Plant Sciences Commons^™

Evaluating The Role Of Glutathione In Detoxification Of Metal-Based Nanoparticles In Plants, Chuanxin Ma

Doctoral Dissertations

The potential risks from metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) in the environment have increased with the rapidly rising demand for and use of nano-enabled consumer products. Plant’s central roles in ecosystem function and food chain integrity ensure intimate contact with water and soil systems, both of which are considered sinks for NPs accumulation. Thus, this dissertation describes three main objectives to comprehensively understand the interactions between plants and NPs and to characterize the role of glutathione (GSH) in detoxification of metal-based NPs in plants at physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels. (1) The effects of cerium oxide (CeO₂) and indium oxide …

Investigate The Interactions Between Silver Nanoparticles And Spinach Leaf By Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Mapping, Zhiyun Zhang

Masters Theses

Owing to their increasing application and potential toxicity, engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have been considered as a potential agricultural contaminant that may pose unknown risk to human beings. However, many techniques require invasive and complicated sample preparation procedures to detect and characterize engineered nanomaterials in complex matrices. In the first part of this thesis, we present a non-destructive and label-free approach based on surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) mapping technique to qualitatively detect and characterize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), on and in spinach leaves in situ. We were able to detect the clearly enhanced signals from AuNPs at 15 to 125 nm …

Iron Signaling In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Celina Abundis

Masters Theses

Iron is among the essential micronutrients for all living organisms and is a cofactor for many cellular redox reactions. Although iron is a highly abundant metal element found in the earth’s crust, it is also a limiting factor in plant development when it is present as insoluble ferric oxides. Plants have evolved two strategies to acquire soluble iron referred to as Strategy I and Strategy II. Our lab has focused on the Arabidopsis thaliana double mutant ysl1ysl3. The mutants display a chlorotic phenotype and are unable to correctly respond to iron deficiency.

Grafting is a common method for joining …

Novel Advancements For Improving Sprout Safety, Kyle S. Landry

Doctoral Dissertations

All varieties of bean sprouts (mung bean, alfalfa, broccoli, and radish) are classified as a “super-food” and are common staples for health conscious consumers. Along with the proposed health benefits, there is also an inherent risk of foodborne illness. When sprouts are cooked, there is little risk of illness. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore novel techniques to minimize or prevent the incidence of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of sprouts. Three areas were investigated: 1) the use of a biocontrol organism, 2) the use of a novel spontaneous carvacrol nanoemulsion, and 3) the influence of the …

Chemically Mediated Interactions Between Hosts, Parasitic Plants And Insect Herbivores, Muvari C. Tjiurutue

Doctoral Dissertations

Species interactions, by changing phenotypic traits, can alter the outcome of subsequent interactions. Plant-mediated responses to herbivores have been extensively studied, but little is known about plant-mediated responses involving parasitic plants within a broader community context that also includes herbivores. Because parasitic plants are important components of many ecosystems and can shape community structure, it is important to understand how host-mediated interactions influence parasite preference and success. The goal of this thesis is to examine interactions between hosts, parasitic plants and herbivores mediated by chemical traits. We first examined the effects of dodder (Cuscuta sp.) parasitism on induced defenses …

Understory Plant Community Structure In Forests Invaded By Garlic Mustard (Alliaria Petiolata), Jason Aylward

Masters Theses

ABSTRACT

UNDERSTORY PLANT COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN FORESTS INVADED BY GARLIC MUSTARD (ALLIARIA PETIOLATA)

MAY 2016

JASON ALLEN AYLWARD, B.S., PAUL SMITH’S COLLEGE

M.S. UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST

Directed by: Professor Kristina Stinson

Plant invasions represent a significant threat to the structure and function of natural ecosystems. Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) has been identified as a threat to native communities mostly through small-scale studies and focused experiments. In this in situ observational study I examined the effects of garlic mustard invasion on species composition across multiple sites by comparing plant diversity and composition in invaded and adjacent …

Variations In The Invertebrate Communities Of Wild Cape Cod Cranberry Bogs, Barbara Wagner

Masters Theses

As a species domesticated only in the last century, agricultural cranberry plants (Vaccinium macrocarpon) remain little removed from their wild relatives. Thus, it is a potential model species for studies of the earliest stages of domestication; however, there is little available quantitative information on its wild population biology and ecology. As such information is vital to studies of the ecological changes occurring during domestication, the purpose of this study was to consolidate the relevant knowledge available and conduct a preliminary search for patterns in the invertebrate communities of wild bogs. The alpha diversity was found to be greater …

2016 Chart Book: Warnings, Martha Sylvia

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Measures And Conversions Chart, Hilary Sandler

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Weed Management At-A-Glance, Hilary Sandler, Katherine M. Ghantous

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Pesticide Application Recordkeeping, Martha Sylvia

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Cautions, Martha Sylvia

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Table Of Contents, Carolyn J. Demoranville

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Index, Carolyn J. Demoranville

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Nutrition Management, Carolyn J. Demoranville

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Disease Management, Erika Saalau Rojas, Frank L. Caruso, Martha Sylvia

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Disease Management At-A-Glance, Erika Saalau Rojas, Frank Caruso, Martha Sylvia

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Irrigation Water Managenent, Peter Jeranyama

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Late Water And Cranberry Management, Carolyn J. Demoranville, Anne L. Averill, Hilary A. Sandler, Erika Saalau Rojas

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Winter Management, Carolyn J. Demoranville

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Insect Management At-A-Glance, Anne L. Averill, Martha M. Sylvia

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Pesticide Storage Guidelines, Hilary Sandler

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Resistance Management, Martha Sylvia

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Weed Management, Hilary A. Sandler, Katherine M. Ghantous

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2016 Chart Book: Insect Management, Anne L. Averill, Martha M. Sylvia

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

Contemplative Practice In Sustainable Food & Farming, Sarah Berquist

Sustainability Education Resources

PowerPoint presentation at the Institute of Teaching Excellence and Faculty Development at UMass Amherst. Offers contemplative practices applied in the Sustainable Food and Farming program including yoga; breathwork; reflective writing and dialogue; stories and poetry; and exploring personal values.

Frost Cycling And Irrigation, Peter Jeranyama, Faith Ndlovu, Casey Kennedy, Carolyn J. Demoranville

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.

Fruit Rot Management, Erika Saalau Rojas

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.

Building A Nutrient Management Plan, Carolyn J. Demoranville

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.

Late Water - Multiple Years?, Carolyn J. Demoranville, Dawn Allen-Gates

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.