In Utah, farmers are concerned that ungulates are damaging safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) fields. I examined elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) damage to safflower production in San Juan County, Utah during 2009 and 2010. Data on damaged safflower plants were collected within 28 fields, totaling 1,581 ha (13 fields totaling 963 ha during 2009; 15 fields totaling 618 ha during 2010). I compared 3 methods to assess losses: ungulate-proof exclosures, adjacent plant compensation method, and counting the number of damaged plants in 50-m transects (safflower count method). Exclosures were of limited use because they could not be erected until farmers stopped using cultivating their fields. Hence, this method did not account for ungulate damage to young plants. The adjacent plant compensation method assessed yields within 1 m of a randomly-selected damaged plant to account for any compensatory growth of neighboring plants but this method proved inaccurate because ungulate herbivory was concentrated so that a browsed plant was often surrounded by other browsed plants so no compensatory growth by surrounding plants occurred. The most accurate method was the safflower count method which determined the number of damaged plants within a field and then multiplied this number by the decrease in yield from an average damaged plant. I used this method to examine 981,000 plants for damage. Deer and elk damaged or killed 7.2% of safflower plants during 2009 and 1.4% of plants during 2010. Overall yield reduction was 2.9% during 2009 and 0.6% in 2010. The total value of safflower loss within all surveyed fields in 2009 was $9,023 for a loss of $9.42 / ha. The loss of value within surveyed fields in 2010 was $2,330, or $3.77 / ha. The best model for predicting ungulate damage in 2009 included distance to canyon from field edge and the percent of a field bordered by a fallow field, while the best model for 2010 included distance to canyon from field edge and the percent of a field bordered by a wheat field. Safflower farmers were surveyed in the spring of 2010 to compare perceived losses in their fields during 2009 to those measured in this study. Farmers believed that damage by deer and elk reduced their yields by 20% with most damage caused by elk (x¯ =12% by elk, 7% by deer, 1% by other wildlife). On average, perceptions of damage were 5.2 times higher than the actual levels I measured during 2009. This was not surprising because farmers usually surveyed their field from the field’s edge and ungulate damage was concentrated along the edge of the fields.

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An inter-specific linkage map of a backcross (BC1) population derived from a cross between C. tinctorius and C. oxyacanthus was developed using primarily microsatellite markers. A composite map, which aligned the inter-specific (C. tinctorius x C. oxyacanthus) map with an intra-specific linkage map previously developed from an F2 population of C. tinctorius, was created to search for syntenic regions. Results indicate that despite low marker saturation, there is substantial colinearity between the two linkage maps, and one translocation or inversion event. Upon subsequent self-fertilization events, phenotypes of the inter-specific backcross population were characterized in both the field (BC1S2 generation) and growth chamber (BC1S2 and BC1S3 generations), and identified several lines of agronomic interest. Introgression analysis was performed (BC1S3 generation) to assess the level of integration of C. oxyacanthus DNA into the C. tinctorius genome, and results are suggestive of less inter-specific recombination than expected. / Plant Biology

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Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T15:14:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marinez Sampaio.pdf: 1781440 bytes, checksum: fa1b2f6d536fb807fad63f06e883245d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The field studies were done in the city of Cascavel, PR, during the planting season in fall and winter in 2014 as planting seasons. This study aimed to determine the effect of fertilizer doses and plant density variation in the row in two seasons safflower crop cultivation in the production of component, grain yield and oil content. The experimental design was a randomized block design with three replications. Each block was divided into five plots with four different planting densities (5, 10, 15 and 20 plants per linear meter), where different doses of NPK were applied (0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 kg ha-1) in the composition 4 14 8. Plant samples were evaluated for the verification of phenological data of number of branches, fresh and dry branch, number of capsules, fresh and dry capsules, plant height, stem diameter, stem length, fresh and dry stem, fresh and dry root and the end of the season productivity (kg ha-1), 1000 grain weight and seed oil content. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) test regression and response surface at 5% probability using the Genes software. According to the data analyzed, the growing season did not influence the number of branches and seed oil content. The plant density did not affect the plant height and the weight of 1000 grains and fertilizer doses did not affect the number of branches, plant height, stem fresh weight, yield, 1000-grain weight and oil content. The results obtained for the final yield of safflower crop were the first growing season (autumn) associated with higher plant density (20 pl./m. linear), aggregates the largest fertilizer dose (800 kg ha-1) , with these conditions, the most suitable for safflower cultivation in the region of the study / Os estudos de campo foram realizados na cidade de Cascavel, PR durante o ano de 2014 no outono e inverno, como temporadas de plantio. Este trabalho teve por objetivo determinar o efeito de doses de fertilizantes e variação de densidade de plantas na linha de semeadura em duas épocas de cultivo da cultura do cártamo nos componentes de produção, rendimento de grãos e teor de óleo. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, com três repetições. Cada bloco foi dividido em cinco parcelas com quatro diferentes densidades de plantio (5, 10, 15 e 20 plantas por metro linear), onde foram aplicadas diferentes doses de NPK, (0; 200; 400; 600 e 800 kg ha-1) na composição de 4 14 8. Foram avaliadas amostras de plantas para a verificação dos dados fenológicos de número de galhos, massa fresca e seca de galho, número de capsulas, massa fresca e seca de capsulas, altura de planta, diâmetro de caule, comprimento de caule, massa fresca e seca de caule, massa fresca e seca de raiz e ao final do ciclo vegetativo a produtividade (kg ha-1), peso de 1000 grãos e teor de óleo das sementes. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos a análise de variância (ANOVA), teste de regressão e superfície de resposta a 5 % de probabilidade utilizando o software Genes. De acordo com os dados analisados, a época de cultivo não influenciou o número de galhos e teor de óleo das sementes. A densidade de plantas não interferiu a altura de plantas e o peso de 1000 grãos e as doses de fertilizantes não influenciaram o número de galhos, altura de plantas, massa fresca de caule, produtividade, peso de 1000 grãos e teor de óleo. Os resultados obtidos em relação a produtividade final da cultura do cártamo foram na primeira época de cultivo (outono) associada a maior densidade de plantas (20 pl./m. linear), agregados a maior dose de fertilizante (800 kg ha-1), sendo essas condições, as mais adequadas para o cultivo do cártamo na região de realização do estudo.

One of the big problems encountered in experimental yield trials of field crops is the variation that occurs in yield estimates regardless of how the trial is handled with respect to variety or treatment. This so-called "natural" variation is the result of such factors as heredity, human error, and environment.

To improve management and control of jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica Host.) on traditional winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropland, a better understanding of the effects spring crop and wheat planting date have on weed populations and wheat yield is needed. A study of the effects of safflower (a spring crop) and wheat planting dates (early vs late) was conducted over a 2-yr period. Long term effects will be examined over a 5-yr period. The effects these treatments had on yield, weed seed contamination, jointed goatgrass population density, and soil seedbank concentration were measured. Two identical experiments were initiated, the first beginning in 1996, the second in 1997. In experiment one, initial plant counts showed similar numbers of jointed goatgrass plants in all treatments. In experiment two, initial spring plant counts showed increased numbers of jointed goatgrass in unplanted plots prior to planting safflower, and slightly reduced population densities in October-planted wheat when compared to September-planted wheat. Winter wheat yields were 25% and 35% higher in September-planted wheat than in October-planted wheat, in 1997 in experiment one, and1998 in experiment two, respectively. Crop contamination with jointed goatgrass propagules was four times higher in early vs late-planted wheat in 1997, and 36% higher in 1998. Jointed goatgrass plants in safflower were reduced 97% compared to preplan! counts in both experiments. In experiment one, 1998 fallow season plant counts showed 55% and 75% less jointed goatgrass in fallow safflower plots than in fallow plots of September- and October-planted wheat, respectively, with fallow plots of September-planted wheat having 46% less than fallow plots of October-planted wheat. Soil seed bank concentrations were highest at the 0-5 cm depth of October-planted wheat, which had nearly a 10-fold higher concentrations compared to safflower and September-planted wheat at this depth. There were no differences at depths below 5cm. This study showed the use of safflower to be a very useful management tool for reducing jointed goatgrass populations. September-planted wheat, with similar jointed goatgrass populations, yielded higher, and had less contamination and was therefore more competitive with jointed goatgrass than wheat planted in October, observed through a reduction in jointed goatgrass propagule production. Planting wheat in October, for the purpose of controlling jointed goatgrass through additional tillage, proved ineffective. Jointed goatgrass population densities were not reduced in experiment one, and only slightly reduced in experiment two. The dramatic loss of yield, associated with the later plantings, far outweighs any benefits gained by delaying wheat planting.

Oil seeds are natural sources of fat and protein in diets for lactating cows, and are usually fed whole or crushed. A recently released variety of safflower seed, 'Nutrasaff,' contains high fat (47% crude fat) and low fiber (26% NDF), and has a potential to be effectively used as a fat supplement for lactating dairy cows. Therefore, a lactating dairy cow trial was conducted to assess production performance of dairy cows when fed graded levels of whole Nutrasaff safflower seed (NSS), to determine the optimum level of NSS supplementation in the diet and to identify its impact on milk fat content and milk fatty acid (FA) profiles. Fifteen Holstein dairy cows in midlactation (118 ± 39 days in milk) were assigned into 5 groups of 3 cows each according to previous milk yield. The experimental design was a triple 5 × 5 Latin square with each period lasting 21 d (14 d of treatment adaptation and 7 d of data collection). The animals were fed a basal diet containing 56% forage (69% alfalfa hay and 31% corn silage) and 44% concentrate mix. The diet was supplemented with 0 (control), 1, 2, 3, or 4% (DM basis) whole NSS. The NSS was added to the diet by replacing whole linted-cottonseed. Intake of DM ranged from 26.4 to 27.5 kg/d across all treatments, and did not differ due to NSS inclusion. Yield of milk and ECM averaged 33.7 and 31.6 kg/d, respectively, and they were similar in response to NSS inclusion. Milk fat percentage decreased with increasing NSS inclusion, while milk protein and lactose concentrations did not differ among treatment diets. Milk fat concentration was reduced by 11% when NSS was included at 4% of the dietary DM. Feeding NSS at 1, 2, or 3% resulted in a similar milk fat concentration, and these diets also had similar milk fat percentage compared with the control diet. Concentration of milk urea N decreased by NSS inclusion regardless of level of NSS inclusion, implying that NSS supplementation improved dietary N use for milk production. Digestibilities of DM (P = 0.12) tended to increase when NSS was supplemented at 1, 2, or 3%. Cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) linearly increased as the NSS inclusion increased. Total concentration of n-3 FA increased by feeding NSS at 1 and 2%, whereas total concentration of n-6 FA linearly increased with increasing inclusion level of NSS. This study clearly demonstrates that it is highly possible to use NSS as a means of fat supplementation to lactating dairy cows without negative impact on lactational performance if added less than 3% of dietary DM. The enhanced milk quality with increased cis-9, trans-11 CLA concentration due to the addition of NSS could have positive implications to human health.

Finding the alternate biofuel feedstock(s) in addition to and/or replacement of traditional soybean feedstock is necessary to meet the future demand of biofuels. Two field studies were conducted in diverse environments in Texas during 2007-2011 to evaluate the yield, adaptation, and oil content of 4 cool-season crop species (rapeseed, safflower, flax, and camelina). In addition to the evaluation of yield and adaptation in these cool-season crops, two more studies were conducted during 2009-2011 to study flax yield components (field study) and the effect of vernalization and photoperiod on flowering of flax (growth chamber study). Out of two field studies conducted in Texas, the evaluation of four cool-season crops was designed as a randomized complete block with fifty-one genotypes (four species) and three replications in nine locations across the Texas. In addition to the evaluation of cool-season crops, an exclusive replicated study was conducted in flax to evaluate 20 genotypes for the yield, adaptation, and association between yield and its components in three locations in South Texas. Additionally, a growth chamber study was setup as a split-split plot design with twenty genotypes, two vernalized treatments (vernalized and unvernalized), and two photoperiods (10 hours and 14 hours). Spring rapeseed (canola) and safflower were the highest yielding crops with a maximum yield of 1372 kg ha-1 and 1240 kg ha-1, respectively. In South and Central Texas, fall - seeded flax yield averaged 1075 kg ha^-1 with a mean oil content of 38.3%. The flax genotype evaluation in Southeast Texas suggested that all genotypes developed in Texas showed relative cold tolerance compared to genotypes developed in other locations. A cross between Caldwell / Dillman (Texas genotype) was highly adapted to the environments of southeast Texas. Nekoma and York (genotypes developed in North Dakota) yielded well in non-cold years (> -2 degrees C) in College Station. Overall, flax is well adapted to growth in the area surrounding College Station, TX. The results of association of yield and its components in flax suggest that tiller number was the most significant contributing factor (p<0.05) affecting yield of flax in all three locations. However, the effect of tiller number was almost negated by the effect of pods per tiller (compensatory) in two out of three locations. The effect of vernalization and photoperiod on flowering of 20 genotypes of flax suggested that Texas genotypes delayed anthesis for 7 days or more in non-vernalized seedlings. These genotypes also delayed anthesis for 12 days or more in vernalized and short day conditions compared to vernalized and long day conditions. In summary, the spring rapeseed in diverse environments of Texas and fall-planted flax in South Texas showed promising yield and adaptation. Selection for more productive tiller number and intrinsic earliness of flowering to reduce the time of maturation would benefit the flax yields in Southeast Texas. Safflower was widely adapted to Texas and with increased oil content could have potential to the biofuel industry in Texas.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-07-28T14:16:35Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação_Laís Alves Ribeiro Costa_Março 2016.pdf: 1135215 bytes, checksum: 869ddf6af6f8a4e05c7e9a6d6831f190 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-28T14:16:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação_Laís Alves Ribeiro Costa_Março 2016.pdf: 1135215 bytes, checksum: 869ddf6af6f8a4e05c7e9a6d6831f190 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-02 / CAPEs / O excesso de peso representa um dos grandes problemas da sociedade. A alimentação saudável, incluindo o consumo dos ácidos graxos insaturados, exerce fator crucial na prevenção e tratamento das doenças ocasionadas pela obesidade, incluindo aquelas que acometem o sistema nervoso central. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar, em ratos jovens, efeitos da ingestão alimentar excessiva associada a suplementação com óleo de cártamo sobre parâmetros metabólicos, comportamentais e eletrofisiológicos. Ratos Wistar foram divididos em grupos referentes ao estado nutricional, com ninhadas contendo 03 ou 09 animais, e subdivididos quanto à suplementação com óleo de cártamo ou veículo no período do 7º ao 30º dia de vida por via oral. Após o período de suplementação, dados da murinometria, comportamento referente à ansiedade e memória episódica e registro eletrofisiológico foram coletados. Os resultados indicam que ratos criados em ninhadas com tamanho reduzido apresentaram aumento peso corporal, circunferência abdominal e torácica, comprimento corporal, índice de massa corporal e peso do fígado, quando os dados foram comparados com os respectivos controles. Os ratos submetidos à ingestão alimentar excessiva apresentaram maior ansiedade e redução da velocidade da depressão alastrante cortical (DAC). Por outro lado, o óleo de cártamo, independente do estado nutricional, apresentou maior velocidade de propagação da DAC. Além disso, todos os animais deste estudo foram bem sucedidos na tarefa de reconhecimento de objetos, com preferência em explorar o novo objeto. Os resultados sugerem que o estado nutricional na fase inicial da vida pode acarretar em prejuízos metabólicos, comportamentais e na excitabilidade cortical. Em contrapartida, o óleo de cártamo parece reverter o efeito do excesso alimentar sobre sistema nervoso. / Overweight represent one of the major problems of society. Healthy eating, including consumption of unsaturated fatty acids, exerts a crucial factor in the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by obesity, including those that affect the central nervous system. The objective of this study was to investigate in young rats, effects of excessive food intake associated with safflower oil supplementation on metabolic, behavioral and electrophysiological parameters. Wistar rats were divided in groups with related to nutritional states, with litters containing 03 or 09 pups, and subdivided either as orally supplemented with safflower oil or vehicle in the period from 7th to 30th day of life. After this supplementation period, murinometric data, anxiety-like behavior, episodic memory, and electrophysiological recordings were collected. The results indicate that rats raised in reduces litter size presented increased body weight, thoracic and abdominal circumference, body length, body mass index and liver weight when the data was compared with the respective controls. Rats subjected to excessive food intake showed enhanced anxiety-like behavior and reduced velocity of the cortical spreading depression (CSD). Moreover, animals supplemented with safflower oil, regardless of nutritional state, showed higher speed of propagation of CSD. Furthermore, all animals in this study were successful in the object recognition task, with preference in exploring the new object. The results suggest that the nutritional state in early life can lead to metabolic, behavioral and cortical excitability impairment. On the other hand, safflower oil can appears to reverse the effect of the excess food nervous system.