No description available.

Variation in pollen viability and the meiotic behaviour of sweet cherry Prunus avium L. cv. Lambert were studied. Pollen viability was estimated using aceto-carmine. Three types of pollen grain were observed; large, triangular; small, aborted; and intermediate. Only the first type were considered to have been viable at time of blossom harvest. No significant differences were detected between trees, between branches, or within branches, except for a North and South branch of one tree. Highly significant differences were detected among blossoms in a bud. The relative frequency of abnormal pollen was 42.26 per cent. Premeiotic budwood was stored at -5°C. Subsequent forcing at 10°, 15°, 20°, and 25°C to bring the buds to meiosis, and staining in alcoholic hydrochloric acid-carmine, revealed meiotic abnormalities at all temperatures except 15°C. Early meiotic division stages of additional material forced at this temperature were synchronous, but asynchrony developed after first metaphase. The first meiotic division was characterized by the frequent presence of a single pair of univalents, which appeared to arise from desynapsis of a bivalent in diplotene. Meiotic abnormalities associated with the univalents were observed at later division stages. The metaphase-anaphase division was typified by sequential disjunction of the bivalents, characteristic for sweet cherry meiosis. The relative frequency of abnormal first meiotic divisions was 45.49 per cent. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

The sweet cherry crop has always been the number one fruit crop in Utah until the last three or four years when it shifted to second place due to severe spring frosts. However, the outlook for its continued success is still very good. Even though there are drawbacks such as virus infestations, spring frosts, nutritional disorders, cracking, doubling, and bird injury, new plantings are being made each year in each of the important fruit producing counties. Utah is also important in the national production of sweet cherries and is presently sixth in the nation.

Temperature and soil moisture (SM) are the two main environmental factors affecting sweetpotato growth and yield. Quantitative functional algorithms of plant growth and developmental processes under a wide range of above factors are needed for developing tools for modeling. Four experiments were conducted to quantify early and late season SM and temperature effects on sweetpotato growth, development, and physiology. In experiment I, effects of five SM levels were evaluated in a greenhouse using cultivars, Beauregard and Evangeline. Experiment II was conducted to evaluate late-season SM effects with four evapotranspiration (ET) based irrigation. In experiment III, five temperatures were imposed at early season (0-59 days after transplanting (DAT)). Late season temperature effects were evaluated with four day/night temperatures from 17 to 91 DAT, in experiment IV. Experiments II, III, and IV were conducted in soil plant atmosphere research facility using Beauregard. Growth, developmental, and physiological parameters were measured. Rate of storage root (SR) development of both cultivars showed a quadratic decline with decreasing SM. Soil moisture optima for SR initiation were 0.168 and 0.199 m3 m-3, equivalent to 63 and 75% field capacity (FC), for cultivars Beauregard and Evangeline, respectively. Shoot biomass declined more rapidly than root with declining SM. Results revealed that, maintaining SM closer to FC during early season is beneficial for early development of root and shoot. Storage root biomass declined quadratically with declining irrigation. The optimum irrigation was 72% of ET and less biomass was partitioned to SRs above that level. Early season temperature study revealed, SR conversion efficiency increased quadratically and reached optimum at 23.9°C with increasing temperature. Maximum rate of SR initiation was reached at 29.5°C in 16.7 d. Biomass partitioned to roots declined linearly with increasing temperature. The SR production efficiency declined from 0.43 to 0.08 g SR kg-1 total weight, and dropped by 81% relative to optimum temperature. The SR fresh weight at high temperature declined 99% relative to optimum temperature. High temperature during mid- and late-seasons partitioned more biomass to shoots, less to roots lowering SR yield. The functional algorithms developed are vital to make management decisions and to develop crop models.

Vitamin A deficiency is recognized as a major health concern worldwide, especially in developing countries. Sweet potatoes are a cash crop that is abundantly grown and available, providing an excellent source of the carotenoid, beta-carotene. Carotenoids are precursors to vitamin A (retinol). Three sweet potato cookie products were developed: glutenree, wheat-containing, and glutenree with extra sweet potato. Products were evaluated by adults and pre-school aged children based on appearance, aroma, texture, flavor, and overall acceptability. Results showed that overall the children liked both the glutenree and wheat-containing cookies (p<0.05). Adults preferred (p<0.05) the glutenree with extra sweet potato and the wheat-containing products. The glutenree cookie contained 10.1 parts per million of beta-carotene as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

No description available.

This study seeks to determine the value of sulfur dioxide as a method for the dehydration of sweet potatoes for use in cow feed.

Wheyruit slush formulas were evaluated prior to consumer testing of pre-selected formulated beverages. Varying ingredients were prepared in accordance to a factorial design of maximum use of whey and minimum use of additional ingredients. Whey was obtained from the Mississippi State University Dairy Processing Plant and evaporated. The evaporated sweet whey was combined with blueberries, cherry concentrate, Splenda®, water and ice. Sensory tests were conducted to evaluate appearance, flavor and overall acceptability of formulations. Panelists were asked to participate in a survey to elaborate personal perceptions of the products. Formulation of 125mL whey and 30g blueberries had the higher acceptability score, but was not different from the beverage with 150mL whey and 30g blueberries. These two formulas were tested for chemical analysis. Adequate levels of antioxidants, total phenolics and neutral pH were observed. Results from proximate analysis showed minimal caloric levels with low presence of protein and carbohydrate.

The Virginian variety and four selections of the Porto Rico variety were planted on two soil types at Toano, and Walkerton, Virginia, and on one soil at Warsaw, Virginia. At Williamsburg, Virginia, the Virginian, Nancy Hall, and a selection of the Porto Rico were planted under aluminum foil mulch, black paper mulch, and on cultivated plots. From these plantings an attempt was made to determine the influence of aluminum foil mulch, black paper mulch, selection or variety, and soil type, on the factors studied. The following summary is given of the results obtained from the “Mulched Treatments” phases of the experiment: 1. Aluminum foil mulch tended to increase the soil moisture and lower the soil temperature as compared to black paper mulch end cultivation. 2. Where the entire plot was covered by unperforated black paper, without some provision for water to reach the soil, the soil moisture is lowered. 3. The carotene content of the Virginian was 3 to 4 times as high as the Porto Rico variety. 4. Neither the yield nor the carotene content of the Porto Rico variety was affected by the aluminum foil, or black paper mulches. 5. The carotene content and yield of the Virginian, and the total yield of the Nancy Hall was higher under aluminum foil mulch than on the cultivated plots. 6. There was no difference between the aluminum foil, black paper, and cultivated treatments in the smoothness and uniformity of shape of the three varieties considered. 7. The Virginian was smoother and more uniform in shape than the Porto Rico or Nancy Hall varieties. The Virginian was also more uniform in skin and flesh color than the Porto Rico variety. The following summary is given of the results obtained from the “Affect of Variety and Selections” and “Affect of Soil Type” phases of the experiment: 1. No variety or selection was consistently higher in yield than all the others. 2. Selection #2 of the Porto Rico variety was the only selection which was consistently among the highest in yield at all locations. 3. The Virginian sweet potato variety was smoother and more uniform in shape than any of the selections of the Porto Rico. 4. No selection of the Porto Rico variety was consistently smoother than the others. Selection #1 was the most consistent selection of the Porto Rico variety to grade high in uniformity of shape. 5. There was no appreciable difference between varieties and selections in their disease susceptibility. 6. No selection or variety was significantly better, in respect to cracking, than the others. 7. The Virginian variety was 3 to 4 times as high in carotene content than any of the selections of the Porto Rico, regardless of location or soil. It was also more uniform in skin and flesh color. 8. None of the selections of Porto Rico was consistently higher in carotene content. Selection #4 varied more than the other selections in the uniformity of skin color. 9. Variety or selection was a more important factor than soil type in determining the yield, carotene content, and uniformity of flesh, and skin color of the sweet potatoes. 10. Soil type did not affect the yield of the Virginian, or selections of Porto Rico at either of the locations. 11. Soil type had only a slight and inconsistent affect on the smoothness, and uniformity of shape of the sweet potatoes. 12. Under the conditions of this experiment there was no consistent difference in soil type in the amount and kind of disease present. / Master of Science

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a warm season herb usually propagated from seeds. Establishment of basil is difficult as seed germination may be limited, particularly during field seeding at cold soil temperatures. The germination of six cultivars (\'Italian Large Leaf\', \'Italian Large Leaf\' 35X, \'Nufar\', \'Genovese\', \'Genovese Compact Improved\' and \'Aroma 2\') of sweet basil seeds were tested on a one dimensional thermo-gradient table over temperatures ranging from 0 to 50"C. At temperatures below 20"C, germination among cultivars was more variable and the mean time to germination (MTG) increased to greater than 25 days for some cultivars. Germination declined sharply and had a sudden termination at high temperatures above 40"C for all six cultivars.  There were statistical differences among the cultivar base temperatures, which ranged between 10.1 and 13.3"C. The optimal and ceiling temperatures for germination were similar and did not differ statistically among the cultivars compared in this study. The average optimal temperature for all cultivars was 35 ± 0"C, while the average ceiling temperature was 43 ± 1.3"C. Stored seeds (> 5 years) had lower seed vigor and lower germination percentage, also lower ceiling temperature compared with the fresh seeds of the same cultivar (\'Italian Large Leaf\'), but the base temperatures were the same for both new and old seeds. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seeds produce a thick layer of mucilage around the pericarp within minutes after hydration. Mucilage is most prevalent among plant species adapted to surviving in arid sandy soils, though its significance in determining ecological fitness is unclear. The mucilage produced by seeds is reported to be composed of cell-wall polysaccharides that are deposited in testa pericarp cells during development. In this study, sweet basil seeds were examined using light and environmental scanning electron microscopy. The mucilage of basil seeds is held together by columnar structures that unfolded from the pericarp and helped hold and stabilize the mucilage to the outer surface. The mucilage was removed using diluted hydrochloric acid to compare performance of seeds with and without mucilage. Mucilage removal did not inhibit seed germination under ideal laboratory conditions but decreased the water content of seeds significantly. The water content of intact seeds was almost 4 times greater than seeds without mucilage. Mucilage enabled seeds cling to an incline board set to a steeper angle than seeds without mucilage. The fully hydrated seeds approached zero water potential, so the mucilage did not prevent seeds from fully hydrating. Soil (media) germination testing showed the seeds with mucilage had higher germination percentage than the seed without mucilage on several different types of media. Seeds with mucilage also had higher survival percentages after 10 days on different types of media. Basil seeds mucilage acts as a reservoir to hold loosely bound water at high water potential so it is available for seed germination and early seedling development. / Master of Science