LD2668 .T4 1948 D36 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1948 H38 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1958 T49

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1959 H66

LD2668 .T4 1962 T43

The application of fertilizers and saline irrigation water have resulted in increased soil salinity and the removal of large land areas from crop production. One method to overcome the effects of soil salinity is to increase the salt tolerance of crops. The objective of this research was to investigate the physiological, genetic, and agronomic differences between alfalfa (Medicago sativa, L.) bred for increased salt tolerance and salt sensitive alfalfa. The materials used in these studies were the result of five cycles of selection for germination NaCl tolerance, AZST 1978 to 1982, and the source population, 'Mesa-Sirsa'. All salt-tolerant cycles and Mesa-Sirsa were evaluated for ability to germinate in NaCl, NaNO₃, KCl, KNO₃, mannitol and polyethyleneglycol (PEG) solutions ranging from -1.0 to -1.6 MPa of osmotic potential and a control of distilled water. Germination in the lower osmotic potentials of all germination medias was significantly higher with each succeeding cycle of selection for germination NaCl tolerance. Selection for tolerance to NaCl during germination also resulted in increased tolerance to the other salts as well as mannitol and PEG. Germination in mannitol was higher than in any of the salt solutions. This suggests that ion toxicity also inhibits germination. There was no significant difference between Mesa-Sirsa and AZST 1982, the most salt-tolerant cycle, in seed respiration in NaCl solutions or in uptake of tritiated NaCl solution during germination. Broadsense heritability of germination NaCl tolerance was estimated at 49%. All the Arizona Salt Tolerant cycles and Mesa-Sirsa were evaluated for several mature plant characteristics under non-saline field conditions. There were no significant differences among germplasm sources in forage yield, apparent photosynthesis, transpiration, or diffusive resistance. Seedlings of Mesa-Sirsa and AZST 1982 were grown in NaCl solutions ranging from 0 to 18000 ppm NaCl in the greenhouse. The plants were evaluated for several plant growth characteristics to determine whether selection for germination NaCl tolerance resulted in increased salt tolerance at more mature plant growth stages. There was no evidence that germination salt tolerance is related to salt tolerance at later growth stages in alfalfa. Salt tolerance during germination and later growth stages may be controlled by different physiological and genetic mechanisms.

Field studies of population of Geocoris and Nabis indicated that the density of adult Nabis was higher than Geocoris before April, but the reverse was true after April. In general, the abundance of adults and nymphs of each species was caused by alfalfa harvesting, dispersal of adults, discrepancies of sweep-net sampling, differences in mortality of eggs and the differences in the diapause termination of adults. The field cuttings of alfalfa reduced populations of both species, but adults were reduced more than the nymphs. In laboratory studies adults and nymphs of each species fed on each other on alfalfa in small cages, but in larger cages when only adults were caged, interspecific predation of adults did not occur. This suggests that, in the field, interspecific predation of nymphs can be more prevalent than adults of each species since nymphs which are more sedentary than adults are less affected by alfalfa cuttings. A number of predatory insects other than Nabis that were common in the alfalfa, such as Chrysopa carnea Stephens, Orius tristicolor (White), Hippodamia convergens Guerin, and Sinea confusa Caudell, were also found to prey upon Geocoris in the laboratory. Hyalomya aldrichii Townsend was the only parasite reared from Geocoris adults and nymphs from the field. The parasite did not numerically respond to the density of Geocoris and had minor impact on the population of the predator. The host preference of this parasite among the Geocoris spp. and between Geocoris and Nabis was not determined since rearing the parasite in the laboratory failed. Telenomus sp. parasitized groups of Geocoris eggs exposed in alfalfa fields. In the laboratory, it parasitized both G. pallens and G. punctipes eggs. Rearing the parasite at 30(DEGREES)C resulted in poorer emergence of adults than at 20(DEGREES)C and 25(DEGREES)C. Predaceous insects that synchronize with populations of Geocoris, larger in size then Geocoris, especially Nabis and Sinea spp. may be more important than parasites in regulating population of Geocoris in the field.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.