Tillage increases erosion rates and diminishes the quality of soils but has traditionally been a way to manage weeds and prepare a seedbed. No-till vegetable production can ameliorate the ill-effects of tillage in an economically effective way but has not been studied much in California. The objective of this thesis was to determine the viability of no-till vegetable cropping on the Central Coast of California. Tomatoes were grown in no-till and conventionally tilled treatments. Total yield, fruit weight, weed emergence, soil bulk density, soil aggregate stability, and soil organic carbon content were measured and compared. Yields and soil tests in both treatments were similar while weed emergence in the tilled plots was significantly higher than in no-till plots. The results may help vegetable producers determine how to make vegetable production on the Central Coast more sustainable.

No description available.

Our understanding of the natural world is constantly evolving and strengthening as more observations are made and experiments are performed. For example, we understand that tree stems grow toward the light (positive phototropism; Darwin 1880, Loehle 1986, Christie et al. 2013) and against gravity (negative gravitropism; Knight 1806, Hashiguchi et al. 2013). We also know that plants respond to mechanical stimulus and perturbation (thigmotropism; Braam 2005). Genes and their resulting proteins have been described to uncover some of the mechanisms for these environmental responses, but relatively speaking, we have just scratched the surface (Wyatt et al. 2013). While the discovery of the molecular mechanisms responsible for these behaviors is certainly dependent on the ever-improving lab technology available, every molecular discovery is dependent on a macroscopic observation. In this manuscript I present the two novel macroscopic observations I made on members of Araucaria in the urban forest. The first describes a hemisphere-dependent lean in A. columnaris, and the second provides genetic and morphological evidence that hybrids exist between A. columnaris and A. heterophylla. Araucaria columnaris (J.R. Forst.) Hooker, or the Cook Pine is a conifer with a narrow native range that has been cultivated worldwide and grows unlike any other tree known. The initial observation we made was that trees in California and Hawaii lean south, and trees in California lean to a greater extent than trees in Hawaii. Measuring 250 trees in 16 regions worldwide, however, produced statistically significant evidence for a hemisphere dependent directional leaning pattern. Trees in the northern hemisphere lean south, and trees in the southern hemisphere lean north. Additionally, the lean becomes more pronounced at greater distances from the equator. We also gathered morphological and genetic evidence in the California urban forest that A. columnaris and A. heterophylla (Salisb.) Franco are hybridizing. Many individuals have intermediate characteristics of both species, which originally led me to believe that hybrids exist in cultivation. After analyzing several individuals with microsatellite genetic markers, I have enough evidence to conclude that hybrids between A. columnaris and A. heterophylla exist. This is an important observation mainly for municipalities and arborists interested in properly identifying trees in the urban forest. Knowing the proper identity of trees is imperative to informing decisions about their protection or removal. As we continue to ask questions about the inner workings of nature we will continue to gain a better appreciation for what we still do not know. The evidence provided in this manuscript better informs our future questions about a leaning pattern in A. columnaris and about the history of the cultivation of Araucaria.

Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) is an ornamental Rosaceous shrub producing delicate white flowers that yield fruit similar in appearance and nutrition to blueberry (Vaccinium spp.). Most serviceberry are propagated in Canada and, as imported stocks are often expensive, clones were accessed from 70 locations in North Dakota. Following establishment, a replicated field trial of wild biotypes of serviceberry was initiated at the North Dakota State University Horticulture Research Farm (NDSU HRF) near Absaraka, ND and at the Williston Research and Extension Center (WREC) in Williston, ND. Yield data was taken upon harvest in summers 2014-2017 at NDSU HRF and 2016 at WREC. ND 1-2, ND 1-4, ND 1-6, ND 1-7, ND 48-2 often out-yielded market genotypes. ND 15-2 was high in sugar content and gelling ability, ideal for processing. Through continued selection, North Dakota growers may have quality serviceberry from a local source.

Indoor horticulture offers a promising solution for sustainable food production and is becoming increasingly widespread. However, it incurs high energy and cost due to the use of artificial lighting such as high-pressure sodium lamps, fluorescent light or increasingly, the light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The energy efficiency and light quality of currently available lighting is suboptimal, therefore less than ideal for sustainable and cost-effective large-scale plant production. Here, we demonstrate the use of high-powered single-wavelength lasers for indoor horticulture. Lasers are highly energy-efficient and can be remotely guided to the site of plant growth, thus reducing on-site heat accumulation. Besides, laser beams can be tailored to match the absorption profiles of different plants. We have developed a prototype laser growth chamber and demonstrate that laser-grown plants can complete a full growth cycle from seed to seed with phenotypes resembling those of plants grown under LEDs. Importantly, the plants have lower expression of proteins diagnostic for light and radiation stress. The phenotypical, biochemical and proteomic data show that the singlewavelength laser light is suitable for plant growth and therefore, potentially able to unlock the advantages of this next generation lighting technology for highly energy-efficient horticulture. Furthermore, stomatal movement partly determines the plant productivity and stress management. Abscisic acid (ABA) induces stomatal closure by promoting net K+-efflux from guard cells through outwardrectifying K+ (K+ out) channels to regulate plant water homeostasis. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana guard cell outward-rectifying K+ (ATGORK) channel is a direct target for ABA in the regulation of stomatal aperture and hence gas exchange and transpiration. Addition of (±)-ABA, but not the biologically inactive (−)-isomer, increases K+ out channel activity in Vicia faba guard cell protoplast. A similar ABA-modulated K+ channel conductance was observed when ATGORK was heterologously expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) cells. Alignment of ATGORK with known PYR/PYL/RCARs ABA receptors revealed that ATGORK harbors amino acid residues that are similar to those at the latchlike region of the ABA-binding sites. In ATGORK, the double mutations K559A and Y562A at the predicted ABA-interacting site impaired ABA-dependent channel activation and reduced the affinity for ABA in vitro.

Trädgårdsterapi är en behandlingsmetod där deltagarna genomgår ett program baserat på upplevelser och arbete i en terapeutisk trädgård med stöd av ett multidisciplinärt team med syftet att behandla olika sjukdomstillstånd. I Sverige tillämpas trädgårdsterapi främst vid vård av psykisk ohälsa som depression, utmattningssyndrom och schizofreni.  Syftet med detta arbete var att undersöka vilken effekt trädgårdsterapi har visats ha vid olika sjukdomstillstånd. Därför genomfördes en litteraturöversikt med systematisk ansats. Sökningar utfördes i databaserna PubMed, APA Psychinfo samt Swemed+ vilket resulterade i tio experimentella studier. Dessa har kvalitetsgranskats och deras resultat har bedömts och sammanställts. Studierna undersöker: cancer i palliativ vård, schizofreni, demens, stroke, smärta, depression och utmattningssyndrom samt hjärt- och kärlsjukdomar. Många av studierna har metodologiska problem som sänker deras kvalitet och bevisvärde.  Det finns inget stöd för att trädgårdsterapi skulle kunna användas för att öka livskvaliteten i palliativ vård för patienter med cancer. Det har inte heller visats fungera bättre än konventionell behandling vid stroke-rehabilitering eller för att förbättra stämningsläget hos personer med demens. Däremot har trädgårdsterapi visats ha gynnsamma effekter på symptomen vid schizofreni, depression och långvarig smärta samt bidra till rehabilitering av depression och utmattningssyndrom. De positiva effekterna på flera av sjukdomstillstånden visar att behandlingen kan ha potential att öka hälsa och lindra sjukdom. Detta kan motivera till ytterligare studier och en fortsatt utveckling av trädgårdsterapin. / Horticultural Therapy is an activity where the participants are working in and experiencing a therapeutic garden with the support of a multidisciplinary team with the aim to treat various illnesses. In Sweden the method is mainly used to treat mental health problems such as depression, fatigue and schizophrenia. The objective of this paper was to examine the effects of horticultural therapy on different illnesses. To reach the objective a review with a systematic approach was performed. A key word search was made in the databases PubMed, APA Psychinfo and Swemed+ which resulted in ten experimental studies that has been used for analyses in this paper. The quality of the studies has been examined and the results have been evaluated and compiled. The included publications examine palliative care, schizophrenia, dementia, stroke, pain, depression, fatigue and cardiopulmonary diseases. Several of the studies have methodological shortcomings which limits their quality and evidential value.  There is no evidence that horticultural therapy could be used to improve the quality of life in cancer patients in palliative care. Neither has it been shown to perform better than conventional treatments in the rehabilitation of stroke or to improve the mood of persons with dementia.  However, horticultural therapy had significant positive effects on the symptoms of schizophrenia, depression and chronic pain and contributed to the rehabilitation of depression and fatigue. The positive effects indicate that horticultural therapy could potentially contribute to promoting health and treating disease. This could motivate further studies and a continued development of the treatment.

No description available.

Mite pest problems in Utah apple orchards became generally serious about 1944, when DDT was first used extensively to control Codling moths, Carpocapsa pomonella (Linn.) (Jorgensen, 1967}. Since then several investigators (Pickett et al., 1946; Lord, 1949; Pickett, 1955; Lord, Herbert, and MacPhee, 1958) have examined the influence of various spray programs on apple orchard fauna, while still others (Clancy and Pollard, 1952; Morgan, Anderson, and Swales, 1958; Oat-man and Legner, 1962) have conducted related studies with widely used broad spectrum pesticides on apple mites and their predators. All seem to lend credence to the theory that mite pest problems on apples resulted primarily from the reduction or elimination of natural enemies with pesti-cides. Still other factors as m9ntioned by Huffaker, van de Vrie, and McMurtry (1970) may have profound effects on, or be a principal cause of mite outbreaks in some situations. Presently, integration of natural and chemical control methods for mites seems essential. Van Den Bosch and Stern (1962) and Jorgensen (1967) redefined the control target when they emphasized that in the development of an integrated control program, the entire ecosystem, rather than isolated pest species, must be of primary concern.

Am Standort Dresden-Pillnitz wurde von 2009 bis 2011 an neuen Lösungen für eine programmierte Produktion von Pelargonien und Poinsettien geforscht. Ziel war eine verbesserte Nutzung der Steuerungstechnik in den Gewächshäusern für eine energiesparende, umweltfreundliche und sichere Produktion. Mit speziellen Softwarebausteinen auf dem Bedienungs-PC der Gewächshäuser lassen sich 10 bis 20 Prozent Heizenergie und damit CO2-Emissionen einsparen. Weitere Bausteine überwachen die reale Wärme- und Lichtentwicklung und nehmen automatische Anpassungen an die Jahreswitterung vor. Eine mengenbilanzierte Düngung sichert die bedarfsgerechte Nährstoffversorgung für die geplante Pflanzengröße. Die neuen Lösungen verringern den Kontroll- und Bedienaufwand und erhöhen die Kultursicherheit. Für Pelargonien und Poinsettien werden spezielle Kombinationen von Programmbausteinen empfohlen.

An Zierpflanzen im Gewächshaus wurden mengenbilanzierte Düngungsverfahren getestet. Die Düngegaben erfolgten in Wochenportionen per Hand, mit Dosiergeräten, per Düngecomputer oder als Depotdünger. In die Versuche wurden Pelargonien, Sommertopfkulturen im Gewächshaus, Poinsettien und Cyclamen einbezogen. Wochenportionen können nur bei einheitlichen Anbausätzen je Bewässerungseinheit realisiert werden. Der Kostenaufwand bei Depotdünger beträgt das Dreifache gegenüber einer Bewässerungsdüngung. Allerdings sind die Düngeverluste geringer. Mit einer mengenbilanzierten Düngung lassen sich Über- und Unterversorgung der Pflanzen vermeiden.