Agricultural Science Commons^™

Feeding Fitness And Quality Of Domesticated And Feral Predators: Effects Of Long-Term Rearing On Artificial Diet, Allen Carson Cohen

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Predatory geocorids, Geocoris punctipes Say (Geocoridae: Hemiptera), that had been reared (domesticated) for over 6 years (60 continuous generations) on an artificial diet were compared with feral (F1) counterparts to determine possible domestication-associated losses in predatory capabilities. Using adult female predators provided with either tobacco budworm larvae, Heliothis uirescens F., or pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris, as prey, I measured predator weights, handling time with a single prey, amount extracted, consumption rate, and feeding (gut) capacity. Domesticated females were significantly smaller than ferals, weighing 4.53 mg versus 5.09 mg, respectively. Domestication did not significantly influence handling times, which averaged 131 …

Kernel Morphology Variation In A Population Derived From A Soft By Hard Wheat Cross And Associations With End-Use Quality Traits, Christine J. Bergman, Daisy G. Gualberto, Kimberly A. Garland-Campbell, Mark E. Sorrells, Patrick L. Finney

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Physical attributes, including kernel morphology, are used to grade wheat, and indicate wheat milling and baking quality (MBQ). Using a recombinant inbred population derived from a soft by hard wheat cross, this study quantified kernel traits' sources of variation, studied their heritability, and relationships between morphological and MBQ traits. Transgressive segregation occurred for all traits. Thousand-kernel weight (TKW) and kernel texture (NIR-T) were primarily influenced by genotype and test weight (TW) mainly by year. NIR-T had the highest heritability. Low genetic correlation (GCOR) between kernel length (LEN) and width WID) suggest independent inheritance. NIR-T and LEN, or WID, showed low …

Elongated Chambers For Field Studies Across Atmospheric Co2 Gradients, H. B. Johnson, H. W. Polley, R. P. Whitis

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

We describe a field facility that controls CO₂ along continuous gradients from superambient to subambient concentrations. The facility consists of two transparent, tunnel-shaped chambers, each 1-m wide and tall and 60-m long. Pure CO₂ is injected into one chamber during daylight to initiate a superambient CO₂ gradient (550–350 µmol mol^–1). Ambient air is introduced to the second chamber to initiate a subambient CO₂ gradient (350–200 µmol mol^–1). CO₂ concentrations at night are regulated at 150 µmol mol^–1 above daytime values along each gradient. The CO₂ gradients are maintained by …

Western Australian Agriculture - Key Achievements 1999 - 2000, Agriculture Western Australia

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

Agricultural continue to underpinning employment opportunities and the financial viability of the agricultural sector. While the traditional industries such as cereals, wool exports grow and meat remain the most valuable, the growth in oilseeds, pulses, viticulture and horticulture is significant. The resurgence in the live animal trade has been an important milestone for Western Australia and it is essential that we continue to build on this.

To maintain competitiveness, WA farmers need to be at the cutting edge of new technology, responsive to changing customer needs and actively developing new trade opportunities.

Progress Rural Western Australia and Better Business programs …

Rising Above The Herd - An Analysis Of The Western Australian Beef & Cattle Industry (Executive Summary Document), Andrew Quinn, Ashley Manners

Animal production and livestock published reports

This report has been produced at the request of the Agriculture Western Australia, Meat Program Partnership Group. The intention of the report is to set out a number of priority areas for concentrated Agency and industry attention to assist with the development of the Western Australian beef and cattle industry.

• Global per capita consumption of beef is currently flat to slowly reducing, with total consumption volumes rising in line with population and wealth increases.

• Global trade in live cattle is experiencing a slow, steady increase in volumes influenced by trade factors encouraging in-country processing and finishing of cattle, and a …

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Crop Quality And Utilization: A Twelve-Hour In Vitro Procedure For Sorghum Grain Feed Quality Assessment, Jeffrey F. Pedersen, Todd Milton, R. A. Mass

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Improvedmethods for assessing cereal crop feed value are a prerequisite for the genetic improvement of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] feed value. Rate of starch digestion is now commonly believed to be the limiting factor in sorghum utilization by cattle (Bos taurus). However, techniques to assess this trait are not useful to sorghum breeders because of high labor inputs, lab error associated with starch measurement, and need for high numbers of replications. The objective of this study was to develop a simple technique capable of identifying differences in digestion between sorghum and corn (Zea mays L.) …

Ethylene Production, Cluster Root Formation, And Localization Of Iron(Iii) Reducing Capacity In Fe Deficient Squash Roots, Brian M. Waters, Dale G. Blevins

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Dicots and non-graminaceous monocots have the ability to increase root iron(III) reducing capacity in response to iron (Fe) deficiency stress. In squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) seedlings, Fe(III) reducing capacity was quantified during early vegetative growth. When plants were grown in Fe-free solution, the Fe(III) reducing capacity was greatly elevated, reached peak activity on day 4, then declined through day 6. Root ethylene production exhibited a temporal pattern that closely matched that of Fe(III) reducing capacity through day 6. On the 7th day of Fe deficiency, cluster root morphology developed, which coincided with a sharp increase in the root Fe(III) …

Variation In Boll Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Captures In Pheromone Traps Arising From Wind Speed Moderation By Brush Lines, Thomas W. Sappington, Dale W. Spurgeon

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Paired trap lines of Þve boll weevil pheromone traps each were placed on opposite sides of a brush line at six different sites on a plantation in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Temperature, wind speed, and wind direction were monitored with a nearby weather station. We observed a strong negative relationship between mean daily wind speed and total daily capture of boll weevils. About half of the day-to-day variation in weevil captures was explained by wind speed alone. In addition, our data indicate that much of the variation between traps within days may arise from differences in local …

Analysis Of Human Skin Emanations By Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. 2. Identification Of Volatile Compounds That Are Candidate Attractants For The Yellow Fever Mosquito (Aedes Aegypti), Ulrich R. Bernier, Daniel L. Kline, Donald Barnard, Carl Schreck, Richard A. Yost

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Volatile compounds emanated from human skin were studied by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/ MS). The purpose of this study was to identify compounds that may be human-produced kairomones which are used for host location by the mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.). The procedure used to collect volatiles was chosen because of prior knowledge that attractive substances can be transferred from skin to glass by handling. Laboratory bioassays have shown that the residuum on the glass remains attractive to mosquitoes until the compounds of importance evaporate. The sampling and analytical procedures modeled the above-cited process as closely as possible except that the …

Oxygen Metabolism In Plantlbacteria Interactions: Characterization Of The Oxygen Uptake Response Of Plant Suspension Cells, C. Jacyn Baker, E. W. Orlandi, Kenneth L. Deahl

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

In recent years the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been studied in plant cell suspension systems treated with bacterial pathogens. However, the associated utilization of molecular oxygen has not been well characterized. Using a multi-electrode oxygen analyser, the rates of oxygen consumption by tobacco cells during bacterial interactions were monitored. Heat-killed (HK) bacteria, which initiate an immediate ROS response in plant cells, were used as an elicitor to avoid complications of oxygen consumption by viable bacteria. An increase in oxygen uptake by the tobacco cells occurred within 4 min after addition of HK-bacteria and lasted for about 10 …

Inhibition Of Cysteine And Aspartyl Proteinases In The Alfalfa Weevil Midgut With Biochemical And Plant-Derived Proteinase Inhibitors, Stephen E. Wilhite, Thomas C. Elden, Joze Brzin, Ann C. Smigocki

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Proteolytic activities in alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica) larval midguts have been characterized. Effects of pH, thiol activators, low-molecular weight inhibitors, and proteinase inhibitors (PIs) on general substrate hydrolysis by midgut extracts were determined. Hemoglobinolytic activity was highest in the acidic to mildly acidic pH range, but was maximal at pH 3.5. Addition of thiolactivators dithiothreitol (DTT), 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), or l-cysteine had little effect on hemoglobin hydrolysis at pH 3.5, but enhanced azocaseinolytic activity two to three-fold at pH 5.0. The broad cysteine PI E-64 reduced azocaseinolytic activity by 64% or 42% at pH 5 in the presence or …

Bovine Blastocyst-Derived Trophectoderm And Endoderm Cell Cultures: Interferon Tau And Transferrin Expression As Respective In Vitro Markers, Neil C. Talbot, Thomas J. Caperna, J. Lannett Edwards, Wes Garrett, Kevin D. Wells, Alan D. Ealy

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Continuous cultures of bovine trophectoderm (CT-1 and CT- 5) and bovine endoderm (CE-1 and CE-2) were initiated and maintained on STO feeder cells. CT-1 and CT-5 were derived from the culture of intact, 10- to 11-day in vitro-produced blastocysts. CE-1 and CE-2 were derived from the culture of immunodissected inner cell masses of 7- to 8-day in vitro-produced blastocysts. The cultures were routinely passaged by physical dissociation. Although morphologically distinct, the trophectoderm and endoderm both grew as cell sheets of polarized epithelium (dome formations) composed of approximately cuboidal cells. Both cell types, particularly the endoderm, grew on top …

Similarity And Divergence Among Viruses In The Genus Furovirus, Yukio Shirako, Nobuhiro Suzuki, Roy C. French

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Nucleotide sequences of RNAs 1 and 2 of a Japanese strain of soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV), the type species of the genus Furovirus, and sorghum chlorotic spot virus (SCSV) were determined from cloned cDNA. The relationship among the Japanese and US strains of SBWMV, SCSV, oat golden stripe virus (OGSV), and recently proposed Chinese wheat mosaic and European wheat mosaic viruses (CWMV and EWMV) were examined at the nucleotide and amino acid levels. Pairwise comparisons of genome-encoded proteins among the six viruses showed that the US strains of SBWMV and CWMV were the most closely related pair in RNA …

Sistem Diagnosis Penyakit Tanaman Padi (Pakar Padi), Jin Gee Tee

Student Works (2000-2009)

Beras adalah makanan utama rakyat Malaysia. Banyak kajian dan penyelidikan dibuat untuk meningkatkan hasil tanaman padi. Di antaranya termasuklah mengkaji cara-cara kawalan serangga perosak dan kerja-kerja diagnosis penyakit tanaman padi. Maklumat-maklumat daripada hasil kajian harus disimpan dengan baik supaya kerja diagnosis dapat dijalankan dengan lebih lancar. Memandangkan keperluan ini, satu sistem berkomputeran yang menyimpan data data mengenai tanaman padi adalah penting dan dijangka akan memberi bantuan dalam pengurusan dan kerja-kerja diagnosis. Ini telah membawa kepada idea untuk membangunkan satu sistem diagnosis penyakit bagi tanaman padi. Sistem Diagnosis Penyakit Tanaman Padi, diberikan nama Pakar Padi adalah satu sistem berpangkalan komputer yang …

Biotechnology In Western Australian Agriculture, Agriculture Western Australia

Grain and other field crops published reports

The Government of Western Australia believes that the strategic use of biotechnology and particularly gene technology has the potential to offer Western Australian agriculture significant economic benefits by improving the productivity and quality of products, as well as contributing to the development of sustainable farming systems.

Information contained in these binders is intended to give an overview of Biotechnology in relation to what is occurring in Australia, in Western Australia and specifically, at Agriculture Western Australia (AGWEST).

Biotechnology has been around for twenty-five years or more, but has only recently become a public issue in Australia - particularly in relation …

Evaluation Of Banana Cultivars For Resistance To The Banana Weevil Cosmopolites Sordidus And Nematode Complex In Western Kenya, T. Musabyimana, K. V. Seshu Reddy, L. Ngode, J. S. Prasad

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and parasitic nematodes are often together on the same banana mat. Both pests have been recognized as major constraints to banana production. They may cause up to 85% yield loss in banana. Hence, both pests should be investigated together to define a control strategy for this complex constraint. With this view, our investigation was carried out in a naturally nematode-weevil infested farmer's field to search for host plant resistance to both pests. Pratylenchus goodeyi, Helicotylenchus multicinctus and Meloidogyne spp. were the most commonly occurring nematodes in the experiment and were often in mixed …

Powdered Neem Seed And Cake For Management Of The Banana Weevil, Cosmopolites Sordidus, And Parasitic Nematodes, T. Musabyimana, R. C. Saxena, E. W. Kairu, C. K.P.O. Ogol, Z. R. Khan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Field trials were conducted in Kenya with 'Nakyetengu', an East African highland banana cultivar (AAA-EA), highly susceptible to banana pests. Regardless of soil fertility levels, incorporation around the plant base of powdered neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) seed or cake at 60-100 g/mat at 4-month intervals, gave better control of the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar), and of parasitic nematodes, than that achieved with soil application of Furadan 5G (carbofuran) at 60 g/mat at 6-month intervals. Compared with untreated control, fruit yield in most of the neem treatments was significantly higher, particularly during the second cycle of crop production. Neem …

Susceptibility Of The Legume Flower Thrips To Metarhizium Anisopliae On Different Varieties Of Cowpea, S. Ekesi, N. K. Maniania, W. Lwande

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The susceptibility of Megalurothrips sjostedti to Metarhizium anisopliae when reared on susceptible, tolerant, and moderately resistant varieties of cowpea at different constant temperatures was evaluated in the laboratory. Insects were exposed either to direct spray of the conidia or to fungus-treated floral tissues. Mortality was significantly higher on the moderately resistant variety at all temperatures compared to the susceptible and tolerant varieties. Correspondingly, lethal time and lethal concentration values were significantly shorter and lower, respectively, on the moderately resistant variety compared to the other varieties, thus indicating that the two control methods are compatible as part of an integrated pest …

Effect Of Volatiles And Crude Extracts Of Different Plant Materials On Egg Viability Of Maruca Vitrata And Clavigralla Tomentosicollis, S. Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The effect of volatiles and aqueous extracts of black pepper, Piper guineense; neem seed, Azadirachta indica; garlic bulb, Allium sativum; and onion bulb, Allium cepa on egg viability of Maruca vitrata Fab. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stal (Heteroptera: Coreidae) was evaluated in laboratory experiments. Compared with the other treatments, volatiles of black pepper and garlic bulb were superior in reducing hatch of freshly laid (12-h-old) eggs of both species of insects. Volatiles of onion bulb and neem seed had no effect on egg hatch. When aqueous extracts of the various plant materials were tested at 5%, 10% and 15%, …

Bulletin 4385 - Control Of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Medfly) In Commercial Orchards, Sonya Broughton, Francis De Lima

Bulletins 4000 -

The Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) is thought to originate from tropical Africa. It is a pest in many areas of the world including Western Australia. It was first detected at Claremont in 1895 and is now found as far south as Esperance and as far north as Derby. The main area of infestation extends from Carnarvon to Bunbury.

Medfly is known to infest over 200 fruit and vegetable species. In Western Australia, stone fruit, pome fruit, citrus, guavas, figs and loquats are particularly susceptible.

Fresh Market Tomato Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana, 1999, Elizabeth Maynard

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

Fresh market tomatoes were evaluated at the Pinney-Purdue Ag Center in Wanatah, Indiana. Fourteen cultivars were evaluated in a replicated trial, and 26 cultivars in an unreplicated observation trial. Half of the plants of each cultivar were pruned, and half were not, to evaluate pruning effects on yield and fruit quality. In the replicated trial, averaged over all cultivars,
pruning reduced yield of No. 1 fruit by 41%, increased fruit size by 19%, and increased percentage of cull fruit by one-third. The effect of pruning on early yield depended on the cultivar. Based on these results, pruning would be advised …

Fresh Market Tomato Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana, 1999, Elizabeth Maynard

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Fresh market tomatoes were evaluated at the Pinney-Purdue Ag Center in Wanatah, Indiana. Fourteen cultivars were evaluated in a replicated trial, and 26 cultivars in an unreplicated observation trial. Half of the plants of each cultivar were pruned, and half were not, to evaluate pruning effects on yield and fruit quality. In the replicated trial, averaged over all cultivars,
pruning reduced yield of No. 1 fruit by 41%, increased fruit size by 19%, and increased percentage of cull fruit by one-third. The effect of pruning on early yield depended on the cultivar. Based on these results, pruning would be advised …

Simulation Model For Maize Crop Growth Based On Acquisition And Allocation Processes For Carbohydrate And Nitrogen, O. Bonato, F. Schulthess, J. Baumgärtner

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

A population model for maize growth and development driven by temperature, solar radiation, soil water and soil nitrogen is presented. A time-varying distributed delay model is used to describe the dynamics of the attributes number, biomass and nitrogen belonging to leaf, root, stem, grain, rachys and husk populations. Photosynthate production as well as water and nitrogen acquisition was simulated with a demand-driven ratio-dependent functional response model. Carbohydrate, water and nitrogen supply-demand ratios were calculated to control the growth of different populations of plant. The metabolic pool model was used to allocate carbohydrates to plant subunits. The model was validated with …

Selection Of Virulent Isolates Of Entomopathogenic Hyphomycetes Against Clavigralla Tomentosicollis Stål. And Evaluation In Cage Experiment Using Three Cowpea Varieties, S. Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The virulence of 8 isolates of entomopathogenic hyphomycetes against adult and 5th instar nymph of Clavigralla tomentosicollis was evaluated in the laboratory at 4 different concentrations of inoculum. At all concentrations, Beauveria bassiana CPD 9 and Metarhizium anisopliae CPD 5 caused the highest mortality in adult bug ranging from 58 to 97% and 53 to 100%, respectively at 7 days post inoculation. The same isolates had the shortest LT50 (3.5 and 4.1 days, respectively) and the lowest LC50 (1.8 × 105 and 9.8 × 104 conidia ml-1) values in adult insects. In nymphs, M. anisopliae CPD 5 was the most …

Bulletin 4396 - Byenup Hill Focus Catchment Benefit: Cost Analysis, Allan Herbert

Bulletins 4000 -

The main text of this document concentrates on the costs of the proposed strategies, and the on-farm financial benefits from forecast production changes - in particular the production differences between the 'do nothing' and 'with strategy' scenarios.

Members of the catchment group indicated however that their main focus was on preserving their capital base. Hence some discussion of the values of land lost to salt and premiums/discounts for 'landcared' vs 'unlandcared' land appears later in the report. Economics literature suggests that including changes in land values into these analyses is incorrect. It is argued that production differences are actually captured …

Rising Above The Herd - An Analysis Of The Western Australian Beef & Cattle Industry, Andrew Quinn, Ashley Manners

Animal production and livestock published reports

This report has been produced at the request of the Agriculture Western Australia, Meat Program Partnership Group. The intention of the report is to set out a number of priority areas for concentrated Agency and industry attention to assist with the development of the Western Australian beef and cattle industry.

• Global per capita consumption of beef is currently flat to slowly reducing, with total consumption volumes rising in line with population and wealth increases.

• Global trade in live cattle is experiencing a slow, steady increase in volumes influenced by trade factors encouraging in-country processing and finishing of cattle, and a …

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Herbicide Evaluation In Arkansas Rice, 1998, Ron Talbert, Ford Baldwin, David Gealy, Tomilea Dillon, Lance Schmidt, Eric Scherder, Celeste Wheeler, Leopoldo Estorninos Jr., Jeff Rutledge, Rebecca Chavez

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Weed control is economically important for production of rice, a major crop in Arkansas. These findings summarize efforts of the team of Arkansas scientists working on weed control strategies for rice during 1998. Various technologies were evaluated in field studies involving the major weed problems and rice production systems used in the state. Results from these studies will add to the arsenal of weed control options for producers. The preliminary results reported here generally warrant further testing for more advanced findings and for the labeling of new technologies and, finally, are the basis for updating safe, effective, and economical recommendations …

Miscellaneous Publication 53/99 - Ideas A Diversification Manual For The Pastoral Rangelands, Kaz Price, Lee Verios

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

In 1993 the Pastoral Wool Industry Task Force recognised the diminishing returns to wool production and the need for Rangeland enterprise diversification and other risk management strategies

This manual has been developed to assist pastoralists through the decision making process when considering diversification and contains:

• business and finance planning;
• business structures;
• legislative requirements and also includes;
• current contacts for a range of industries

The manual has been produced in response to a range of questions from pastoralists wishing to investigate and develop alternate enterprises for the semi-arid Rangelands of Western Australia.

Cleome Hirta Essential Oil As Livestock Tick (Rhipicephalus Appendiculatus) And Maize Weevil (Sitophilus Zeamais) Repellent, M. W. Ndungu, S. C. Chhabra, W. Lwande

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The repellency of the essential oil of the shrub Cleome hirta and of three identified constituents (phytol, (+)-cedrol, n-octacosane) was evaluated against the livestock tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and the maize weevil, Sitophillus zeamais. In a tick climbing repellency bioassay, the oil exhibited repellency which, at the highest dose, was comparable to that of the commercial arthropod repellent N,N-diethyltoluamide (DEET). In a Y-tube olfactometer bioassay, the oil showed higher or comparable repellency against S. zeamais relative to DEET at all the doses tested. The potential of C. hirta in livestock tick and maize weevil control is discussed. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier …

Pesticide Residue Regulation: Analysis Of Food Quality Protection Act Implementation, Linda-Jo Schierow

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Dr. Schierow discusses the effects of a recent statute on food safety.