Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

The plant hormone auxin regulates many aspects of plant growth and development. At the cellular level, auxin can stimulate cell division, cell elongation, and cell differentiation. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that mediate auxin action at this level, although changes in gene expression have been implicated in each of them. An important step in elucidating the signal transduction steps involved in these responses is the identification of intermediates that respond to auxin treatment within a physiologically relevant range, and can be functionally linked to specific response(s). The Aux/IAA family of auxin-regulated genes, which has been identified in several species, may constitute such a group of signalling intermediates. This dissertation reports on the isolation and characterization of eleven tomato genes, LeIAA1 - 11, which are homologous to these Aux/IAA genes. Expression characteristics in response to exogenously-applied auxin were determined in segments of etiolated hypocotyls. The LeIAA genes fell into three kinetic classes and displayed differential responsiveness to the treatment. Comparison of auxin-induced expression in wild-type and the auxin-insensitive diageotropica (dgt) mutant revealed that induction of only a subset of genes was affected by the mutation while the other genes retained wild-type response levels in the mutant. This finding indicates that at least two signal transduction chains lead to auxin-induced gene expression, and the dgt gene product acts on only one of them. The expression pattern of nine LeIAA genes was determined in a wide variety of tissue samples in order to link individual LeIAA genes with specific physiological responses. To that end, a qualitative multiplex RT-PCR method was developed that allowed quick assessment of relative expression levels in a large number of small RNA samples. It was found that LeIAA10 expression was highest in tissues undergoing rapid growth, suggesting a role for this gene in the process of cell expansion. The expression of LeIAA1 1 was also variable during development, while LeIAA2 was strongly down-regulated after light treatment. These experiments demonstrated organ-preferential expression of LeIAA genes under the control of environmental factors and depending on developmental stages. The LeIAA genes may thus act as integrators of several other signals with the auxin stimulus. / Graduation date: 1998

Thesis (Ph. D.)--York University, 2001. Graduate Programme in Biology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ67889.

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Most tomato cultivars used for commercial food production are imported into South Africa. Optimal growing conditions for these specific cultivars need to be determined, as wrong cultivar choices can lead to great financial losses. Lack of information on selecting well-performing cultivars may lead to lower yield or unacceptable fruit quality. Information on the performance of tomato cultivars under South African conditions, utilizing plastic tunnels or shadenet structures under soilless cultivation is still very limited. Soilless cultivation of vegetables is becoming a preferable over in-soil cultivation due to the improved yield and quality of produce, efficient water and nutrients usage by the crop; furthermore, the grower can regulate nutrient solution, electrical conductivity and pH of the nutrient solution. To identify the optimal system for growing tomatoes hydroponically, the performance of four tomato cultivars (‘FA593’, ‘Miramar’, ‘FiveOFive’ and ‘Malory’) under different growing conditions was evaluated: directly planted in soil under 40% shadenet with drip irrigation, a closed hydroponic system under 40% shadenet, an open bag system under 40% shadenet, or an open-bag system in a temperature controlled as well as a non-temperature controlled tunnel. The study revealed that ‘Miramar’ performed better than the other cultivars in all production systems, with the exception of soil cultivation where there were no differences amongst the four cultivars. Fruit cracking was found to be directly correlated with fruit size, as the large-sized cultivars ‘Malory’ and ‘FA593’ were more susceptible than the other two cultivars. Plants grown under shadenet were prone to fruit cracking and raincheck as well as early blight. Higher yields were obtained when plants were produced in the open bag system under temperature controlled conditions and in the closed system under shadenet. Growing tomatoes in the non-temperature controlled tunnel resulted in high incidences of fruit cracking, poor yield and pre-mature fruit ripening probably due to high and fluctuating temperatures under such conditions. The average marketable yield was 88% and 59% of the total yield in the temperature controlled and non-temperature controlled tunnels, respectively. A further experiment was carried out to improve yield and quality of tunnel tomatoes using beneficial micro-organisms, i.e., arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) at different nutrient concentrations. Tomato seedlings were treated with Mycoroot™ containing four mycorrhiza species (Glomus etunicatum, Paraglomus occultum, Glomus clarum and Glomus mossea) at transplanting and subsequently transferred to either a temperature controlled or a non-temperature controlled tunnel under the recommended (100%) or reduced (75 and 50%) nutrient concentrations. Sawdust was used as a growing medium in this experiment. Application of AMF neither enhanced plant growth, yield, nor fruit mineral nutrient concentrations; although fruit Mn and Zn concentrations in the temperature controlled tunnel increased significantly following AMF application. Plants grown in the non-temperature controlled tunnel had significantly poorer plant growth, and lower yield and lower fruit mineral concentrations, compared with fruit from plants in the temperature controlled tunnel. Tomato plants in the non-temperature controlled tunnel had higher levels of micro-elements in leaf tissue, compared with those in the temperature controlled tunnel. The highest yields were obtained from plants fertigated with 75% of the recommended nutrient concentration, as compared with the 100 and 50% nutrient concentrations. When coir was subsequently used as the growing medium, Mycoroot™ applied at seeding and transplanting did not enhance mycorrhizal colonization or fruit quality. Growing tomatoes under reduced nutrient supply reduced the total soluble solids in the juice of the fruit, but improved total and marketable yield, as well as the number of marketable fruit. This effect was more substantial in the temperature controlled than in the non-temperature controlled tunnel. Fruit firmness and leaf chlorophyll concentrations were significantly higher in plants grown in the temperature controlled tunnel. Growing tomatoes in sawdust improved the leaf Mn and Ca concentration over that of tomato plants grown in coir. Mycorrhizal colonisation did not have a beneficial effect on tomato yield and quality. The study indicated that cultivar selection was important in obtaining the highest yield and quality of tomato using the closed hydroponic system under shadenet and the open bag hydroponic system in the temperature controlled tunnel. Temperature controlled tunnels with a pad–and-fan cooling system are still an effective way of cooling the tunnel environment which resulted in high yield and high quality of tomatoes with a higher fruit mineral content than that obtained under non-temperature controlled conditions where only natural ventilation is relied on. Results also demonstrated that mycorrhizal colonization in soilless condition has limited beneficial effects in allowing for better nutrient uptake and thereby for improved yield and quality of tomatoes. Further studies, including different media, nutrient composition and concentrations, need to be carried out to investigate the possible causes of AMF failure to improve yield, despite good AMF root colonization. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Graduation date: 1952

Thesis (Ph. D. in Genetics)--University of California, Davis, Sept. 1950. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-64). Also available via the World Wide Web. (Restricted to UC campuses).

Thesis (M.S.)--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes survey instruments. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 190-207) Also available in print.