Plant Breeding and Genetics Commons^™

Isolation Of Arabidopsis Thaliana Plants Homozygous For An Insertional Inactivation Mutation Within Atprp4., Sydney Raitz, Timothy D. Trott

Research in Biology

The AtPRP4 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana has been shown to function in several specific parts of the plant’s cell wall. It is shown to be expressed in the seeds, radicles, roots, leaves, inflorescences, and embryos of Arabidopsis thaliana. These patterns have suggested unique functions for ATPRP4 in determining cell-type-specific wall structure during the development of a plant as well as contributing to defense reactions against physical damage to the plant and pathogen infection within the plant. In this study, a simple DNA prep was performed on the true leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. Subsequent PCR reactions were performed using …

Characterization Of Physical And Biochemical Traits In Wheat And Corn Plants Using High Throughput Image Analysis, Kantilata Thapa

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Plant phenotyping has been recognized as a rapidly growing field of research due to the labor-intensive, destructive, and time-consuming nature of traditional phenotyping methods. These phenotyping bottlenecks can be addressed by advancements in image-based phenotyping like RGB and hyperspectral imaging for the assessment of plant traits important for breeding purposes. This study aims (1) to characterize the physical and biochemical traits of wheat and corn plants using RGB and hyperspectral imaging in the greenhouse, and (2) to estimate leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) content using hyperspectral imaging and an analytical spectral device (ASD spectrometer) and compare the …

Reassessment Of Species Boundaries And Phylogenetic Relationships In The Desmodium Ciliare Complex (Fabaceae) Using Morphological And Dna Data, Joshua Wilkinson

Master's Theses

Desmodium (Beggar's ticks) is a generally weedy genus of approximately 280 species in the angiosperm family Fabaceae (Subfamily Papilionoideae, Tribe Desmodieae) characterized by indehiscent loments constricted into segments. Within the Southeastern U.S., the Desmodium ciliare group is one of two Desmodium species complexes that have been historically difficult, with much argument about the limits of species and the role of hybridization. There are three commonly recognized species within the D. ciliare group, D. ciliare (Muhl. ex Willd.) DC., Desmodium marilandicum (L.) DC., and D. obtusum (Muhl. ex Willd.) DC., with two supposed hybrids in addition to the …

An In Vitro Approach To Identify Sources Of Resistance To Fusarium Wilt Caused By Fusarium Oxysporum F. Sp. Vasinfectum Race 4 In Domesticated Cotton, Stephen Parris

All Theses

Cotton lint produced by the plants Gossypium barbadense L. (pima cotton) and Gossypium hirsutum L. (upland cotton) is the world’s leading source of renewable textiles. The fibers of the cotton plant have been woven so intricately into our society that it would be hard to imagine life without their products. Cotton breeders must then not only continue to work to improve the quality of cotton fibers (fineness, strength, dyability, etc.) but also to improve the resilience of the plant against biotic and abiotic factors. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum race 4 (FOV4) is an aggressive fungal pathogen, which causes Fusarium …

Getting To The Root Cause: The Genetic Underpinnings Of Root System Architecture And Rhizodeposition In Sorghum, Farren Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Plants are some of the most diverse organisms on earth, consisting of more than 350,000 different species. To understand the underlying processes that contributed to plant diversification, it is fundamental to identify the genetic and genomic components that facilitated various adaptations over evolutionary history. Most studies to date have focused on the underlying controls of above-ground traits such as grain and vegetation; however, little is known about the “hidden half” of plants. Root systems comprise half of the total plant structure and provide vital functions such as anchorage, resource acquisition, and storage of energy reserves. The execution of these key …

Three Lc-Ms Plant Metabolomics Studies Of Hop (Humulus) Species: Wild H. Neomexicanus, Drought Stress, And Agricultural Terroir, Taylan Morcol

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The hop plant (Humulus L., Cannabaceae) is a dioecious, perennial, twining vine with a long history of human use. Nowadays, hop plants are generally grown for their inflorescences (“cones”), which are used in brewing for their phytochemical metabolites. Many of these metabolites are involved in plant stress response and communication. Genetics and environment are two major factors that affect plant metabolism. In three separate metabolomics studies, this project examined the effects of both genetic and environmental factors on hop phytochemistry.

In the first study, 23 hop genotypes were grown in two different locations in the Pacific Northwest region of …

Evaluation Of Masculinization Treatments To Produce Feminized Hemp Seed (Cannabis Sativa L.), Ted Fitzgerald, J. Wyatt Brown

Master's Theses

Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) develops plants with either male or female flowers, and growers of hemp greatly prefer female flowers which bear the glandular trichomes that contain cannabinoids. Feminized (all female) seeds are highly desired, which are produced by crossing a female plant with a masculinized female plant. Masculinization is achieved through the inhibition of ethylene and/or addition of gibberellins before flower initiation in female plants. The hemp industry uses silver thiosulfate (STS) to masculinize hemp, but spraying silver poses environmental concerns. This study compared STS to three other ethylene-inhibiting agents: aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), cobalt nitrate (CBN), and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Treatments …

Seed Rain–Successional Feedbacks In Wet Tropical Forests, Nohemi Huanca Nuñez, Robin L. Chazdon, Sabrina E. Russo

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Abstract

Tropical forest regeneration after abandonment of former agricultural land depends critically on the input of tree seeds, yet seed dispersal is increasingly disrupted in contemporary human-modified landscapes. Here, we introduce the concept of seed rain–successional feedbacks as a deterministic process in which seed rain is shaped by successional dynamics internal to a forest site and that acts to reinforce priority effects. We used a combination of time series and chronosequence approaches to investigate how the quantity and taxonomic and functional composition of seed rain change during succession and to evaluate the strength of seed rain–successional feedbacks, relative to other …

A Comparison Of Media To Determine Optimal Growth In Aquaponics: Prg Virtual Showcase January 2021, Rachel L. Fogle, Andrea Nagy, Claribel Asare, Steven Berry, Jordan Brown, Aquila Durham-Lewis

Harrisburg University Presidential Research Grants

No abstract provided.

Hu Aquaponics Monitoring And Control System : European Annual Edunet Conference 2020, Rachel L. Fogle, Glenn P. Williams, Josh R. Krug

Harrisburg University Presidential Research Grants

The functional purpose of the HU Aquaponics Monitoring and Control System Project is to develop an environmental and plant monitoring and control system for the HU Aquaponics Lab, located in the Student Union. The project involves the design and implementation of technology that will regularly take measurements from the environment (e.g., air temperature, water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, etc). PLCnext Technology will systematically collect, store, and web-publish the measurement data for HU researchers and the public to use for scientific research.

De Novo Sequencing And Analysis Of Salvia Hispanica Tissue-Specific Transcriptome And Identification Of Genes Involved In Terpenoid Biosynthesis, James Wimberley, Joseph Cahill, Hagop S. Atamian

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Salvia hispanica (commonly known as chia) is gaining popularity worldwide as a healthy food supplement due to its low saturated fatty acid and high polyunsaturated fatty acid content, in addition to being rich in protein, fiber, and antioxidants. Chia leaves contain plethora of secondary metabolites with medicinal properties. In this study, we sequenced chia leaf and root transcriptomes using the Illumina platform. The short reads were assembled into contigs using the Trinity software and annotated against the Uniprot database. The reads were de novo assembled into 103,367 contigs, which represented 92.8% transcriptome completeness and a diverse set of Gene Ontology …

Ecological Strategies Begin At Germination: Traits, Plasticity, And Survival In The First Four Days Of Plant Life, Julie E. Larson, Brian L. Anacker, Sara Wanous, Jennifer L. Funk

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

1. We commonly use trait variation to characterize plant function within and among species and understand how vegetation responds to the environment. Seedling emergence is an especially vulnerable window affecting population and community dynamics, yet trait‐based frameworks often bypass this earliest stage of plant life. Here we assess whether traits vary in ecologically‐meaningful ways when seedlings are just days old. How do shared evolutionary history and environmental conditions shape trait expression, and can traits explain which seedlings endure drought?.
2. We measured seedling traits in the first four days of life for 16 annual plant species under two water treatments, exploring trait …

A Comparison Of Media To Determine Optimal Growth In Aquaponics, Rachel L. Fogle, Andrea Nagy, Allison Bernard, Jordan Brown, Samantha Delvalle-Trinh, James Shuler

Harrisburg University Presidential Research Grants

No abstract provided.

Unraveling The Influence Of Female Flowering Characteristics And Chemical Hybridizing Agent Formulations On Hybrid Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Seed Production, Hannah K. Stoll

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The success of hybrid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is largely limited by inefficiencies in seed production. This research aims to address these inefficiencies by examining various Chemical Hybridizing Agent (CHA) formulations using the chemical Croisor®100 on sterility, CHA damage, and female flowering characteristics. In addition, an efficient method of phenotyping female flowering characteristics (contributing factors in hybrid production seed yield) were identified using Stepwise Regression, ANCOVA, and Pearson R-Correlations, and duration of stigma receptivity in the cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS; Triticum timopheevii Zhuk.) background was determined. At an optimally timed spray application, including a moderate rate of CHA with …

Generation And Evaluation Of Modified Opaque-2 (O2) Popcorn Suggests A Route To Quality Protein Popcorn (Qpp), Ying Ren

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

I have been working on a Quality Protein Popcorn breeding project where QPM conversion is carried out simultaneously for several elite popcorn germplasms. During my study in the graduate program, I led the following aspects of the Quality Protein Popcorn Breeding Project:

1. Identified suitable QPMs as opaque-2 allele donors.

2.Examined the feasibility of quick introgression of the opaque-2 allele into popcorn lines via marker-assisted selection.

3. Monitored modification by SDS-PAGE zein profiling and light box phenotypic selection to make sure multiple modifier loci for opaque-2 were incorporated each time generation advancement was carried out.

4. Carried out high throughput …

Phenotypic Variation And Genetic Purity Of The Original 'Prime-Jim®' X 'Arapaho' Population, Loren M. Luther

Horticulture Undergraduate Honors Theses

In 2013, Castro et al., produced the first linkage map for primocane-fruiting blackberries using the cross ‘Prime-Jim®’ x ‘Arapaho.’ This mapping population has been maintained since the original experiment with the hopes of conducting future studies. Further research was determined to be needed on the population to better characterize additional phenotypic traits, and since nine years had passed since the seedlings were established, there was a need to assess the continued genetic purity of the population using molecular methods. Phenotypic data was collected to analyze the variation of the population including soluble solids content, titratable acidity, average weight, shape, and …

The Taxonomy, Reproduction, And Distribution Of Rare Plants: A Study Of Magnolia Sp. In The Río Zuñac Reserve, Ecuador, Alyssa Kullberg

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Ecuadorian cloud forests are biodiversity hotspots and centers of unprecedented levels of endemism, but they are also under-researched and under-protected. This study took place in the Río Zuñac Reserve, which is a reserve of about 850 ha located in the Tungurahua province of Ecuador, and is home to at least 20 endemic plant species. Three new species of Magnolia have been discovered in this reserve in the past five years: Magnolia llanganates, Magnolia vargasiana, and one species that has yet to be formally described. This study dealt with accurately locating and describing new individuals of these species over the …

Regeneration: An Overlooked Aspect Of Trait-Based Plant Community Assembly Models, Julie Larson, Jennifer L. Funk

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Despite the disproportionate influence that propagule production, dispersal, seed to seedling recruitment, and vegetative reproduction can have on plant population and community dynamics, progress has been slow in the directed collection of regeneration traits to inform community assembly outcomes.

While seed mass is globally available and linked to growth and reproductive output, there are limits to its explanatory ability. In this essay, we call for expanded efforts to integrate a more diverse set of regeneration traits into community assembly models.

First, we extend an existing community assembly framework to conceptualize regeneration as a series of transitional processes whose outcomes are …

Effect Of Green Tea On Interaction Of Lipid Oxidation Products With Sarcoplasmic And Myofibrillar Protein Homogenates Extracted From Bovine Top Round Muscle, Nahathai Stapornkul, Tatiana Prytkova, Lilian Were

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

The interaction between lipid oxidation products and bovine sarcoplasmic (SP) and myofibrillar protein (MP) homogenates in the presence of green tea was investigated. To monitor the effect of green tea on lipid oxidation, aldehydes were measured while effect on protein was monitored via changes in myoglobin, thiols, and tryptophan fluorescence over nine days of refrigerated storage. The presence of SP and MP decreased free aldehydes in the buffers. The SP bound more aldehydes than MP. The tea compounds exhibited more favorable binding energies than aldehydes near histidine 64 close to the heme moiety of myoglobin. Addition of tea lowered tryptophan …

Genetic Diversity Of Miscanthus In The Us Naturalized Populations Based On Molecular Marker, Suma Basak

College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Miscanthus is a fast growing bioenergy grass, tolerant of adverse conditions and has high biomass production, and is increasingly attractive as a potential source of cellulosic ethanol. An understanding of genetic variation in naturalized populations of Miscanthus in the US may help in selecting appropriate parents for breeding superior cultivars that are adapted in the wide-ranging and changing environments. The molecular marker analysis of Miscanthus is an important tool towards the genetic improvement program of this bioenergy grass. As sugarcane is closely related to Miscanthus, we employed its DNA markers as probes to explore genetic diversity within and among …

Effects Of Culture Media And Plant Growth Regulators On Micropropagation Of Willow (Salix Matsudana ‘Golden Spiral’) And Hazelnut (Corylus Colurna ‘Te Terra Red), Dongxue Shi

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The branches and leaves of Salix matsudana ‘Golden Spiral’ , willow, grow in a twisted manner, which makes it an important bonsai plant. Its mature stems have potential for the woody cut floral industry. Corylus colurna ‘ Te Terra Red’, hazelnut, distinguished by red or purple leaves in the spring, has potential ornamental value in the horticulture industry for landscape use. Micropropagation of these two plants could provide more and healthier plantlets for rapid commercial scale-up by the nursery industry. Nas and Read Medium (NRM) is a newer medium developed specifically for hazelnut species by Nas and Read based on …

Implementing Green Roofs On Movie Theaters And Shopping Centers: Business Cases In Profitable Sustainability, Ryan J. Miller

Pomona Senior Theses

This thesis presents the business case for installing green roofs on movie theaters and shopping centers. These businesses can then derive increased profits from the environmental benefits of reduced energy use and increased stormwater retention. After presenting the basic design and benefits of a green roof, the thesis develops stand-alone business plans for a movie theater and shopping center. The author finds that green roofs are a profitable sustainability solution for the commercial enterprise.

Regalia-Induced Resistance In Powdery Mildew-Infected Grapevine Plants Correlates With The Induction Of Chalcone Synthase, Thomas Crottogini

Horticulture and Crop Science

No abstract provided.

The Green Revolution Of The 1960'S And Its Impact On Small Farmers In India, Kathryn Sebby

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The Green Revolution was initiated in the 1960’s to address the issue of malnutrition in the developing world. The technology of the Green Revolution involved bio-engineered seeds that worked in conjunction with chemical fertilizers and heavy irrigation to increase crop yields. The technology was readily adopted in many stated in India and for some was a great success. However, there were many farmers who could not afford the inputs necessary to participate in the Green Revolution and gaps between social classes widened as wealthy farmers got wealthier and poor farmers lagged behind. This paper discusses how small farmers were affected …

Combining Local- And Large-Scale Models To Predict The Distributions Of Invasive Plant Species, Chad C. Jones, Steven A. Acker, Charles B. Halpern

Botany Faculty Publications

Habitat-distribution models are increasingly used to predict the potential distributions of invasive species and to inform monitoring. However, these models assume that species are in equilibrium with the environment, which is clearly not true for most invasive species. Although this assumption is frequently acknowledged, solutions have not been adequately addressed. There are several potential methods for improving habitat-distribution models. Models that require only presence data may be more effective for invasive species, but this assumption has rarely been tested. In addition, combining modeling types to form ‘ensemble’ models may improve the accuracy of predictions. However, even with these improvements, models …

Production Of Premium Waxflowers, Kevin Seaton, Nikki Poulish

Bulletins 4000 -

The cut flower trade is a highly competitive global market. Waxflowers are grown around the world—often in countries with lower cost structures or closer proximity to our main markets. Western Australian producers can only compete if their product stands out from the crowd in terms of quality, presentation and uniqueness, however, it still has to represent good value for money.

Evaluating Hazelnut Cultivars For Yield, Quality And Disease Resistance, Sam Tobin

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

ABSTRACT This long term study focuses on testing various hazelnut cultivars for yield, nut quality and disease resistance. There are various cultivars that are being tested for these desired traits but only the Grand Traverse and Skinner will be applicable for the results of this localized study. The desired traits of commercial nut production are best matched by these two cultivars. Results from previous harvests will be used to draw trends to recommend commercially functional cultivars in Eastern Nebraska.

Letter From The Dean, Lalit Verma

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

No abstract provided.

Crop Updates 2006 - Katanning, David Stephens, Michael Meuleners, Meredith Fairbanks, Thomas Schulz, T. J. Flowers, T. D. Colmer, Narelle Simpson, Ron Mctaggart, Wal Anderson, Lionel Martin, Dave Allen, Brenda Shackley, Raj Malik, Kelly Winfield, Rodger Beermier, Shahahan Miyan, Abul Hashem, Shahab Pathan, Vikki Osten, Alex Douglas, Garren Knell, Steve Curtin, Wade Longmuir, Henry Brockman, Justin Hardy, Arjen Ryder, John Paul Collins, Jessica Johns, John Pepall, Allan Herbert

Crop Updates

This session covers sixteen papers from different authors

1. 2006 SEASONAL OUTLOOK, David Stephens and Michael Meuleners, Department of Agriculture

2. Review of climate model summaries reported in the Department of Agriculture’s growing season outlooks, Meredith Fairbanks, Department of Agriculture

3. Farmers commodity outlook 2006, Thomas Schulz, Department of Agriculture

4. Why is salinity such a difficult problem for plant breeders? T J Flowers, TD Colmer, University of Western Australia

5. Matching nitrogen supply to wheat demand in 2005, Narelle Simpson, Ron McTaggart, Wal Anderson, Lionel Martin and Dave Allen, Department of Agriculture

6. Wheat varieties in 2006, Brenda Shackley, …

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Crop Updates 2006 - Lupins And Pulses, Peter White, Mark Seymour, Amelia Mclarty, Wayne Parker, Ian Pritchard, Bob French, Rodger Beermier, Bevan Buirchell, Mark Sweetingham, Jon Clements, Geoff Thomas, Roger Jones, Sofia Sipsas, John Quealy, Leigh Smith, Gordon Francis, Huaan Yang, Jeffrey Boersma, Margaret Pallotta, Chengdao Li, Krishnapillai Sivasithamparam, M. Nelson, H. Phan, S. Ellwood, P, Moolhuijzen, M. Bellgard, J. Hane, A. Williams, J. Fos-Nyarko, B. Wolko, M. Książkiewicz, M. Cakir, M. Jones, M. Scobie, C. O'Lone, S. J. Barker, R. Oliver, W. Cowling, Laurie Maiolo, Martin Harries, Jo Walker, Murray Blyth, Stephen Cosh, Dirranie Kirby, Kedar Adhikari, Patrizia Guantini, Katie Bell, Ken Adcock, Ciara Beard, Anne Smith, Tim Maling, Art Diggle, Debbie Thackray, Kadambot Siddique, Ping Si, Huaan Yang, Vijay Jayasena, Florence Kartawinata, Ranil Coorey, Ken Dods, Kerry Regan, Tanveer Khan, Jenny Garlinge, Rod Hunter, Pam Burges, Eric Armstrong, Glen Riethmuller, Greg Shea, Moin Salam, Jean Galloway, Pip Payne, Bill Macleod, Brenda Coutts, Pooran Gaur, Heather Clarke, Stuart Morgan, Alan Harris, Ted Knights, Kristy Hobson, Chris Matthews, Colin Hanbury, Tim Pope, Mike Baker, Leanne Young, Syed Muhammad Nasar-Abbas, Julie Plummer, D. Harris, Phill Chambers, Michael Materne, Dennis Van Gool, Huyen Phan, Simon Ellwood, J. Hane, Angela Williams, R. Ford, S. Thomas, R. Oliver, Rory Coffey, Chris Poole, Theo Pfaff, Judith Lichtenzveig, Lars Kamphuis, Nola D'Souza, Emma Groves, Karam Singh

Crop Updates

This session covers sixty six papers from different authors:

2005 LUPIN AND PULSE INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS

1. Lupin Peter White, Department of Agriculture

2. Pulses Mark Seymour, Department of Agriculture

3. Monthly rainfall at experimental sites in 2005

4. Acknowledgements Amelia McLarty EDITOR

5. Contributors

6. Background Peter White, Department of Agriculture

2005 REGIONAL ROUNDUP

7. Northern agricultural region Wayne Parker, Department of Agriculture

8. Central agricultural region Ian Pritchard and Bob French, Department of Agriculture

9. Great southern and lakes Rodger Beermier, Department of Agriculture

10. South east region Mark Seymour, Department of …