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Colletotrichum coccodes strain DAOM 183088 is considered a potential bioherbicide for velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti), a devastating weed in North American corn and soybeans. Risk assessment studies have created a demand for an accurate and robust method to monitor this strain, and to distinguish it from indigenous background population of microorganisms present in the field. Safe biological control management of velvetleaf also requires comprehensive understanding of the pathogenicity determinants employed by this host-specific fungus to establish infection on velvetleaf, an aspect central to a safe biocontrol strategy task. In this study, molecular markers were designed that allow strain specific identification of the bioherbicide strain of C. coccodes and its identification within complex plant and soil matrices. An assay was developed to quantify C. coccodes from deliberate release field soil samples, in which biases caused by soil-originating PCR inhibitors were monitored on a sample per sample basis. The developed external control assay allowed for the estimation of target C. coccodes DNA quantities with normalization for the presence of PCR inhibitory compounds. Kinetic growth curves of disease development were performed for C. coccodes wild-type and T20-a (genetically engineered for hypervirulence with the NEP1 (necrosis and ethylene inducing peptide) gene) strains on velvetleaf leaves over a period of 14 days after C. coccodes infection. The wild-type strain was more efficient at infecting velvetleaf than the transgenic T-20a strain, while expression of NEP1 could not be detected suggesting that the introduced gene may not be transcriptionally active in the transformed strain, a result in conflict with previous observations. Velvetleaf and C. coccodes genes specifically upregulated at 12 and 24 h after fungal infection were cloned and differentially screened by microarrays. The resulting EST collection was sequenced and assigned to putative functions. Early gene up-regulation was confirmed by QRT-PCR analysis for type 3 metal lothionein, EREB, WRKY, and bZIP transcription factors, reticuline oxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and ACC oxidase gene candidates. In addition, type 2, type 3 metallothionein, and bZIP gene expression profiles were investigated over a period of 14 days after C. coccodes infection, and the results indicated that C. coccodes altered the expression of all three gene analyzed.

Beginning in the late 1930s, fire exclusion has drastically altered the vegetation dynamics of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Extremely low fire frequency has allowed for more shade-tolerant species to invade once predominantly open forests and has made it almost impossible for fire-dependent species to establish on a site. One such species is the endangered Peters Mountain mallow (Iliamna corei Sherff.) located on Peters Mountain in The Nature Conservancy s Narrows Preserve in Giles County, Virginia. This paper focuses on the fire history and stand dynamics of Peters Mountain and how fire exclusion has altered the forest composition. The historic fire frequency and successional changes discovered here may provide an insight into management strategies for the mallow. Seventy-nine fire scarred cross-sections were taken and aged to determine fire history dates and frequencies. Three 50x20 meter plots were set up on opposing aspects: northwest and southeast. The aspects were chosen at the direction of The Nature Conservancy personnel. All trees within were identified, cored and aged to determine species composition and the establishment dates of all trees. Fire history analysis revealed a mean fire interval of 2.48 years, a Weibull median fire interval of 2.18 years and a 25 percent scarred class mean fire interval of 12.5 years. Stand dynamic results show that Quercus montana has established on Peters Mountain prior to fire exclusion and remains the dominate species on the landscape. An increased number of fire intolerant species (including Acer rubrum, Sassfras albidum, Nyssa sylvatica) have been establishing on Peters Mountain during the decades of decreased fire frequency, suggesting a shift in forest composition. Frequent fires are suggested for mallow management and oak forest maintenance.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-11T13:58:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silvia elaine.pdf: 2739465 bytes, checksum: b364ae9ef318ffb624f3e72d42c64f40 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-09-18 / O aumento da produção de fibras vegetais decorrente da maior velocidade no processo produtivo ocasionado pela inserção do incremento tecnológico para a fase de descorticagem no tocante ao beneficiamento do produto, bem como o surgimento de novos custos, requer do produtor ribeirinho amazônico um controle contábil mais apurado e preciso a fim de administrar a manutenção desta atividade produtora de renda. Esta pesquisa tem como finalidade conhecer os custos da produção de fibras vegetais a partir dos cultivos de malva e juta nas formas de produção tradicional e tecnológica, a fim de que o produtor tenha o pleno conhecimento dos seus custos de produção podendo assim controlá-los, e obter inclusive informações contábeis necessárias para o planejamento de suas atividades, bem como para a boa tomada de decisões. A metodologia usada neste trabalho foi um estudo de caso na comunidade amazônica de Bom Jesus, grande produtora de fibras vegetais, e tomou como base os dados obtidos através de questionários aplicados ao presidente da comunidade que também é produtor. Como resultado foi possível conhecer os custos das duas formas de produção, tradicional e tecnológica, o que permitiu organizar os custos da produção tecnológica em forma de planilha eletrônica de dados gerando um modelo de controle contábil gerencial específico para esta produção, demonstrando com transparência ao agricultor além dos custos o resultado da safra agrícola. Finalmente, recomendou-se ao produtor ribeirinho o uso do modelo contábil elaborado no sentido de manter um controle confiável que possa fornecê-lo informações úteis para a gestão e manutenção da atividade produtiva.

Heavy metals are part of us life for many centuries. Some of them are for living organism neccessary, but in large amount they have toxic effects. So we should decrease amount of heavy metals in the Environment. We have many way to do it. A relatively new way are the phytoremediation. If we would use the phytoremediation, we should know, what they do in plants. We must use specific plants, which are tolerant to certain heavy metal. If we would select a suitable plant, we have to try, how heavy metals in soil solution are toxic to plants. Zinc is no expection, although it is important part of many proteins. In plants it make rusty leaves and reduct aboveground and root biomass production. In hydroponic experiment I investigated that mallow Malva verticillata was very sensitive to low additon of Zn(NO3)2. The toxic efect appeared in 2 weeks. In sorghum Sorghum bicolor zinc show expressive toxic effect at concentration 1 mmol/l. I studied six cultivars of Sorghum bicolor, DSM 14-535, Expres, Honey Graze BMR, Nutri Honey, Sucrosorgho 506 and Sweet Virginia. According EC50 I as- sessed that the most sensitive was Sucrosorgho 506 and very tolerant were Nutri Honey and Sweet Virginia. Cultivar Nutri Honey was characteristic. It had the highest ratio concentration in shoot to concentration in root. I studied...

Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) and Iris Yellow Spot Virus (IYSV) constitute a pest complex of global concern for allium growers. Yield losses due to onion thrips alone can be heavy, and in tandem with IYSV, these losses can be complete. This study was one phase of a multi-phase research project intent on exploring the potential drivers of thrips and virus infestation in onion. Preliminary observations in participating growers’ fields in northern Utah pointed towards a potential link between weedy field borders and thrips/IYSV infestation in onion. Field work was carried out at the Kaysville experiment station examining the possible relationships between thrips and IYSV incidence in onion and the presence of adjacent weed populations. This research was conducted with the intent of guiding growers’ decisions regarding field border management, and to provide additional insights into onion thrips behavior. While implications for growers remain unclear, thrips preferences regarding host plant utilization were identified, as well as preliminary evidence of additional plant species capable of hosting IYSV.

[Truncated abstract] Malva parviflora L. (small-flowered mallow) (Malvaceae) is a common weed of pastures and wastelands and its distribution has increased rapidly throughout Australia during the last decade. Control of M. parviflora with herbicides, such as glyphosate, is often unsatisfactory and changing farming practices, such as minimum tillage, have facilitated its spread. Yet there has been little research on M. parviflora in the past and many aspects of its biology and ecology are unknown. Hence, there exists a need to examine these aspects in order to investigate and develop suitable integrated weed management strategies. Weed identification is the first and probably the most important step in the management of weeds. Here it is shown that the weedy Malva species in Western Australian farming systems is M. parviflora, and not a morphologically similar Malva species or hybrid of two species. A common garden study of 24 populations collected across the agricultural region of south-west Western Australia revealed that since its introduction over 140 years ago M. parviflora has successfully adapted to a wide range of distinct environments. The species is able to thrive in areas that vary in annual rainfall from 315 to 496 mm, maximum average temperatures from 21.9 to 26.8oC and minimum average temperatures from 9 to 13.6oC. However, there was limited broad scale ecoclinal differentiation and low genetic variation within the common garden study with only length of time between sowing and flowering differing between populations. As the species was shown to possess a predominately inbreeding system, which typically would create ecotypes/ecoclines due to limited gene flow, it was suggested that seed dispersal by sheep is likely to have increased gene flow thus suppressing population differentiation. A considerable proportion of mature hardseeded M. parviflora can survive rumen digestion and mastication by sheep. ... With origins thought to be in the Mediterranean region, it is not surprising that M. parviflora has thrived and prospered in south-west Western Australia. This thesis has determined several aspects that have enabled it to flourish in this Mediterranean-type environment and most of these attributes, including autogamous reproduction, ecoclinal/ecotypic formation, dormancy and asynchronous germination and rapid seed development, are commonly found in successful weeds world-wide.