Agricultural Science Commons^™

Arkansas Cotton Variety Test 2012, Fred M. Bourland, A. B. Beach, D. P. Roberts Jr., C. Kennedy

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

The primary goal of the Arkansas Cotton Variety Test is to provide unbiased data regarding the agronomic performance of cotton varieties and advanced breeding lines in the major cotton-growing areas of Arkansas. This information helps seed companies establish marketing strategies and assists producers in choosing varieties to plant.

Wayne E. Sabbe Arkansas Soil Fertility Studies 2012, Nathan A. Slaton

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Rapid technological changes in crop management and production require that the research efforts be presented in an expeditious manner. The contributions of soil fertility and fertilizers are major production factors in all Arkansas crops. The studies described within will allow producers to compare their practices with theuniversity's research efforts. Additionally, soil-test data and fertilizer sales are presented to allow comparisons among years, crops, and other areas within Arkansas.

Two Sugar Isomers Influence Host Plant Acceptance By A Cereal Caterpillar Pest, G. Juma, M. Thiongo, L. Dutaur, K. Rharrabe, F. Marion-Poll, B. Le Ru, G. Magoma, J. F. Silvain, P. A. Calatayud

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Abstract Plant sugars are often considered as primary feeding stimuli, conditioning host plant acceptance by herbivorous insects. Of the nine sugars identified from methanolic extracts of seven grass species, only turanose, a sucrose isomer, was negatively correlated with the survival and growth of the noctuid larva of cereal stemborer, Busseola fusca. Sucrose was the most abundant sugar, although it did not vary significantly in concentration among the plant species studied. Using Styrofoam™ cylinders impregnated with increasing concentrations of turanose or sucrose, the two sugars had opposing effects: turanose appeared phagodeterrent while sucrose was phagostimulatory. Electrophysiological studies indicated that B. fusca …

Effects Of Mulching, N-Fertilization And Intercropping With Desmodium Uncinatum On Striga Hermonthica Infestation In Maize, Charles A.O. Midega, Jimmy Pittchar, Daisy Salifu, John A. Pickett, Zeyaur R. Khan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The parasitic weed Striga hermonthica is a major constraint to maize production in sub-Saharan Africa and causes serious food insecurity. We discovered serendipitously an effective control method for the weed that involves intercropping cereals with the fodder legume, silverleaf desmodium, Desmodium uncinatum (Jacq.) DC., through mechanisms that involve soil shading and nitrogen fixation. In the current study we investigated long-term effects of inorganic nitrogen (N), mulching and D. uncinatum, singly and in combinations, on S. hermonthica infestation, maize plant growth and grain yields. Treatments comprised sole maize with and without 120 kg N/ha; sole maize plots covered with maize straw …

Native Grass And Forb Establishment In Post-Agricultural Soil, Courtney D. Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Restoration of degraded and abandoned agricultural land in arid and semiarid climates is a global problem. The erratic patterns of precipitation these lands experience makes restoration of a plant community difficult. Application of supplemental irrigation and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are two restoration techniques that have been suggested to overcome deficits in natural precipitation. The effects and the interactions of irrigation and seeding date on the ground cover of intended species and unintended exotic species were tested in a post-agricultural restoration experiment in south-central Colorado, USA. The greatest ground cover of intended species and lowest ground cover of …

Synergistic Effects Of The Invasive Chinese Tallow (Triadica Sebifera) And Climate Change On Aquatic Amphibian Survival, Daniel Saenz, Erin M. Fucik, Matthew Kwiatkowski

Faculty Publications

Changes in climate and the introduction of invasive species are two major stressors to amphibians, although little is known about the interaction between these two factors with regard to impacts on amphibians. We focused our study on an invasive tree species, the Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera), that annually sheds its leaves and produces leaf litter that is known to negatively impact aquatic amphibian survival. The purpose of our research was to determine whether the timing of leaf fall from Chinese tallow and the timing of amphibian breeding (determined by weather) influence survival of amphibian larvae. We simulated a …

Evaluating The Success Of Seed Sowing In A New England Grassland, Chad C. Jones, Glenn D. Dreyer, Nels Barrett

Botany Faculty Publications

Grassland habitat is declining in the northeastern United States, leading to a decline in associated native species. Consequently, there is considerable interest by land managers in conserving and restoring grassland habitats in the Northeast. However, unlike the Great Plains and Europe, quantitative monitoring of restoration sites is uncommon, making it difficult to improve new restoration projects. Here we evaluate a grassland restoration in Waterford, Connecticut to determine if mechanical clearing of woody vegetation combined with sowing 23 native grasses and forbs led to successful establishment of these species. We also compared cover, diversity, and colonization by exotic and woody species …

Critical Research Needs For Successful Food Systems Adaptation To Climate Change, Michelle Miller, Molly Anderson, Charles A. Francis, Chad Kruger, Carol Barford, Jacob Park, Brent H. Mccown

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

There is a growing sense of the fragility of agricultural production in the Global North and South and of increasing risks to food security, as scientific observations confirm significant changes in the Gulf Stream, polar ice, atmospheric CO₂, methane release, and other measures of climate change. This sense is heightened as each of us experiences extreme weather, such as the increasing frequency of droughts, floods, unseasonal temperatures, and erratic seasonality. The central research challenge before us is how global, national, regional, and local food systems may adapt to accelerating climate change stresses and uncertainties to ensure the availability, …

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Differ In Their Ability To Regulate The Expression Of Phosphate Transporters In Maize (Zea Mays L.), Hui Tian, Rhae A. Drijber, Xiaolin Li, Daniel N. Miller, Brian J. Wienhold

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Previous studies have found that some phosphate (Pi) starvation inducible transporter genes are downregulated and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inducible Pi transporter genes are upregulated in maize roots associated with the fungus Glomus intraradices. However, little is known about the functional diversity of different AM fungal species in influencing the expression of Pi transporters in maize roots. Here, we studied the expression of two Pi transporter genes ZEAma:Pht1;3 (Pi starvation inducible) and ZEAma:Pht1;6 (AM inducible) in maize root colonized by different AM fungal inoculants. Non-mycorrhizal maize, maize colonized by Glomus deserticola (CA113), Glomus intraradices (IA506), Glomus mosseae (CA201), Gigaspora gigantea …

Twin And Narrow Row Width Effects On Corn (Zea Mays L.) Yield And Weed Management, Grant Mackey

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Corn or maize (Zea mays L.) has been grown in North America for many centuries, and an increase in corn production will continue to be needed. Agriculture producers must meet the demands of feeding and providing for an increasing population of people. In order to meet those needs, different production practices are being investigated as a way to increase grain yield.

Field plots were conducted across the state of Kentucky in 2011 and 2012 to evaluate the interaction between hybrid, row width, and plant density on corn yield. The primary objectives were to test if 1) narrower rows increase …

Sub1a-Mediated Submergence Tolerance Response In Rice Involves Differential Regulation Of The Brassinosteroid Pathway, Aaron J. Schmitz, Jing J. Folsom, Yusuke Jikamaru, Pamela C. Ronald, Harkamal Walia

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Submergence 1A (SUB1A), is an ethylene response factor (ERF) that confers submergence tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa) via limiting shoot elongation during the inundation period. SUB1A has been proposed to restrict shoot growth by modulating gibberellic acid (GA) signaling.

Our transcriptome analysis indicated that SUB1A differentially regulates genes associated with brassinosteroid (BR) synthesis during submergence. Consistent with the gene expression data, the SUB1A genotype had higher brassinosteroid levels after submergence compared to the intolerant genotype. Tolerance to submergence can be activated in the intolerant genotype by pretreatment with exogenous brassinolide, which results in restricted shoot elongation …

Short-Term Denitrification In The Metalimnion Of A Eutrophic Reservoir, Aki Kogo, Erin M. Grantz, Thad Scott

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Denitrification in metalimnetic water was examined under different conditions to determine how addition of nitrate (NO3 -) and particulate carbon (PC), aeration, and concentrations of nitrate affect denitrification. In the first experiment, water samples from a metalimnion were treated with different combinations of NO3 - and PC. Changes in excess N2 -N concentration for 10 days were measured using membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS). The second experiment used the same treatments as the first experiment after aeration of water. Besides excess N2 -N concentrations, O2 concentrations were measured for 16 days. The third experiment examined how different initial concentrations of …

Erratum To: Identification And Characterization Of Four Missense Mutations In Brown Midrib12 (Bmr12), The Caffeic Acid O-Methyltranferase (Comt) Of Sorghum, Scott E. Sattler, Nathan A. Palmer, Ana Saballos, Ann M. Greene, Zhanguo Xin, Gautam Sarath, Wilfred Vermerris, Jeffrey F. Pedersen

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The original version of this article unfortunately contained some mistakes. The name of the enzyme “Caffeic O-methyltransferase” should be read as “Caffeic acid O-Methyltranferase” throughout the paper, including the title.

On Table 2, the fifth column should have been captured as part of the sub-heading “Unpretreated”. The corrected version is shown on the next page.

Table 2 Variation in Klason lignin content and glucose yields obtained after enzymatic saccharification at 50 °C at 60 FPU/ g cellulase of native (unpretreated) stover after 4, 20, and 96 h, and of pretreated stover after 24 h

Mapping Soybean Aphid Resistance Genes In Pi 567598b, Carmille Bales, Guorong Zhang, Menghan Liu, Clarice Mensah, Cuihua Gu, Qijian Song, D. L. Hyten, P. B. Cregan, Dechun Wang

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) has been a major pest of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in North America since it was first reported in 2000. Our previous study revealed that the strong aphid resistance of plant introduction (PI) 567598B was controlled by two recessive genes. The objective of this study was to locate these two genes on the soybean genetic linkage map using molecular markers. A mapping population of 282 F_4:5 lines derived from IA2070 X E06902 was evaluated for aphid resistance in a field trial in 2009 and a greenhouse trial in 2010. Two …

Unleashing The Potential Of The Root Hair Cell As A Single Plant Cell Type Model In Root Systems Biology, Zhenzhen Qiao, Marc Libault

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Plant root is an organ composed of multiple cell types with different functions.This multicellular complexity limits our understanding of root biology because -omics studies performed at the level of the entire root reflect the average responses of all cells composing the organ. To overcome this difficulty and allow a more comprehensive understanding of root cell biology, an approach is needed that would focus on one single cell type in the plant root. Because of its biological functions (i.e., uptake of water and various nutrients; primary site of infection by nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legumes), the root hair cell is an attractive …

The Clubroot Pathogen (Plasmodiophora Brassicae) Influences Auxin Signaling To Regulate Auxin Homeostasis In Arabidopsis, Linda Jahn, Stefanie Mucha, Sabine Bergmann, Cornelia Horn, Paul E. Staswick, Bianka Steffens, Johannes Siemens, Jutta Ludwig-Müller

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The clubroot disease, caused by the obligate biotrophic protist Plasmodiophora brassicae, affects cruciferous crops worldwide. It is characterized by root swellings as symptoms, which are dependent on the alteration of auxin and cytokinin metabolism. Here, we describe that two different classes of auxin receptors, the TIR family and the auxin binding protein 1 (ABP1) in Arabidopsis thaliana are transcriptionally upregulated upon gall formation. Mutations in the TIR family resulted in more susceptible reactions to the root pathogen. As target genes for the different pathways we have investigated the transcriptional regulation of selected transcriptional repressors (Aux/IAA) and transcription …

Managing Soil Microbial Communities With Organic Amendments To Promote Soil Aggregate Formation And Plant Health, Shawn T. Lucas

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

The effects of managing soil with organic amendments were examined with respect to soil microbial community dynamics, macroaggregate formation, and plant physio-genetic responses. The objective was to examine the possibility of managing soil microbial communities via soil management, such that the microbial community would provide agronomic benefits. In part one of this research, effects of three amendments (hairy vetch residue, manure, compost) on soil chemical and microbial properties were examined relative to formation of large macroaggregates in three different soils. Vetch and manure promoted fungal proliferation (measured via two biomarkers: fatty acid methyl ester 18:2ω6c and ergosterol) and also stimulated …

Sugar-Enhanced And Synergistic Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana — 2013, Elizabeth Maynard

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

Indiana sweet corn acreage harvested for fresh market averaged 5,633 acres annually from 2010-2012, with a yield of 71 cwt/acre (160 crates or 3.5 tons per acre) and annual value of $13.7 million (USDA NASS, 2013). Indiana ranked 19th among states for production of fresh market sweet corn and produced about 0.8% of the nation’s total in 2012. The 2007 USDA Ag Census reported 603 Indiana farms producing sweet corn for fresh markets and 51 farms selling to processors. Sweet corn fields for fresh market sales are located throughout the state. In northern Indiana, bicolor corn is most commonly grown. …

Sugar-Enhanced And Synergistic Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana, 2012, Elizabeth Maynard

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

Indiana growers harvested sweet corn for fresh market sales from 5,800 acres in 2011, with an average yield of 67 cwt/acre (159 crates or 3.3 tons per acre) and a total value of $17.9 million (USDA NASS, 2012). Indiana ranked 15th among states for production of fresh market sweet corn and produced about 1.3% of the nation’s total in 2011. The 2007 USDA Ag Census reported 603 Indiana farms producing sweet corn for fresh markets and 51 farms selling to processors. Sweet corn fields for fresh market sales are located throughout the state. In northern Indiana, bicolor corn is most …

Supersweet Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana — 2013, Elizabeth Maynard

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

Indiana sweet corn acreage harvested for fresh market averaged 5,633 acres annually from 2010-2012, with a yield of 71 cwt/acre (160 crates or 3.5 tons per acre) and an annual value of $13.7 million (USDA NASS, 2013). Indiana ranked 19th among states for production of fresh market sweet corn and produced about 0.8% of the nation’s total in 2012. The 2007 USDA Ag Census reported 603 Indiana farms producing sweet corn for fresh markets and 51 farms selling to processors. Sweet corn fields for fresh market sales are located throughout the state. In northern Indiana, bicolor corn is most commonly …

Supersweet Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana, 2012, Elizabeth Maynard

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

Indiana growers harvested sweet corn for fresh market sales from 5,800 acres in 2011, with an average yield of 67 cwt/acre (159 crates or 3.3 tons per acre) and a total value of $17.9 million (USDA NASS, 2012). Indiana ranked 15th among states for production of fresh market sweet corn and produced about 1.3% of the nation’s total in 2011. The 2007 USDA Ag Census reported 603 Indiana farms producing sweet corn for fresh markets and 51 farms selling to processors. Sweet corn fields for fresh market sales are located throughout the state. In northern Indiana, bicolor corn is most …

Sugar-Enhanced And Synergistic Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana — 2013, Elizabeth Maynard

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana sweet corn acreage harvested for fresh market averaged 5,633 acres annually from 2010-2012, with a yield of 71 cwt/acre (160 crates or 3.5 tons per acre) and annual value of $13.7 million (USDA NASS, 2013). Indiana ranked 19th among states for production of fresh market sweet corn and produced about 0.8% of the nation’s total in 2012. The 2007 USDA Ag Census reported 603 Indiana farms producing sweet corn for fresh markets and 51 farms selling to processors. Sweet corn fields for fresh market sales are located throughout the state. In northern Indiana, bicolor corn is most commonly grown. …

Supersweet Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana — 2013, Elizabeth Maynard

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana sweet corn acreage harvested for fresh market averaged 5,633 acres annually from 2010-2012, with a yield of 71 cwt/acre (160 crates or 3.5 tons per acre) and an annual value of $13.7 million (USDA NASS, 2013). Indiana ranked 19th among states for production of fresh market sweet corn and produced about 0.8% of the nation’s total in 2012. The 2007 USDA Ag Census reported 603 Indiana farms producing sweet corn for fresh markets and 51 farms selling to processors. Sweet corn fields for fresh market sales are located throughout the state. In northern Indiana, bicolor corn is most commonly …

Supersweet Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana, 2012, Elizabeth Maynard

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana growers harvested sweet corn for fresh market sales from 5,800 acres in 2011, with an average yield of 67 cwt/acre (159 crates or 3.3 tons per acre) and a total value of $17.9 million (USDA NASS, 2012). Indiana ranked 15th among states for production of fresh market sweet corn and produced about 1.3% of the nation’s total in 2011. The 2007 USDA Ag Census reported 603 Indiana farms producing sweet corn for fresh markets and 51 farms selling to processors. Sweet corn fields for fresh market sales are located throughout the state. In northern Indiana, bicolor corn is most …

Sugar-Enhanced And Synergistic Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana, 2012, Elizabeth Maynard

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana growers harvested sweet corn for fresh market sales from 5,800 acres in 2011, with an average yield of 67 cwt/acre (159 crates or 3.3 tons per acre) and a total value of $17.9 million (USDA NASS, 2012). Indiana ranked 15th among states for production of fresh market sweet corn and produced about 1.3% of the nation’s total in 2011. The 2007 USDA Ag Census reported 603 Indiana farms producing sweet corn for fresh markets and 51 farms selling to processors. Sweet corn fields for fresh market sales are located throughout the state. In northern Indiana, bicolor corn is most …

A Land Data Assimilation System (Ldas) Based Dataset For Regional Agro-Climatic Assessments, Xing Liu

Open Access Theses

This study is part of a USDA sponsored project ----Useful to Usable (U2U): "Transforming Climate Variability and Change Information for Cereal Crop Producers". The broader objective includes improving farm resilience and profitability in the U.S. Corn Belt region by transforming existing climate/weather data into usable knowledge and tools for the agricultural community.

The specific tasks of this research are: (1) Build a high-resolution (4 km, daily) agro-climatic dataset using a Land Data Assimilation System (LDAS). (2) Estimate regional corn yield across the Corn Belt with crop models and the agro-climatic dataset. (3) Evaluate the impacts of climate variability due to …

Slurry Seeding Cover Crops, Edwin Alexander Suarez

Open Access Theses

Cover crops improve soil quality through increased organic matter, biological activity, aggregate stability, water infiltration, and nutrient cycling. Slurry seeding, the co-application of cover crop seed and swine (Sus domesticus) manure, is a new practice that saves fuel, time and labor. High salinity and/or ammonia, among other components in swine manure, may reduce cover crop seed germination and limit the use of slurry seeding. Ten cover crop species were evaluated to compare the effects of swine manure components on cover crop seed germination. Seed germination percentages and rates were affected by swine manure but not by equivalent salinity levels established …

Planning Ahead - A Guide For Your Cropping Program, Janet Paterson

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

It is difficult to think logically and make rational choices when under extreme pressure.

The seasonal break between harvest and preparation for seeding is a good time to get some rest and take some time to consider the position of your enterprise.

This is your best opportunity to assess risks and make important decisions when the demands on your time are few.

Most people, farm managers included, struggle to make sound decisions if they are extremely stressed-this is only natural. If you feel that you are struggling to make decisions, counselling services are a valuable resource to help you plan …

Immunodetection Of Triticum Mosaic Virus By Das- And Dac-Elisa Using Antibodies Produced Against Coat Protein Expressed In Escherichia Coli: Potential For High-Throughput Diagnostic Methods, Satyanarayana Tatineni, Gautam Sarath, Dallas Seifers, Roy C. French

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV), an economically important virus infecting wheat in the Great Plains region of the USA, is the type species of the Poacevirus genus in the family Potyviridae. Sensitive and high-throughput serology-based detection methods are crucial for the management of TriMV and germplasm screening in wheat breeding programs. In this study, TriMV coat protein (CP) was expressed in Escherichia coli, and polyclonal antibodies were generated against purified soluble native form recombinant CP (rCP) in rabbits. Specificity and sensitivity of resulting antibodies were tested in Western immuno-blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). In direct antigen coating (DAC)-ELISA, …

Soil Sorptivity Enhancement With Crop Residue Accumulation In Semiarid Dryland No-Till Agroecosystems, T.M. Shaver, G. A. Peterson, Laj R. Ahuja, D.G. Westfall

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Water capture and precipitation use efficiency are of great importance in dryland cropping systems because the world's dependence on food produced in dryland areas continues to increase. Growing season evapotranspiration potential greatly exceeds growing season precipitation rates in dryland areas, creating a water deficit for crops. Management practices that positively impact soil physical properties increase the potential for soils to capture water. One way to assess the ability of soils to capture water is through the measurement of sorptivity. Sorptivity is defined as the cumulative infiltration proportionality constant and is governed by surface soil physical properties such as texture, degree …