Botany Commons^™

Expression Of A Putative Flavonoid 3'-Hydroxylase In Sorghum Mesocotyls Synthesizing 3-Deoxyanthocyanidin Phytoalexins, Jayanand Boddu, Catherine Svabek, Rajandeep Sekhon, Amanda Gevens, Ralph L. Nicholson, A. Daniel Jones, Jeffrey F. Pedersen, David L. Gustine, Surinder Chopra

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

In sorghum, ingress of Cochliobolus heterostrophus stimulates the synthesis of 3-deoxyanthocyanidins that act as phytoalexins. Apigeninidin and luteolinidin are two major phytoalexins induced in the first 24 h after infection. In an attempt to understand genetic regulation of the biosynthesis of sorghum phytoalexins, we isolated a differentially expressed partial cDNA. Characterization and comparison showed that this cDNA sequence corresponds to a putative flavonoid 3’-hydroxylase. Full length sequence characterization allowed us to establish that the sorghum putative f3’h cDNA encodes a peptide of 517 amino acids that has domains conserved among cytochrome P450 proteins functioning in …

Molecular Mapping And Identification Of Soybean Fatty Acid Modifier Quantitative Trait Loci, D. L. Hyten Jr., Vincent R. Pantalone, Arnold M. Saxton, Michael E. Schmidt, Carl E. Sams

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Altering FA content in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] oil for improved functionality is a research goal of many soybean breeders. Several of the genes that alter palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids are modifier genes with small effects, causing these FA traits to act as quantitative traits. The objective of this study was to identify modifier FA quantitative trait loci (QTL) in soybean. A recombinant inbred line population was created from two prominent ancestors of currently avail-able U.S. cultivars (Essex and Williams) and grown in five environments. One hundred simple se-quence repeat markers spaced throughout the genome …

Implementation Of A Mitochondrial Mutator, Sally Mackenzie, Ricardo Vilela Abdelnoor

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Plant MSH1 polynucleotides and polypeptides are described. Also described are methods for the use and modulation of such MSH1 polynucleotides and polypeptides.

Predicting Phenological Development In Winter Wheat, Qingwu Xue, Albert Weiss, P. Stephen Baenziger

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Accurate prediction of phenological development is important in the winter wheat Triticum aestivum agroecosystem. From a practical perspective, applications of pesticides and fertilizers are carried out at specific phenological stages. In crop-simulation modeling, the prediction of yield components (kernel number and kernel weight) and wheat-grain yield relies on accurate prediction of phenology. In this study, a nonlinear multiplicative model by Wang & Engel (WE) for predicting phenological development in differing winter wheat cultivars was evaluated using data from a 3 yr field experiment. In the vegetative phase (emergence to anthesis) the daily development rate (r) was simulated based on the …

Bulletin No. 38: The Hidden World Of Plants: A Scanning Electron Microscope Survey Of The Native Plant Collection, Connecticut College Arboretum, Danica C. Kubick, T. Page Owen Jr.

Bulletins

No abstract provided.

Integrated Weed Management Plan For The Lower Las Vegas Wash, Elizabeth Bickmore

Publications (WR)

The Las Vegas Wash (Wash) is the primary drainage for the metropolitan Las Vegas Valley, eventually finding its way into the Colorado River watershed system. Pursuant to the recommendations of the Water Quality Citizens Advisory Committee, the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee (LVWCC) was formed in 1998 to develop a comprehensive plan for the long-term stabilization and management of the Wash. Consisting of representatives from 28 government agencies, businesses, environmental groups and citizens, the LVWCC formulated the Las Vegas Wash Comprehensive Adaptive Management Plan (CAMP) and designated the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) as the lead agency for the implementation …

A Bt Transgene Reduces Herbivory And Enhances Fecundity In Wild Sunflowers, A. A. Snow, Diana Pilson, L. H. Rieseberg, M. J. Paulsen, N. Pleskac, M. R. Reagon, D. E. Wolf, S. M. Selbo

Diana Pilson Publications

Gene flow from transgenic crops can introduce novel traits into related species, but the ecological importance of this process is unknown. Here, we report the first empirical evidence that wild plants can benefit from a bacterial transgene under uncaged, natural conditions. Cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is known to hybridize frequently with wild sunflower (H. annuus) in the western and midwestern United States. We studied a crop-developed Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgene, cry1Ac, in backcrossed wild sunflower populations. Lepidopteran damage on transgenic plants was strongly reduced relative to control plants at our two study sites, while damage …

A Watershed Analysis Of Threemile Pond: Implications For Water Quality And Land Use Management, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Threemile Pond (2003)

The 2003 Colby Environmental Assessment Team chose to study the Threemile Pond watershed. The Threemile Pond watershed is located in Vassalboro, China., Windsor, and Augusta, Maine. Threemile Pond is a popular site for recreation and is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. Like all other lakes in Maine, it is a young lake. However, intensive human activity in the watershed contributes a substantial amount of nutrients and the lake has algal blooms annually in the summer months. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of land use and development on the water quality of …

A Utah Flora: 3rd Edition, Stanley L. Welsh, N. Duane Atwood, Sherel Goodrich, Larry C. Higgins

Books by Faculty of the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum

No abstract provided.

Forage Yield And Economic Losses Associated With The Brown-Midrib Trait In Sudangrass, M. D. Casler, Jeffrey F. Pedersen, D. J. Undersander

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Brown-midrib genes increase digestibility due to reduced lignification in sudangrass, Sorghum bicolor subsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan. Brown-midrib lines are known to be low in forage yield potential, but this reduction in forage yield has not been previously quantified. The objectives of this study were to quantify the increase in forage quality and decrease in forage yield and to provide an economic assessment of this dichotomy. Piper and Greenleaf (normal leaves) were compared with their brown-midrib counterparts and four highly selected brown-midrib (FG) lines at two locations for 2 yr. Brown-midrib lines averaged 9.0% lower in …

Registration Of Rn582 Sorghum Germplasm Line, J. F. Pedersen, J. J. Toy

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

RN582 sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.)Moench] germplasm line (Reg. no. GP-591, PI 628277) was developed jointly by the USDA-ARS and the Agricultural Research Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, and was released in September 2001.

RN582 is an S₆ selection from the cross (RTx430 ms₃ms₃X E 35-1) X E 35-1. RTx430 was developed and released by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (Miller, 1984) and was provided to this project containing the nuclear male sterility gene ms₃ by A.B. Maunder in 1988. E 35-1 is an Ethiopian land race with white …

Diurnal Variation In The Basal Emission Rate Of Isoprene, Jennifer L. Funk, Clive G. Jones, Christine J. Baker, Heather M. Fuller, Christian P. Giardina, Manuel T. Lerdau

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Isoprene is emitted from numerous plant species and profoundly influences tropospheric chemistry. Due to the short lifetime of isoprene in the atmosphere, developing an understanding of emission patterns at small time scales is essential for modeling regional atmospheric chemistry processes. Previous studies suggest that diurnal fluctuations in isoprene emission may be substantial, leading to inaccuracies in emission estimates at larger scales. We examined diurnal patterns in the basal emission rate of isoprene in red oak (Quercus rubra), eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus saligna) and the influence of light and temperature on the magnitude of these diurnal patterns. Maximum …

Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Soil Indicators Four Years After Manure And Compost Applications, Daniel Ginting, Anabayan Kessavalou, Bahman Eghball, John W. Doran

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Understanding how carbon, nitrogen, and key soil attributes affect gas emissions from soil is crucial for alleviating their undesirable residual effects that can linger for years after termination of manure and compost applications. This study was conducted to evaluate the emission of soil CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄ and soil C and N indicators four years after manure and compost application had stopped. Experimental plots were treated with annual synthetic N fertilizer (FRT), annual and biennial manure (MN1 and MN2, respectively), and compost (CP1 and CP2, respectively) from 1992 to 1995 based on removal of 151 …

Registration Of ‘Ne422t’ Winter Triticale, P. Stephen Baenziger, K. P. Vogel

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

NE422T triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) (Reg. no CV-27, PI 629028) was developed cooperatively by the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA-ARS. It was jointly released in 2001 by the developing institutions. NW422T was selected from the cross ‘Trical’/‘UB-UW26’ where Trical is most likely ‘Trical 100’ (a forage triticale developed by Resource Seed Inc., a subsidiary of Goldsmith Seed Company, Gilroy, CA) and UB-UW26 is an unknown winter triticale germplasm line given to the breeding program in the 1980s.The cross was made in 1990. The F₁ generation was grown in the greenhouse in 1990-1991. The F₂ and F …

Fine Root Vitality And Its Application In A Minirhizotron Study Of A Co2 Enrichment In A Florida Scrub Oak Ecosystem, Brandon Todd Herbert

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Minirhizotron images are assigned color codes to approximate the age of individual roots in situ. Triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) has been used to measure the vitality of plant tissue by detecting dehydrogenase activity. TTC was used to assess the vitality of root tissue by color in a scrub oak ecosystem at Kennedy Space Center in central Florida. Roots were excavated, sorted into four color classes and stained with TTC. The product of the reduction of TTC by dehydrogenase enzyme, formazan, was extracted and its absorbance recorded using a spectrophotometer. A significant difference (p2 enrichment being conducted on a scrub oak …

The Pollinator Fauna Of Two Spring Wildflowers Of Midwestern Deciduous Forest, Erigenja Bulbosa And Claytonia Virginica, Robert P. Jean

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Eastern deciduous forests have spectacular spring floral display and a diverse array of insect pollinators. From March to May, some 20-25 species of understory herbs flower in west-central Indiana. I focused on the earliest species to bloom, Erigenia bulbosa (Apiaceae), and the most abundant, Claytonia virginica (Portulacaceae), which flowers immediately after Erigenia. l characterized insect visitor assemblages in terms of species richness and relative abundance, and measured visitation rates. For Erigenia (Chapter 1), I asked whether early flowering was necessarily associated with pollinator scarcity. I examined six sites in 2000 and resampled three of these in 2001. Erigenia attracted 10 …

Characterization Of Fro1, A Pea Ferric-Chelate Reductase Involved In Root Iron Acquisition, Brian M. Waters, Dale G. Blevins, David J. Eide

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

To acquire iron, many plant species reduce soil Fe(III) to Fe(II) by Fe(III)-chelate reductases embedded in the plasma membrane of root epidermal cells. The reduced product is then taken up by Fe(II) transporter proteins. These activities are induced under Fe deficiency. We describe here the FRO₁ gene from pea (Pisum sativum), which encodes an Fe(III)-chelate reductase. Consistent with this proposed role, FRO₁ shows similarity to other oxidoreductase proteins, and expression of FRO₁ in yeast conferred increased Fe(III)-chelate reductase activity. Furthermore, FRO₁ mRNA levels in plants correlated with Fe(III)-chelate reductase activity. Sites of FRO_{1 …}

Accumulation Of Microbial Biomass Within Particulate Organic Matter Of Aging Golf Greens, Mine Kerek, Rhae A. Drijber, William L. Powers, Robert C. Shearman, Roch E. Gaussoin, Anne Streich

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Microbial biomass (MB) is a key variable controlling soil organic matter dynamics in soil. Currently, there is little information on the amount and significance of MB in highly managed golf greens. Our objective was to determine the amount and distribution of MB within soil structural components of golf greens and its relationship to the location of organic substrates. During 1996, 47 greens were sampled from 12 golf courses within Nebraska (USA). Microbial biomass, determined as extractable lipid phosphate on field-moist soils, increased linearly with age of green (Y = 19.39 + 3.54x; r² = 0.87, P = 0.001). In …

Compensation For Herbivory In Wild Sunflower: Response To Simulated Damage By The Head-Clipping Weevil, Diana Pilson, Karin L. Decker

Diana Pilson Publications

Herbivore damage is generally detrimental to plant fitness, and the evolutionary response of plant populations to damage can involve either increased resistance or increased tolerance. While characters that contribute to resistance, such as secondary chemicals and trichomes, are relatively well understood, characters that contribute to a plant’s ability to tolerate damage have received much less attention. Using Helianthus annuus (wild sunflower) and simulated damage of Haplorhynchites aeneus (head-clipping weevil) as a model system, we examined morphological characters and developmental processes that contribute to compensatory ability. We performed a factorial experiment that included three levels of damage (none, the first two, …

Genetic Analysis Of Feed Quality And Seed Weight Of Sorghum Inbred Lines And Hybrids Using Analytical Methods And Nirs, C. Hicks, M. R. Tuinstra, Jeffrey F. Pedersen, F. E. Dowell, K. D. Kofoid

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Eight lines of grain sorghum and their F1 hybrids were evaluated for contents of crude protein (CP), fat (FAT), and starch (STA); protein digestibility (PD); and in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD). The effect of seed weight (SW) on these traits and the potential use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict them also were investigated. The male lines included three normal-seeded lines (TX2737, TX435, and P954063) and two largeseeded lines (PL-1 and Eastin1). The female lines included commonU.S. seed parent lines (Wheatland, Redlan, and SA3042). The lines and their hybrids were grown under dryland conditions at Kansas State …

Combinatorial Control Of Yeast Fet4 Gene Expression By Iron, Zinc, And Oxygen, Brian M. Waters, David J. Eide

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Acquisition of metals such as iron, copper, and zinc by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is tightly regulated. High affinity uptake systems are induced under metal-limiting conditions to maintain an adequate supply of these essential nutrients. Low affinity uptake systems function when their substrates are in greater supply. The FET₄ gene encodes a low affinity iron and copper uptake transporter. FET₄ expression is regulated by several environmental factors. In this report, we describe the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation. First, we found that FET₄ expression is induced in iron-limited cells by the Aft1 iron-responsive transcriptional activator. Second, FET …

Clone Size Of Andropogon Gerardii Vitman (Big Bluestem) At Konza Prairie, Kansas, Kathleen H. Keeler, Charles F. Williams, Linda S. Vescio

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Clone size of plants of Andropogon gerardii from Konza Prairie Biological Station, Manhattan, Kansas was estimated from spatial patterns of genetic variation, using proteins detected by starch gel electrophoresis and DNA content (ploidy) measured by flow cytometry. Unique multi-locus protein banding patterns and differences in ploidy were used to exclude plants as members of the same clone. Individual clones averaged about 2 m in diameter and areas of prairie of 100 m² were calculated to contain an average of 31.8 genetic individuals.

Isoetes Toximontana (Isoetaceae), A New Quillwort With Green Megaspores From The Northern Cape Of South Africa, Lytton John Musselman, J. P. Roux

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Isoetes toximontana is only the second quillwort reported from the Northern Cape region in South Africa. It occurs in shallow water on the Gifberg. Megaspores are uniformly tuberculate on the proximal surface; their distal surfaces may have occasional rugi along with bullae. They are olive green when dry. Microspores are brown and aculeate. Preliminary field studies suggest that an unexpected diversity of quillworts is found in this region.

Isoetes Mattaponica (Isoetaceae), A New Diploid Quillwort From Freshwater Tidal Marshes Of Virginia, Lytton John Musselman, W. Carl Taylor, Rebecca D. Bray

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Isoetes mattaponica is a rare quillwort of freshwater tidal rivers of eastern Virginia with a somatic chromosome number of 2n = 22. Megaspores have low rugulate muri on both the proximal and distal surfaces; the girdle is broad. Microspores are echinate-spinose with ornamented spines. Isoetes mattaponica may be one of the parents of several polyploids in the Southeastern United States.

Origin And Conservation Genetics Of Threatened Ute Ladies’-Tresses, Spiranthes Diluvialis (Orchidaceae), Allen L. Szalanski, Gerry Steinauer, Richard Bischof, Jessica Lynn Petersen

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The Ute ladies’-tresses, Spiranthes diluvialis, is listed as a threatened orchid in west-central United States by the Federal government. Information on its origin and patterns of genetic variation is needed to develop effective conservation strategies for this species. DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to evaluate genetic variation and structure of 23 populations of S. diluvialis. In addition, four congeneric species were analyzed to determine possible origins of the putative allotetraploid S. diluvialis. DNA sequencing and PCR-RFLP analysis of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA …

Genetic Analysis Of Kafirins And Their Phenotypic Correlations With Feed Quality Traits, In Vitro Digestibility, And Seed Weight In Grain Sorghum, C. Hicks, S. R. Bean, G. L. Lookhart, Jeffrey F. Pedersen, K. D. Kofoid, M. R. Tuinstra

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Twenty-three entries of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), including eight inbred lines (five males and three females) and 15 hybrids, were evaluated to determine the proportion of γ, αII, and β-αI-kafirins and their association with contents of crude protein, fat, and starch; protein digestibility; in vitro dry matter disappearance; and seed weight. The male lines included three normal-seeded lines (TX2737, TX435, and P954063) and two large-seeded lines (Eastin1 and PL-1). Female lines consisted of three common U.S. seed parent lines (Wheatland, Redlan, and SA3042). The lines and their hybrids were grown under dryland conditions at two locations in …

Seed Physiology, Production & Technology: Germination, Emergence, And Yield Of 20 Plant-Color, Seed-Color Near-Isogenic Lines Of Grain Sorghum, Jeffrey F. Pedersen, J. J. Toy

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Although there is growing demand for sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] with white seed and tan plant color, there is limited information on the overall agronomic fitness of sorghum with these characters. A set of experiments was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of plant color and seed color on sorghum germination, emergence, and agronomic performance. Twenty near-isogenic lines with red seed/tan plant (RT), red seed/purple plant (RP), white seed/ tan plant (WT), white seed/purple plant (WP) phenotypes were tested under field and laboratory conditions. Plant color X seed color interactions were not significant. Purple plant color phenotypes had higher …

Genomic Regions That Underlie Soybean Seed Isoflavone Content, K. Meksem, V. N. Njiti, W. J. Banz, M. J. Iqbal, My. M. Kassem, David L. Hyten, J. Yuang, T. A. Winters, D. A. Lightfoot

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Soy products contain isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, and glycitein)that display biological effects when ingested by humans and animals, these effects are species, dose and age dependent. Therefore, the content and quality of isoflavones in soybeans is a key to their biological effect. Our objective was to identify loci that underlie isoflavone content in soybean seeds. The study involved 100 recombinant inbred lines (RIL)fr om the cross of ‘Essex’ by ‘Forrest,’ two cultivars that contrast for isoflavone content. Isoflavone content of seeds fromeach RIL was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The distribution of isoflavone content was continuous and unimodal. The …

The Genus Striga (Scrophulariaceae) In Africa, Kamal I. Mohamed, Lytton John Musselman, Charles R. Riches

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Twenty-eight species and six subspecies of the hemiparasitic genus Striga Lour., witchweed, occur in Africa. Twenty-two species are endemic. Witchweeds occur throughout the continent with greatest diversity in the grasslands and savannas north of the equator. Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke and S. hermonthica (Del.) Benth. have developed host-specific strains that may have distinct morphotypes. me accord these no formal taxonomic status. Striga hermonthica and S. asiatica (L.) Kuntze, limited to agroecosystems, may be recently derived from non-ruderal species. Striga hirsuta Benth. and S. lutea Lour., sometimes treated as conspecific with S. asiatica, are recognized as distinct species restricted …

Basic Biotechnology, Jennifer Flak, Julie Albrecht

Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary

An introduction to traditional cross-breeding and genetic engineering of plants, and to biotechnology.

Objectives - Basic Biotechnology

After completing Nutrition Basic Biotechnology, participants should be able to:

• Describe one similarity between traditional cross-breeding and genetic engineering of plants.
• Give two limitations that are encountered with traditional cross-breeding of plants.
• Explain why genetic engineering is not limited in the same way as traditional cross-breeding.
• Define biotechnology in broad terms.
• List three plant applications of biotechnology.
• List the three areas of nutritional profiles that have been improved with biotechnology.

Modules:

• Lesson home
• Objectives - Basic Biotechnology
• Historical Uses of Biotechnology
• Basic Understanding …