Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2008. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Sept. 10, 2009). Thesis advisor: Nathan J. Sanders. Thesis advisor: Daniel Simberloff. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MS)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2010. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Rick L. Lawrence. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Canada thistle is a clone forming perennial weed that spreads aggressively and is difficult to control. One approach to managing invasive weeds is integrating numerous tactics instead of relying on a single tactic. Therefore, the objectives of this research were: 1) assess impacts of Hadroplontus litura, common sunflower competition, and soil nutrients on Canada thistle, and 2) investigate head capsule morphometrics and model H. litura developmental timing. Common sunflower competition, low soil nutrients, and H. litura herbivory negatively impacted aspects of Canada thistle growth and reproduction, but effects varied. Additionally, H. litura effects on thistle morphology were mild whereas the effects of soil nutrition and competition were persistent throughout the experiment. Histogram analysis and verification via Dyar’s rule produced adequate larvae categorization by instar number. Logistic thermal time models developed to predict mean developmental time were most accurate for first instar larvae and least accurate for egg stage.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2007. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-86). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2005. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Jeffrey C. Mosley. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 525-59).

Thesis (MS)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2010. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Fabian D. Menalled. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-96).

Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.) is an introduced Asteraceae that has become established on 10 million acres in the Pacific Northwest and California. This weed functions as an annual or short-lived perennial and depends on seeds for reproduction. Strategies of control that reduce plant fitness or lower seed production or viability may help limit the rate of spread of yellow starthistle. Previous work has shown that grazing and mowing can influence seed production. This study tested the hypothesis that proper timing and frequency of defoliation can reduce the number and viability of seeds produced. The study was conducted in Umatilla County, Oregon using a randomized block design with 4 replications of each of 4 defoliation treatments: (1) single defoliation at the bolting stage; (2) single defoliation at the bud stage; (3) two defoliations, once at the bolting stage and again at the bud stage; (4) non-defoliated control. Each of 4 blocks consisted of a 12 x 12 m area, with 16 plots measuring 3 x 3 m. Plants were defoliated at ground level using a gas-powered string-type mower. Response measurements were collected at the end of the growing season (September) following potential regrowth and included: (1) number of seedheads per plant; (2) number of seeds per seedhead; (3) number of seeds per plant; (4) number of seeds m⁻², (5) seed viability (% germination rates). Supporting measurements included: seedhead diameter; plant height, number of branches per plant; pre-dawn xylem pressure; soil moisture; and documentation of 5 biological control insect species. A single defoliation at bolting resulted in fewer seeds per seedhead, and fewer seeds per plant than non-defoliated controls. A single defoliation at the floral bud stage or repeated defoliation (bolting and again at the bud stage) resulted in equally fewer seeds per plant and fewer seeds m⁻² compared to non-defoliated controls. There was no statistical difference in percent germination of seeds among treatments. Defoliation had no effect on the infestation rates of seedheads by biological control insects. A second study examined nutrient content of yellow starthistle during 6 phenological stages from sites in Union, Baker and Umatilla Counties, Oregon during each of 2 years. Acid detergent fiber, lignin, cellulose and neutral detergent fiber contents increased through phenological development. Crude protein ranged from 16.7 to 5.0%. In Vitro dry matter digestibility ranged from 84.8% to 57.0%. Mineral nutrients P, K, CA, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Na were analyzed and determined to be adequate for maintenance needs of ewes. / Graduation date: 2002

This study evaluated the effects of tillage system, rotational tillage sequences, and winter seed burial depth on weed seedling recruitment in irrigated cropping systems. Notill (NT) planting of vegetable crops reduced emergence of hairy nightshade by 77 to 99% and Powell amaranth emergence from 50 to 87% compared to conventional tillage (CT) and planting of crops. Cover crops suppressed weed emergence if soils were undisturbed but not if soils were tilled in the spring. Four years of NT vegetable crops reduced summer annual weed density by 48 to 79% at two sites. Rotational tillage sequences that alternated between NT and CT only reduced summer annual weed density if the shorter season crop of snap beans was paired with CT and sweet corn was paired with NT. Hairy nightshade density decreased by 83 to 90% if NT was paired with the longer season crop of sweet corn. Hairy nightshade seedling recruitment at 30.7 C was more than 15 times greater for seeds buried at 6, 13 and 25 cm than when buried at 1 cm in simulated NT. Recruitment potential was low in March and April but increased to a maximum in May and June. Germination rates for seeds buried at 1 cm were lower and mortality and dormancy greater than for seeds buried from 6 to 25 cm during the winter. Protecting the seeds buried at 1 cm from rainfall during the winter increased seedling recruitment from 0 to 2 of 10 buried seeds, but had a negligible effect on seed mortality and dormancy. Treatment of seeds buried at 25 cm with 1 cm soil temperature reduced recruitment from 4.8 to 2.3 of 10 buried seeds at 33.3 C, but did not significantly increase seed mortality or dormancy. Estimates of seed drift using electronic transponders found that 16% of the seeds at 5 cm moved to within the emergence zone for hairy nightshade. Seed drift coupled with the faster germination rate and lower mortality of seeds buried at 12 cm or below predicts that hairy nightshade recruitment will be optimized when soil is tilled in the spring. / Graduation date: 2005