Plant Breeding and Genetics Commons^™

Association Mapping And Genomic Selection For Yield And Agronomic Traits In Soft Winter Wheat, Dennis Bulusan Lozada

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tools such as genome-wide association study (GWAS) and genomic selection (GS) have expedited the development of crops with improved genetic potential. While GWAS aims to identify significant markers associated with a trait of interest, the goal of GS is to utilize all marker effects to predict the performance of new breeding lines prior to testing. A GWAS for grain yield (GY), yield components, and agronomic traits was conducted using a diverse panel of 239 soft winter wheat (SWW) lines evaluated in eight site-years in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Broad sense heritability of GY (H2=0.48) was moderate compared to other traits including …

Dissection Of Soil Waterlogging Tolerance In Soft Red Winter Wheat Using Genomic Approaches, Marlovi Andrea Acuna-Galindo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Genomic methods including genome wide association analysis (GWAS), genomic selection (GS) and RNA-seq allow for faster selection of superior breeding lines and for identification and resolution of candidate genes. A panel of 240 soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars and breeding lines were subjected to soil waterlogging stress over two seasons at Stuttgart, AR and St. Joseph, LA, US. Total concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Al, B, Cu, Na, S and Zn were determined in wheat shoots post-waterlogging using inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. Yield components kernel number per spike (KNPS), kernel weight per spike (KWS) …

Salt Stress Induces Non-Cg Methylation In Coding Regions Of Barley Seedlings (Hordeum Vulgare), Moumouni Konate, Michael J. Wilkinson, Benjamin T. Mayne, Stephen M. Pederson, Eileen S. Scott, Bettina Berger, Carlos M. Rodriguez Lopez

Horticulture Faculty Publications

Salinity can negatively impact crop growth and yield. Changes in DNA methylation are known to occur when plants are challenged by stress and have been associated with the regulation of stress-response genes. However, the role of DNA-methylation in moderating gene expression in response to salt stress has been relatively poorly studied among crops such as barley. Here, we assessed the extent of salt-induced alterations of DNA methylation in barley and their putative role in perturbed gene expression. Using Next Generation Sequencing, we screened the leaf and root methylomes of five divergent barley varieties grown under control and three salt concentrations, …

A Shared Cis-Regulatory Module Activates Transcription In The Suspensor Of Plant Embryos, Kelli F. Henry, Anhthu Q. Bui, Tomokazu Kawashima, Robert B. Goldberg

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

The mechanisms controlling the transcription of gene sets in specific regions of a plant embryo shortly after fertilization remain unknown. Previously, we showed that G564 mRNA, encoding a protein of unknown function, accumulates to high levels in the giant suspensor of both Scarlet Runner Bean (SRB) and Common Bean embryos, and a cis-regulatory module containing three unique DNA sequences, designated as the 10-bp, Region 2, and Fifth motifs, is required for G564 suspensor-specific transcription [Henry KF, et al. (2015) Plant Mol Biol 88:207–217; Kawashima T, et al. (2009) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:3627–3632]. We tested the hypothesis that …

Gwas For Fusarium Head Blight Related Traits In Winter Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) In An Artificially Warmed Treatment, Elisane W. Tessmann, David A. Van Sanford

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Global temperature increases will affect Fusarium head blight (FHB) levels in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A pressing question is whether current sources of resistance will be effective in a warmer environment. We evaluated phenotypic response to disease in 238 soft winter wheat breeding lines and cultivars grown in 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 under control and warmed (+3 °C) conditions. Warming was achieved with heating cables buried 3 cm in the rhizosphere. We measured heading date, plant height, yield, FHB rating, Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK), deoxynivalenol (DON), leaf blotch rating, powdery mildew rating and leaf rust rating. There were significant ( …

Interplay Of Dgat1, Pdat1 And Dgat2 Enzymes In Plant Triacylglycerol Assembly, Anushobha Regmi

Master's Theses

Acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) catalyzes the transesterification of fatty acid from acyl-CoA to diacylglycerol (DAG) forming triacylglycerol (TAG, a.k.a oils and fats). Most plants have at least two unrelated DGAT genes, DGAT1 and DGAT2. Plants predominantly express only one during oil synthesis; the reason, however is not clear. A few studies have indicated that each enzyme prefers DAG and acyl-CoA substrates with different fatty acid compositions. Industrially desirable seed oil composition can be obtained through genetic engineering by replacing the endogenous enzyme with one that has different substrate selectivity. In Arabidopsis thaliana, DGAT1 and another unrelated enzyme PDAT1 are essential …

Genetic Diversity Analysis Of 11 Black Walnut (Juglans Nigra L.) Cultivars And Development Of A Mapping Population, Steven Jacob Schneider Jr.

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Eastern black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) production stands on the brink of potentially great market expansion that can only be realized if tree improvement increases such that commercial production becomes feasible. Breeding black walnut for thinner shell, disease resistance, and predictable nut yield are just three of the many agronomically important traits that could be improved using marker-assisted selection (MAS). The goal of this study was to incorporate microsatellite markers to characterize (genotype) 11 cultivars and establish a mapping population from a cross between ‘Football’ and ‘Sparrow’ (Ft x Sp). Phenology of these two cultivars coupled with marker characteristics …

An Evaluation Of Breeding, Agronomic, And Processing Methodologies Of Vegetable Soybean (Edamame) To Increase Domestic Production In The United States Market, David Octor Moseley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Edamame is a food-grade soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) that is either harvested immature (R6 stage) or after plant maturity (R8 stage). At R6, the premium product will have crescent- shaped large green pods and gray pubescence. At R8, the seed will either have stayed green or will have turned yellow, black, or brown. Edamame is a healthy snack with a sweet flavor and firm texture. The edamame market is growing in the United States, creating a need for more adapted varieties. The genetic diversity is low among adapted large-seeded breeding lines. Finding diverse accessions will help develop larger and …

Genetic And Phytopathological Studies On Charcoal Rot Resistance In Soybean [Glycine Max (L) Merr.], Marcos Paulo Da Silva

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Charcoal rot of soybean (Glycine max (L.), caused by Macrophomina phaseolina is a disease of economic significance in the United States. The identification and quantification of the resistance is difficult, and very little is known about the genetics and markers linked to the charcoal rot (CR) resistance genes. Current assay methods can be time consuming, and data may vary between tests. The objectives of this study were to 1) create a robust seed plate assay (SPA) for CR resistance by comparing results with cut-stem and CFUI assays; 2) correlate and compare field data disease assessments with SPA; 3) identify QTLs …

A Genome Wide Association Study For Fusarium Head Blight Resistance In Southern Soft Red Winter Wheat, Amanda Holder

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a disease of small grains caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum. FHB poses potential economic losses and health risks due to the accumulation of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) on infected seed heads. The objectives of this study are: 1) evaluate soft red winter wheat (SRWW) lines for resistance to FHB in terms of resistance to initial inoculum (incidence); resistance to spread within the head (severity); resistance to DON accumulation; and resistance to Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK), 2) determine the frequency and effect of known FHB resistance genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL), and 3) …

Optimizing The Use Of A Liquid Handling Robot To Conduct A High Throughput Forward Chemical Genetics Screen Of Arabidopsis Thaliana, B. Kirtley Amos, Victoria G. Pook, Seth Debolt

Horticulture Faculty Publications

Chemical genetics is increasingly being employed to decode traits in plants that may be recalcitrant to traditional genetics due to gene redundancy or lethality. However, the probability of a synthetic small molecule being bioactive is low; therefore, thousands of molecules must be tested in order to find those of interest. Liquid handling robotics systems are designed to handle large numbers of samples, increasing the speed with which a chemical library can be screened in addition to minimizing/standardizing error. To achieve a high-throughput forward chemical genetics screen of a library of 50,000 small molecules on Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), protocols using a …

Kelch F-Box Protein Positively Influences Arabidopsis Seed Germination By Targeting Phytochrome-Interacting Factor1, Manoj Majee, Santosh Kumar, Praveen Kumar Kathare, Shuiqin Wu, Derek Gingerich, Nihar R. Nayak, Louai Salaita, Randy Dinkins, Kathleen Martin, Michael M. Goodin, Lynnette M. A. Dirk, Taylor D. Lloyd, Ling Zhu, Joseph Chappell, Arthur G. Hunt, Richard Vierstra, Enamul Huq, A. Bruce Downie

Horticulture Faculty Publications

Seeds employ sensory systems that assess various environmental cues over time to maximize the successful transition from embryo to seedling. Here we show that the Arabidopsis F-BOX protein COLD TEMPERATURE-GERMINATING (CTG)-10, identified by activation tagging, is a positive regulator of this process. When overexpressed (OE), CTG10 hastens aspects of seed germination. CTG10 is expressed predominantly in the hypocotyl, and the protein is localized to the nucleus. CTG10 interacts with PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 1 (PIF1) and helps regulate its abundance in planta. CTG10-OE accelerates the loss of PIF1 in light, increasing germination efficiency, while PIF1-OE lines fail to complete germination in …

Testing The Potential Of Novel Grain Crop Cultivation In Rural Malawi During The Dry Season Through Irrigation And Soil Modification, Jessica Truman

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research project studied the germination and growth rates of oat and quinoa crops in Mtalimanja, Malawi. This project was part of a larger effort by General Mills and Brigham Young University researchers to increase the diversity and nutrient content of crops in impoverished countries worldwide. It was conducted from May to August 2017 during Malawi’s dry season. Tetraploid oats and quinoa, both modified to increase the protein content of harvested grains, were planted under three different soil conditions: unamended soil, soil mixed with composted chicken litter, and soil with surface-applied granular fertilizer. The research plots were watered daily except …

Effect Of Cultivar And Type On Pepper Yield And Weight, Elizabeth 'Egan' Blessinger

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Peppers (Capsicum) are a valuable commodity throughout the world. They provide food, coloring additives, vitamins, and ornamental aesthetics. Peppers can be grown in many different areas of the world and their success is based on variety selection. Breeding cultivars for superior performance is critical to success. Recent consumer desire for less chemical use throughout the growing process has resulted in new cultivar developments..

The objective of this research was to investigate how cultivar and type affect the yield and weight of field grown peppers. This study provides valuable information for growers in determining which cultivars are suitable for production in …

The Determinants Of Nucleosome Patterns And The Impact Of Phosphate Starvation On Nucleosome Patterns And Gene Expression In Rice, Qi Zhang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In eukaryotic cells, DNA is a large molecule that must be greatly condensed to fit within the nucleus. DNA is wrapped around histone proteins to form nucleosomes, which facilitate DNA condensation, but on the other hand, may limit DNA processes. Organisms must respond to environmental stress in order to survive, and one strategy is by remodeling nucleosomes to promote changes in DNA accessibility to alter gene expression. Studies have demonstrated a clear correlation between nucleosome dynamics and transcriptional change in some eukaryotes, however factors that affect nucleosome positioning in plants are largely unknown, and the correlation between nucleosome dynamics and …

The Effect Of Two Planting Dates And Methods On Snap Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris) Production In A Tunnel House, Edward Sparks, Victor Khan, Ramble Ankumah, James E. Currington, Nathaniel Ellison, George X. Hunter Jr., Jeffery Moore

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of two planting dates and methods on snap bean yields in a tunnel house. The main plots included planting dates March 17 and 31, 2016 for first and second plantings. The sub-plots consisted of planting Method 1 where one seed per hill was planted every 4” apart, and planting Method 2 where three seeds per hill were planted every 12” apart; each treatment combination was replicated four times. The results of the study showed that it took 55 days for the snap beans to be ready for harvest for both planting dates. …

Breeding For Resistance In California Strawberry To Verticillium Dahliae, Zachary Christman

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

This article focuses on breeding resistant strawberries to the fungus Verticillium dahliae, common name Verticillium wilt. This is a serious fungal disease that can result in a loss of 50% or more of a strawberry harvest when grown in infested soil. The main goal is to provide an example of how a cultivar can be made more resistant to a plant pathogen with the use of plant breeding methods.

Since 1930 the University of California, Davis, has been developing strawberry cultivars that are adapted to the agricultural industry and regional farms. Developing cultivars that require fewer inputs are of …

2018 Barley Variety Fact Sheets For Western Australia, Blakely Paynter, Georgia Trainor, Raj Malik, Jeremy Curry, Sanjiv Gupta, Sarah Collins, Daniel Huberli, Harmohinder Dhammu, Geoff Thomas, Ben Biddulph

Bulletins 4000 -

This bulletin is designed as a reference to help determine which barley variety to grow in your region. It provides market feedback, relative grain yield comparisons, disease ratings, agronomic information and herbicide tolerance ratings for all malt barley varieties segregated in Western Australia (WA) and selected feed varieties.

The decision whether to grow barley with a malt or feed classification depends on five main factors:

(1) Premium paid for different varieties when segregated.

(2) Relative grain yield of malt and feed grade barley varieties.

(3) Differences in input costs due to their agronomic and disease characteristics.

(4) Likelihood that grain …

Impact Of Mid-Season Sulphur Deficiency On Wheat Nitrogen Metabolism And Biosynthesis Of Grain Protein, Zitong Yu, Angela Juhasz, Shahidul Islam, Dean Diepeveen, Jingjuan Zhang, Penghao Wang, Wujun Ma

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) quality is mainly determined by grain storage protein compositions. Sulphur availability is essential for the biosynthesis of the main wheat storage proteins. In this study, the impact of different sulphur fertilizer regimes on a range of agronomically important traits and associated gene networks was studied. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to analyse the protein compositions of grains grown under four different sulphur treatments. Results revealed that sulphur supplementation had a significant effect on grain yield, harvest index, and storage protein compositions. Consequently, two comparative sulphur fertilizer treatments (0 and 30 kg ha−1 sulphur, with 50 …

Mac3a And Mac3b, Two Core Subunits Of The Mos4-Associated Complex, Positively Influence Mirna Biogenesis, Shengjun Li, Kan Liu, Bangjun Zhou, Mu Li, Shuxin Zhang, Lirong Zeng, Chi Zhang, Bin Yu

Center for Plant Science Innovation: Faculty Publications

MAC3A and MAC3B are conserved U-box containing proteins in eukaryotes. They are subunits of the MOS4-associated complex (MAC) that plays essential roles in plant immunity and development in Arabidopsis. However, their functional mechanisms remain elusive. Here we show that Arabidopsis thaliana MAC3A and MAC3B act redundantly in microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. Lack of both MAC3A and MAC3B in the mac3b mac3b double mutant reduces the accumulation of miRNAs, causing elevated transcript levels of miRNA targets. mac3a mac3b also decreases the levels of primary miRNA transcripts (pri-miRNAs). However, MAC3A and MAC3B do not affect the promoter activity of genes encoding miRNAs ( …