Agriculture Commons^™

Genetic Profiling Of Tennessee Johnsongrass And Pigweed Accessions Per Weedicide Resistance And Agronomic Traits, Gouse Mohiddin Shaik

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Herbicide-resistant weeds pose an escalating threat to crop productivity in Tennessee, leading to notable economic losses and complicated conventional weed control strategies. Among the most persistent species, Sorghum halepense (Johnsongrass) and various Amaranthus species (pigweeds) have exhibited remarkable adaptability and increasing resistance to widely used herbicides. Addressing this growing issue necessitates a thorough understanding the genetic and biochemical mechanisms that drive herbicide resistance. This study conducted an extensive genetic analysis of Pigweed and Johnsongrass samples collected from a broad range of counties across Tennessee, ensuring representation from both the northern and southern portions of the state’s Eastern, Central, and Western …

A Co-Design Approach To Integrating Gender Into The Cacao Value Chain In Davao City, Philippines, Mia Barbara Aranas, Aileen Lapitan, Mitchiko Lopez, Nico Jayson Anastacio, Canesio Predo, Mara Faylon, Emmanuel Flores, Claire Estelle Cruz, Anjelyn Joy Enong

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The specific needs and challenges of women and their contributions are often not integrated when developing interventions and policies targeted to improve agricultural value chains. Therefore, this study developed a codesign approach to creating solutions to improve gender relations in agri-food value chains. Specifically, it focused on the cacao value chain in Davao City, which is located in the southern Philippines. Co-design is a highly participatory approach in which solutions are designed with, and not just for, the people who have lived experiences of the problems being addressed. The approach emphasizes understanding gender-related barriers and opportunities to inform government interventions …

Procedures For Rangeland Condition Assessment In The Pilbara And Southern Rangelands 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

This report defines the procedures used in 2025 by DPIRD to complete rangeland condition assessment (RCA) in the Pilbara and southern rangelands region which has predominantly shrub-based pastures. For the rest of the pastoral estate, DPIRD uses the Procedures for RCA in the Kimberley which has grass pastures.

RCA is the process DPIRD uses to make systematic, station-level assessment of rangeland. Rangeland condition considers both the condition of pastures (defined in the ‘Pasture condition guides for the Pilbara’ and ‘Pasture condition guides for the southern rangelands including the Gascoyne, Murchison and Goldfields-Nullarbor’) and soils as determined by erosion, using the …

Options For Fox Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Foxes can cause significant losses to some agricultural producers, and they prey on many native animals. The best option is to control foxes before they become a problem. This factsheet explains the available options fox control and when these options should be used

Crispr-Cas9 Gene Editing In Tomato: Development And Characterization Under Stress, Jun Guo

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Transcription factor (TF) families played essential roles in plant responses to abiotic stress, contributing significantly to stress tolerance and adaptation. The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) TF family included 161 members in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Previous proteomic analysis identified TF bHLH148 (Solyc01g058670) as being upregulated under aluminum (Al) stress, suggesting a potential role in Al tolerance. To investigate this, CRISPR-Cas9 was used to generate SlbHLH148 knockout mutants in the ‘Black Vernissage’ tomato cultivar. Two homozygous T2 lines, Slbhlh148-1 and Slbhlh148-2, were confirmed to contain frameshift mutations that resulted in truncated proteins lacking the bHLH_AtIBH1_like domain, as shown by protein modeling. Phenotypic evaluation …

Understanding Glufosinate Resistance In Palmer Amaranth And Examination Of Additives For Improved Weed Control, Pamela Carvalho-Moore

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this dissertation was to: 1) provide an in-depth review about the potential use of natural and synthetic glutathione S-transferase (GST) inhibitors to enhance herbicidal activity or induce crop safety; 2) determine if the addition of metabolic inhibitors to glufosinate is an effective approach to enhance weed control; 3) investigate the mechanism conferring resistance to glufosinate in a highly-resistant Palmer amaranth accession; 4) characterize the genomic rearrangement involved in glutamine synthetase 2 amplification in a Palmer amaranth accession resistant to both glufosinate and glyphosate; 5) quantify the distribution of glufosinate resistance among Palmer amaranth accessions within a 15-km …

Effects Of Soil Profile Rebuilding Techniques On Soil Properties And Tree Growth, Diksha Tamang

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Urban land development usually results in compacted soils, creating unfavorable conditions for tree establishment and growth. Soil Profile Rebuilding (SPR) is an urban soil rehabilitation technique to address soil compaction on site. However, the impacts of SPR on urban soils and tree growth in the southeast region remain unexplored. To address this research gap, this study assessed the efficacy of the SPR techniques in improving degraded urban soils including soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, and tree growth. Twelve experimental plots (12.2 m L*0.5 m W; 5.6 m2) were established using a completely randomized experimental design (4 soil treatments; 3 …

Procedures For Rangeland Condition Assessment In The Kimberley 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

This report defines the procedures used in 2025 by DPIRD to complete rangeland condition assessment (RCA) in the Kimberley region which has grass-based pastures. For the rest of the pastoral estate, DPIRD uses the Procedures for RCA in the Pilbara and southern rangelands which have predominantly shrub pastures.

RCA is the process DPIRD uses to make systematic, station-level assessment of rangeland. Rangeland condition considers both the condition of pastures (as defined in the 'Pasture condition guide for the Kimberley') and soils as determined by erosion, using the erosion assessment method on pastoral lands in Western Australia. The methods have evolved …

Identification And Characterization Of Peptide Responsive Histone Modification Genes During Root Nodule Symbiosis In Medicago Truncatula, Shivani Dharam

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen (N) is an essential but limiting macronutrient for crop growth in agroecosystems. Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) is a critical biological process where atmospheric Nitrogen is converted into ammonia by Nitrogen fixing the bacteria called rhizobia, forming mutualistic relationships with legume plants. These interactions are mediated by several signaling pathways and may involve epigenetic modifications like DNA methylations, histone modifications, where gene expression is altered without any change in DNA sequence. Histones are proteins provide structural support to DNA. However, genes encoding enzymes for these post translational modifications are poorly investigated in the Leguminosae family. This project aims to answer …

Identification And Functional Verification Of Powdery Mildew Resistant Genes In Hydrangea Macrophylla, Christina Jennings

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Ornamental plant production is a continuously expanding industry in the United States and worldwide. Hydrangea species are highly valued in ornamental plant production, especially bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). Powdery mildew is of particular interest on bigleaf hydrangea as there are no resistant varieties. The causal agent of powdery mildew of bigleaf hydrangea is Golovinomyces orontii (formerly Erysiphe polygoni). The goal of this research was to provide solutions for powdery mildew disease of hydrangea through improved chemical control, development of laboratory-based research systems, and identification of genes related to powdery mildew. A detached-leaf assay was developed and evaluations correlated to whole …

Feed Prices, Substitution Patterns, And Technical Efficiency In Feedlot Cattle, Andrew E. Anderson, James L. Mitchell, Jamie R. Luke

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

The cattle feeding industry is sandwiched between relatively volatile commodity markets, and efficiency is critical. Changing prices for feedstuffs may cause substitution and output effects, in turn impacting technical efficiency. Using Kansas feedlot data, we estimate the effects of feed prices on cattle performance, focusing on the feed conversion ratio, average daily gain, and days on feed. Results show that several feed prices do indeed impact technical efficiency. These results have implications for management adapting to changing feed prices. Further, there are policy implications for programs that may impact commodity prices.

Stock-To-Use Ratio And Price Of Rice: Deciphering The Relationships, Khondoker Abdul Mottaleb, Joohun Han, Willy Mulimbi, Durand-Morat Alvaro

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

The stock-to-use ratio (STU) is a widely utilized indicator to assess market conditions and forecast price movements for agricultural commodities. However, before drawing any conclusions, it is essential to empirically investigate the relationship between STU and commodity prices. Using rice as a case study, this research examines the empirical linkage between rice prices and STU, both collectively and individually across 16 leading rice-producing and consuming countries. To do so, the study first employs the panel vector autoregression approach to capture the dynamic interrelationships in a panel data setting, followed by vector autoregression estimation at the individual country level. The results …

Surface Water Irrigation Reservoirs Improve Groundwater Recovery In A Heavily Stressed Aquifer, Joshua Michael Blackstock, Obembe Odipo, Aaron Shew, Michele Reba, Joseph Massey, Phillip R. Owens, Christopher D. Delhom

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Expansion of irrigated cropland area in eastern Arkansas has led to the formation of regional cones of depression and creation of critical groundwater areas for the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer (MRVA) in Arkansas. In response, use of surface water reservoirs for irrigation in the Grand Prairie critical groundwater area (GPCGA) has been implemented toward improving groundwater recovery, but effects of this strategy are unclear. We leverage publicly available satellite imagery and geospatial computational resources to estimate in GPCGA: (1) total surface water area on cropland and non-cropland potentially used for irrigation using a supervised classification model and (2) causal …

An Economic Assessment Of Precision Conservation With On-Farm Precision Experiment Data, Karina A. Schoengold, Badri Khanal, Taro Mieno, David S. Bullock

Cornhusker Economics

Using a novel dataset that includes within field variation in productivity, we find that partial field retirement for a prairie strip can not only provide conservation benefits, but can also be economically beneficial. We note that these results are for a single field with one year of data, and that additional years of production and fields are essential to determine how much these results can be generalized. We also note that precision systems can be costly, and a comparison of outcomes with and without this information is essential to determine if investing in such systems is profitable. However, variable rate …

Mollusks From Crusader-Period ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Inbar Ktalav

'Atiqot

This study analyzes mollusk remains collected during the 2007 excavation season at the Knights’ Hotel site in ‘Akko, which was part of a Crusader-period residential neighborhood. A total of 538 shells were identified, including marine shells from the Mediterranean and Red Seas, freshwater shells and land snails. The analysis of these shells sheds light on the lives of the Crusader-period residents of ‘Akko, including their trade connections and use of shells for construction, ornamentation, pigment containers and raw material for the inlay industry.

The Metal Finds From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Joppe Gosker

'Atiqot

The 2007 excavation at the Knights Hotel Site yielded about 170 metal finds, mostly iron or copper alloy, though silver and gilded items were also found. Some objects associated with warfare may have been linked to the final battle of ‘Akko in 1291 CE, but most of the finds relate to daily life, encompassing activities such as horse keeping, dress, foodways, medicine and construction. The dominance of Eastern-type arrowheads indicates that local traditions were sometimes adopted, certainly for the arrows if not the bows. Concerning dress accessories, the overall impression is of European traditions. It seems that the Franks preferred …

Fragments Of A Crusader-Period Chancel Screen From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Vardit R. Shotten-Hallel

'Atiqot

The phrase ‘where [or: when] least expected’ is rarely used in archaeology. In fact, when excavating a cesspit, the opposite is often true. Cesspits are precisely where archaeologists expect to uncover hoards of household artifacts, like pottery and glass, or sometimes valuables, dislocated sculptures and even skeletons. In this regard, the excavation at the Knights’ Hotel site in ‘Akko is no exception. Four richly decorated marble fragments were found in a cesspit, integrated in the shaft’s wall as part of repair work. A stylistic analysis, and consideration of the historical context of their deposition, revealed an unexpected possibility regarding their …

Stone Objects From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Anastasia Shapiro

'Atiqot

Four stone objects were retrieved during the 2007 excavation season at the Knights’ Hotel site: three whetstones and one bead. Besides the routine registration of measurements and visual description, the specimens were examined under a binocular microscope at ×20 and ×40 magnifications, with the aid of 5% dilute hydrochloric acid and a steel needle. This procedure made it possible to define the lithology of the rock that the objects were made of and to trace use features like minor scratches, which usually receive little attention.

Crusader-Period Glass Finds From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Yael Gorin-Rosen

'Atiqot

This article discusses the glass finds uncovered during the 2007 excavation season at the Knights’ Hotel site and complements the report of the 1995 season. This collection of glass vessels is significant as it expands our knowledge concerning the variety of types produced in the local workshops and includes a variety of vessels from other production centers. Together, the finds from both seasons emphasize the richness and diversity of Crusader-period glassware and artifacts during the thirteenth century, before the fall of ‘Akko in 1291.

Tobacco Pipes From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Anastasia Shapiro

'Atiqot

The study of 111 Ottoman tobacco pipes and three nargile heads from the excavation of the Knights’ Hotel site in ‘Akko illuminates the smoking habits of the population of this quarter of the city between the early seventeenth and mid-nineteenth centuries. The dates, provenance and typology of the pipes are based on the results of previous studies. The latest date of most of the pipes in this corpus may be related to an explosion during the siege of 1840, after which the quarter remained unoccupied.

Petrographic And Microscopic Examination Of Crusader-Period Pottery From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Anastasia Shapiro

'Atiqot

A petrographic and microscopic study was undertaken for 14 Crusader-period vessels from the Knight’ Hotel site in ‘Akko. The petrographic analysis confirmed the presumed Egyptian origin of twelve vessels, while the microscopic examination of two pithoi suggested that their raw material originated within an ophiolitic complex found in Venice and its vicinity.

Crusader-Period Ceramics From The Knights’ Hotel Site, ‘Akko, Edna J. Stern, Nohar Shahar

'Atiqot

The Crusader-period ceramic assemblage unearthed in the Knights’ Hotel site in ‘Akko contains a large variety of daily wares. The assemblage consists of local and imported wares from various regions, some of which were identified through petrographic analysis. The imported wares indicate trade connections with Mediterranean port cities, and the petrographic analysis identified a new group of vessels from Egypt’s northern Nile region. The article outlines the pottery typology and quantification, and presents the ceramic distribution within the excavated urban area. The findings indicate changes in land use, as some residential and commercial areas were converted into dumps and cesspits. …

Daily Life And Industry In Crusader ‘Akko: The Knights’ Hotel Site, Danny Syon

'Atiqot

This report details the second season of excavations at the Knights’ Hotel site, carried out in 2007, covering three areas (A–C) not excavated in the first season (1995). The excavations revealed domestic and public(?) architecture dating from the thirteenth century CE. The architectural features are mostly similar to the ones exposed in the first season and include an abundance of water and sanitary installations: cisterns, wells and cesspits. The mixed character of this neighborhood of the capital of the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem, and the daily life of its residents is highlighted by the wealth of pottery and glass vessels …

Remains Of Two Iron Age Iib–C(?) Updraft Pottery Kilns At The Foot Of Tel Gamma (Tell Jemma), Davida Eisenberg-Degen, Ilana Peters, Svetlana Talis, Yael Abadi-Reiss, Emily Bischoff Bruintjes, Yotam Asscher

'Atiqot

An excavation southwest of Tel Gamma exposed two Iron Age II updraft pottery kilns and a refuse pit. The eastern kiln was only partially preserved; its fill contained workshop debris and storage-jar wasters. The better-preserved western kiln retained an almost intact, elongated combustion chamber with two sets of mud-brick flues and evidence of periodic upkeep. An activity layer was identified between and around the kilns, from which a mixed Iron IIA–C ceramic assemblage and a few stone artifacts were collected. The stone artifacts likely served in fine grinding and burnishing. In the refuse pit, potsherds, vitrified bricks, animal bones and …

A Middle Bronze Iia Pottery Production Site On The Northern Bank Of NaḥAl Soreq, Near Yavne-Yam, Lily Singer-Avitz, Yossi Levy, Etan Ayalon

'Atiqot

A Middle Bronze Age IIA pottery production site was uncovered on the northern bank of Naḥal Soreq, near Yavne-Yam. Excavations revealed installations, including pits, an oven, a stone pavement and a two-story pottery kiln. The discovery of a potter’s wheel and petrographic analysis confirm local ceramic production using nearby ḥamra and kurkar materials. Stone anchors found on-site suggest the transport of vessels via small boats along the stream, connecting the site with nearby settlements such as Nabi Rubin and Yavne-Yam.

Middle Bronze Age Human Skeletal Remains From Nahal Rimmonim, Yossi Nagar

'Atiqot

The excavation at Nahal Rimmonim yielded the remains of seven individuals interred in jar burials and a grave dating, respectively, to Middle Bronze Age I–II and III. The MB I–II storage-jar burials were uncovered in a residential area, comprising three infants—a well-documented trait of the period. The MB III remains include the primary burial of four individuals in stone-built graves: three adults and a child aged three–four years.

The Faunal Assemblage From Nahal Rimmonim, An Intermediate And Middle Bronze Age Site In The Jezreel Valley, Zohar Turgeman-Yaffe

'Atiqot

The rural site of Naḥal Rimmonim yielded 421 identifiable animal bones that originated in well-stratified loci from five strata dating to the Intermediate and Middle Bronze Ages. The site’s economy seems to have been independent, or production-based, with residents providing most of their own needs while also trading with other groups. The economy was based on animal husbandry, with some hunting, mostly of gazelles, alongside the production of secondary products, such as milk, wool and labor, with a preference for wool. Pigs were the most common species in all domestic levels, including a unique pig burial. The faunal assemblage from …

The Flint Assemblage From Nahal Rimmonim, Ariel Vered

'Atiqot

The excavation at Naḥal Rimmonim yielded flint items dating to the Intermediate and Middle Bronze Ages, alongside intrusive highly patinated Middle Paleolithic artifacts. The Intermediate Bronze Age assemblage represents a local, expedient industry that produced simple flake tools from locally available lithic resources and long, regular blades, probably imported as blanks, continuing the Canaanean blade industry of the Early Bronze Age. The Middle Bronze Age assemblage attests to the production of flakes on which simple ad hoc tools were manufactured on locally available raw materials. The production of Canaanean blades ceased abruptly, probably when the Second Urban Revolution took place …

Petrographic Examination Of The Intermediate And Middle Bronze Age Vessels From Nahal Rimmonim, Anastasia Shapiro

'Atiqot

This paper presents petrographic data retrieved from samples taken from pottery found in the context of a Middle Bronze Age pottery workshop and from a domestic pottery assemblage dating from the Intermediate Bronze Age. The results for both periods mostly point to on-site and local production, contributing to our knowledge concerning pottery production and trade in the Jezreel Valley and adjacent areas.

Nahal Rimmonim: An Intermediate–Middle Bronze Age Village And Pottery Workshop In The Jezreel Valley, Karen Covello-Paran, Yotam Tepper

'Atiqot

The excavations at Naḥal Rimmonim exposed a stratified rural settlement spanning the Intermediate and Middle Bronze Age III. Stratified remains—including domestic structures, installations, a pottery workshop and burials—demonstrate diachronic shifts in site function and organization. The Intermediate Bronze Age strata exhibit substantial domestic activity with evidence of localized adaptation to marshy conditions. In the Middle Bronze Age I–II phases, a specialized potters’ workshop and later domestic structures highlight evolving intrasite spatial planning and craft production, likely tied to economic interactions with nearby Tel Megiddo. Elite tombs with prestige goods from the Middle Bronze Age III, signal socioeconomic ties to urban …