The bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), is an economically important pest of cotton and is becoming more difficult to control in the United States. This project was designed to develop a better understanding of the effects of resistance development and plant structures on the efficacy of Bt cotton and foliar insecticides. Experiments examined larval behavior and damage in current cotton varieties expressing proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis. Other experiments examined the effects of floral structures on the control of bollworm using foliar insecticides. Results suggest that larval feeding and avoidance behavior is dependent on point of eclosion. Fruiting form damage increased in two-gene cotton compared to earlier research but was low in cotton expressing the Vip3A protein. Increases in damage can lead to more frequent applications of foliar insecticides. Floral structures can hinder insecticide efficacy by reducing exposure. Results from these experiments will be important for refining management recommendations for bollworm in Bt cotton.

Helicoverpa zea, commonly referred to as corn earworm, has been a major pest of corn and cotton, along with many major crops grown in United States. Migration of this pest plays a major role in its distribution and successful survival. Part of the current resistance management strategy for transgenic crops, using non-Bt crops as refuges, is totally based on the movement of the adult populations between the Bt and non-Bt fields, and successful exchange of genetic material between the rare resistant and susceptible populations. To study the movement and migration patterns, and their implications in resistance management, suitable molecular genetic markers were comparatively selected, followed by a study of temporal variations in populations from north Mississippi. The dominant marker system Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) was selected for the study based on higher polymorphism (5.0) and PIC (0.34) values compared to Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) and Sequence Related Amplification Polymorphism (SRAP) marker systems. 53 ISSR loci were used in understanding the temporal variations in H. zea. Percent polymorphism and heterozygosity levels showed variation among the twelve collections tested. Early spring putative migrants were distinct from the rest of the generations. Population differentiation was higher in the beginning of the season and then declined by end of the season (pairwise FST = 0.341, early in March and 0.025, late in August). Average heterozygosity levels recorded were 0.11, coinciding with 1993 and 2002 data. The result of this study supports the existence of spring migration of adults and their contribution to the local gene pool. The extent of genetic exchange between the putative migrants and the local populations varied among three years. There is variation in population densities from migrants and local emergence in one of the three years. The results of this study indicate a need for continuous monitoring for genetic changes and their possible implications for resistance management in transgenic crops in Mississippi.

Studies were conducted to determine if corn stalk strength had an effect on southwestern corn borer (Diatraea grandiosella Dyar) survival during different growth stages. In 2006 southwestern corn borer larvae were placed on corn during the tassel stage near the ear and base of the plant. Survival was higher near the ear than near the base of the plant. In 2007, five varieties of corn were planted at three locations in Mississippi. Plants were infested with five 3rd instar larvae at the ear zone during tassel, dough and dent development stages. After five days stalk strength and borer survival were measured. Survival decreased as the corn progressed from tassel to dent stage. Survival varied among corn varieties. The relationship between stalk strength and borer survival was not consistent, indicating that there are likely factors more directly limiting borer survival than physical stalk strength.

Corn grain yields can be limited by nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) availability on sandy coastal plain soils when soil moisture is adequate for high yields. This study evaluated irrigated corn grain yield response to late-season (just prior to tassel) N and K fertilizer applications, and enabled the proposal of a method to predict potential for corn to utilize late-season N applications based on soil moisture. In an experiment to evaluate late-season fertilizer application rates, N and K were applied in a complete factorial of five N and K rates ranging from 0 to 112 kg ha-1. Additionally, water use of high yielding corn was measured, and historical weather patterns evaluated in an effort to predict the need for late-season fertilizer applications based on soil moisture. Grain yield was increased significantly by late-season N applications in three of four experiments. Potassium applications did not affect yield, and there were no interactions between N and K. Significant drainage due to high rainfall levels in 2000 prohibited further refinement of corn water use data for Virginia climatic conditions. Historical weather patterns, potential evapotranspiration of corn, and soil water holding properties were evaluated. In order to provide corn with adequate moisture during a two-week moisture-sensitive critical period beginning at tassel, soils must be near field capacity at the start of the period and receive above-average (75th percentile) rainfall during the period. / Master of Science

In this study, a sensitive high performance thin-layer chromatography method (HPTLC) was developed to detect lipids in microgram (ug) quantities of hemolymph. The effect of age, diurnal rhythms, and flight activity on hemolymph 1,2-diacylglyceride concentrations in male and female Heliothis zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were quantitated. The HPTLC method involved a two-stage, one dimensional solvent system, 1 ). benzene:ether(diethyl):ethanol:acetic acid, 50:40:2.0:0.2; 2). hexane:heptane: ether (diethyl): acetic acid, 63:18:18:1. The solvent system separated alkanes, steryl ester, mono-, di- and triacylglycerides, free fatty acids and cholesterol. Lipids were detected with a fluorescent reagent, 1 mM 6-p-toludino-2-napthalenesulfonic acid (TNS) in 95% methanol. Detection sensitivities were 50 ng qualitatively and 500 ng quantitatively. Most male and female Heliothis zea flight activity occurred between 17⁰⁰ and 3⁰⁰ EST each day. Male flight activity after the day of eclosion through 6 days was 0.8, 1.0, 7.0, 3.3, 3.8, 2.8 and 4.0 times the flight activity of the females. Females had a unimodal pattern of flight activity between 17⁰⁰ and 19⁰⁰ Males had a bimodal pattern between 17⁰⁰ and 19⁰⁰, but another higher peak of flight activity existed between 20⁰⁰ and 24⁰⁰. The hemolymph of Heliothis zea males and females prior to flight (17⁰⁰) was composed of mainly diacylglycerides (50% w/w), and triacylglycerides (35% w/w). In addition, cholesterol esters (2%) and less than 1% monoacylglycerides and cholesterol were present, but free fatty acids were not detectable ( <0.5 ug/ul). The lipid class, 1,2-diacylglycerides, apparently are used for flight energy. They occured in the highest concentrations in both males and females prior to flight (17⁰⁰) (approximately 32 ug/ul), then decreased steadily throughout flight to approximately 16 ug/ul at 2⁰⁰ when flight activity was reduced or ceased. Males and females appear to have similar 1,2-diacylglyceride concentrations prior to, during and after flight activity. / M.S.

O potássio (K) é o segundo nutriente mais requerido pelo milho. Os produtores de milho em sistema de plantio direto (SPD) antecipam na aveia a dose de K que seria aplicada no milho. O uso da adubação antecipada se deve a redução de custo da semeadura, e a possibilidade de instalar a cultura de acordo com o zoneamento agroclimático. Esta pesquisa foi realizada com o objetivo de avaliar a eficiência de uso do K proveniente do fertilizante, por meio do marcador rubídio (85Rb), em razão dos sistemas de adubação potássica na rotação aveia-milho. Os experimentos foram realizados em Guarapuava-PR e Taquarituba-SP, entre abril de 2012 e abril de 2013, em solos com alto teor de K. A eficiência de uso do K proveniente do fertilizante foi determinada nos seguintes sistemas de adubação: K no perfilhamento da aveia; K em pré-semeadura do milho; K na semeadura do milho; K em cobertura no estádio V3; e K em cobertura nos estádios V3 (50%) e V6 (50%). Os sistemas de adubação foram casualizados em quatro blocos, nos dois experimentos. A maior eficiência de uso do K foi obtida no sistema de adubação em pré-semeadura do milho, entre 15 e 30 dias, sem prejuízo da produtividade. / Potassium (K) is the second most required nutrient for corn. Farmers that grow corn in no-tillage system (NTS) have been anticipated on oats crop the K fertilizer amount that should be applied in corn crop. The adoption of early fertilization system is related to cost reduction and the possibility of the main crop establishment in the period recommended by the agroclimatic zoning. This research aims to evaluate the K use efficiency from the fertilizer with the tracer Rubidium (85Rb), according to potassium fertilization systems in oat-corn rotation. The experiments were conducted in Guarapuava-PR and Taquarituba-SP between April 2012 and April 2013, in soils with high content of K. Potassium use efficiency from the fertilizer was determined in the following fertilization systems: K on oat tillering, K in corn pre-sowing, K in corn sowing, K topdressing in stage V3, and K topdressing in stages V3 (50%) and V6 (50%). The fertilization systems were randomized into four blocks, in both experiments. The system of K fertilization was applied pre-sowing corn, between 15 and 30 days, was more efficient in the use of K from the fertilizer without damaging productivity.

A pesquisa visou avaliar a metodologia do projeto Tree Vis para determinar a nutrição de ferro, boro, zinco e cobre em plantas de milho submetidas a doses desses nutrientes. Foram utilizados tratamentos constituídos pela omissão, 1/5, 2/5 e a dose completa dos elementos com quatro repetições em cada fase de coleta, sendo essas V4, V7 e R1. Os experimentos foram realizados em casa de vegetação, em cultivo hidropônico, conduzidos em vasos com solução nutritiva. Foi determinada a produção de massa seca da parte aérea e do sistema radicular, além da determinação dos teores dos nutrientes nas folhas indicativas dos estádios fenológicos de cada época de coleta. Em cada estádio foram coletadas imagens das folhas indicativas e novas através de um scanner para as análises de visão artificial. As doses crescentes dos nutrientes promoveram maior produção de massa seca na parte aérea e nas raízes e reduziram a produção quando utilizada a dose máxima do nutriente. O sistema de visão artificial mostrou-se promissor na identificação de deficiência de ferro com 77,5% de acerto, boro com 81,7% de acerto, zinco com 81,0% e cobre com 57,2 % de acerto, tendo identificado as com boa confiabilidade. / The research aimed to evaluate the methodology of the Pr oject Tree Vis for determining nutrition iron, boron, zinc and copper in maize plants subjected to doses of these nutrients. Treatments used were made by omission, 1/5, 2/5 and the full dose of the elements with four replicates at each stage of collection, these are V4, V7 and R1. The experiments ware conducted in a greenhouse in hydroponics, conducted in pots with nutrient solution. Was determined the dry mass production of the aerial part and roots, besides the determ ination of nutritional content in the leaves indicative of phenological stages of each harvest time. At each stage were collected images of indicative and new leaves through with a scanner for the analyzes of artificial vision. The increasing doses of nutr ients promoted higher dry mass production in the aerial part and roots and reduced the production when using the highest dose of the nutrient. The artificial vision system showed promise in identifying of deficiency of iron with 77.5% accuracy, of boron with 81.7% of correct, of zinc with 81.0% accuracy and copper with 57.2% accuracy, with a good reliability in the identifi.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T14:19:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Teruo Matos.pdf: 2738201 bytes, checksum: 54ed354d6ee1a18f2c735e38746cafc8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The study of roots is used to monitor and optimize the uptake of water and nutrients. The evaluation of the plant root system by traditional methods is slow, exhaustive, complex and in many cases does not provide the required accuracy. This research aimed to develop a computational method to assist in the assessing of the average diameter and length of root maize. It was developed using Java programming language, JavaCV interface, and OpenCV library, subsequently its accuracy was compared to the traditional methods and the macro IJ_Rhizo accuracy, for measuring the average diameter and length of roots. The tests were performed using images of maize roots with 300 dpi and using images of nylon threads with resolutions of 300 dpi and 600 dpi. The method validation was performed using nylon thread samples with known lengths and diameters. For length measurements, the proposed method obtained coefficients of variation from 0.05% to 3.80% and 0.06% to 9,27%, with 300 dpi and 600 dpi images, respectively. For diameter measurements, the proposed method obtained coefficients of variation from 0.23% to 77.49% and 0.54% to 96,61%, with 300 dpi and 600 dpi images, respectively. The proposed method obtained coefficients of variation lower than traditional methods for length and diameter measurements, and the macro IJ_Rhizo in more than 95% of test cases. Thus, the presented method is shown to be the most appropriate, and with greater accuracy for measurement of average diameter and length of root, among the assessed methods. / O estudo de raízes é usado para monitorar e otimizar a utilização de água e nutrientes pelas plantas. A avaliação do sistema radicular de plantas por meio dos métodos tradicionais é demorada, exaustiva, complexa e, em muitos casos, não fornece a acurácia necessária. Este trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver um método computacional que auxiliasse na avaliação do diâmetro médio e comprimento radicular da cultura de milho. Ele foi desenvolvido utilizando a linguagem de programação Java, a interface JavaCV, e a biblioteca OpenCV, posteriormente a acurácia dele foi comparado a dos métodos tradicionais e a da macro IJ_Rhizo, para medição do comprimento e do diâmetro médio de raízes. Os testes foram realizados utilizando imagens de raízes de milho com 300 dpi e imagens de fios de náilon com 300 dpi e 600 dpi. A validação do método foi realizada utilizando amostras de fios de náilon com comprimento e diâmetros conhecidos. Para as medidas de comprimento, o método proposto obteve coeficientes de variação de 0,05% a 3,80% e de 0,06% a 9,27%, com imagens de 300 dpi e 600 dpi, respectivamente. Para as medidas de diâmetro, o método proposto obteve coeficientes de variação de 0,23% a 77,49% e de 0,54% a 96,61% , com imagens de 300 e 600 dpi, respectivamente. O método proposto obteve coeficientes de variação inferiores aos métodos tradicionais para a medição do comprimento e do diâmetro, e a macro IJ_Rhizo em mais de 95% dos casos de teste. Assim, o método apresentado mostra-se o mais adequado e o com maior acurácia para a medição do comprimento e diâmetro radicular médio dentre os métodos avaliados.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T14:19:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Deividson Okopnik.pdf: 1255995 bytes, checksum: b277e12a62fffb92a8542647ae7cadb4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-30 / Actually, the process of determining the longitudinal distance of seeds on the same planting line is manual and prone to failures. In the maize’s case, the distribution of seeds in inadequate distances lowers its productivity, influencing in the plants development, both by the maize’s root system, that doesn’t make up to the variation of the distances, like some other cultures do, and my the lower amount of sun radiation that the plants can absorb when plants are too close to each other. Considering the importance of knowing the longitudinal distance of seeds and that that reading is made manually, this dissertation presents a microcontrolled solution to be used along with a plantability track. The microcontroller used in the solution is an Atmega 328, part of an Arduino. The seed detection was made using an industrial infrared sensor, model DFRobot RB-DFR-49, with adjustable sensing distance, fixed perpendicularly to the track. With the developed solution added to the track, it was possible to obtain a precise reading from the distance between each seed, by counting the time between each seed, plus the known speed of the rolling track. That value is then registered on the developed solution and passed to a computer through an USB connection. By comparing to the manual mattering, the medium error obtained was 0,90cm, less than 0,5% in a 40cm distance, as used in maize. The validation of the developed solution, amount of detected double spacing and fail spacing, was made by comparing the results obtained by the solution with those obtained by manual testing, made by an specialist on those tests. By doing that, it was possible to notice that in tests with low amounts of double and fail spaces (6 and 5 in a test, and 6 and 3 in the second), the results where the same to the manual accounting. In tests with bigger amounts of errors (32 doubles, 50 fails), the result was slightly different (more 7 doubles and 28 fails, when comparing to manual testing), what evidences that the developed solution is more precise than the manual measuring method. Its believed that the solution can help in the selection of planting disks, and to obtain a better plant stand in the field, what brings better productivity. Keywords: Zea Mays, Agricultural Automation, Precision Agriculture. / Atualmente, o processo de determinação da distância longitudinal de sementes em uma mesma linha de semeadura é manual e propenso a falhas. No caso do milho, a distribuição de sementes em distâncias inadequadas diminui a sua produtividade, influenciando o desenvolvimento das plantas, tanto pela estrutura do sistema radicular do milho, que não compensa as variações de distância como outras culturas fazem, quanto pela diminuição da quantidade de radiação solar que as plantas conseguem absorver quando estão muito próximas uma das outras. Considerando a importância de se medir a distância longitudinal de sementes e que esta medida é feita de forma manual atualmente, esta dissertação apresenta uma solução microcontrolada para ser adicionada em uma esteira de plantabilidade. O microcontrolador usado na solução é um Atmega 328, parte de um kit Arduino. A detecção das sementes foi feita utilizando um sensor industrial infravermelho fixo, modelo DFRobot RB-DFR-49, com distância sensora regulável, de forma perpendicular sobre a esteira. Com a solução adicionada à esteira de plantabilidade foi possível obter uma leitura precisa da distância entre as sementes, pela contagem do tempo decorrido entre cada detecção e a velocidade da esteira. Esse valor é então registrado na solução e repassado a um computador através de uma conexão USB. A partir da distribuição manual das sementes na esteira, o erro obtido na medida das distâncias foi, na média, de 0,19 cm, menos de 0,5% em uma distância de 40 cm entre sementes, como é o caso do milho. A validação da solução, quantidade de distâncias duplas e de distâncias falhas em um teste com 1000 sementes de milho, foi feita ao se comparar os resultados dela obtidos com aqueles de um teste manual, efetuado por um especialista desta função. Foi possível notar que em testes com poucas quantidades de duplas e falhas (6 e 5 em um teste, e 6 e 3 em outro teste, respectivamente), resultados foram idênticos à contagem manual. Nos testes cuja quantidade de erros é maior (32 duplas e 50 falhas), obtiveram-se resultados diferenciados (7 duplas e 28 falhas a mais, comparando-se com a leitura manual), evidenciando que a solução desenvolvida é mais precisa que pelo método tradicional (manual). Acredita-se que a solução pode auxiliar na seleção de discos dosadores, e na obtenção de um melhor estande final de plantas no campo, levando a uma maior produtividade.

To achieve food security and meet environmental requirements, the average rates of major crop yields in crops such as maize are expected to increase instead of expansion of cultivated areas. Maize crop has as main factors responsible for the low yields in Brazil the water and nitrogen (N) deficits. The concept of yield gaps is the difference between the maximum yield that can be achieved in a given place, limited by water (Yw) or not (Yp), and the average yields, observed under practical conditions (Ya). This concept is of great importance for characterizing the range of maximum yields and definemanagement strategies to its mitigation. Yield potential (Yp) is determined by conditions of temperature, solar radiation, photoperiod and genetic potential; to Water-limited yield (Yw) is added the water limitation imposed by crops on rainfed condition. In this study we aimed to characterize the variability of yield gaps related to environmental and management conditions; and to evaluate the economic and energy returns related to management of these yield gaps through the mechanical application of nitrogen fertilizer in six regions located in the South Central portion of the country in two periods of maize cultivation (1st and 2nd maize growing seasons). Yield gaps related to water restriction (CYg = Yp - Yw) and imposed by management conditions (MYg = Yw - Ya) were determined through aid of integrated models DSSAT system (Decision Suport System for Agrotechnology Transfer). The maize model (CSM CERES-MAIZE) was calibrated with cultivars trial data obtained for the last few years in all evaluated regions. In the 1st growing season, Yp was higher and Yw was higher and more variable than on 2nd growing season due to climate variability. The yield gaps relative to management were more limiting than the gaps relative to water deficit in almost all the evaluated regions. In both crops\' growing seasons, higher and lower MYg were found in two regions of Southern and Midwestern portion of the country, respectively. Although both regions presented high average yields (Ya), different environmental conditions determined the largest absolute differences between their rates of Yp, Yw and MYg. When assessing the profitability (R$ k g-1, MJ kg-1, R $ ha-1; MJ ha-1) of N application as MYg reduction strategy, the behavior of the variation in yields with increasing rate of N was observed. In general, the diminishing returns showed higher use efficiency (per harvested yield and per unit area) at lower N rates (20-80 kg ha-1). Economic and energy profits (regardless of their rate of change related to the increased application of cost) were found at higher N rates (90-400 kg ha-1), and this limit is directly influenced by local climate conditions. Local management of MYg can be more or less viable depending on the combination of environmental conditions and usual management conditions. In general, the cost of N application is higher in 2nd growing season due to most limiting climatic conditions, but regions with efficient management of yield gapswere alsofound in 2nd growing season / Para alcançar a segurança alimentar e atender necessidades ambientais, os índices médios de produtividade de importantes culturas na alimentação como a do milho devem aumentar em detrimento da expansão de áreas cultivadas. A cultura do milho possui como principais fatores responsáveis pelos baixos índices de produtividade no Brasil os deficits hídrico e de nitrogênio (N). O conceito de quebra de produtividade (yield gaps) é a diferença entre a máxima produtividade que pode ser atingida em dado local, seja ela limitada pela água (Yw) ou não (Yp), e a produtividade média observada em condições práticas (Ya). Esse conceito é de grande importância para caracterização de limites de alcance de máximas produtividades e definição de estratégias de manejo para mitigação dos mesmos. A produtividade potencial (Yp) é aquela determinada pelas condições de temperatura, radiação solar, fotoperíodo e potencial genético; à produtividade limitada pela água (Yw) adiciona-se a limitação hídrica imposta por cultivos em sequeiro. Nesse estudo buscou-se caracterizara variabilidade das quebras de produtividade referentes às condições ambientais e de manejo; bem como avaliar o retorno econômico e energético do manejo dessas quebras por meio da aplicação mecanizada de fertilizante nitrogenado em seis municípios localizados na região Centro-Sul do país nas duas épocas de cultivo da cultura do milho (safra e safrinha). Quebras de produtividade referentes à restrição hídrica (CYg = Yp - Yw) e impostos pelas condições de manejo (MYg =Yw - Ya) foram determinadas com auxílio da utilização do sistema de modelos integrados DSSAT (Decision Suport System for Agrotechnology Transfer).O modelo da cultura do milho (CSM CERES-MAIZE) foi calibrado com dados de ensaio de cultivares, obtidos para os últimos anos em todas as regiões avaliadas. Na 1ª safra, os indices de Yp foram mais altos e os indices de Yw foram mais altos e variáveis devido à variabilidade climática.A quebra de produtividade relativa ao manejo foi mais limitante do que a quebra relativa ao deficit hídrico em quase todos os municípios avaliados. Em ambas as safras de cultivo, maiores e menores MYg foram encontrados em dois municípios das regiões Sul e Centro-Oeste do país, respectivamente. Apesar de ambas as regiões apresentarem altas produtividades medias (Ya), diferentes condições ambientais determinaram as maiores diferenças absolutas entre seus indices de Yp, Yw e MYg. Ao avaliar a rentabilidade (R$ kg-1; MJ kg-1; R$ ha-1; MJ ha-1) da aplicação de N como estratégia de redução de MYg, observou-se o comportamento da variação dos rendimentos de produtividade com o aumento das doses de N. Em termos gerais, os rendimentos decrescentes apresentaram maior eficiência de uso do insumo (por massa colhida e por unidade de área) nas menores doses de N (20-80 kg ha-1). Lucros econômicos e energéticos (sem considerar sua taxa de variação com relação ao aumento do custo de aplicação) foram encontrados até doses mais altas de N (90-400 kg ha-1), sendo que esse limite é diretamente influenciado pelas condições climáticas locais. O manejo local dos MYg pode ser mais ou menos viável em função da combinação das condições ambientais e de manejo usual locais. Em termos gerais, o custo de aplicação de N é maior na 2ª safra devido às condições climáticas mais limitantes, porém municípios com manejo eficiente da quebra de produtividade foram encontrados mesmo nas condições de cultivo do milho safrinha.