Botany Commons^™

Assessing The Above- And Belowground Productivity Of Fall-Planted Cover Crop Cultivars In Nebraska's Diverse Ecoregions, Bridget Mckinley

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

Cover crops (CC) provide essential ecosystem services including soil conservation, nutrient cycling, and weed suppression, through the accumulation of aboveground (AGB) and belowground (BGB) biomass. While AGB has been widely studied, BGB contributions, particularly root development and distribution, remain less understood. This study evaluated fall-planted CC across three Nebraska ecoregions, assessing AGB productivity, BGB biomass, and correlations between ground cover, plant height, and AGB.

Thirty treatments, including grasses, legumes, brassicas, and mixtures, were evaluated over two fall growing seasons (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) at three UNL research centers in northeast, west central, and west Nebraska. AGB was highest at west site …

Twas Facilitates Gene-Scale Trait Genetic Dissection Through Gene Expression, Structural Variations, And Alternative Splicing In Soybean, Delin Li, Qi Wang, Yu Tian, Xiangguang Lyv, Hao Zhang, Huilong Hong, Huawei Gao, Yan-Fei Li, Chaosen Zhao, Jiajun Wang, Ruizhen Wang, Jinliang Yang, Bin Liu, Patrick S. Schnable, James C. Schnable, Ying-Hui Li, Li-Juan Qiu

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identifies trait-associated loci, but identifying the causal genes can be a bottleneck, due in part to slow decay of linkage disequilibrium (LD). A transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) addresses this issue by identifying gene expression–phenotype associations or integrating gene expression quantitative trait loci with GWAS results. Here, we used self-pollinated soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) as a model to evaluate the application of TWAS to the genetic dissection of traits in plant species with slow LD decay. We generated RNA sequencing data for a soybean diversity panel and identified the genetic expression regulation of 29 …

Scaling Individual Tree Transpiration With Thermal Cameras Reveals Interspecies Differences To Drought Vulnerability, Mostafa Javadian, Donald M. Aubrecht, Joshua B. Fisher, Russell L. Scott, Sean P. Burns, Jen L. Diehl, J. William Munger, Andrew D. Richardson

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Understanding tree transpiration variability is vital for assessing ecosystem water-use efficiency and forest health amid climate change, yet most landscape-level measurements do not differentiate individual trees. Using canopy temperature data from thermal cameras, we estimated the transpiration rates of individual trees at Harvard Forest and Niwot Ridge. PT-JPL model was used to derive latent heat flux from thermal images at the canopy-level, showing strong agreement with tower measurements (R2 = 0.70–0.96 at Niwot, 0.59–0.78 at Harvard at half-hourly to monthly scales) and daily RMSE of 33.5 W/m2 (Niwot) and 52.8 W/m2 (Harvard). Tree-level analysis revealed species-specific responses to …

Growth Of Passionflower (Passiflora Incarnata) On A Green Roof Using Commercial Fertilizer Vs. Natural Compost, Siobhan Day, Corinne Parker, Carmyn Harrison, Lauren York

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Tennessee’s state wildflower, is valued for its ecological role as a pollinator plant and its historical significance to the Cherokee, making it an ideal candidate for green roofs that support biodiversity and urban sustainability. This study examined the feasibility of growing passionflower on a green roof and tested whether commercial fertilizer (Miracle-Gro) or natural compost would lead to greater growth compared to no fertilizer. Twelve plants were divided equally into three treatment groups: control, Miracle-Gro, and compost, with growth measurements taken weekly from September to November. Results suggest that passionflowers treated with Miracle-Gro achieved the most growth, …

Fire And Ant Interactions Mediated By Honeydew And Extrafloral Nectar In An Australian Tropical Savanna, Fernanda M. P. Oliveira, Carlos H. F Silva, Melinda L. Moir, Inara R. Leal, Alan N. Andersen

Natural Resources Research Articles

Fire is a major disturbance affecting ecosystems globally, but its impact on mutualisms has received minimal attention. Here, we use a long-term field experiment to investigate the impact of different fire regimes on globally important ant–honeydew and ant–extrafloral nectar (EFN) mutualistic interactions in an Australian tropical savanna. These interactions provide ants with a key energy source, while their plant and hemipteran hosts receive protection services. We examined ant interactions on species of Eucalyptus (lacking EFNs) and Acacia (with EFNs) in three replicate plots each of burning every 2 and 3 years early in the dry season, burning late in the …

2024 Fall Newsletter, Plaster Creek Stewards

Newsletters

Highlights:

Project GreenER Returns in 2025

Sustainable Business of the Year

PCS Is Showing Up Around the Community

Botanical Highlight: Discovery of a New Kent County Native Grass

Fall Event Furthers New Tree Planting Initiatives

Plaster Creek: Unsalted?

Making Connections at Calvin

Parkway Pocket Garden Maintenance Booklet, Plaster Creek Stewards

Print Materials

Parkway pocket gardens are designed for areas between the sidewalk and street, but without a basin and curb-cut. By replacing lawn in parkways with native plants, it can soak up rainwater that falls on the gardens, provide habitat and a food source for pollinators and birds, and increase biodiversity in your neighborhood. This maintenance guide covers the Michigan native plants that may be found in a parkway pocket garden, maintenance recommendations, and weeds you may encounter.

Field-Based Courses Still Matter, But Not Like They Used To, Christopher T. Martine

Faculty Journal Articles

Increasingly, field-based courses are providing the first real opportunities for students to experience nature in meaningful ways. As a baseline, even before the content delivery and the graded assessments, this is already enough to change the way a person feels in the world and to spark an appreciation for the life around them.

(Part of a special feature on education in which recent winners of the Botanical Society of America's Charles E. Bessey Award share teaching philosophies and strategies.)

Zadoks Growth Scale, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Zadoks growth scale is a 0-99 scale of development that is recognised internationally for research, advisory work, and farm practice, particularly to time the application of chemicals and fertilisers.

Summer- And Fall-Planted Cover Crops Across Nebraska: Assessing Performance Using Aerial Imagery And Evaluating Short-Term Soil Impacts, Grace Emperatriz Pacheco Jiron

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

Cover crops are widely recognized for improving soil health and promoting sustainability in agricultural systems. Despite the increasing use of monitoring tools like aerial imagery, their application in evaluating summer-planted cover crops in the Great Plains remains limited, hindering effective management strategies. Fall-planted cover crops provide long-term environmental benefits, including enhanced soil quality and erosion control; however, understanding their short-term effects on soil properties is crucial for encouraging adoption. This study assessed summer- and fall-planted cover crops across Nebraska, integrating aerial imagery and soil health analyses.

Over two years, fifteen summer-planted monocultures and five mixtures were evaluated for establishment, biomass …

Ur’S Witness Oak Project Honors Enslaved Ancestors, W. John Hayden

Biology Faculty Publications

This article is about one tree and one cemetery plot. Though the existence of some may have been forgotten, many more burial grounds for the enslaved are known and some of these may still have trees old enough to have “witnessed” the interments of those who toiled so hard, for so long. What better way to remember their contributions to the land that continues to nourish us than by maintaining a living legacy of Witness Tree progeny?

What Do Turtleheads & Cotton Have In Common?, W. John Hayden

Biology Faculty Publications

I will not be offended if, dear reader, your response to the question posed in the title is something along the lines of, “Hmmm, probably not very much!”

Satellite Observations Indicate That Chia Uses Less Water Than Other Crops In Warm Climates, Brian Kirsch, Joshua B. Fisher, Thomas Piechota, Mohammad Hassani, Diego C. Suardiaz, Radhika Puri, Joseph Cahill, Hagop S. Atamian

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Many parts of the world face severe and prolonged drought conditions, stressing the sustainability of water resources and agriculture. Transitioning to water-efficient crops is one strategy that can help adapt to water scarcity. An emerging drought-tolerant crop of interest is chia (Salvia hispanica). Yet, no study has compared its large-scale water use dynamics to those of widely established crops across the globe. Here, we use satellite data over multiple years to assess the water use efficiency of chia, alfalfa, corn, and soybean globally. Results show that chia consumed 13-38% less water than alfalfa, corn, and soy and assimilated …

L-Phenylalanine And Trans-Cinnamic Acid Combined With Fe3o4-Nps Treatment Induce Oxidative Stress And Enhances Alkaloid Production In Narcissus Tazetta L. By Increasing Pal And N4omt Gene Expression, Ladan Bayat, Azra Saboora, Ezat Asgarani, Mahboobeh Zarrabi

Turkish Journal of Botany

The medicinal properties of narcissus plants are attributed to the presence of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Elicitors, such as nanoparticles, are employed to enhance the production of secondary metabolites through signaling and the generation of reactive oxygen species. We investigated the effects of Fe3 O4 nanoparticles (Fe3 O4 -NPs), trans-cinnamic acid (tCA), and L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) precursors on various physiological and biochemical parameters in Narcissus tazetta L., with a particular focus on alkaloid content. Fe3 O4 - NPs treatment significantly increased photosynthetic pigments, secondary metabolites (including alkaloids, phenolic compounds), total soluble carbohydrates, and polysaccharides. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD), phenylalanine …

Genome-Wide Identification, Phylogeny, And Pharmacological Analysis Of Date Palm Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Ion Channel (Cngc) Gene Family In Response To Fungi, Mumtaz Ali̇ Saand, Marina Memon, Ameer Ahmed Mi̇rbahar, Qurban Ali̇ Magsi, Athar Abbas Babar, Sahib Abbas Ghanghro

Turkish Journal of Botany

Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel (CNGC) is one of the important calcium conducting channels and involves in numerous biological functions such as plant development, phytohormone responses, plant-pathogen interactions. Nevertheless, identification of CNGC gene family has yet not been carried out in date palm crop. In this study, genome-wide identification, and pharmacological analysis of date CNGCs was conducted against fungal pathogens. The 26 PdCNGC genes were identified by using extensive bioinformatics tools. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that signal transduction, transmembrane transport and ion binding proteins were at the top in biological process and molecular functions of PdCNGCs. Protein-protein interaction of PdCNGCs …

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Induction Of Triticale Protective Systems Under Drought, Salt Stress Or A Combination Of The Two, Yuriy Kolupaev, Ivan V. Shakhov, Alexander I. Kokorev, Liana I. Relina, Alla I. Dyachenko, Alexander P. Dmitriev

Turkish Journal of Botany

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is currently considered to be an important stress metabolite with regulatory functions in plants. Exogenous GABA is known to be able to enhance the tolerance of different plant species to drought and salt stress. However, its effects on the functioning of stress-protective systems in triticale, an intergeneric wheat-rye hybrid with specific adaptation strategies to abiotic stresses, remained completely unstudied. We studied the effects of exogenous GABA (0.5 mM) on the growth as well as on the antioxidant and osmoprotective systems of triticale seedlings (cv. 'Rarytet') under simulated drought (15% PEG 6000), salt stress (100 mM NaCl), or …

Pollination Is A Major Driver Of Germination In Comanthera Bisulcata And May Improve Everlasting Flowers (Sempre-Vivas) Conservation In Brazilian Campos Rupestres, Maria Luiza De Azevedo, Maria Neudes De Sousa Oliveira, André Rodrigo Rech, Gudryan Jackson Baronio, Jose Carlos Barbosa Dos Santos, Evandro Luiz Mendonca Machado, Israel Marinho Pereira, Eric Bastos Gorgens

Turkish Journal of Botany

The campos rupestres, ecosystems that are both unique and highly diverse, are home to a variety of endemic species, including Comanthera bisulcata (Eriocaulaceae). This species, of economic importance, has its inflorescences used in handicrafts due to the fact that they retain the appearance of living structures even after being harvested and dried. The trade of these inflorescences depends almost exclusively on extraction, an activity of great importance for the traditional communities of the Espinhaço Meridional municipalities, in Minas Gerais. However, research is essential to improve the management of this native species. In this study, we highlight the importance of pollination …

A New Species Of Nigrospora (Apiosporaceae) In Corylus Heterophylla In China, Jing Wang, Zhong-Xuan Liu, Wei Yu, Chao Kang, Yi Hua Yang

Turkish Journal of Botany

Corylus heterophylla, the majestic hazelnut tree, stands as one of the esteemed quartet of grand nuts reigning across the landscapes of temperate Asia, Europe, and North America. But its relationship with endophytic fungi remains thinly explored. This study successfully identified a new species designated as Nigrospora coryli through conjoint analysis of morphology and systematics. The genetic regions examined encompassed ITS, TUB2, and TEF1-α.The detailed morphological description, colour photographs of Macro- and microcharacters are presented.

Dissecting The Genetic Architecture Of Sunflower Disc Diameter Using Genome-Wide Association Study, Yavuz Delen, Ravi V. Mural, Semra Palali-Delen, Gen Xu, James C. Schnable, Ismail M. Dweikat, Jinliang Yang

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plays an essential role in meeting the demand for edible oil worldwide. The yield of sunflower seeds encompasses several component traits, including the disc diameter. Over three consecutive years, 2019, 2020, and 2022, we assessed phenotypic variation in disc diameter across a diverse set of sunflower accessions (N = 342) in replicated field trials. Upon aggregating the phenotypic data from multiple years, we estimated the broad sense heritability (H²) of the disc diameter trait to be 0.88. A subset of N = 274 accessions was genotyped by using the tunable genotyping-by-sequencing (tGBS) method, …

A Step By Step Shoreline Attribute Analysis For Selected Waterbodies In The Gulf Of Mexico To Promote The Use Of Living Shorelines, Christoper Boyd, Xutong Niu, Taylor R. Horn

Journal of Extension

Living Shorelines are being promoted by coastal extension professionals as a more resilient nature-based solution to control shoreline erosion. The Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences Living Shorelines Suitability Model was run in selected waterbodies within the Gulf of Mexico.

The locations of the selected water bodies, coastal data sets used, and shoreline protection recommendations generated by the Model are presented. A step-by-step statistical analysis conducted through ArcGIS Pro from these selected coastal shorelines will illustrate how extension professionals with novice GIS experience can use the model output to promote living shorelines to coastal property owners, city managers, and developers.