Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agronomy / Johanna A. Dille / Kochia (Kochia scoparia L. Schrad.), one of the most problematic weeds in the Great Plains of United States, has evolved resistance to some herbicides including glyphosate (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) inhibitor) which was first reported in western Kansas in 2007. The objectives of this research were to (1) characterize six kochia populations from western Kansas on the basis of glyphosate resistance or multiple herbicide resistance, (2) determine germination characteristics of the populations and evaluate their growth and fecundity in the field, and (3) determine if EPSPS gene amplification responsible for glyphosate resistance in kochia was associated with growth and fecundity cost in the plants. Six kochia populations were from Scott, Finney, Thomas, Phillips, Wallace, and Wichita counties. Based on shikimate assay for glyphosate and recommended field rates for four tested herbicides, three kochia populations (Scott (SC-R), Finney (FN-R), and Thomas (TH-R)) were grouped into glyphosate-resistant (GR) and three populations (Phillips (PH-S), Wallace (WA-S) and Wichita (WI-S)) were grouped into glyphosate-susceptible (GS). All populations were resistant to dicamba (synthetic auxin) and chlorsulfuron (acetolactate synthase inhibitor), however, atrazine (PS II inhibitor) resistance in FN-R was noted as exceptional among the GR populations. Across the three germination temperatures (5, 10 and 15 C), the GR populations consistently had less total cumulative germination and at 15 C, they consistently required more time to attain 50% of maximum cumulative germination than the GS populations. Both the field study and evaluation of relationship between EPSPS gene amplification and plant performance showed that differences in plant height, biomass accumulation and fecundity among populations were not in respect to glyphosate resistance but rather, differences in their inherent ability to grow and produce seeds in the presence or absence of neighbors. This research suggests that fitness differences between GR and GS kochia populations could be identified in germination characteristics but not in their growth or fecundity.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2017-06-02T19:54:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - Soraia John da Silva.pdf: 1762972 bytes, checksum: aae3e43996736241367a1924339662c0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-02T19:54:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - Soraia John da Silva.pdf: 1762972 bytes, checksum: aae3e43996736241367a1924339662c0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-20 / CAPES / The glyphosate, herbicide used in different countries, inhibits the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), blocking the synthesis of aromatic amino acids. With this, it still affects the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and the concentration of metabolites in plants. Its activity was first reported as a metal chelator. Therefore, to make use of this herbicide, may be formation of complexes with metals from soil, occurring change in the effectiveness of the product and loss of minerals. Thus, to avoid such problems,this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of three forms of glyphosate: purified, previously complexed with metals, and a commercial form (Roundup WG?). The effects of glyphosate complexes with copper, cobalt and nickel with different stoichiometries and different pH values on the in vitro activity of EPSPs were evaluated. Selected complex for the first experiment in vivo were Cu421 and Co821 (first number for pH and the latter two to stoichiometry glyphosate: metal). These complexes were used in the in vivo experiment I, as well as distilled water (control), purified Roundup and glyphosate on transgenic soybean and B. decumbens. In the following experiments (II and III), mineral oil was used in all treatments to reduce leaching of the compounds. The complex selected for continuation of this study was Cu421 due to its emphasis on the results obtained in the first experiment in vivo. When comparing the effect of the compounds in Falker Chlorophyll Index (ICF) of B. decumbens compared to control, there was fall of this index when using Roundup, Cu421 and purified glyphosate (the latter only in the second experiment). Later it was analyzed fresh mass accumulation and collected fresh material for determination of enzyme activities and N-NO3- levels. The complex Cu421 caused a more significant fresh mass reduction and still allowed the increase in the content of soluble nitrate in Brachiaria decumbens, probably due to the presence of nitrate in this complex. In the case of transgenic soybean there was no significant change in ICF. The use of Roundup and the complex did not change significantly the fresh mass accumul ation in this species. The application of the purified glyphosate, however, caused increase in mass accumulation and all treatments altered soybeans in nitrate content. In experiments with mineral oil in B. decumbens, the Cu421 complex inhibited significantly the EPSPs activity, as well as purified Roundup and glyphosate (the latter only in the experiment III). No inhibition occurred in transgenic soybean. All treatments in vivo stimulated PAL activity only on weed, which suggests that the increase in this activity is a consequence of the inhibition of EPSPs and other deleterious effects of compounds on susceptible plants. This study showed that especially Cu421 complex might be used effectively as a herbicide since it inhibits EPSPs, activates the PA,L reduces fresh mass accumulation and influences photosynthesis in the tested weed. Besides, the transgenic soybean showed little sensitive to this compound, which further increases the prospect of using the same as herbicide. / O glifosato, herbicida usado mundialmente, atua inibindo a enzima 5-enolpiruvil-chiquimato- 3-fosfato-sintase (EPSPs), bloqueando a s?ntese de amino?cidos arom?ticos. Com isso, ainda influencia a atividade de fenilalanina am?nia liase (PAL) e a concentra??o de metab?litos nas plantas. A sua primeira a??o reportada foi como agente quelante de metais. Portanto, ao fazer uso deste herbicida, pode haver forma??o de complexos com metais do solo, ocorrendo altera??o da efic?cia do produto e defici?ncia mineral. Assim, de modo a evitar tais problemas, este trabalho teve como objetivo, comparar a efici?ncia de tr?s formas de glifosato: purificado, previamente complexado com metais, e uma das suas formas comerciais (Roundup WG?). Os efeitos de complexos de glifosato com cobre, cobalto e n?quel, sintetizados sob diferentes estequiometrias e valores de pH, foram avaliados sobre a atividade in vitro de EPSPs. Os complexos selecionados para o primeiro experimento in vivo foram: Cu421 e Co821 (primeiro n?mero referente ao pH e os dois ?ltimos ? estequiometria glifosato:metal). Estes complexos foram usados no experimento in vivo I, assim como ?gua destilada (controle), Roundup e glifosato purificado, sobre soja transg?nica e Brachiaria decumbens. Nos experimentos seguintes utilizou-se ?leo mineral em todos os tratamentos para reduzir a lixivia??o dos compostos. O complexo selecionado para continua??o deste estudo foi o Cu421 devido a seu destaque nos resultados obtidos no primeiro experimento in vivo. Ao comparar o efeito dos compostos no ?ndice de Clorofila Falker (ICF) de B. decumbens em rela??o ao controle, observou-se queda deste ?ndice ao usar Roundup, Cu421 e glifosato purificado (este ?ltimo, somente no segundo experimento). Posteriormente foi analisado ac?mulo de massa fresca e coletado material fresco para determina??o das atividades enzim?ticas e dos teores N-NO3-. O complexo Cu421 foi o que provocou maior redu??o da massa fresca e ainda possibilitou o aumento no teor sol?vel de nitrato em B. decumbens, provavelmente devido ? presen?a de nitrato neste complexo. No caso da soja transg?nica n?o houve altera??o significativa de ICF. O uso de Roundup e dos complexos n?o alterou de forma significativa o ac?mulo de massa fresca nesta esp?cie. A aplica??o do glifosato purificado, entretanto, causou incremento no ac?mulo de massa e todos os tratamentos alteraram o teor de nitrato em soja. Nos experimentos com ?leo mineral em B. decumbens, o complexo Cu421 inibiu de forma significativa a atividade de EPSPs, assim como Roundup e glifosato purificado (este ?ltimo, somente no experimento III). Em soja transg?nica n?o houve inibi??o. Todos os tratamentos in vivo estimularam a atividade de PAL somente na gram?nea, permitindo sugerir que o aumento nesta atividade seja consequ?ncia da inibi??o de EPSPs e de outros efeitos delet?rios dos compostos sobre plantas suscept?veis. O presente estudo mostrou que principalmente o complexo Cu421 pode vir a ser utilizado de forma eficaz como herbicida, uma vez que inibe a EPSPs, ativa a PAL, reduz ac?mulo de massa fresca e influencia a fotoss?ntese na planta daninha testada. E, em contrapartida, a soja transg?nica mostrou-se pouco sens?vel a este composto, o que aumenta ainda mais a perspectiva do uso do mesmo como herbicida.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Electroanalytical and optical properties of nanoscale materials are very important for biosensing applications as well as for understanding the unique one-dimensional carrier transport mechanism. One-dimensional semiconductor nanomaterials such as semiconductor quantum dots are extremely attractive for designing high-density protein arrays. Because of their high surfaceto-volume ratio, electro-catalytic activity as well as good biocompatibility and novel electron transport properties make them highly attractive materials for ultra-sensitive detection of biological macromolecules via bio-electronic or bio-optic devices. A genosensor or gene based biosensor is an analytical device that employs immobilized deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probes as the recognition element and measures specific binding processes such as the formation of deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA-DNA), deoxyribonucleic acid- ribonucleic acid (DNA-RNA) hybrids, or the interactions between proteins or ligand molecules with DNA at the sensor surface.In this thesis, I present four binary and two ternary-electrochemically and optically modulated selenide and telluride quantum dots, all synthesised at room temperature in aqueous media. Cationic gallium (Ga3+) synthesized in form of hydrated gallium perchlorate salt[Ga(ClO4)3.6H2O] from the reaction of hot perchloric acid and gallium metal was used to tailor the optical and electrochemical properties of the selenide and telluride quantum dots. The synthesized cationic gallium also allowed successful synthesis of novel water soluble and biocompatible capped gallium selenide nanocrystals and gallium telluride quantum dots. Cyclic voltammetric studies inferred that presence of gallium in a ZnSe-3MPA quantum dot lattice improved its conductivity and significantly increased the electron transfer rate in ZnTe-3MPA.Utraviolet-visible (UV-vis) studies showed that incorporation of gallium into a ZnSe-3MPA lattice resulted in a blue shift in the absorption edge of ZnSe-3MPA from 350 nm to 325 nm accompanied by decrease in particle size. An amphiphilic bifunctional molecule, 3-Mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) was used as a capping agent for all quantum dots. It was found that 3-MPA fully solubilised the quantum dots, made them stable, biocompatible, non agglomerated and improved their electron transfer kinetics when immobilized on gold electrodes.Retention of the capping agent on the quantum dot surface was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) which gave scissor type bending vibrations of C-H groups in the region 1365 cm-1 to 1475 cm-1, stretching vibrations of C=O at 1640 cm-1, symmetric and asymmetric vibrations of the C-H in the region 2850 cm-1 to 3000 cm-1 as well as stretching vibrations of –O-H group at 3435 cm-1. The particle size and level of non-agglomeration of the quantum dots was studied by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The optical properties of the quantum dots were studied using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques.Quantum dot/nanocrystal modified gold electrodes were prepared by immersing thoroughly cleaned electrodes in the quantum dot/nanocrystal solution, in dark conditions for specific periods of time. The electrochemical properties of the modified electrodes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV), electrochemical impedance and spectroscopy (EIS). Six sensing platforms were then prepared using quantum dot/nanocrystal, one of which was used for detection of dopamine while the rest were used for detection of a DNA sequence related to 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, a common vector gene in glyphosate resistant transgenic plants.The first sensing platform, consisting of ZnSe-3MPA modified gold electrode (Au|ZnSe-3MPA) gave rise to a novel method of detecting dopamine in presence of excess uric acid and ascorbic acid. Using a potential window of 0 to 400 mV, the ZnSe-3MPA masked the potential for oxidation of uric and ascorbic acids, allowing detection of dopamine with a detection limit of 2.43 x 10-10 M (for SWV) and 5.65 x 10-10 M (for steady state amperometry), all in presence of excess uric acid (>6500 higher) and ascorbic acid (>16,000 times higher). The detection limit obtained in this sensor was much lower than the concentration of dopamine in human blood(1.31 x 10-9 M), a property that makes this sensor a potential device for detection of levels of dopamine in human blood.The other sensing platforms were prepared by bioconjugation of amine-terminated 20 base oligonucleotide probe DNA (NH2-5′-CCC ACC GGT CCT TCA TGT TC-3′) onto quantum dot modified electrodes with the aid of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The prepared DNA electrodes were electrostatically hybridized with different sequences which included 5′-GAA CAT GAA GGA CCG GTG GG-3′ (complementary target), 5′-CATAGTTGCAGCTGCCACTG-3′ (non complementary target) and 5′-GATCATGAAGCACCGGAGGG-3′ (3-base mismatched target).The hybridization events were monitored using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and SWV by monitoring the guanine oxidation signal or using EIS by monitoring changes in the charge transfer resistance. The quantum dot genosensors were characterized by low detection limits (in the nanomolar range), long linear range (40 - 150 nM) and were able to discriminate among complementary, non-complementary and 3-base mismatched target sequences.

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