Agricultural Science Commons^™

Optimization Of Transformation And Regeneration In The Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus), Sara M. Kilar

Masters Theses

In addition to their value as prized ornamentals, sunflowers are important crop species due to the nutritional value and high oil content of the seeds. Sunflower oil is a significant contributor to global seed oil production, which can be used as a food additive and cooking agent as well as a raw material for biodiesel production. While traditional breeding efforts have led to the development of many unique cultivars, genetically modified variations have proven more difficult due to the recalcitrance of sunflower plants to genetic transformation. As a result, facile and efficient transformation methods for sunflowers have the potential to …

Distiphallus Morphology And Its Role In Copulation Dynamics In Anastrepha Suspensa (Loew), Taylor J. Inboden

Masters Theses

Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera; Tephritidae) is an agricultural pest species causing severe economic damage and is controlled, in part, by applying knowledge of this species' reproduction (e.g., disrupting fertile copulations by SIT). During copulation, males transfer sperm as well as protein rich fluids through an aedeagus and distiphallus, which females then store in three spermathecae and one ventral receptacle. Within the female reproductive tract, the ventral receptacle and the three spermathecae are strategically separated from each other. I hypothesized males' ability to direct sperm transfer within the female reproductive tract is through the structures found in the distiphallus. Utilizing scanning electron …

Impact Of Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus X Giganteus) Cultivation On Midwestern Farmland Birds, Matthew Craffey

Masters Theses

Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus) is a promising bioenergy feedstock, newly introduced to North America. However, the qualities that make Giant Miscanthus an attractive bioenergy feedstock may pose challenges to local wildlife. To assess the impacts of Giant Miscanthus on Midwestern farmland birds, I conducted point count and vegetation surveys at three sites in east-central Illinois where Giant Miscanthus was being cultivated. I used occupancy modeling to assess the relative influence of Giant Miscanthus on five species relative to other habitat and landscape characteristics. Dickcissel (Spiza Americana), Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna), and Red-Winged Blackbird …

Effectiveness Of Hand Removal For Small-Scale Management Of Japanese Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Paul V. Switzer, Ryan M. Cumming

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Hand removal is often recommended as a method for small-scale control of Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman). In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of daily hand removal for controlling damage by Japanese beetles on grape plants. We also investigated whether the timing of the removal (at 0800, 1400, or 1900 hours, or at all 3 periods) inßuenced the effectiveness of the technique. We found that hand removal signiÞcantly lowered the number of beetles on, and consequently the damage to, grape plants relative to nonremoval controls. Of the single removal treatments, removal of beetles at 1900 hours was most effective, …

Effectiveness Of Hand Removal For Small-Scale Management Of Japanese Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Paul Switzer, Ryan Cumming

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Hand removal is often recommended as a method for small-scale control of Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman). In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of daily hand removal for controlling damage by Japanese beetles on grape plants. We also investigated whether the timing of the removal (at 0800, 1400, or 1900 hours, or at all 3 periods) inßuenced the effectiveness of the technique. We found that hand removal signiÞcantly lowered the number of beetles on, and consequently the damage to, grape plants relative to nonremoval controls. Of the single removal treatments, removal of beetles at 1900 hours was most effective, …

The Relationship Between Moist-Soil Plant Seed Production And Drawdown Date In An East-Central Illinois Subimpoundment Managed For Waterfowl Hunting, Jeffrey M. Ver Steeg

Masters Theses

Faced with increasing costs and decreasing federal funds, wildlife managers are turning towards more energy effecient and economical methods of attracting fall migrating waterfowl. The production of food by natural moist-soil plants can be encouraged in low lying areas by timely dewatering and reflooding. This study was designed to determine which of two drawdown dates would result in the greatest seed production by plants known to be valuable waterfowl foods.

A late July 1984 drawdown in an east-central Illinois subimpoundment produced significantly more smartweed (Polygonum spp.) and pigweed (Amaranthus tamariscinus) seed than did a late March 1985 drawdown. …

The Effect Of A Bacteriophage On The Competition Of Rhizobium Japonicum Strains For Nodulation Of Glycine Max (L.) Merr, Lori Kelley

Masters Theses

The symbiotic relationship between Rhizobium japonicum (Kir.) Buch. and Glycine max (L.) Merr. was the concern of this thesis. This relationship occurs naturally in soybean fields. In the field there are many different strains of Rhizobium. Some of these strains fix atmospheric nitrogen more efficiently than others resulting in a higher crop yield. The problem is the more efficient nitrogen fixers are out-competed by less efficient nitrogen fixers. In order to solve this problem the more competitive strains have to be controlled. There are two main ways to do this. One is to increase the number of the desired …

A Test Of The Fertilizing Value And Inhibitory Qualities Of Sewage Sludge, Gregory D. Kugler

Masters Theses

Three sludges - aerobic, anaerobic, Milorganite, and peat moss were tested for fertilizing ability, seed inhibition, and chemical composition. Using green bean (Phaseolus sp.) and rye grass (Lolium perenne) seeds in two sludge amended soils, a greenhouse study indicated growth enhancement for the rye grass and variable results for the green beans. Algal and fungal contaminations were problems. Seeds germinated in sludge extract were inhibited, but no correlation with the chemical analyses could be established. Only Milorganite had a heavy metal content significantly higher than the soils tested.

Production And Utilization Of Sunflower Food Plots At Shelbyville Wildlife Management Area, Illinois, Duane T. Dust

Masters Theses

Three sunflower (Helianthus annuus) fields from 3.2 ha to 1.0 ha in size, planted on the Shelbyville Wildlife Management Area, Illinois were analyzed for seed production and utilization by birds. Seed in heads and on the ground were sampled and species and numbers of birds in the fields were censused at two week intervals from September, 1976 to February, 1977. Decline in seed availability was most rapid in the smallest field and least rapid in the largest field. Fields and portions of fields adjacent to wooded cover were also utilized more rapidly. American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) …