Plant Sciences Commons^™

Morphological And Molecular Systematics Of Psychodidae (Diptera), Gregory Russel Curler

Doctoral Dissertations

A general overview of family Psychodidae is given. Genus Eurygarka Quate is revised to include three species. Genus Gondwanoscurus Jezek is revised to include seven species. The status of genus Stupkaiella Vaillant is revised. Eight new Nearctic species: Eurygarka cyphostylus sp. nov., E. nelderi sp. nov., Stupkaiella lasiostyla sp. nov., S. robinsoni sp. nov., S. capricorna sp. nov., Trichomyia rostrata sp. nov., Australopericoma delta sp. nov., and Threticus thelyceratus sp. nov., and two new Oriental species: Gondwanoscurus cruciferus sp. nov. and G. ornithostylus sp. nov. are described. Two Nearctic species: Eurygarka helicis (Dyar) and Stupkaiella bipunctata (Kincaid), and four Oriental …

Nontarget Host Utilization Of Thistle Species By Introduced Biological Control Agents And Spatial Prediction Of Non-Target Feeding Habitats, Gregory J. Wiggins

Doctoral Dissertations

Rhinocyllus conicus Fröelich and Trichosirocalus horridus (Panzer) were introduced from Europe into North America as biological control agents of the exotic weed species Carduus nutans L. Concern exists over the feeding of these weevils on at least 25 species of native Cirsium thistles. Research was conducted to 1) estimate phenological synchrony of the eight thistle species in Tennessee with R. conicus and T. horridus, 2) investigate naturally-occurring populations of the five native Cirsium thistle species for non-target activity by R. conicus and T. horridus, 3) quantify the impacts to plants of each thistle species to feeding of R. …

Sp639-2010-2009 Grain Sorghum Hybrid Tests In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

No abstract provided.

Sp618-2010-2009 Corn Hybrid & Sweet Sorghum Silage Tests In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

No abstract provided.

Pb1768 2010 Insect Control Recommendations For Field Crops –, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program integrates control tactics including cultural practices, variety selection, biological control and insecticides to manage insect pest populations so that economic damage and harmful environmental side effects are minimized. Insecticides should only be used on an as-needed basis; therefore, insect scouting must be conducted regularly throughout the season to determine if an insecticide application is warranted.

Pb1580 2010 Weed Control Manual For Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

This manual contains the 2010 University of Tennessee weed control recommendations for corn, grain sorghum, cotton, soybeans, burley and dark tobacco, wheat, forage crops, sunflowers and farm ponds. These recommendations are based on results of research and demonstrations conducted by the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Agricultural Extension Service. Decisions regarding recommendations are made by the University of Tennessee Weed Control Committee and are based on available data at various locations in the state.

This publication contains pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. The recommendations in this publication are provided only as a guide. It is …

Impacts Of American Student Teachers On Twelve Community Members In A Rural New South Wales Community Australia: A Qualitative Study, Tera Shenae Bunch

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influences of American student teachers on a rural community in New South Wales, Australia. The study analyzed interviews with twelve participants of the American student teacher program in A Rural New South Wales community, Australia. Two researchers worked together to complete this study. Both researchers were student teachers with the New South Wales community for ten weeks and taught Agriculture in one the community‟s two high schools. After allowing one year to pass, researcher one returned to the community to interview twelve individuals involved with the program. The interviewed participants were …

A Study Of The Effects Of Applying Flue Gas Desulphurization Gypsum To Various Agronomic Crops, Jordan Ryan Combs

Masters Theses

Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) gypsum is a potential soil amendment for agricultural use in the state of Tennessee. FGD gypsum is a potential source of calcium and sulfur that may improve the soil both chemically and physically. FGD gypsum has the potential to raise pH, improve soil structure, increase infiltration rates, ameliorate subsoil acidity and improve crop yields. However, the addition of gypsum can also lower pH in some circumstances and cause magnesium and potassium losses in soil. In this study FGD gypsum was applied at a single rate to fields on thirteen farms located on the northern and southern …

The Effects Of Ultraviolet Radiation On Pigment Production, Growth, And Photochemical Efficiency In Allium Spp, Kristin Renee Abney

Masters Theses

In the 1970s, a push for research on the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on food crops began. Since that time, multiple agricultural and horticultural crops have been studied with results showing that the morphological and physical reactions are species dependent. The purpose of these studies to determine how increasing UV radiation affects Allium fistulosum L. (scallion onions) and Allium tuberosum Rottl. (garlic chives), and how UV radiation affects 16 cultigens of A. fistulosum. The effects of UV radiation were determined by shoot height, fresh weight, carotenoid and chlorophyll pigment concentrations, and photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m). …

Effect Of Selenium On Glucosinolate And Isothiocyanate Concentrations In Arabidopsis Thaliana And Rapid-Cycling Brassica Oleracea, Thomas Casey Barickman

Masters Theses

Brassica vegetables play a unique nutritional and sensory role in human diets around the world. Their characteristic flavors come from the break down products of glucosinolate (GS) compounds, a large group of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) containing glucosides. Glucosinolates are hydrolyzed by myrosinase to isothiocyanates (ITCs) which are biologically active. Mounting evidence of this process is of scientific interest due to the potential for high consumption of Brassica vegetables containing several GSs and their respective hydrolysis products that are associated with cancer chemoprevention. Glucosinolates are sulfur-rich hydrophilic, nonvolatile plant secondary metabolites; and. over the past few decades, their importance …

Pb1395-Insects In Farm-Stored Grain: 2009 Prevention And Control, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

Insects damage stored grain in two ways:

1. Direct feeding damage, resulting in loss of weight, loss of nutrients, reduction in germination, reduction in grade and a lowering of market value.

2. Deterioration and contamination by their presence, resulting in downgrading of grain and lowering of market value because of foreign matter in grain (insects and insect parts), odors, molds and heat-damaged grain.

Genetic Load And Transgenic Mitigating Genes In Transgenic Brassica Rapa (Field Mustard) × Brassica Napus (Oilseed Rape) Hybrid Populations, Christy W. Rose, Reginald J. Millwood, Hong S. Moon, Murali R, Rao, Matthew D. Halfhill, Paul L. Raymer, Suzanne I. Warwick, Hani Al-Ahmad, Jonathan Gressel, Neal C. Stewart

Plant Sciences Publications and Other Works

Abstract

Background

One theoretical explanation for the relatively poor performance of Brassica rapa (weed) × Brassica napus (crop) transgenic hybrids suggests that hybridization imparts a negative genetic load. Consequently, in hybrids genetic load could overshadow any benefits of fitness enhancing transgenes and become the limiting factor in transgenic hybrid persistence. Two types of genetic load were analyzed in this study: random/linkage-derived genetic load, and directly incorporated genetic load using a transgenic mitigation (TM) strategy. In order to measure the effects of random genetic load, hybrid productivity (seed yield and biomass) was correlated with crop- and weed-specific AFLP genomic markers. This …

Novel Software Package For Cross-Platform Transcriptome Analysis (Cptra), Xin Zhou, Zhen Su, Douglas R. Sammons, Yanhui Peng, Patrick J. Tranel, Neal C. Stewart, Joshua S. Yuan

Plant Sciences Publications and Other Works

Abstract

Background

Next-generation sequencing techniques enable several novel transcriptome profiling approaches. Recent studies indicated that digital gene expression profiling based on short sequence tags has superior performance as compared to other transcriptome analysis platforms including microarrays. However, the transcriptomic analysis with tag-based methods often depends on available genome sequence. The use of tag-based methods in species without genome sequence should be complemented by other methods such as cDNA library sequencing. The combination of different next generation sequencing techniques like 454 pyrosequencing and Illumina Genome Analyzer (Solexa) will enable high-throughput and accurate global gene expression profiling in species with limited genome …

Sp290-E-Azalea Lace Bug, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Since its introduction from Japan in the early 1900s, the azalea lace bug has become a destructive pest of azaleas. Although this bug prefers evergreen azalea varieties, it will infest deciduous varieties. Mountain laurel can also become infested.

W231 English Ivy, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

No abstract provided.

W232 Mimosa, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

No abstract provided.

W233 Privet, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

No abstract provided.

W229-Interpreting Mehlich 1 And 3 Soil Test Extractant Results For P And K In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

The Mehlich 1 and 3 soil test extractants are the most widely used in laboratories of the southern United States today. Tennessee began using the Mehlich 1 extractant in December, 1981. Existing soil test calibration data in Tennessee are based on the Mehlich 1 soil test extractant,1,2 which became available in 1953.

W228 Wood Products Information - Test Of A Sodium Carbonate-Based Mold Control Spray On Wood, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

The sodium carbonate-based solution that we tested did not provide good mold inhibition in a severe, standardized test.

Eliminating the warm, wet conditions that lead to mold remains the best option for preventing the growth on mold on wood.

“Growing Up Green: A Study Focusing On Environmental Attitudes, Knowledge And Focusing On Environmental Attitudes, Knowledge And Behaviors Of Elementary Children.”, Sarah Elizabeth Smith

Masters Theses

“Growing Up Green,” is a research based environmental education program that teaches children about recycling, energy conservation, and composting. This program was taught to fourth grade students at H.B. Williams Elementary School, in White House, Tennessee. The children were given a pre-test before the program and a post-test two weeks after the program. The pre and post-test was composed of three parts. The three parts tested their environmental attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. The study found that most of the children already had positive attitudes toward the environment. While, their attitudes decreased minimally after the program, they still remained very positive. …

Soybean Enhancement For Improved Biodiesel Production, Benjamin David Fallen

Masters Theses

As energy prices continue to rise, concern grows about the economy and about petroleum supplies. On January 1, 2009 The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2009 was enacted. It states that 500 million gallons of biomass-based biodiesel must be produced in 2009 and 1 billion gallons by 2012. In the United States 90 % of the biodiesel is produced from soybean oil, despite its shortcomings. The biggest problem facing the soy diesel industry is the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications for Biodiesel and Biodiesel Blends. The two categories that are in need of immediate improvement to …

Rr10-01-2009 Wheat And Oat Variety Performance Tests In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

No abstract provided.

W208-Vegetable Pests - Colorado Potato Beetle, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is found throughout most of the United States and Mexico and has been introduced into Europe and parts of Asia. Mexico is considered the center of origin for this pest. The Colorado potato beetle is an important pest of Solanaceous plants. Potato is the preferred host, but this insect pest also will feed on tomato, eggplant, pepper, tobacco, ground cherry, horse-nettle, nightshade, belladonna, thorn apple, henbane, buffalobur and other related plant species.

W206-Vegetable Pests - Pickleworm, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

The pickleworm, Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll) (Family Crambidae, previously Pyralidae), is found from Canada into parts of South America, and as far west as Oklahoma and Nebraska. It is an important pest of numerous cucurbits. Summer squash is the preferred host, but it also feeds on cantaloupe, cucumber, pumpkin and winter squash. Late-planted cantaloupes are heavily attacked in some areas.

W207-Vegetable Pests - Melon Aphid, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

The melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is found throughout most of the temperate, subtropic and tropic regions of the world. Although it is a cosmopolitan species, its origin is unknown. The melon aphid has a wide host range and can feed on watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe, squash, pumpkin, asparagus, spinach, bean, beet, cowpea, tomato, pepper, eggplant, okra, citrus, cotton, hibiscus and many weeds (such as jimsonweed and pigweed). In the South, cotton is an important host, which explains the use of the second common name, “cotton aphid.”

2 Plant Sciences Newsletter Spring 2009, Department Of Plant Sciences

Plant Sciences Newsletter

No abstract provided.

W076 Selecting Corn Hybrids For The Field, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

Hybrid selection is one of the most important decisions a producer will make. Hybrid traits are introduced through breeding or genetic modification and there are many available options. Certain physical traits fit some field environments better than others or are better suited to specific end uses, such as silage vs. grain. The higher seed cost of specialty traits means growers must balance perceived benefits with the cost of using the newer technology. In addition to yield, producers should consider days to maturity, disease and insect resistance, and sometimes herbicide tolerance when selecting a hybrid to plant.

W077 Planting Corn For Grain In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

Although seed genetics can dictate yield, a poorly planted seed never reaches its yield potential. Favorable weather plays an important role in stand quality, but producers can save money on replant costs by managing factors that can be controlled, such as field selection and planting time, seedbed preparation, seeding rate, planter settings and insect management.

W215 Organic Certification In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic agriculture as “a production system that is managed by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity.” Organic production methods minimize the use of purchased off-farm inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, while maximizing the use of on-farm practices that promote naturally occurring ecological relationships.

W215-Organic Certification In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Commercial Horticulture

Organic certification promotes trust between producers and consumers. Certification provides consumers assurance that a product has originated from an agricultural system using organic production methods. For producers, organic certification provides access to price premiums and specialty markets.