The effects of hormonal chemicals and different genotypes on fruit growth of greenhouse-grown tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were examined. Continuous root application of 10nM N⁶-benzylaminopurine in Hoagland's nutrient solution to tomato seedlings of 'Fireball' and 'Red Cherry' significantly delayed anthesis of 'Fireball', but not 'Red Cherry'. Ovary diameter at anthesis, final fruit diameter, and fruit weight of both cultivars were unaffected. Irrespective of treatments, a significant positive correlation was obtained between ovary diameter at anthesis and final fruit diameter. A single foliar application of 0.25mM or 0.37mM β-na-phthoxyaceticacid (βNOA) at the appearance of the first in florescence of ‘Fireball' significantly increased ovary diameter at anthesis, but had no effect on final fruit diameter. Flowers on the second inflorescence of tomato plants treated with 0.37mM βNOA had smaller ovary sizes at anthesis than those of untreated plants. Application of 0.125mM βNOA, and 1µM, 10µM, and 100µM gibberellin A₃ had no significant effect on ovary diameter at anthesis or final fruit diameter. A significant positive correlation was also shown between ovary diameter at anthesis and final fruit diameter of βNOA treated plants. Among the twelve genotypes tested, significant correlations between ovary diameter at anthesis and final fruit diameter were found for 'Fireball', 'Michigan/Ohio Hybrid', and 'New Yorker'. The remaining genotypes showed no significant correlations between ovary diameter at anthesis and final fruit diameter. The average ovary diameter at anthesis (of all the genotypes) was significantly correlated with final fruit diameter, fruit weight, and locule number. / Master of Science

no abstract provided by author / Master of Science

The relationship between porcine growth hormone (pGH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in swine was investigated. IGF-I levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) with an antisera specific for human IGF-I after ultrafiltration of acidified samples. Ultrafiltration quantitatively separated carrier proteins and IGF-I. Failure to separate these species interfered with the RIA. Using this assay, swine chronically treated with pGH had 2.6-fold higher sera levels of IGF-I than controls, whereas, serum IGF-I from a hypophysectomized animal was only 4% that of normal animals. The ultrafiltration procedure was incorporated into a protocol to measure IGF-I in sera from neonatal swine treated with pGH (5O ug •kg BWt⁻¹•d⁻¹). Treatment of neonatal pigs with pGH for one or two weeks elevated pGH in sera, but did not significantly affect either growth or serum IGF-I concentrations. Preliminary studies were performed to determine if neonatal swine hepatocytes secreted IGF-I in vitro. Results indicated that neonatal hepatocytes synthesized limited quantities of IGF-I that approached the detection limits of the RIA. Furthermore, pGH did not stimulate hepatocyte IGF-I synthesis in vitro or in vivo. Neonatal hepatocytes synthesized a protein species that bound labeled IGF-I and had a molecular weight similar to a carrier protein in swine serum. Estimation of the rate of carrier protein synthesis suggested that IGF-I and carrier proteins are coordinately regulated in isolated neonatal hepatocytes. These results suggest that IGF-I is not inducible in the neonatal pig by GH therapy and that growth in neonatal swine is either maximal or GR-independent. / M.S.

The formulation of an accurate data base consisting of system state variable values is an initial and critical step in the economical and secure operation of modern power systems. The Least Median of Squares (LMS) estimator is ideal in the sense that it can provide a good state estimate despite high percentages of bad data and multiple bad leverage points. The estimator is, however, computationally intensive. In this thesis, an efficient algorithm is developed and implemented to increase the overall speed of the LMS estimator. The algorithm generates measurement samples in a manner that allows use of the resampling technique i.e., they make the system observable and also ensure that each measurement has a nearly equal probability of appearing in each of the measurement samples. / Master of Science

Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera var. palustris (Huds.) Farw.) is the most widely used cool-season turf grass used for putting greens in North America. Frequently it becomes invaded with a persistent weed, annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.). Studies were conducted on a predominately annual bluegrass area managed as a putting green to attempt to quantify the impacts of plant growth regulator, seeding rate" and season on the success of introducing creeping bentgrass. Also, the impact of plant growth regulating substances on creeping bentgrass overall quality and seasonal rootmass production was evaluated. It was observed that creeping bentgrass does not become well established when overseeded into annual bluegrass regardless of plant growth regulator applications or season. Additionally 1I plant growth regulator application, following seedling emergence reduced creeping bentgrass seedling populations. Competition from established annual bluegrass and close frequent cutting were deemed reasons for lack of creeping bentgrass establishment success. Creeping bentgrass turf was maintained at a high level of quality with plant growth regulating substances. The use of the plant growth regulator trinexapac-ethyI reduced clipping production and was not detrimental to root production. Propiconizole application increased clippings and controlled Sclerotinia dollarspot. The application of a proprietary biostimulator material (3D) enhanced creeping bentgrass green color and generally increased rootmass over untreated turf. / Master of Science

The effects of propiconazole and seaweed extract seed treatments on the germination of Kentucky bluegrass (<i>Poa pratensis L.</i>) under osmotic and temperature stresses were determined in the laboratory. As polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000 concentrations was increased from 50 to 250 g/L, percent germination was reduced. Propiconazole at 0, 0.5, 0.9, and 1.9 g a.i./kg of seed did not affect total germination, however, germination was delayed with propiconazole seed treatment. Plumule and radicle lengths of seedlings at the termination of experiment 21 days were inhibited with increasing PEG 8000 concentrations and propiconazole treatments. Germination of seed treated with either propiconazole at 1.9 g a.i./kg of seed or seaweed extract at 13 g of product /kg of seed was determined under a range of temperatures from 15 to 40 C on a thermo gradient table. The optimum temperature for Kentucky bluegrass germination was at 25 C. Germination was decreased at temperature below 25 C and no germination was obtained at temperatures above 35 C. Seed treated with propiconazole or seaweed extract did not stimulate seed germination at the different temperatures. / Master of Science

The topic of voltage optimization has been of recent interest to many researchers and is being considered by many utilities for implementation in their Energy Control Centers. Much of the past research has utilized linear programming incremental models or strictly gradient techniques. This research combines both linear programming (LP) and generalized reduced gradient techniques (GRG) for voltage optimization. The result provides most of the advantages of both LP and gradient techniques. Further, the research incorporates important considerations for implementation in an Energy Control Center. / Ph. D.

Plant growth regulators (PGR's) including metsulfuron plus mefluidide at 10 plus 140 g ha⁻¹, chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide at 20 plus 140 g ha⁻¹, imazethapyr plus imazapyr at 67.5 plus 2.5, 96.4 plus 3.6, and 115.7 plus 4.3 g ha⁻¹, ACP 2100 at 60, 120, and 180 g ha⁻¹, and DPX L5300 plus mefluidide at 10 plus 140, 20 plus 140, and 70 plus 140 g ha⁻¹ were applied to ‘KY 31’ tall fescue (<i>Festuca arundinacea</i> Schreb.). All rates of imazethapyr plus imazapyr, ACP 2100, and chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide afforded a significantly higher turf quality than metsulfuron plus mefluidide. ACP 2100 at 120 and 180 g ha⁻¹, imazethapyr plus imazapyr, DPX L5300 plus mefluidide at 70 plus 140 g ha⁻¹, and metsulfuron plus mefluidide gave the most consistent seedhead suppression. When treating seven month old tall fescue, DPX L5300 plus mefluidide did not adequately suppress seedhead elongation. Metsulfuron plus mefluidide, regardless of timing, caused excessive injury. All rates of imazethapyr plus imazapyr and the upper rates of ACP 2100 afforded the best turf quality followed by chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide in 1988 to ‘Rebel’ and both years to ‘KY 31’. Red fescue (<i>Festuca rubra</i> L.) quality was best with chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide and the high rate of DPX L5300 plus mefluidide. All other treatments resulted in a poorer quality turf. For all field studies on all turf types, in general, multiple applications were not practical and often caused excessive injury regardless of timing. Root studies conducted in the greenhouse revealed that with one application, imazethapyr plus imazapyr, ACP 2100, and DPX L5300 plus mefluidide provided root dry weights ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 g, which was greater than metsulfuron plus mefluidide, chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide, and the mowed check which afforded root dry weights of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.2, respectively. With two applications ACP 2100 and DPX L5300 plus mefluidide afforded 350, 1100, 200 and 200% greater root volume than metsulfuron plus mefluidide and chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide and 200, 630, 600 and 600% greater root dry weights. Three applications are not recommended. In laboratory studies using ‘KY 31’ tall fescue, mefluidide enhanced the uptake of ¹⁴C-DPX L5300 after 48 hours by as much as 11% and the translocation of ¹⁴C by 8.4% to the young leaves, 9.3% to the old leaves and 6.1% to the culm. Radioactive material concentrated in the tips of leaves. No significant accumulation of ¹⁴C occurred in the crown or roots. / Ph. D.

This thesis deals with the issues of the plant-growth regulators in winter rapeseed. The main part of the thesis is publishing a 2-years-old results of the year 2013/14 and 2014/15, which have been obtained from the small-plot experiments realized on the experimental land of the Faculty of Agriculture of The University of South Bohemia. Three kinds of varieties in a reduced and optimal seed quantity were included in these experiments: line (Remmy), hybrid (H906699) and variety PX 104. The optimal seed quantity was 50 seeds per square meter for a hybrid and PX 104 varieties and 60 seeds per square meter for a line variety. Reduced seed quantity was 33 seeds per square meter for the hybrid and PX 104 varieties and 40 seeds per square meter for the line variety. Three types of applications of the azole preparations were tested for each variety and seed quantity: the first control, the second - treatment in the autumn, the third option - treatments in the autumn and spring. All variants were realized in four repetitions. During the experiments it was observed the influence on the yield of seeds, weight of thousand seeds, percentage of oil, number of plants per square meter and content of the nitrogen compounds in the rapeseed meal. The highest increase of the yield (amounting to 0,94 t/ha) was recorded in 2014 in the variant of a hybrid variety with a density of 33 plants per square meter with autumn and spring application of growth regulators (control 6,82 t/ha, autumn + spring treatment by plant growth regulators - 7,76 t/ha). Similar results were achieved in 2015. In conclusion, it may be said that azole preparations achieve the best results in sparse stands of winter rapeseed.

Durum grain quality is affected by many factors, but water and nitrogen are factors that the grower can control. The purpose of this research was to determine 1) the nitrogen application rate required at pollen shed to maintain adequate grain protein levels if irrigation is excessive or deficient during grain fill and 2) if nitrogen applications during grain fill can elevate grain protein. Field research was conducted at the Maricopa Agricultural Center using the durum varieties Duraking, Minos, and Turbo. The field was treated uniformly until pollen shed when nitrogen was applied at rates of 0, 30, and 60 lbs/acre. During grain fill, the plots were irrigated based on 30, 50, or 70% moisture depletion. In a separate experiment, nitrogen fertilizer was applied at a rate of 30 lbs N/acre at pollen shed only, pollen shed and the first irrigation after pollen shed, and pollen shed and the first and second irrigation after pollen shed. Irrigation had no effect on grain protein level, although increasing nitrogen rates at pollen shed from 0 to 30 and 30 to 60 lbs N/acre increased protein by 1 percentage point. Nitrogen fertilizer application at the first irrigation after pollen shed increased grain protein content from 10.4 to 11.4% and application at the first and second irrigation after pollen shed increased grain protein content further to 11.9% averaged over varieties. Irrigation management during grain fill may not play as large a role in controlling grain protein content as was originally thought except perhaps on heavy soils, and nitrogen fertilizer application during grain fill may not be too late to increase grain protein content.