Breadmaking quality is an important criterion in breeding and development of hard wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. Improvements in N management are needed to produce superior quality grain and satisfy market demands for protein content. Field experiments with three hard red and two hard white spring wheat cultivars were conducted in 1998 and 1999 at Corvallis and Pendleton, Oregon. Nitrogen rates were varied from 0 to 250 kg N ha�����, applied all at planting, or split between planting and stem elongation. Resulting grain was evaluated for protein content, protein quality, dough handling, and bread-making quality. Grain protein content of the five cultivars increased with increasing levels of applied nitrogen. There was a concurrent improvement in bread-making quality, as indicated by increasing protein quality, loaf volume, loaf crumb score. Use of split nitrogen applications contributed to increased grain protein content at both the intermediate and high N rates. At the higher N rates, a split application had no apparent influence on protein quality. However, at intermediate N rates, a split application contributed to improvements in protein quality and loaf volume. Nitrogen use efficiency and wheat end-use quality can be improved by using split applications of nitrogen during the crop cycle. / Graduation date: 2001

Extensive research has been devoted to evaluating potential genotype-environment interactions. However, plant breeders are still in need of a simple way to describe how genotypes respond to different locations and years. In an environmentally diverse state like Oregon, significant genotype-environment interactions do occur The resulting lack of association between actual and genotypic potential yield performance makes it difficult to select genotypically superior lines. This study was prompted to evaluate the extent of such an interaction and compare various yield stability models. A significant genotype-environment interaction encompassing lines, environments, and years was discovered for each individual year analyzed and for the combined analysis of 1992, 1994 and 1995, and 1989 through 1994. Most lines evaluated during 1992, 1994 and 1995 were adapted to low yielding environments. However, two genotypes (OR880172 and OR880525) exhibited broad adaptation. Stephens and Mac Vicar were less adapted to the relatively high yielding Chambers site than the other genotypes tested during 1992, 1994 and 1995 due to Septoria tritici infections. The most stable genotypes during the combined 1992, 1994 and 1995 and 1989-1994 seasons were OR870831, Madsen and OR8500933H. Gene was the most desirable genotype based on stability and yield for both the combined 1992, 1994 and 1995 and 1989-1994 seasons. Due to an inability to adapt to higher yielding environments, the cultivar Rohde was the least stable genotype during the same combined periods. High and low temperatures and precipitation had minor yet significant effects on yield responses at all three sites during various periods identified. Advanced winter wheat selections and cultivars were grown in three diverse environments and compared over different time periods. Due to trial design and the objective of identifying superior genotypes from a set tested in target environments a combination of two methods, stability variance and a selection index, emerged as the most appropriate techniques. These approaches are considered the most appropriate because they use the mean of the trial as a gauge for measuring stability. / Graduation date: 1997

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are pests of multiple cropping systems, primarily due to the viruses they vector and direct crop damage that is exacerbated by their rapid population growth. In Kentucky, grain aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi and Sitobion avenae) cause significant yield loss to winter wheat as vectors of Barley Yellow Dwarf virus (BYDV), prompting the routine application of insecticides. Coupled with increasing human populations and decreasing arable land, it is increasingly evident that biological control services provided by natural enemies represent a viable long-term management option. Aphids are preyed upon by a diverse array of predators that can be exploited in conservation biological control. I designed a field experiment to monitor dispersal into and out of wheat fields, and how these movements were affected by the surrounding habitat. Analysis revealed there are significant movements of R. padi into the wheat in the fall, and S. avenae in spring, and that these movements are slowed down by forested edges. Natural, field-bordering weed strips were used as a conservation biological technique to enhance predator populations. Results showed that while weed strips did not affect the yield of the crop, aphid abundance, or BYDV incidence, it did significantly increase the abundance of natural enemies. Dominant predators included Coccinellidae, Anthocoridae, Chrysopidae larvae, and Braconidae. Using molecular gut-content analysis, I screened multiple species of predators and found strong trophic linkages between aphids and Orius insidiosus and multiple species of coccinellids, namely Coccinella septempunctata and Coleomegilla maculata. In aphidophagous systems, intraguild predation (IGP) can interfere with the biological control potential so I also screened coccinellids for IGP using newly designed primers. To identify intraguild prey DNA in coccinellids, I designed species-specific primers for C. maculata and C. septempunctata to use in PCR-based molecular gut-content analysis. Results revealed high frequencies of IGP between coccinellids that are significantly higher in weed strip plots. However, I observed no detectable impact on aphid predation during these increased times of IGP, suggesting it does not interfere with biological control of aphids in this system. I discuss the role of weed strips in winter wheat as part of an integrative pest management strategy.

Darbo tikslas – nustatyti aminorūgščių, esančių skystųjų amidinio azoto trąšų sudėtyje, panaudotų papildomam žieminių kviečių tręšimui per lapus poveikį augalų biologiniam potencialui. Ginamieji disertacijos teiginiai: 1. Aminorūgščių trąšos skatina žieminių kviečių lapų fotosintezės aktyvumą bei didina fotosintetinių rodiklių parametrus. 2. Skirtingų aminorūgščių koncentracijų tirpalai, naudojami įvairiais augalų vystymosi tarpsniais, nevienodai įtakoja žieminių kviečių grūdų derlingumą. 3. Aminorūgštys, naudojamos tręšimui per lapus, teigiamai veikia žieminių kviečių grūdų kokybę bei baltymų ir aminorūgščių kiekybinę ir kokybinę sudėtį. / Aim of the work The study was designed to establish the effects of amino acids, present in the composition of liquid amide nitrogen fertilizers, applied as additional foliar feeding on winter wheat. Proposition to be defended: 1. Amino acid fertilization promotes winter wheat leaf photosynthetic activity and increases parameters of photosynthetic indicators. 2. Different concentrations of amino acids applied at various plant growth stages highlight the differences of their efficacy for winter wheat grain yield. 3. Foliar–applied amino acids positively affect winter wheat grain quality and quantitative and qualitative composition of proteins and amino acids.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-87). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-87). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xxi, 195 p.; also includes graphics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 184-195). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2005. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (month day, year) Includes bibliographical references.

Master of Science / Agronomy / Allan Fritz / Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a fungal disease, mostly commonly associated with F. graminearum, which affects cereal crops such as wheat resulting in substantial yield losses and reductions in grain quality. The onset of the disease can occur rapidly when warm, wet or humid weather coincides with flowering in the spring. The pathogen also produces mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) that accumulate in the grain and can be toxic to humans and animals. This results in additional economic losses as contaminated grain must be discarded or blended to reduce the amount of toxin in order to meet federal regulatory limits. Development and deployment of resistant cultivars has proved to be an effective method to combat the disease, and many resistant sources have been reported in the literature with the majority of major resistance coming from Chinese landraces. Transferring resistance from these sources into cultivars adapted to the U.S. has been a slow process due to linkage of FHB resistance genes with poor agronomic traits. Therefore, it is important for breeders to search for sources of resistance in native material adapted to their local conditions. In this study, we aimed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to spread of FHB within the head (Type II resistance), accumulation of DON toxin in grain (Type III resistance), and resistance to kernel infection (Type IV resistance). Plant material consisted of 148 doubled haploid (DH) lines from a cross between the two moderately resistant hard red winter wheat (HRWW) cultivars Art and Everest. The study was conducted for two years using a point inoculation technique in a greenhouse in Manhattan, KS. Three QTL conferring resistance to FHB traits were detected on chromosomes 2D, 4B, and 4D. The QTL on chromosomes 4B and 4D overlapped with the major height genes Rht1 and Rht2, respectively. Plant height has shown previous associations with FHB, though the underlying cause of these associations is not well understood. The majority of results have reported increased susceptibility associated with shorter plant types; however, in this study, the haplotype analysis for the Rht-B1 and Rht-D1 loci showed an association between the dwarfing alleles and increased resistance to FHB. This suggests either pleiotropic effects of these loci or perhaps linkage with nearby genes for FHB resistance. Markers close to the peaks of the FHB resistance QTL have the potential for Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) marker development and subsequent use in marker assisted selection (MAS) to help improve overall FHB resistance within breeding programs.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Antonio R. Asebedo / Sensor technology has become more important in precision agriculture, by real time sensing for site specific management to monitor crops during the season especially nitrogen (N). In Kansas N available in the soils can vary year to year or over a course of a year. The objective of this study was to compare current available passive (PS) and active optical sensor technologies (AOS) performance in regards to sky conditions effects and derive the NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) relationship to wheat yield, as well as evaluate KSU optical sensor-based N recommendations against KSU soil test N recommendation system and sUAS (small unmanned aircraft systems) based recommendation algorithms with the PS and AOS platforms. Each year (2015-2016 & 2016-2017) five field trails across Kansas were conducted during the winter wheat crop year in cooperation with county ag agents, farmers, and KSU Agronomy Experiment Fields. Treatments consisted of N response curve, 1st and 2nd generation KSU N recommendation algorithms, sUAS based recommendation algorithms, and KSU soil test based N recommendations applied in the spring using N rates ranging from 0 to 140 kg ha⁻¹. Results indicate the Holland Scientific Rapid Scan and MicaSense RedEdge NDVI data was strongly correlated and generated strong relationships with grain yield at 0.60 and 0.57 R² respectively. DJI X3 lacks an NIR band producing uncalibrated false NDVI and no relationship to grain yield at 0.03 R². Calibrated NDVI from both sensors are effective for assessing yield potential and could be utilized for developing N recommendation algorithms. However, sensor based treatments preformed equal to higher yields compared the KSU soil test recommendations, as well as reduced the amount of fertilizer applied compared to the soil test recommendation. The intensive management algorithm was the most effective in determining appropriate N recommendations across locations. This allows farmers to take advantage of potential N mineralization that can occur in the spring. Further research is needed considering on setting the NUE (nitrogen use efficiency) in KSU N rec. algorithms for effects of management practice, weather, and grain protein for continued refinement.