Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2008. / Title from title screen (site viewed May 5, 2009). PDF text: xi, 146 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 8 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3341869. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Thesis--Auburn University, 2010. / Abstract. Includes bibliographic references.

Biliverdin IXα is a green bile pigment produced by enzymatic cleavage of a tetrapyrrole ring of heme by heme oxygenase. While biliverdin IXα is emerging as an effective cytoprotectant, the conventional method for producing biliverdin IXα by chemical conversion of animal bile is not suitable for large scale production. A novel scalable production method was pursued via bacterial fermentation. Recombinant Escherichia coli strains were obtained by sequence optimization and plasmid transformation of a cyanobacterial heme oxygenase gene. Further strain development was done by plasmid overexpression of a native E. coli flavodoxin gene as a possible electron donor for heterogeneous heme oxygenase. The resulting strains were grown in a fed-batch culture system optimized for biliverdin IXα production. Syringomycin E is a lipodepsinonapeptide produced by certain strains of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae by nonribosomal peptide synthesis. Though syringomycin E had been considered a phytotoxin in the past, recent research results indicate that syringomycin E is a natural fungicide that is not toxic to animals and plants. Syringomycin E is a potential fungicide especially for use in the organic agriculture sector. New strains of P. syringae pv. syringae were isolated through ultraviolet mutagenesis and screenings for enhanced capability to produce syringomycin E especially under agitated conditions. Fermentative production was conducted in a newly formulated medium and the product was purified through a large scale chromatography system using organic-compatible solvents. Purified syringomycin E was tested on cucumber seeds to examine its antifungal activity against a soil-borne pathogen Pythium ultimum. Syringomycin E was able to inhibit Pythium infection and protected seeds and seedlings without developing disease symptoms. This dissertation research showed scalable production of two natural products, biliverdin IXα and syringomycin E in bacterial platforms. Strain development by gene recombination and mutation was done to obtain bacterial strains capable of overproducing desired metabolites. The resulting strains were grown in fermenters to maximize the yields under agitated conditions. Monitoring growth parameters and medium modifications were critical to achieve large scale production.

Soybean has a strong demand for nitrogen that can be acquired from atmosphere for vegetative growth and seed production through the symbiosis with the soil bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum (B. japonicum). However, the native soil bradyrhizobia may be ineffective in nitrogen fixation and the greatest limiting factor in increasing symbiotic nitrogen fixation is the inability to influence the infection of soybean roots by a desired strain of B. japonicum due to competition from the native bradyrhizobia. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of a co-inoculum seed treatment on the symbiotic competency of the soybean cultivar LS90-1920 in greenhouse and field trials. The co-inoculation by the soil bacterium Streptomyces kanamyceticus (S. kanamyceticus) strain ATCC 12853 and strains of B. japonicum more efficient in nitrogen fixation and resistant to the antibiotics kanamycin and neomycin may have an advantage over the native bradyrhizobia regarding soybean root infection (Gregor et al., 2003). However, inconsistent inoculation responses in field trials and low efficacy in nodule competency by selected Bradyrhizobium japonicum (B. japonicum) co-inocula were observed under greenhouse conditions. These results were attributed to insufficient population size or growth of viable co-inocula associated with the seed treatments. This recent study showed that the nodulation response of LS90-1920 to B. japonicum strains KNI-1 and KNI-3 is independent of the inoculum dose and age of the broth culture. Iron supplement to the inoculum nutrient solution significantly increased the total biomass of nodules formed by strain KNI-1 but not by strain KNI-3 on a per plant basis and had no effect on the nodule number regardless of B. japonicum strain. In the glass bead viability study, the effect of inoculum nutrient solution concentration on the viability of bacterial co-inocula is species-specific and influenced by seed coating material. The growth of Pseudomonas putida strains displayed a dependency on the concentration of the inoculum nutrient solution with graphite or vermicompost as the seed coating material treatment or with activated charcoal treatment associated with 0.1% or 1.0 % inoculum nutrient solution. The seed coating material treatments of vermicompost and graphite promote stronger growth of S. kanamyceticus strain ATCC 12853 than the activated charcoal treatment. After a six-day incubation at 28oC, a 1.0 % inoculum nutrient solution maintained the highest viable populations of co-inocula with activated charcoal and a 0.1% inoculum nutrient solution was most effective in the maintenance of the co-inocula population when graphite or vermicompost was employed as the seed coating material. By applying the appropriate level of inoculum nutrient solution, the viability of a selected B. japonicum KNI strain and co-inocula remained stable for six days in activated charcoal and graphite treatment regardless of the number of applied co-inocula. However, the vermicompost treatment did not maintain the viable populations of the B. japonicum KNI strains and P. putida strain G11-32 but support the vigorous growth of S. kanamyceticus strain ATCC 12853 and P. putida strain 17-29. Greenhouse studies employing sterilized vermiculite as a soybean growth medium showed no significant differences in nodule competency by the inoculum/seed coating treatments associated with B. japonicum strain KNI-1. However, the co-inoculum treatments significantly increased either the total nitrogenase activity (B. japonicum strain KNI-3 with S. kanamyceticus strain ATCC 12853) or the nodule number (B. japonicum strain KNI-3 with S. kanamyceticus strain ATCC 12853 and P. putida strain 17-29) versus the singular inoculum treatment of strain KNI-3. Soil-pot studies under the same greenhouse conditions showed no significant differences in the nodule competency between the inoculum treatment of B. japonicum strain KNI-3, the co-inoculum treatment of strain KNI-3 and S. kanamyceticus, and the non-inoculated control regardless of seed coating material. However, co-inoculation of emergence-promoting rhizobacteria (Pseudomonas putida strain 17-29 and G11-32) with strain KNI-3 and S. kanamyceticus strain ATCC 12853 may improve the total nitrogenase activity and specific nitrogenase activity, depending on the seed coating material and soil type. The treatment with activated charcoal employed as a seed coating material and the co-inocula of strain KNI-3, S. kanamyceticus strain ATCC 12853 and P. putida strains 17-29 or G11-32 showed significantly higher total nitrogenase activity (Stoy silt loam) and specific nitrogenase activity (Drummer silty clay loam) versus the non-inoculated control. For the Bethalto silty clay loam, the same co-inoculum treatment associated with graphite and vermicompost as the seed coating material significantly increased the total nitrogenase activity. The seed coating treatment by activated charcoal enhanced nodulation competency for both the 2010 and 2011 field trials resulting in higher grain yield, seed nitrogen content, and seed protein content versus the seed coating treatment by graphite. No significant differences by the inoculum treatments were determined.

There is growing concern over the environmental and human health impacts of chemical contaminants in agricultural systems. The environmental persistence of veterinary antibiotics applied to agricultural fields during manure fertilization could lead to increased antibiotic resistance. New generation, neonicotinoid pesticides pose a threat to aquatic ecosystem health due high water mobility and increased potential for non-target exposure. The objectives of this research were to develop a sensitive, analytical method for quantification of pirlimycin (PLY) in soils to be used in field research and determine the ability of second-generation neonicotinoids to move through soil when applied as a seed coating using a greenhouse study. Liquid-solid extraction of PLY from soil using (1:6, v/v) ammonium hydroxide/methylene chloride produced good PLY recovery (67-140%). Liquid-chromatography coupled with tandem mass-spectrometry for instrumental analysis provided good sensitivity with minimal matrix interferences. The mass balance distribution of neonicotinoid treatment coated onto corn seeds was determined in plant and soil samples for a single pot after 3 weeks of growth. A large percent (83-87%) of initial pesticide coating applied to seed was un-detected in plant in soil. Of the detected portion of neonicotinoid treatment, between 96-98% was observed to move out into the soil. This suggests the potential for long-range transport of seed-coated neonicotinoids. / Master of Science / There is growing concern over the environmental and human health impacts of chemical contaminants in agricultural systems. The environmental persistence of veterinary antibiotics applied to agricultural fields during manure fertilization could lead to increased antibiotic resistance. New generation, neonicotinoid pesticides pose a threat to aquatic ecosystem health due high water mobility and increased potential for non-target exposure. The objectives of this research were to develop a sensitive, analytical method for quantification of pirlimycin (PLY) in soils to be used in field research and determine the ability of second-generation neonicotinoids to move through soil when applied as a seed coating using a greenhouse study. Liquid-solid extraction of PLY from soil using (1:6, v/v) ammonium hydroxide/methylene chloride produced good PLY recovery (67-140%). Liquid-chromatography coupled with tandem mass-spectrometry for instrumental analysis provided good sensitivity with minimal matrix interferences. The mass balance distribution of neonicotinoid treatment coated onto corn seeds was determined in plant and soil samples for a single pot after 3 weeks of growth. A large percent (83-87%) of initial pesticide coating applied to seed was un-detected in plant in soil. Of the detected portion of neonicotinoid treatment, between 96-98% was observed to move out into the soil. This suggests the potential for long-range transport of seed-coated neonicotinoids.

O Brasil é o 9° produtor mundial de arroz e o primeiro fora do continente asiático, com produção de 12,2 milhões de toneladas em 2,4 milhões de hectares na safra 2013/14. A incidência de doenças é um dos principais fatores que afeta a produção do arroz (Oryza sativa L.) no Brasil e o tratamento de sementes com fungicidas é atividade recente. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar a interferência da aplicação de fungicidas na qualidade das sementes de arroz, em função do período e do ambiente de armazenamento. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no Laboratório de Análise de Sementes, Departamento de Produção Vegetal, Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\" - Universidade de São Paulo, sendo utilizadas sementes de arroz dos cultivares SCS 118, BRS Pampa e IRGA 424, 3 lotes de cada cultivar, representadas pelo controle e pelas aplicações dos fungicidas Penflufem + Trifloxistrobina, Metalaxil + Tiabendazol + Fludioxonil e Piraclostrobina + Tiofanato-metílico + Fipronil, nas doses de 50, 100 e 150 ml / 100 kg de sementes de arroz, respectivamente; as sementes foram avaliadas 1, 15, 30, 60 e 120 dias após o tratamento. O armazenamento das sementes foi realizado por 120 dias, em ambientes natural e controlado (10ºC e 20% UR). Para determinar a qualidade das sementes foram avaliados o teor de água, a germinação, o vigor (primeira contagem da germinação, comprimento de plântula e testes de envelhecimento acelerado e de frio) e a sanidade. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com análise de variância para cada cultivar e a comparação de médias pelo teste de Tukey (5%). Os resultados permitem concluir: a) O tratamento das sementes de arroz com fungicidas, independente do genótipo, é adequado para manter a qualidade das sementes, por um período de armazenamento de até cento e vinte dias; b) Há influência do fungicida, do ambiente e do período de armazenamento na germinação e no vigor das sementes de arroz; c) A interferência do fungicida na qualidade da semente de arroz varia de acordo com o lote e com o cultivar; d) Os três fungicidas são eficientes para o controle dos principais fungos associados às sementes de arroz, com destaque para Tiabendazol + Metalaxil-M + Fludioxonil para o controle de Microdochium oryzae e Penflufen + Trifloxistrobina para o controle de Trichoconiella padwickii, Bipolaris oryzae, Phoma sp. e Penicillium sp. / Brazil is the 9th largest producer of rice and the first outside Asia, with production of 12.3 million tonnes at 2.4 million hectares in harvest 2013/14. The incidence of disease is a major factor affecting rice production in Brazil and the seed treatment with fungicides is a recent study. This research has the purpose to evaluate the interference of fungicide application on the quality of rice seeds, according to the environment and period of storage. The research was conducted at the Seed Analysis Laboratory, Crop Science Department, Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\" - Universidade de São Paulo, being used rice seeds of the cultivars SCS 118, BRS Pampa and IRGA 424, three seed lots from each cultivar, were represented by the control and the applications of fungicides Penflufem + Trifloxystrobin, Thiabendazole + Metalaxyl + Fludioxonil and Pyraclostrobin + Thiophanate-methyl + Fipronil, at doses of 50, 100 and 150 ml / 100 kg seed of rice, respectively; the seeds were evaluated 1, 15, 30, 60 and 120 days after treatment. These seeds were stored for 120 days in two environments: natural and dry cold room (10 °C and 20% RH). To determine the seed quality were evaluated water content, germination, vigor (first count of germination, seedling length, accelerated aging and cold tests) and sanity. The experimental design was completely randomized, with analysis of variance for each cultivar and comparison of average by Tukey test (5%). The results indicate: a) The treatment of rice seeds with fungicides, regardless of genotype, it is appropriate to maintain the quality of the seeds, for a storage period of one hundred and twenty days; b) There is influence of fungicide, environment and storage period on the germination and vigor of rice seeds; c) The interference of the fungicide varies according to the genotype and seed quality; d) The three fungicides are effective for the control of major fungi associated with rice seeds, especially Thiabendazole + Metalaxyl-M + Fludioxonil in control of Microdochium oryzae and Penflufen + Trifloxistrobina in control of Trichoconiella padwickii, Bipolaris oryzae, Phoma sp. e Penicillium sp.

O Brasil é o 9° produtor mundial de arroz e o primeiro fora do continente asiático, com produção de 12,2 milhões de toneladas em 2,4 milhões de hectares na safra 2013/14. A incidência de doenças é um dos principais fatores que afeta a produção do arroz (Oryza sativa L.) no Brasil e o tratamento de sementes com fungicidas é atividade recente. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar a interferência da aplicação de fungicidas na qualidade das sementes de arroz, em função do período e do ambiente de armazenamento. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no Laboratório de Análise de Sementes, Departamento de Produção Vegetal, Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\" - Universidade de São Paulo, sendo utilizadas sementes de arroz dos cultivares SCS 118, BRS Pampa e IRGA 424, 3 lotes de cada cultivar, representadas pelo controle e pelas aplicações dos fungicidas Penflufem + Trifloxistrobina, Metalaxil + Tiabendazol + Fludioxonil e Piraclostrobina + Tiofanato-metílico + Fipronil, nas doses de 50, 100 e 150 ml / 100 kg de sementes de arroz, respectivamente; as sementes foram avaliadas 1, 15, 30, 60 e 120 dias após o tratamento. O armazenamento das sementes foi realizado por 120 dias, em ambientes natural e controlado (10ºC e 20% UR). Para determinar a qualidade das sementes foram avaliados o teor de água, a germinação, o vigor (primeira contagem da germinação, comprimento de plântula e testes de envelhecimento acelerado e de frio) e a sanidade. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com análise de variância para cada cultivar e a comparação de médias pelo teste de Tukey (5%). Os resultados permitem concluir: a) O tratamento das sementes de arroz com fungicidas, independente do genótipo, é adequado para manter a qualidade das sementes, por um período de armazenamento de até cento e vinte dias; b) Há influência do fungicida, do ambiente e do período de armazenamento na germinação e no vigor das sementes de arroz; c) A interferência do fungicida na qualidade da semente de arroz varia de acordo com o lote e com o cultivar; d) Os três fungicidas são eficientes para o controle dos principais fungos associados às sementes de arroz, com destaque para Tiabendazol + Metalaxil-M + Fludioxonil para o controle de Microdochium oryzae e Penflufen + Trifloxistrobina para o controle de Trichoconiella padwickii, Bipolaris oryzae, Phoma sp. e Penicillium sp. / Brazil is the 9th largest producer of rice and the first outside Asia, with production of 12.3 million tonnes at 2.4 million hectares in harvest 2013/14. The incidence of disease is a major factor affecting rice production in Brazil and the seed treatment with fungicides is a recent study. This research has the purpose to evaluate the interference of fungicide application on the quality of rice seeds, according to the environment and period of storage. The research was conducted at the Seed Analysis Laboratory, Crop Science Department, Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\" - Universidade de São Paulo, being used rice seeds of the cultivars SCS 118, BRS Pampa and IRGA 424, three seed lots from each cultivar, were represented by the control and the applications of fungicides Penflufem + Trifloxystrobin, Thiabendazole + Metalaxyl + Fludioxonil and Pyraclostrobin + Thiophanate-methyl + Fipronil, at doses of 50, 100 and 150 ml / 100 kg seed of rice, respectively; the seeds were evaluated 1, 15, 30, 60 and 120 days after treatment. These seeds were stored for 120 days in two environments: natural and dry cold room (10 °C and 20% RH). To determine the seed quality were evaluated water content, germination, vigor (first count of germination, seedling length, accelerated aging and cold tests) and sanity. The experimental design was completely randomized, with analysis of variance for each cultivar and comparison of average by Tukey test (5%). The results indicate: a) The treatment of rice seeds with fungicides, regardless of genotype, it is appropriate to maintain the quality of the seeds, for a storage period of one hundred and twenty days; b) There is influence of fungicide, environment and storage period on the germination and vigor of rice seeds; c) The interference of the fungicide varies according to the genotype and seed quality; d) The three fungicides are effective for the control of major fungi associated with rice seeds, especially Thiabendazole + Metalaxyl-M + Fludioxonil in control of Microdochium oryzae and Penflufen + Trifloxistrobina in control of Trichoconiella padwickii, Bipolaris oryzae, Phoma sp. e Penicillium sp.

[Typescript] Includes bibliography.

Dectes texanus LeConte (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a longhorn beetle species endemic to eastern United States. Originally described as a pest of weeds from the family Asteraceae, D. texanus has expanded its host range and is found infesting the stems of soybeans, Glycine max (L.) through the southwestern and middle United States. Female D. texanus chews a hole in the epidermis of a petiole and oviposits on it. Then, the D. texanus larva depletes all the pith of the stem making a tunnel down to the base of the plant and girdle the stem about 5 cm above the soil line. When a force is applied to the girdling point, generally weather related (i.e. strong winds), the plant lodges. While D. texanus phenology has been described for some states, this topic has yet to be explored in Kentucky. The objectives of this study were: 1) to describe the life cycle and behavior of D. texanus in soybeans in Western Kentucky, 2) to study the effect of the stem diameter on the incidence of D. texanus infestations, 3) to evaluate the susceptibility of full-season and double-crop soybeans to D.texanus infestations, 4) investigate the efficacy of seed treatment in reducing D. texanus infestations, 5) to determine effects of D. texanus larval feeding in the physiological yield of soybeans. The results of these studies showed that: 1) there was no distinct peak of D. texanus emergence detected in the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons and pupation period varied with year and location; the best sampling period for D. texanus population should occur between 1000 and 1600 hours during the peak season with either a 5-gallon white plastic bucket or sweep net; 2) the probability of finding D. texanus infesting soybeans was higher when the stem diameter is larger than 9 mm, and smaller than 11 mm; 3) double-crop soybeans had reduced infestations of D. texanus because these soybean plants are not a suitable host when D. texanus was active ovipositing and the pith was not fully developed; 4) seeds treated with imidacloprid did not influence D. texanus infestation on soybeans, larvae presence in main and lateral stems, and parasitism occurrences; and 5) D. texanus did not affect seeds and pods attributes (pod width, length, height and weight), and yield. The latter may occur because feeding of D. texanus larva does not interfere on photosynthesis or nutrient transportation during seed fill.

Reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis Linford and Oliveira) currently infests about 36% of the Mississippi G. hirsutum acres causing economic losses of $130 million annually. For more than 40 years nematodes, including R. reniformis, have been managed using an at-planting treatment of Temik 15G or with soil fumigants like Telone II. With the label loss of Temik 15G and expense of soil fumigants, there is a need to develop an integrated nematode management program centered around nematicide seed treatments (NST) with and without foliar applications of Vydate C-LV. In addition there is a need to better understand how new cotton cultivars provide improved growth, development and yield in nematode infested fields. Results from research at Auburn and Mississippi State Universities revealed tested varieties responded positively to NST and improved growth and yield without NST was variety specific especially early in G. hirsutum development (between nodes 1-9). Cutivars Phy 499, FM 1740 and Stv 5458 showed the greatest nematode tolerance while Phy 375 WRF had the least tolerance, benefitting greatly from NST. Trials involving NST with and without Vydate C-LV indicated yield of plants treated with Temik 15G was greater than plants treated with NST treatments. Aeris + Votivo with and without Vydate C-LV provided better plant growth and yield than Aeris alone or with Vydate C-LV. Relative to yield Vydate C-LV treatments increased pounds of lint cotton/acre across all treatments. There were no differences in fruit retention at fruiting site one during the square period with fruit loss primarily occurring between bloom and open boll. Vydate C-LV treatments increased overall fruit retention compared to all nematicide seed treatments making them comparable to Temik 15G.