Botany Commons^™

Low Temperature Modification Of Cell Ultrastructure In Hardy And Nonhardy Grass Species, Steven L. Kimball

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Studies were conducted to determine the influence of different temperatures (25, 10, 0, or -5 C) upon plant growth and cell ultrastructure, and to determine if physical changes within cells might block growth activities even though individual biochemical processes were potentially active.

Secale cereale L. was found to be most hardy, followed by Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers. and Paspalum notatum Flugge, whose responses were quite similar. Secale grew normally at 25 and 10 C, with reduced activity at 0 C and a slight delay before resuming normal growth when placed at 25 C again. All three species were killed at …

Polymerization Of Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Fabian Crespo V.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

An organic chemical condensing reagent, 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinoethyl)-carbodiimide metho-p-toluene sulfonate (CMC) was tested for effectiveness in inducing polymerization of short lengths of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) nucleoprotein particles isolated from systemically infected Turkish tobacco leaves. It appeared that the chemical induced the formation of phosphodiester linkages between the viral RNA helices in the joining nucleoprotein fragments. Because the polymerization reaction liberates a hydroxyl ion with each joining event the kinetics of the polymerization can be followed with time using a pH meter. The number of hydroxyl ions liberated is equal to the number of polymerizations. Physical evidence of polymerization was obtained by …

Effects Of Dmso And Propham On Mitosis In Root Tips Of Secale Cereale, Max Rosequist

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) and propham (isopropyl carbanilate) were investigated to determine their effect singly and in combination on mitoses in rye (Secale cereale) root tip cells. Root tips were prepared for observation by the paraffin and aceto-carmine squash methods. Results showed DMSO caused the following abnormalities: arrested metaphases, multipolar spindles, multinucleate cells, stickiness, shortened chromosomes, and mitotic inhibition. Cells from propham treated root tips exhibited the same abnormalities as those treated with DMSO. In addition, propham treatments resulted in polyploid cells and chromosome granulation. In combination, DMSO and propham caused all the abnormalities mentioned above except polyploidy. In …

Survey Of The Matric Potential Of Various Plant Groups, Hussain Ali Al-Saadi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Matric potentials of leaves or photosynthetic stem tissues from sixty species, including hydrophytes, xerophytes, and halophytes, were measured by the pressure membrane apparatus. The matric potentials of different families and other plant groupings were compared; the correlation between matric potentials and other properties, such as estimated drought and salt tolerance, tissue moisture content, and mineral ion composition were also determined.

High matrix potential values and tissue moisture content were measured in species of Chenopodiaceae, considered more salt and drought tolerant than species in other families.

Low matric potential values were found in the coniferous tree leaves, which also have low …

The Role Of Stomata In Gaseous Fluoride Injury To Plants And Several Enzymatic Changes Associated With That Injury, Bachettira Wthappa Poovaiah

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The effect of fluoride fumigation on water relations and several enzymes of Glycine max and Pelargonium zonale plants were studied.

Glycine Max leaves absorbed 600 parts per million fluoride from an atmosphere of 15 parts per billion fluoride during 96 hours fumigation. Lower, fully expanded leaves were always more severely damaged than the upper younger leaves. In day versus night fumigation experiments, although daytime fumigated plants absorbed less fluoride than continuously fumigated plants, they had two to three times more fluoride than the nighttime fumigated ones and also exhibited more severe damage.

Transpiration of fumigated plants decreased markedly, presumably due …

A Rapid Serological Bean Blight Test And Antibiotic Control Measures, Terry Dee Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The detection and identification of bacterial pathogens in bean tissues can be accomplished with relative ease and certainty by utilizing antiserum prepared against specific bean pathogens. This test requires only fifteen minutes to complete, and a minimum amount of equipment. In addition to speed and ease, it eliminates the difficult process of isolating the bacterial pathogens from the many contaminants that will grow in nutrient culture techniques. The advantage of this technique is primarily based on the utilization of the bacterial population already present in the diseased plant tissues.

The effectiveness of this method has been demonstrated by diagnosing beans …

Effect Of Phenology, Clipping, And Moisture Stress On Translocation In Grass, Ronald Eugene Sosebee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The effect of phenology on the pattern of photosynthate distribution was studied in crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.) plants grown in a nursery under semi-natural environmental conditions. A set of plants was transferred every fourth week (April 13, 1968, through December 2, 1968) from the nursery to a growth room where the temperature was maintained at approximately 24 C with 16-hour photoperiods. A single leaf per plant received 1.5x10^-3 ml of either NaH₂³²PO₄ or KH₂³²PO₄. Approximately 24 hours after the ³²P application, the plants were harvested and …

Overwintering Of Erwinia Amylovora Inside Living Host Tissue In Cache Valley, Utah, G. Doyle Morrill

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Experiments were conducted to see if Erwinia amylovora (Burrill) Winslow et al. overwinters inside living host tissue in Utah. Bacteria, collected from apple, pear, mountain ash, chokecherry and Pyracantha, were used in the experiment. Isolates taken from buds and inner bark plated on nutrient yeast dextrose agar, we re tested by serological and bacteriophage techniques. Those showing positive tests were then inoculated into Bartlett pear seedlings to test virulence.

Both virulent and avirulent isolates were isolated from each species of plant in the experiment. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from diseased tissue near cankers, as well as from apparently healthy inner …

Factors Associated With The Penetration And Colonization Of Tomatoes By Verticillium Dahliae, Terry Dee Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Experiments have demonstrated that Verticillium dahliae is capable of direct cortical penetration of roots and of subsequent distribution throughout plants of both resistant (Loran Blood) and susceptible (Meteor) varieties of tomato. Plants were inoculated by the root dip method and planted in sterile soil. After one week the fungus was isolated from the upper portions of both the susceptible and resistant varieties as indicated by growth petiole sections plated on PDA. The distribution of the fungus in the resistant plants was irregular, but in susceptible plants the fungus was isolated regularly from all petiole sections. In experiments using disposable growth …

An Experimental Study Of Variation Within And Between Populations Of Petrophytum Caespitosum (Nutt.) Rydb. With Emphasis On Numerical Techniques, Frank R. Drysdale

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Nine populations of sixty-eight individuals representing the distribution of Petrophytum caespitosum (Nutt.) Rydb. (Rosaceae) in the Intermountain Region were investigated for taxonomically significant variation using numerical techniques. On the basis of 19 morphological characters 3 subspecific taxa are recognized. Two taxa are existing subspecies: P. caespitosum (Nutt.) Rydb. var. caespitosum and P. caespitosum (Nutt.) Rydb. var. elatius (S. Wats.) Tides. One new subspecies is described: P. caespitosum (Nutt.) Rydb. var. latifolium. The ecology of the species is discussed. The floral and vegetative anatomy are described. Chromosome counts of 3 populations have given n = 9. A list of herbarium …

Histochemical Investigations On The Effects Of Fluoride On Oxidative Enzymes From Pelargonium Zonale And Allium Cepa, Bachettira Wthappa Poovaiah

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The effects of fluoride fumigation on Pelargonium zonale leaves and also sodium fluoride infiltration of leaf sections and Allium cepa roots were studied in vivo.

Anatomical studies of fluoride-injured leaves showed a total collapse of the margin of the injured leaf. In injured regions the upper epidermal cells were normal and were the last to be destroyed. Detailed study of the vascular region of leaves near the injured area and also petioles from severely injured leaves showed clogging of xylem vessels by tyloses. Clogging of sieve tubes occurred, presumably, due to deposition of callose substance on sieve plates of …

Karyotype Analysis As An Index Of Radiosensitivity Of A Grass Hybrid, David R. Braegger

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Large differences exist between plant species in their response to ionizing radiation. The factors involved in radiosensitivities are complex and not well understood. The best criterion, so far, in studies on the acute lethal level of radiation for plant species is the average interphase chromosome volume (Sparrow et al. 1963). There are also close relationships that exist between DNA content, nuclear volume, total chromosome volume and radiosensitivity (Bowen, 1962; Sparrow et al. 1963; Sparrow et al. 1965). These investigators have observed in a series of species that an increase in nuclear volume is often accompanied by an increase in DNA …

The Influence Of Clipping And Moisture Stress On Translocation In Crested Wheatgrass, James Miller Mayo

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Water movement in soils containing moisture below field capacity is extremely slow, thus requiring a continuous expansion of the plant root system to meet the transpiration demands placed on the plant (20, 21, 12, 19). It has been shown that internal moisture deficits result in reduced growth, and often death of the plant (22, 28, 25, 29, 34). Thus a healthy and continuously expanding root system may be necessary for good plant growth.

A Revision Of The Eriogonum Deflexum Torr. Complex, James L. Reveal

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study includes those annual species of Eriogonum which have glabrous cordate or obtusely based calyx-segments, and 5-lobed involucres which are deflexed or erect on rather stout peduncles. With the possible exception of a few peripheral taxa, these species are believed to constitute a natural assemblage.

Radiosensitivity And Cytogenetic Studies On An Interspecific Grass Hybrid, Paul James Bottino

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The complex response of plants to ionizing radiation has never been clearly understood. One of the main problems is the differential sensitivity of plants to radiation. A clear understanding of differential sensitivity lies far in the future. For the present a major question is: can we predict the radiosensitivity of a plant before radiation exposure? Some progress has been made in answering this question. Sparrow et al. (29) feel that they have a useful statistic which can be used to predict the approximate radiosensitivity of a plant. Average interphase chromosome volume has been tested on sixteen species of herbaceous plants …

Host-Parasite Relationships Between Prunus Mahaleb And The Parasitic Nematodes Pratylenchus Neglectus And Meloidogyne Hapla, Bernard Al Tait

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Utah orchardists have encountered problems which they have needed to control for continued successful and economical fruit production. Some of these problems are diseases such as western-X virus, cytospora canker (Wadley, 1955) and codling moth (Davis, 1957). These diseases, because of their nature and severity, have received more attention than others.

A Study On The Biochemistry Of Riboflavin In Higher Plants As Influenced By Iron, Dayna L. Stocks

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Riboflavin, 6,7-dimethyl-9-(D-1'-ribityl) isoalloxazine, has been studied extensively by workers in many fields of interest. Because of its almost universal occurrence in plants and its requirement by most animals as a vitamin, it is of interest to both the botanist and the zoologist. It is also of interest to the photochemist and its photo chemistry is currently being studied by several groups (27, 35, 47, 49). In addition riboflavin has been implicated in the photo inactivation of indole-acetic acid (16) and 2,4-D (20). It is also thought to be involved in the processes of bioluminescence (33, 48) and phototropism (17). At …

Infrared Spectroscopy As Applied To The Study Of Biochemical Changes Induced By Tobacco Mosaic Virus In Leaf Cells, Banavara Krishnappa Chandrasekhar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The biochemical reactions occurring during the early stages in the infection cycle of a plant virus are still unknown. Many studies involving bacteriophage and animal viruses that have been made in recent years have provided evidence of the nature of virus infection, but these have not been of much value in understanding the nature of plant viruses. Infrared spectroscopy applied to the study of viral infection processes by Chochran and his co-workers (1960, 1962) have given some clues about the nature of biochemical changes taking place in the leaf tissues as a result of infection with cucumber mosaic virus and …

Mineral Salt Movement In Roots As Affected By Various Factors, C. James Lovelace

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Normal healthy growth and development of plants necessitates that they have certain elements to fulfill their mineral requirements. Environmental conditions play an important part in fulfilling these needs. Should any of these essential elements be lacking, the plant displays certain symptoms. Although iron has been classified both as a micro-element and a macro-element, it is undoubtedly necessary for all plants to some extent.

The Influence Of Internal Moisture Deficit On Translocation, Sven Egenolf Wihrheim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The reduced growth of plants under conditions of moisture stress has been attributed to reduced turgor necessary for cell enlargement and to reduced photosynthesis often found in wilted or moisture stressed plants. Reduced translocation is rarely mentioned as a factor in reduced plant growth under limited moisture. This is rather surprising, since the Münch pressure flow hypothesis would require a turgor pressure gradient between leaves and receiving organs before any translocation of sugars could occur. Such a turgor pressure gradient would be reduced with increasing internal moisture deficit and would appear to become zero when the leaves wilt. If this …

Iron Chlorosis In Higher Plants As Related To The Organic Acid Content, Lucia Yulin Su

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Chlorosis, which is associated with a reduction in the chlorophyll content of leaves, is a major problem in the growing of deciduous fruit trees and some field crops on Western soils (16). For the deciduous fruit and field crops the predominant chlorosis pattern is the iron deficiency type which on Western soils is associated with high bicarbonate concentration in the soil.

Embryo Sac Development Of An Intergeneric Hybrid Between Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill. And Solanum Lycopersicoides Dun., Ray William Bills

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In the search for sources of resistance to the curly top virus disease of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), it was found by some investigators that certain species of the genus Solanum express an apparent immunity to the disease. It would be desirable to transfer the resistance expressed by the genus Solanum into the genus Lycopersicon. The major problem to the plant breeder becomes one of obtaining a compatible F₁ hybrid between the Lycopersicon and Solanum genera through which genes controlling resistance may be transfered to Lycopersicon. In 1951, C. M. Rick reported a successful cross between …

The Effect Of Hydrogen Fluoride On Light And Dark Products Of Carbon Dioxide Fixation In Plants, Cleon W. Ross

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Damage to vegetation caused by fluoride compounds has been reported for a large number of plant species. In recent years toxicity to plants caused by atmospheric fluorides has been the subject of studies by a number of laboratories. These studies have been primarily concerned with determining the extent of injury caused by fluorides, describing the symptoms which occur and attempting to correlate them with the amounts of the element in the tissue and with some environmental factors. Thomas (1951) has given a general review of these subjects. Attempts have been made to control fluoride damage by spraying the leaves with …

The Effect Of Certain Fluoride Sprays In The Production Of Soft Suture On Peaches, N. V. Narayanamoorthy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Pollution of the atmosphere and its potential deleterious effects on health, industry, agriculture and natural resources are causing grave concern in many parts of the world. In the past century there has developed in the fields embraced by physical and biological sciences a considerable knowledge of theoretical and applied information, serving as a versatile tool in combating such problems. Air pollution problems seem to have gained much attention with the rapid development of various industries in major parts of the world. Rural and urban areas adjoining these industrial locales are confronted with the dangerous overall problems of air pollution. Evidently, …

Growth Of The Fungus, Verticillium Albo-Atrum In Resistant And Non-Resistant Strains Of A Tomato Variety And Its Effect On Plant Growth, Robert M. Zundel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Verticillium wilt, caused by the fungus, Verticillium albo-atrum, is a destructive disease of tomatoes in many areas. Due to the seriousness of this problem, Cannon and Waddoups (1) have developed resistance to this disease in some commercial varieties grown in Utah.

A Cytotaxonomic Study Of Suspected Hybrids Between Agropyron Subsecundum And Sitanion Hystrix , Penelope Witte

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study is concerned with the meiotic chromosome behavior and the comparative morphology of a sterile grass of doubtless hybrid origin. Though possessing morphological characters which place it in the Hordeae tribe, the unusual combination of morphological characteristics made it difficult to assign it to a particular genus. Its spikelets, usually solitary, placed flatwise at the nodes, on opposite sides of the rachis are typical of Agropyron species: while the bifid plumes, spreading awns and a tardily disarticulating rachis, are characters which suggest Sitanion species.

A Cytological Study Of The Induced Octoploid Of An Agropyron-Hordeum Hybrid, R. Bruce Ashman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The occurrence of hybrids, both interspecific and intergeneric, is frequent in the Gramineae generally (Stebbins, 1949), and is especially common in the tribe Hordeae of which both A. trachycaulum and H. jubatum are members. Intergeneric hybrids in this tribe have been studied by Stebbins et al. (1946a, and 1946b), Stebbins and Walters (1949), and Stebbins and Singh (1950) in an effort to determine true phylogenetic relationships on which to base a taxonomic classification, and results of these studies have indicated that the current taxonomic treatment of this tribe is highly artificial. Attempts to produce a perennial wheat and improve …

Studies Of The Dodder Transmission Of The Western-X Virus From Peach To Herbaceous Plants, Lewis G. Weathers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Western-X disease is considered to be the most serious and destructive virus disease affecting peaches in the northwestern United States. The virus causing this disease in peach also infects chokecherries and most varieties of sweet and sour cherries. There is also evidence (13) that certain varieties of plums and apricots are susceptible. No information now exists to indicate that the virus occurs in plants outside of the genus Prunus. It is found that woody plants such as stone fruit trees are not particularly favorable plants for studying the virus. All attempts to isolate the western-X virus from woody tissue …

A Genetic Study Of Complementary Genes For Purple Lemma, Palea, And Pericarp In Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.), John William Thieret

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In certain plants the expression of various characters depends upon the presence of two pairs of complementary genes in the individual. The striking feature of this situation is that two plants, phenotypically alike or similar but of different and appropriate genetic constitution, may, after crossing, produce progeny which are phenotypically different from either parent.

An Etiological And Host Range Study Of Celery Mosaic In Utah, Dennis H. Hall

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Celery mosaic is a virus disease of major economic importance in Utah. In years of severe epiphytotics, it has been a limiting factor in celery production. In 1947 losses due to this disease were estimated to exceed 8 per cent of the total crop. This estimate does not include losses resulting from reduction in grade or from plants discarded in the packing sheds. The celery acreage in Utah dropped from a high of 950 acres in 1946 to 750 acres in 1947 and dropped again in 1948 to 420 acres. Leaders in the industry attributed this reduction in acreage, in …