Studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of plant health protectants Pageant (pyraclobstrobin + boscalid), Regalia (extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis) and MBI-501 (an anti-transpirant) on drought, heat and cold tolerance. To measure effects on drought tolerance, Pageant, Regalia or MBI-501 were foliar applied to impatiens at four rates (0.0×, 0.5×, 1.0×, and 1.5×) based on the label rates of 0.228 g·L-1 (Pageant), 10 mL·L-1 (Regalia) and 2 mL·L-1 (MBI-501) and to tomato plants at two rates (0.0× and 1.0×) based on the label rates of 0.559 g·L-1 (Pageant), 10 mL·L-1 (Regalia) and 2 mL·L-1 (MBI-501) grown with different target substrate volumetric water contents (TVWC). Pageant applied at the 1.0× rate to well-watered impatiens, had greater shoot dry weight compared to water stressed plants. Regalia application increased root dry weight, leaf chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate of impatiens and tomato plants. However, results tended to be in the higher TVWC (Pageant and Regalia) to moderately stressed conditions (Regalia). To evaluate heat tolerance in Impatiens walleriana ‘Super Elfin XP White’ (impatiens), Pageant (0.228 g·L-1), Regalia (10 m·L-1) or MBI-501 (2 mL·L-1) were applied prior to the heat event. Photosynthetic rate was less with impatiens exposed to the heat event compared to plants not exposed to the heat event. However, there was no indication Pageant, Regalia or MBI-501 improved heat tolerance. To evaluate heat tolerance in Solanum lycopersicum ‘BHN 640’ (tomato) plants, Regalia was foliar applied at the 1.0× rate at 24 h or 1 h before the heat event. There was no indication Regalia improved heat tolerance. Fragaria ×ananassa ‘Camarosa’ (strawberry) plants were evaluated for chilling tolerance following application of Regalia at the 1.0× rate in a growth chamber. Results indicated no increase in chilling tolerance of strawberry plants compared to plants receiving no Regalia or chilling treatments. Citrus unshiu ‘Owari’ (satsuma) leaves were evaluated for freeze tolerance after application of Regalia at 1.0× (10 mL·L-1) rate in a programmable ultra-low freezer. Results indicated no increased freeze tolerance in satsuma leaves compared to leaves from plants receiving no Regalia or freezing treatment.

Current crop and climate modeling studies predict temperature extremes that may add future challenges to global food and agriculture production systems due to yield decreases in our staple cereal crops. Although there have been some temperature stress adaptation traits and a few associated genes discovered in plants for enhanced thermotolerance, very little is known about these traits in our major cereal crops, particularly in maize. Furthermore, the limited availability of appropriate selection environments and accurate phenotyping, including functional traits for selection, have been major hurdles to overcome in making meaningful gains towards improved thermotolerance in breeding programs. Previous reports have established that dynamic changes in leaf membrane lipids occur when exposed to temperature stress and many have tried to identify specific lipid classes, individual species, or levels of unsaturation as indicators of tolerance or susceptibility. In this study, several types of cereals, with special emphasis on maize, are studied with the goal to expand the understanding of the leaf lipid membrane characteristics and responses when exposed to temperature stress and to find evidence of heritable lipid biomarker(s) that could be used in breeding for enhanced thermotolerance. Leaf lipids for maize inbred lines and twelve hybrids exhibiting differential tolerance to high temperature stress were analyzed after growing in a controlled environment at optimal and high temperature stress conditions. It was hypothesized that the newly introduced ratios of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) containing acyl chains with total 36 carbons and 6 double bonds (36:6) compared to those with 36 carbons and 5 double bonds (36:5), here termed the MGDG and DGDG “Unsaturation Ratios” can be used to differentiate the changes in the plastidic lipid membrane unsaturation levels and to aid in identifying heat tolerant genotypes. An analysis of the MGDG and DGDG Unsaturation Ratios was performed on twenty-five diverse parents of the nested-association mapping (NAM) population, Mo17, and one hundred and ninety-one B73 x B97 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) grown in field conditions. The selected lipid phenotypes were found to be as diverse as the inbred lines in which they were measured and showed a large differential between the temperate inbred lines B73 and B97. Allelic variation controlling the differences in MGDG and DGDG Unsaturation Ratios was identified in the B73 x B97 RIL subpopulation through linkage mapping analysis. Finally, an analysis of the MGDG and DGDG Unsaturation Ratios was performed across eight of the world’s most important cereal crops. The results of these studies provide preliminary evidence that the MGDG and DGDG Unsaturation Ratios may be beneficial lipid biomarkers that can be used to screen germplasm in breeding programs for improved thermotolerance for our most important cereal crops with the potential to differentiate tolerance in germplasm even without the presence of the ideal selection environment.

Chilling-related postharvest rind breakdown of navel oranges is a significant economic problem worldwide. Chilling injury (CI) symptoms on navel orange fruit vary, and descriptive classification is generally ad hoc, making inter-study comparisons difficult. In this study, external symptoms of CI were related to patterns of cellular collapse in affected flavedo tissue, and a classification system developed to aid consistent symptom identification and improve communication within the supply chain. Potential markers of senescence were evaluated because older fruit were found to be more susceptible to CI. Electrolyte leakage, moisture content and protein content of flavedo tissue were ineffective indicators of both senescence and chilling stress. Rind colour and internal maturity were generally good indicators of fruit age, but lacked sensitivity over short time periods to be of use. Although there was a strong seasonal effect on CI incidence, pre-storage treatments, including hot water and methyl jasmonate, generally reduced the incidence of CI. Because these treatments elicit defence responses that protect tissue from chilling stress, the response and efficiency of plant defence systems is probably an important factor in chilling tolerance. The concentration of lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) in flavedo tissue was lower in fruit that were stored at a chilling temperature (1�C) compared to fruit that were stored at a non-chilling temperature (12�C) and lipid peroxidation did not increase during storage at 1�C. There was also a lower concentration of LOOH in the chilling sensitive variety than in the chilling tolerant variety. Therefore, increased lipid peroxidation is not related to chilling stress and subsequent injury but the results do suggest a role for LOOH in stress signalling. Antioxidant activity in the lipophilic fraction of flavedo tissue extracts increased as fruit senesced and was strongly correlated with carotenoid content. LOOH concentrations in flavedo tissue also increased as fruit senesced. The antioxidant activity of both the lipophilic and hydrophilic fractions of flavedo tissue extracts was higher in fruit stored at 12�C than in fruit stored at 1�C.

Chilling-related postharvest rind breakdown of navel oranges is a significant economic problem worldwide. Chilling injury (CI) symptoms on navel orange fruit vary, and descriptive classification is generally ad hoc, making inter-study comparisons difficult. In this study, external symptoms of CI were related to patterns of cellular collapse in affected flavedo tissue, and a classification system developed to aid consistent symptom identification and improve communication within the supply chain. Potential markers of senescence were evaluated because older fruit were found to be more susceptible to CI. Electrolyte leakage, moisture content and protein content of flavedo tissue were ineffective indicators of both senescence and chilling stress. Rind colour and internal maturity were generally good indicators of fruit age, but lacked sensitivity over short time periods to be of use. Although there was a strong seasonal effect on CI incidence, pre-storage treatments, including hot water and methyl jasmonate, generally reduced the incidence of CI. Because these treatments elicit defence responses that protect tissue from chilling stress, the response and efficiency of plant defence systems is probably an important factor in chilling tolerance. The concentration of lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) in flavedo tissue was lower in fruit that were stored at a chilling temperature (1�C) compared to fruit that were stored at a non-chilling temperature (12�C) and lipid peroxidation did not increase during storage at 1�C. There was also a lower concentration of LOOH in the chilling sensitive variety than in the chilling tolerant variety. Therefore, increased lipid peroxidation is not related to chilling stress and subsequent injury but the results do suggest a role for LOOH in stress signalling. Antioxidant activity in the lipophilic fraction of flavedo tissue extracts increased as fruit senesced and was strongly correlated with carotenoid content. LOOH concentrations in flavedo tissue also increased as fruit senesced. The antioxidant activity of both the lipophilic and hydrophilic fractions of flavedo tissue extracts was higher in fruit stored at 12�C than in fruit stored at 1�C.

The chromosome substitution (CS) lines constitute an important genetic and breeding resources, increasing the genetic diversity of Upland cotton from other alien tetraploid species. Two experiments were conducted to quantify low temperature and drought stress effects during early growth stages in 21 cotton CS-lines with parent, Texas Marker (TM)-1. In Experiment I, plants were grown at optimum (30/22°C) and low (22/14°C) temperatures under optimum water and nutrient conditions. In Experiment II, plants were grown at optimum water and drought conditions. Above- and below-ground growth parameters including several root traits were assessed at 25 days after seeding. CS-lines varied significantly varied for many traits measured. Combined low temperature and drought response indices, derived from all measured parameters, showed CS-T04 and CSB08sh showed significantly higher and lower tolerance to low temperature, respectively, while CS-T04 and CS-B22sh showed significantly higher and lower tolerance to drought condition compared to TM-1.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agronomy / P.V. Vara Prasad / Productivity of grain crops is highly sensitive to changing climates and crop management practices. Response of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] to high temperature stress, and intensive management practices such as increased seeding rates and fertilizer application are not clearly understood. The objectives of this research were to determine the effects of (a) season-long, and short episodes of high temperature stress on growth and yield traits of finger millet, (b) seeding rates and nitrogen fertilizer application rates on grain and biomass yield, and (c) to evaluate the finger millet minicore collection for high grain and biomass yield. Controlled environment studies were conducted to determine the effects of high temperature stress on physiological, growth and yield traits. Field studies were conducted in Manhattan and Hays (Kansas) and Alupe (Kenya) to determine the effects of seeding and nitrogen fertilizer rates on growth and yield traits. Finger millet minicore collection was evaluated under field conditions in India, for phenology, growth and yield traits. Season long high temperature stress of 36/26 or 38/28°C compared to 32/22°C decreased panicle emergence, number of seeds per panicle, grain yield and harvest index. Finger millet was most sensitive to short episodes (10 d) of high temperature (40/30°C) during booting, panicle emergence and flowering stages, resulting in lower number of seeds, and grain yield. Finger millet responded to the interaction between environmental (locations) and temporal (years) factors. In general, locations with higher rainfall had greater grain and biomass yield than those with low rainfall. There was no influence of seeding rates (3.2 or 6.0 kg ha[superscript]-1) at Hays and Alupe. However, in one of the two years in Manhattan, higher seeding rate of 6.0 kg ha[superscript]-1 increased grain yield compared to 3.2 kg ha[superscript]-1. There was no influence of nitrogen rates (0, 30, 60 or 90 kg ha[superscript]-1) on grain or biomass yield at all three locations. However, higher fertilizer rates had greater percentage lodging. The finger millet minicore collection displayed large ranges for most quantitative traits including days to flowering, plant height, number of fingers panicle[superscript]-1, grain yield, biomass yield, and lodging; and had >60% heritability. Some of the genotypes from the minicore collection have the potential to increase grain and biomass yield and abiotic stress tolerance of finger millet.

Orientador: Margarida Maria Barros / Resumo: Visando o preparo da tilápia do Nilo, Oreochromis niloticus, para o período de inverno, foram avaliados durante 112 dias diferentes níveis de suplementação de lipídeo e vitamina C, no desempenho produtivo e parâmetros fisiológicos. Foi utilizado um lote de 192 alevinos, com peso médio de 5,57 0,50 g distribuídos aleatoriamente em 32 tanques-rede de 200 L cada, dispostos em oito aquários de 1000 L, dotados de sistema de aquecimento e de recirculação de água com filtragem mecânica e biológica. O experimento foi conduzido num esquema fatorial 2 x 3, com dois níveis de lipídeo (8,0 e 12,0%) e três níveis de vitamina C (300,0; 600,0 e 1200,0 mg de vitamina C/kg da dieta), com quatro repetições, mais dois tratamentos, um ausente de suplementação dos nutrientes testes e outro acrescido de 6,0% de lipídeo e 125,0 mg de vitamina C/kg da dieta. Foram confeccionadas oito rações práticas, isoprotéicas com 32,0% de proteína digestível. O suplemento vitamínico e mineral utilizado foi isento de vitamina C, sendo considerada como fonte somente o adicionado à dieta. A vitamina C utilizada foi a polifosfatada com 35,0% de atividade e a fonte de lipídeo o óleo de soja. Os resultados permitiram concluir que a energia adicional proveniente do lipídeo é depositada na cavidade abdominal na forma de gordura visceral; que a deposição desta gordura como reserva de energia para transpor o período de inverno foi obtida em todos os níveis de suplementação de lipídeo, sendo a suplementação com 8,0% a mais adequada; que a concentração hepática de vitamina C é proporcional a concentração desta na dieta porém, em função da capacidade de reserva do fígado a quantidade de 600,0 mg de vitamina C/kg da dieta mostra-se mais apropriada economicamente e que a ausência de vitamina C prejudica a eritropoiese e a síntese de colágeno. / Abstract: It were evaluated during 112 days different lipid and vitamin C supplementation in practical diets, on growth performance and physiologic parameters of Nile tilapia, aiming the animals preparation for winter time. It was utilized 192 fingerlings, selected from the same spawn, with average weight of 5.57 0.50 g. These were randomly stocked into 32 200-l aquaria, supplied with heat system and recycled water with mechanic and biological filter. The experiment was conducted in factorial design 2 x 3, two levels of lipid (8.0 and 12.0%) and three levels of vitamin C (300.0; 600.0 and 1,200.0 mg of vitamin C/kg diet), with four replicates each treatment, plus two treatments, absence of test nutrients supplementation and supplemented with 6.0% of lipid and 125.0 mg of vitamin C/kg diet. Eight experimental practical diets were formulated to contain 32.0% of digestible protein. Vitamin and mineral mix was absent of vitamin C, considering as a source only the supplemented in diets. The vitamin C utilized was polyphosphate 35.0% activity. Based on the results it was concluded that the additional energy coming from lipid is accumulated in abdominal cavity as visceral fat; fat deposition as a energy reserve for winter time was obtained in all lipid supplementation, however 8.0% supplementation seems to be more appropriate; vitamin C liver concentration is proportional to diet concentration, but because of liver reserve capacity the amount of 600.0 mg of vitamin C/kg diet appears to be more economic appropriate and that vitamin C absence impairment erythropoiesis and collagen syntheses. / Mestre

This study presents characterization of thermo-mechanical viscoelastic and long-term behaviors of thick-section multi-layered fiber reinforced polymer composite materials. The studied multi-layered systems belong to a class of thermo-rheologically complex materials, in which both stress and temperature affect the time-dependent material response. The multi-layered composites consist of alternating layers of unidirectional fiber (roving) and randomly oriented continuous filament mat. Isothermal creep-recovery tests at various stresses and temperatures are performed on E-glass/vinylester and Eglass/ polyester off-axis specimens. Analytical representation of a nonlinear single integral equation is applied to model the thermo-mechanical viscoelastic responses for each off-axis specimen. Long-term material behaviors are then obtained through vertical and horizontal time shifting using analytical and graphical shifting procedures. Linear extrapolation of transient creep compliance is used to extend the material responses for longer times. The extended long-term creep strains of the uniaxial E-glass/vinylester specimens are verified with the long-term experimental data of Scott and Zureick (1998). A sensitivity analyses is then conducted to examine the impact of error in material parameter characterizations to the overall long-term material behaviors. Finally, the calibrated long-term material parameters are used to study the long-term behavior of multi-layered composite structures. For this purpose, an integrated micromechanical material and finite element structural analyses is employed. Previously developed viscoelastic micromodels of multi-layered composites are used to generate the effective nonlinear viscoelastic responses of the studied composite systems and then implemented as a material subroutine in Abaqus finite element code. Several long-term composite structures are analyzed, that is; I-shaped columns and flat panels under axial compression, and a sandwich beam under the point bending and transmission tower under lateral forces. It is shown that the integrated micromechanical-finite element model is capable of predicting the long-term behavior of the multilayered composite structures.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, 2010. / Title from screen (viewed on March 3, 2010). Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Joseph A. DiMicco, Sherry F. Queener, Daniel E. Rusyniak, Michael R. Vasko. Includes vitae. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 126-147).

Hsp22 has been implicated in stress tolerance and longevity in various organisms though its role in Drosophila melanogaster larval thermal tolerance has not yet been investigated. I undertook this project to determine if over-expression of hsp22 in either muscle or motor neurons could alter locomotor ability at high temperature in third instar larvae of D. melanogaster. A combination of the UAS-gal4 and tet-On promoter systems was used to over-express transgenic hsp22 in the larvae. A β-galactosidase assay was used to determine the level of gene expression following administration of different amounts of tetracycline. A concentration of 100 μg/ml of tetracycline was found to elicit appreciably higher expression of the reporter gene than 0 and 0.1 μg/ml of tetracycline. Locomotor ability of larvae was assessed at a temperature of approximately 400C by measuring the time to movement failure (TMF). Larvae that were fed 100 μg/ml of tetracycline showed a significant decline in the TMF, which could be attributed to the presence of tetracycline at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. Possible reasons behind the lack of a noticeable effect of hsp22 over-expression on the TMF are discussed. The detrimental effect of tetracycline could be attributed to the decline in mitochondrial translation or a decline in the population of endogenous bacteria, which are known to exert positive effects on the development and function of Drosophila larvae. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2007-10-01 14:24:15.801