considerations For U.S. Equine Rescues: A Comparison Of Adoption-Based Vs. Sanctuary-Based Organizations, Carolyn V. Frank

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Biochar From Plant Materials On Agricultural Acid Sulfate Soil: A Laboratory Incubation, Syazwan Sulaiman, Namasivayam Navaranjan, Guillermo Hernandez-Ramirez, Zohrah Sulaiman, Kathereen Liew

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The scarcity of suitable arable land has led to the development of acid sulfate soil for cultivation. The major problems of acid sulfate soil are the inherent low pH and available phosphorus (P) as well as the mobilization of toxic elements such as aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe), rendering the soil unfavourable for crop production. The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of biochar from plant materials on the selected parameters of acid sulfate soil in a laboratory incubation, with unamended control and dolomite treatment soils for comparison. The application of biochar significantly increased (P < 0.05) soil pH by 0.4-0.6 units as well as the soil available P by 13.1 mg kg-1 relative to the control. The soil exchangeable Al was significantly reduced (by 2.4 cmol kg-1 when compared with the control treatment. The dolomite treatment was superior relative to biochar application in increasing soil pH and decreasing Al. The dolomite application, however, was inferior to biochar treatment in increasing soil available P. Moreover, no favourable change was observed in available Fe with the applications of either biochar or lime. These results indicated that biochar has the potential for the amelioration of acid sulfate soil, especially in increasing available P. Further studies should explore the effectiveness of biochar and lime co-application in altering a wider range of soil chemical parameters to inform management options of acid sulfate soil for cultivation.

Research Report: Radicchio Cultivar Performance In New Hampshire, Rebecca G. Sideman, Ella Lukacz, Lilly Hartman

Faculty Publications

Radicchio (Cichorium intybus var. latifolium) is grown widely throughout Europe, especially northern Italy. In addition to having interesting color and flavor profiles, they are rich in phenolics and other bioactive compounds. While increasingly popular as a niche vegetable in the region, there is little research-based information to guide growers. The New England growing climate is very different from that of major production regions, and it presents unique challenges. There is tremendous phenotypic variation among and within groups and cultivars. The availability of varieties to commercial growers in the U.S. has expanded greatly, but there remains a need for reliable …

Pulse-Width Modulation Spray System Performance And Development Of A Novel System To Optimize Spray Use Efficacy, Prashanta Pokharel

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The overarching objective of this research was to enhance our understanding of pulse width modulation (PWM) based nozzle control system and develop an intelligent nozzle control system for agricultural spray applications. This dissertation focused on measuring and analyzing the transient nozzle pressure characteristics and performance under PWM control. Additionally, it explored the development of an innovative multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) nozzle control system for precise chemical applications in specialty crop systems.

The pressure dynamics of a PWM system were studied by developing an instrumentation system capable of operating a solenoid valve and recording pressure signals. A nozzle body and two manifolds of …

Weed Seed Wizard Scenario - Glyphosate Resistance In Barnyard Grass In Goondiwindi, Queensland, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity research reports

The Weed Seed Wizard is a national collaborative project that uses paddock management information to predict weed emergence and crop losses now and in the future.

The Weed Seed Wizard is a computer simulation tool that:

• applies to all Australian grain growing areas

• helps growers understand and manage weed seedbanks on their farms

• uses farm management records to simulate how different crop rotations, weed control techniques, irrigation, grazing and harvest management tactics can affect weed numbers, the weed seedbank and yields

• uses farm-specific management and site-specific weather

• is multi-species

See www.dpird.wa.gov.au for further information on Weed Seed Wizard.

This Queensland …

Sclerotinia Management For Narrowleaf Lupin Crops In Western Australian Farming Systems Daw2104-002rtx: Project Results Summary For 2021-2023 Research Results, Ciara Beard, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity research reports

Extensive research has been conducted in 2021-2023 to expand our understanding of the distribution of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum incidence in lupin in WA, the infection process, yield and grain quality impacts, and management strategies. The research was conducted via commercial crop surveys, and experiments in the field, lab, controlled environment and glass houses by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and collaborators Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM), Mingenew Irwin Group (MIG), and lupin growers.

State Barrier Fence - Esperance Extension Project Overview 2024, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Western Australia’s State Barrier Fence plays an important role in protecting landholders inside the fence by preventing the movement of animal pests, including wild dogs and emus, from pastoral areas into the agricultural regions. It is a state asset which is managed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

The original fences (numbers 1, 2 and 3) were constructed between 1902 and 1907. Originally known as the Rabbit Proof Fences, it has also been known as the State Vermin Fence, the Emu Fence and now the State Barrier Fence. Since 2010, the fence has been upgraded to wild …

Wa Insecticide Guide 2024 - Winter Spring, Svetlana Micic, Alan Lord

PestFacts WA

The insecticides listed in the tables within this guide can be used on any crop appearing on the chemical label, if the rate used does not exceed the highest rate that is registered for use on that crop.

There are many products with different trade names that contain the same active ingredient. This list is not exhaustive and does not imply any specific recommendations of brand names.

Inflammation And Tumor Progression: The Differential Impact Of Saa In Breast Cancer Models, Daniel Wilhelm Olivier, Carla Eksteen, Manisha Du Plessis, Louis De Jager, Lize Engelbrecht, Nathaniel Wade Mcgregor, Preetha Shridas, Frederick C. De Beer, Willem J. S. De Villiers, Etheresia Pretorius, Anna-Mart Engelbrecht

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Background: Previous research has shown that the Serum Amyloid A (SAA) protein family is intricately involved in inflammatory signaling and various disease pathologies. We have previously demonstrated that SAA is associated with increased colitis disease severity and the promotion of tumorigenesis. However, the specific role of SAA proteins in breast cancer pathology remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the role of systemic SAA1 and SAA2 (SAA1/2) in a triple-negative breast cancer mouse model.

Methods: Syngeneic breast tumors were established in wild-type mice, and mice lacking the SAA1/2 (SAADKO). Subsequently, tumor volume was monitored, species survival determined, the inflammatory profiles of mice …

Cyp6g2 Is The Major P450 Epoxidase Responsible For Juvenile Hormone Biosynthesis In Drosophila Melanogaster, Qiangqiang Jia, Liu Yang, Jiamin Wen, Suning Liu, Di Wen, Wei Luo, Weihua Wang, Subba R. Palli, Li Sheng

Entomology Faculty Publications

Background Juvenile hormones (JH) play crucial role in regulating development and reproduction in insects. The most common form of JH is JH III, derived from MF through epoxidation by CYP15 enzymes. However, in the higher dipterans, such as the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster, a bis-epoxide form of JHB3, accounted most of the JH detected. Moreover, these higher dipterans have lost the CYP15 gene from their genomes. As a result, the identity of the P450 epoxidase in the JH biosynthesis pathway in higher dipterans remains unknown.

Results In this study, we show that Cyp6g2 serves as the major JH epoxidase responsible for …

Go West: Population Genomics Reveals Unexpected Population Fluctuations And Little Gene Flow In Western Hemisphere Populations Of The Predatory Lady Beetle, Hippodamia Convergens, Arun Sethuraman, Schyler O. Nunziata, Angela Jones, John J. Obrycki, David W. Weisrock

Entomology Faculty Publications

Hippodamia convergens—the convergent lady beetle, has been used extensively in aug- mentative biological control of aphids, thrips, and whiteflies across its native range in North America, and was introduced into South America in the 1950s. Overwintering H. convergens populations from its native western range in the United States are com- mercially collected and released across its current range in the eastern USA, with little knowledge of the effectiveness of its augmentative biological control. Here we use a novel ddRADseq-based SNP/haplotype discovery approach to estimate its range- wide population diversity, differentiation, and recent evolutionary history. Our results indicate (1) significant population …

N(Alpha)-Acetyltransferase 40-Mediated Histone Acetylation Plays An Important Role In Ecdysone Regulation Of Metamorphosis In The Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium Castaneum, Sharath Chandra Gaddelapati, Smitha George, Anilkumar Moola, Karthi Sengodan, Subba Reddy Palli

Entomology Faculty Publications

Histone acetylation, a crucial epigenetic modification, is governed by histone acetyltransferases (HATs), that regulate many biological processes. Functions of HATs in insects are not well understood. We identified 27 HATs and determined their functions using RNA interference (RNAi) in the model insect, Tribolium castaneum. Among HATs studied, N-alpha-acetyltransferase 40 (NAA40) knockdown caused a severe phenotype of arrested larval development. The steroid hormone, ecdysone induced NAA40 expression through its receptor, EcR (ecdysone receptor). Interestingly, ecdysone-induced NAA40 regulates EcR expression. NAA40 acetylates histone H4 protein, associated with the promoters of ecdysone response genes: EcR, E74, E75, and HR3, and causes an increase …

The Mechanoreceptor Piezo Is Required For Spermatogenesis In Bombyx Mori, Zhongjie Zhang, Xiaojing Liu, Bo Hu, Kai Chen, Ye Yu, Chenxin Sun, Dalin Zhu, Hua Bai, Subba Reddy Palli, Anjiang Tan

Entomology Faculty Publications

Background The animal sperm shows high diversity in morphology, components, and motility. In the lepidopteran model insect, the silkworm Bombyx mori, two types of sperm, including nucleate fertile eupyrene sperm and anucleate unfertile apyrene sperm, are generated. Apyrene sperm assists fertilization by facilitating the migration of eupyrene spermatozoa from the bursa copulatrix to the spermatheca. During spermatogenesis, eupyrene sperm bundles extrude the cytoplasm by peristaltic squeezing, while the nuclei of the apyrene sperm bundles are discarded with the same process, forming matured sperm.

Results In this study, we describe that a mechanoreceptor BmPiezo, the sole Piezo ortholog in B. mori, …

From The Ground Up: A Complex Systems Approach To Climate Change Adaptation In Agriculture, Karen Buchsbaum

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Climate change presents an unprecedented challenge to global agriculture and food security. Small farms are especially vulnerable to the local impacts of large-scale drivers of change. Effective adaptation in agriculture requires working across scales, and geographic, political, and disciplinary boundaries to address barriers. I use elements of case study, agent-based modeling and serious games, to design a model of farmer decision-making using the sociocognitive framework of climate change adaptation. I examine how adaptation functions as a process, how complex dynamics influence farmer behavior, and how individual decisions influence collective behavior in response to climate change. This novel approach to adaptation …

Leds For Controlled Environment Agriculture: Leveraging Light To Optimize Crops, Tristan D. Sanders

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Indoor agriculture is a growing industry with many of its benefits being recognized. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) reduce production costs compared to traditional light sources. LEDs emit narrow bandwidths of light that allow growers to easily change the wavelengths plants are being grown under by using different combinations of wavelengths. Manipulating the light that plants are grown under is a method to change their physiology which is the basis of this thesis. The goal of the first two studies was to investigate how different light spectra can be used to enhance the nutrition content, growth, and morphology of kale and …

Waterbird-Perceived Damage, Control Measures, And Economic Implications For Rice Production In The Brazilian Cerrado, Demetrio Luis Guadagnin, Alexandre Afonso Meyer, João Augusto Rossi Borges, Fernanda Maia Justo

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Waterbirds have the potential to inflict economic damage to crops. However, is rice (Oryza sativa) production in the Brazilian Cerrado significantly affected by waterbirds? This study aimed to assess the extent of waterbird damage on irrigated rice production in Central Brazil. We conducted surveys of waterbird populations in rice agroecosystem habitats throughout the cultivation cycle and analyzed the expenses associated with waterbird-induced yield losses and the control measures employed by farmers. The 2 most prevalent waterbird species observed were Dendrocygna viduatta and D. autumnalis, comprising 68.6% of all recorded waterbirds. These species were more frequently encountered and …

Hop Cone Drying For The Small Grower: Temperature And Airflow Considerations, Stacy A. Adams, David M. Mabie, Michael F. Kocher, David Jones

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Small hop growers without nearby processors for cone stripping and drying must attempt to do so on their own farm. Challenges exist for self-built drying systems, including drying capacity, processing speed, airflow direction, and maintaining quality during drying. Research-based recommendations are given for optimal temperature, sizing of drying vessel, maximum cone depth, and influences associated with airflow on processing uniformity and cone quality are presented.

Native Forbs Provide Pollinator Resources And Improve Forage Nutrient Composition, Animal Performance, And Pasture Productivity, Jessica L. Prigge, Eric Bisangwa, Jonathan D. Richwine, Virginia R. Sykes, Jennie Lz Ivey, Patrick D. Keyser

Faculty Publications

Pollinator declines and expectations for more sustainable agriculture, including pasture-based enterprises, bring attention to strategies to enhance the habitat value of grazing lands. We evaluated native warm-season grass (NWSG) pastures with (FORB) and without (CONT) interseeded native forbs in 2021–2023. An analysis was conducted using R with the significance set at p ≤ 0.05. The grass appeared to be weakened predominantly by grazing management practices. Forb density and mass had an inverse relationship in seasons two and three. Total forage mass declined in response to increased grazing days and weakened stands. The forage nutritive compositions differed, with more stable, season-long …

Automated Detection Of On-Farm Irrigation Reservoirs In Two Critical Groundwater Regions Of Arkansas: A Necessary Precursor For Conjunctive Water Management, Daniel D. Shults, John W. Nowlin, Joseph H. Massey, Michele L. Reba

Faculty Publications

In eastern Arkansas, the use of surface water for crop irrigation is steadily increasing in response to declining aquifers. Effective conjunctive water management requires accurate and timely information on the locations, sizes, and numbers of on-farm irrigation reservoirs. A method for remotely locating and characterizing on-farm reservoirs was developed using relative elevation and near-infrared imagery. With 62% accuracy, the method automatically identified 429 irrigation reservoirs within a 1.9-Mha area in less than an hour using an off-the-shelf laptop. Reservoirs not accurately identified (i.e., false negatives) were caused by the presence of vegetation or turbidity within the reservoirs. There were no …

Adding Value To Crop Production Systems By Integrating Forage Cover Crop Grazing, Robert B. Mitchell, Daren D. Redfearn, Kenneth P. Vogel, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen Erickson, P. Steven Baenziger, Bruce E. Anderson, Mary E. Drewnoski, Jay Parsons, Steven D. Masterson, Marty R. Schmer, Virginia L. Jin

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

In addition to their value as cereal grains, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) are important cool-season annual forages and cover crops. Yearling steer (Bos taurus) performance was compared in the spring following autumn establishment as for age cover crops after soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] grain harvest. Replicated pastures (0.4 ha) were no-till seeded in three consecutive years into soybean stubble in autumn, fertilized, and grazed the following spring near Ithaca, Nebraska, USA. Each pasture (n = 3) was continuously stocked in spring with four yearling steers (380 ± 38 kg) for …

Barn Owls Exert Top-Down Effects On The Abundance And Behavior Of Rodent Pests, Katherine C. Larson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Predators can exert top-down effects on their prey by direct consumption, by imposing risk of predation, or a combination of both. However, empirical evidence for these effects is mixed and inconsistent. Barn owls in agriculture present a system with attributes that should, according to theory, lead to strong top-down effects, but research is limited and the distinction between effects on prey abundance and behavior remains unresolved. Understanding the top-down effect of predators on pests is a cornerstone of integrated pest management and important where barn owls may contribute to the control of rodents on farms. Vegetation can mediate the top-down …

Hepatic Mrna Expression Of Innate And Adaptive Immune Genes In Beef Steers With Divergent Residual Body Weight Gain, Deborah Ologunagba

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Immune system function is critical to maintaining the health and increasing productivity of cattle, affecting both their growth and their disease resistance. In an efficient immune system, the liver assumes an integral function in detoxification and metabolic processes and contributes substantially to overall production and immunity. In this study, we evaluated the hepatic mRNA expression of genes involved in innate and adaptive immunity in crossbred beef steers with either a positive or negative residual body weight gain (RADG). Positive-RADG beef steers (n = 8; RADG = 0.76 kg/d) and negative-RADG beef steers (n = 8; RADG = -0.64 kg/d) were …

A Case Of One Step Forward And Two Steps Back? An Examination Of Herbicide-Resistant Weed Management Using A Simple Agroecosystem Dynamics Model, Srinadh Kodali, Chris Flores-Lopez, Isabelle Lobdell, Branson Kim, James C. Russell, Lane Michna, Benjamin L. Turner

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Global herbicide-resistant weed populations continue rising due to selection pressures exerted by herbicides. Despite this, herbicides continue to be farmers’ preferred weed-control method due to cost and efficiency relative to physical or biological methods. However, weeds developing resistance to herbicides not only challenges crop production but also threatens ecosystem services by disrupting biodiversity, reducing soil health, and impacting water quality. Our objective was to develop a simulation model that captures the feedback between weed population dynamics, agricultural management, profitability, and farmer decision-making processes that interact in unique ways to reinforce herbicide resistance in weeds. After calibration to observed data and …