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Incidence and severity of southern blight caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. is increasing in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. affecting both conventional and organic vegetable production systems. Traditional southern blight management relied on fumigants and fungicides with often inconsistent and uneconomical results. Moreover, with the phase-out of methyl bromide, and the high cost and toxicity of other available fumigants, it is necessary to identify effective and economical southern blight management alternatives. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to 1) evaluate the effect of planting date and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivar selection on southern blight incidence and tuber yield and quality; 2) compare potato cultivar tuber susceptibility to S. rolfsii in post-harvest settings; and 3) assess the suitability of six cool-season cover crop biomasses and three locally organic materials as carbon sources for anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) treatments and their impact on S. rolfsii viability and soil. In a three-year field study, ten commercial potato cultivars and four planting dates per year were evaluated on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Later potato plantings generally produced greater disease incidence (85-94%) and lower tuber yield (1.8-9.4 Mg ha-1) and quality (47-78%), likely driven by humid, warm weather later in the season that was conducive to disease and detrimental to the potato crop. While no potato cultivar was completely immune to S. rolfsii incidence, cultivar 'Accumulator' consistently had one of the lowest disease incidences (12-71%) and greatest tuber yield among cultivars (6.2-37.3 Mg ha-1), and 'Adirondack Blue' and 'Red Norland' had the overall greatest disease incidence (33-100%). Following harvest of the field experiment, the susceptibility of tubers from the ten cultivars to post-harvest rot caused by S. rolfsii was compared in a laboratory experiment under controlled conditions. 'Atlantic' followed by 'Accumulator' were the least susceptible (3.7-12.6 g of diseased tissue) whereas 'Adirondack Blue', followed by red-skinned potato cultivars had the greatest severity of post-harvest tuber rot (12-17.5 g of diseased tissue). Following three weeks of ASD treatments in growth chamber pot experiments utilizing nine carbon sources incubated at 15/25°C 12/12-h cycle, most carbon sources induced soil anaerobicity (33-90 % iron oxide paint removal), but they did not reduce sclerotial viability compared to nonamended aerobic controls. However, most amended soils undergoing ASD induced greater soil microbial activity (0.7-2.0 % CO2 in vol.) compared to nonamended controls (0.1-0.7 CO2 in vol.), increased soil pH, and some amendments increased soil nitrate accumulation. Overall, results of these studies indicate that southern blight can be effectively managed in potato by coupling early planting dates with cultivar selection, but though promising, additional studies are needed to determine the parameters to effectively decrease S. rolfsii viability with ASD treatments. / Doctor of Philosophy / The fungal disease southern blight, caused by the soilborne plant pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., is increasing in the mid-Atlantic U.S. The increase of southern blight is likely due to a multitude of issues such as climate fluctuations, reduction in the use of fumigants, increased soil organic matter through conservation practices, and cropping systems that favor soilborne pathogens. Traditional management of S. rolfsii relied on pesticides and fumigants, but control was often inconsistent and expensive. Moreover, the use of some soil fumigants has been restricted due to environmental concerns, which has limited the options for the management of plant pathogens present in the soil, and management alternatives are needed. Through a series of field, laboratory, and greenhouse experiments, this study 1) evaluated the effect of planting date and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivar selection on southern blight incidence and tuber yield and quality; 2) compared potato cultivar tuber susceptibility to S. rolfsii in post-harvest settings; and 3) assessed the suitability of six cool-season cover crop biomasses and three locally-sourced organic materials as carbon sources in anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) treatments and their impact on S. rolfsii viability and soil. Results of a three-year field study demonstrated that an integrated approach to the management of southern blight that utilizes moderately resistant potato cultivars such as 'Accumulator' and early (March to early April) planting dates will minimize risk of disease and maximize tuber yield. Following harvest, inoculation of potato tubers under controlled conditions revealed that the cultivar 'Atlantic' followed by 'Accumulator' can avoid greater losses due to less tuber rot, while 'Adirondack Blue' followed by red-skinned potatoes have a greater risk of suffering post-harvest tuber decay from southern blight. The anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) treatments examined in this study indicated that cover crops biomass and poultry litter are suitable carbon sources to induce soil anaerobic conditions, but they may not reduce the survival of S. rolfsii propagules if treatment temperatures are below 25°C. However, ASD showed benefits such as increased activity of soil microbial communities compared to nonamended soil, increased soil acidity, and some amendments such as mushroom compost, poultry litter, and Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum subsp. arvense) can contribute soil nutrients such as nitrate. Overall, this research demonstrates that choosing less susceptible cultivars coupled with early planting dates can minimize the negative impact of southern blight on potato yields and quality, and consequently minimize the use of pesticides as the main option to control southern blight on potato across the mid-Atlantic region. Though promising, additional studies are needed to determine the parameters that optimize ASD as an alternative to manage S. rolfsii with ASD treatments.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum, L) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) are widely grown as winter annual grains in a double crop rotation with soybean (Glycine max, L. Merr.) in much of the U.S. Improved management strategies and the development cultivars that meet the quality requirements of higher value end-use markets is important to increase production and profitability of winter annual grains and the double crop rotation in the Eastern U.S. In Chapter I, fifteen commercially relevant winter wheat genotypes ranging in maturity were sown in a split-plot design (sowing date=main plot, genotype=subplot) at three different sowing dates (considered to be 'very early' (20-28 days before recommended), 'early (6-11 days before recommended)', or 'recommended') and replicated three times at eight environments (site-year) from 2015-2018 in VA and KY. Grain yield, tiller estimation, heading date, protein, and 1000-kernel weight were assessed for each yield plot. At all environments, sowing earlier in the fall achieved an earlier (P<0.05) heading date, while grain yields varied depending on environment and genotype. Genotype by sowing date interactions were non-significant (P<0.05) at five site-years and significant (P<0.05) at three site-years. Molecular markers can be associated with phenotypic traits via quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, these markers can be used by breeders in marker assisted selection (MAS) to indirectly select phenotypic traits that are difficult or expensive to measure. In Chapter II, the genetic architecture of end-use quality is investigated in two soft red winter wheat bi-parental (Pioneer '25R47' / 'Jamestown' and Pioneer '26R46' / 'Tribute'). Both populations were genotyped with a public 90,000 wheat iSelect SNP-Array, grown over two crop seasons at two Virginia sites, evaluated for quality traits at the USDA-ARS Soft Wheat Quality Lab (SWQL), and analyzed with QTL mapping. This chapter describes a total of 24 putative QTL that were identified on 13 different chromosomes and associated with grain characteristics, milling, and/or baking performance along with phenotypic data for both populations, other putative QTL, and transgressive progeny with exceptional flour yield and cookie diameters. A region on 3A (Qfy.vt.3A.Jtwn) is a strong candidate to be utilized for MAS in soft red winter wheat breeding programs as it explained 6.9-10.3% (Pioneer 25R47 / Jamestown) and 4.6-17.0% (Pioneer 26R46 / Tribute) of the phenotypic variation for flour yield. In Chapter III, malt quality genetic structure was investigated in two winter 'malt x feed' doubled haploid barley breeding populations. Both populations were genotyped with the iSelect InfiniumTM SNP assay consisting of 50,000 barley SNPs, grown in two to three Virginia environments (Blacksburg and Warsaw) during 2017 - 2019, and characterized for 11 phenotypic traits associated with malting quality. QTL mapping validated six previously reported regions (Mohammadi, et al., 2015, GrainGenes 3.0, 2019) that are strongly associated (LOD > 3.0) with relevant malt quality traits. Phenotypic variation for malt quality was largely and consistently explained by QTL on chromosomes 1H, 5H, and 7H in the Endeavor / VA09B-34 population and by two separate QTL on 1H in the Violetta / VA09B-34 population. A region on 4H corresponding with QDp.DiMo-4H, explained between 12.1 - 42.2% (Endeavor / VA09B-34) and 30.0 - 55.7% (Violetta / VA09B-34) of the phenotypic variation for diastatic power (DU). These QTL are recommended for MAS in order to aid breeding strategies that aim to select for improved malting characteristics in Eastern U.S. malt barley breeding material. / Doctor of Philosophy / Wheat (Triticum aestivum, L) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) are staple crops throughout the world, and are the third and fourth most produced cereals crop according to the FAO. Primarily grown for human consumption, wheat and barley provide a significant percentage of the nutritional requirements for the human populations. According to the United Nations, wheat contributes 20% of all calories consumed by humans. Barley is the primary ingredient used to make beer. Increased productivity of all cropping and livestock systems is required in order to feed a growing human population while also restoring and preserving natural ecosystems. This can be accomplished through breeding and improved cropping systems management. Planting of existing cropland more frequently is fundamental to the improvement of cropping system productivity. In much of the U.S. (southern two-thirds of the lower 48), annual winter grains such as wheat and barley can be grown over the winter and spring in between the typical corn (Zea mays subsp. mays) and soybean (Glycine max, L. Merr.) growing seasons. Therefore, producing three crops in two years, as opposed to only two. Only between 6 and 11 million acres are double cropped in the US annually, for perspective, in 2018, 89 million acres of both corn and soybeans, which can only grow in summer, were planted. Over half of the soybean (~45 million) acres in Midwestern and Southeastern states could support double cropping. This is a major opportunity to maximize output per unit area, freeing up less productive land to be restored as natural ecosystems, potentially increasing carbon sequestration and species biodiversity. Winter annual grains have a very similar composition (high carbohydrate, low protein and oil) to corn, and could fill similar end-use markets currently dominated by corn (i.e. ethanol or livestock feed). For double cropping to be more widely deployed, it must be more profitable. Increased profitability of growing three crops in two years as opposed to two must outweigh the added cost of planting, managing, harvesting, and marketing the additional winter crop. Therefore, it is important to investigate management strategies that could increase production per unit area and develop new winter annual cultivars with improved end-use characteristics in order to make the winter annual more desirable to the end-users. Chapter I investigates sowing winter wheat earlier in the fall (i.e. 1st week of Oct. or last week of Sept.) in order to achieve an earlier harvest in the spring and earlier soybean planting (yield decreases 0.5 to 1 bu/ac per day that sowing is delayed), while also offering other benefits such as better-established root systems going into winter, which improves water infiltration and reduces erosion. At all environments, sowing earlier in the fall achieved an earlier heading date, while grain yields varied depending on environment and genotype. Genotype by sowing date interactions were non-significant at five site-years and significant at three site-years. Chapters II and III investigate the genetic architecture of winter wheat and winter barley breeding populations for end-use quality traits (milling/baking and malting). This was done in order to identify molecular markers that could be used to screen breeding material for improved end-use quality. The markers could then be used to assist breeders in developing soft red winter wheat cultivars with greater flour yields/improved baking performance and winter malt barley cultivars that can be grown in the Eastern U.S. and are suitable for the craft beer market. Chapter II describes 24 genomic regions that influences milling/baking performance in two soft red winter wheat breeding populations. Chapter III describes 6 genomic regions that influence malting performance in two winter barley breeding populations.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第25260号 / 工博第5219号 / 新制||工||1995(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市社会工学専攻 / (主査)教授 角 哲也, 教授 山上 路生, 教授 中谷 加奈 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

Groat oil content and composition are important quality traits in oats (Avena sativa L). These traits are controlled by many genes with additive effects. The chromosomal regions containing these genes, known as quantitative trait loci (QTL), can be discovered through their close association with markers. This study investigated total oil content and fatty acid components in an oat breeding population derived from a cross between high oil ('Dal') and low oil ('Exeter') parents. A genetic map consisting of 475 DArT (Diversity Array Technology) markers spanning 1271.8 cM across 40 linkage groups was constructed. QTL analysis for groat oil content and composition was conducted using grain samples grown at Aberdeen, ID in 1997. QTL analysis for multiple agronomic traits was also conducted using data collected from hill plots and field plots in Ottawa, ON in 2010. QTLs for oil content, palmitic acid (16:0), stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1), linoleic acid (18:2) and linolenic acid (18:3) were identified. Two of the QTLs associated with oil content were also associated with all of the fatty acids examined in this study, and most oil-related QTL showed similar patterns of effect on the fatty acid profile. These results suggest the presence of pleiotropic effects on oil-related traits through influences at specific nodes of the oil synthesis pathway. In addition, 12 QTL-associated markers (likely representing nine unique regions) were associated with plant height, heading date, lodging, and protein content. The results of this study will provide information for molecular breeding as well as insight into the genetic mechanisms controlling oil biosynthesis in oat.

L’objectif de ce travail a été de développer un procédé performant de production d’acide lactique par Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus sur jus de datte. Dans une première partie, des cultures en mode discontinu ont été réalisées afin d’étudier les besoins nutritionnels de la souche. Ces études ont pour but de décrire les effets des sources carbonées, azotées et les vitamines sur la production d’acide lactique. Nous avons montré que le sulfate d’ammonium est une bonne alternative économique et nous avons pu déterminer la faisabilité de minimiser l’ajout de l’extrait de levure par l’utilisation partielle de l’extrait de levure combinée avec du sulfate d’ammonium plus l’ajout de vitamines du groupe B. Des cultures pures et mixtes de Lactobacillus casei et Lactococcus lactis ont été réalisées. Le système de culture mixte donne de meilleurs résultats concernant la production d’acide lactique et l’utilisation des sucres comparés à ceux obtenus en cultures pures de Lactobacillus casei ou Lactococcus lactis. L’effet des sucres purs (glucose et fructose) et mixtes (glucose/fructose) sur la production d’acide lactique a été étudié. La production d’acide lactique est plus importante avec un mélange de sucres qu’avec des sucres non mélangés ce qui explique les performances de fermentation sur jus de datte. Dans une seconde partie, une stratégie d’alimentation du réacteur en culture semi-continue a été mise en œuvre, permettant d’améliorer les performances de la fermentation. Les deux facteurs influençant le bon fonctionnement sont le débit et la concentration du milieu d’alimentation. Dans une troisième partie, une étude cinétique a été développée en réacteurs continus. Nous avons étudié l’influence du taux de dilution sur la croissance, l’utilisation du substrat et la production d’acide lactique. La productivité du procédé continu a été considérablement augmentée en comparaison avec le procédé discontinu. Enfin, dans une dernière partie, un modèle a été établi. Ce modèle, bien qu’imparfait, permet apparemment de simuler la croissance, la consommation des sucres de jus de datte et la production d’acide lactique en culture discontinue / The aim of this work was to develop an efficient process of lactic acid production by Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus on date juice In a first part, the batch cultures were realized to carry out the nutritional requirement of the strain. These studies allowed us to describe the effects of carbon substrates, nitrogen substrates and vitamins on the lactic acid production. We showed that ammonium sulphate is a satisfying economic alternative and we have determined feasibility of minimizing the addition of the yeast extract by the partial use of yeast extract combined with the ammonium sulphate plus the addition of vitamins of the group B. Pure and mixed cultures of Lactobacillus casei and Lactococcus lactis were carried out. The mixed system gives better results concerning the lactic acid production and the use of the sugars compared with those obtained in pure cultures of Lactobacillus casei or Lactococcus lactis. The effect of pure sugars (glucose and fructose) and mixed sugars (glucose/fructose) on the lactic acid production was studied. The lactic acid production is more important on mixed sugars than on pure sugars what explains the performances of fermentation on date juice. In a second part, a mode of fed batch operations was defined to improve the performances of the fermentation. The two factors influencing the process are the feeding rate and the concentration of the feeding medium. In a third part, kinetic study in continuous culture was developed. We studied the influence of dilution rate on growth, substrate utilization and lactic acid production. The productivity of the continuous process was considerably increased in comparison with the batch process. Finally, a tentative model has been established for the fermentation process. The corresponding model, although not perfect, is apparently able to simulate growth rate, substrates uptake and lactic acid production in batch culture

L'évolution climatique a été marquée ces dernières décennies par des changements importants, notamment une augmentation de température et une variation de la pluviométrie. Une des conséquences du changement climatique est son impact actuel et futur sur l'agriculture et la sécurité alimentaire. En région sahélienne, la sécurité alimentaire repose essentiellement sur quelques céréales, parmi lesquelles le mil occupe une place fondamentale. Un des traits qui permettent l'adaptation au climat de cette espèce est la date de floraison, dont la variation permet d'accomplir le cycle de vie de la plante dans des saisons pluvieuses plus ou moins courtes. Les bases génétiques de ce caractère adaptatif sont encore peu connues. Nous avons développé une méthodologie de cartographie d'association phénotype-génotype, afin d'identifier des gènes impliqués dans la variation de ce caractère. Cette étude a permis d'identifier deux gènes candidats, PHYC et MADS11, associés à la date de floraison et à la variation morphologique chez le mil. Nous avons validé ces associations par des analyses QTLs. Pour PHYC, nous avons aussi étudié le pattern de déséquilibre de liaison sur une zone d'environ 80 kb autour du gène, et développé une approche de Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) pour comparer les gènes identifiés dans la région. Cette analyse suggère que les polymorphismes à l'intérieur de PHYC sont les meilleurs candidats expliquant l'effet phénotypique observée dans cette région du génome. La seconde partie de ce projet a été consacrée à l'examen méthodologique de la cartographie d'association pour l'étude des interactions entre le génotype et l'environnement. Les résultats de cette thèse ont été discutés notamment dans la perspective de gestion de l'impact du changement climatique sur le mil, céréale majeure des zones semi-arides / In last decades, climate changes led to temperature increase and rainfall variation across the globe. One of the key consequences of these changes is their impact on agriculture and food security. In sahelian countries, food security relies on a few cereal crops, among which pearl millet plays a crucial role for population food supply. Sahel region is facing the impact of rainfall variability and drought since the 1970s. Flowering time variation is one of the main adaptations that allow pearl millet cultivation in drier and shorter rainy seasons. The genetic bases of this complex trait are still understudied. We developed an association mapping framework for the analysis of genotype-phenotype relationship in pearl millet. We successfully identified two genes associated with flowering time variation in pearl millet (PHYC and MADS11). We confirmed these associations using QTL studies. For PHYC, we also examined the pattern of linkage disequilibri um on a chromosomal region extending to 80 kb around the gene, and we developed a Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach (MCMC) to compare six genes identified in this region. Our results suggest that, among the polymorphisms observed in this region, polymorphisms in PHYC are the best candidate for a direct causative role. The second part of this project addressed methodological examination of association mapping framework to deal with genotype by environment interactions. The results of this work were discussed with regard to the challenge of pearl millet crop adaptation to climate change.

A Troy Town is a labyrinth either built of stones or made of turf. They can be found in northern Europe, especially in Scandinavia. The number of Troy Towns in Sweden is outstanding. They are around 400. Most of them are situated on the coast but there are still approximatly 80 inland about 20 of which are located on ancient burial grounds from both bronze and iron age. The Troy Towns in Sweden are mostly marked with round circles of stones, the size of human skulls, and placed directly on the ground. The entrance of a Troy Town is often formed as a cross. There are some turf labyrinths left in Denmark, England and Germany but most of them are overgrown by grass and can no longer be seen. The Troy Towns are hard to date. Away from the coast one can examine their contexts whilst along the coast lichenometry and the sea level may be used to determine the age of them. There are different ways to describe the purpose of them depending on what period they belong to and where they are situated. Researchers do not agree on all the theories and many of them are based on older explanations. Still new theories appear. My purpose apart from describing the Troy Towns is to examine and compare the theories and to evaluate their plausibility. / <p>Uppsatsen ventilerad 2019-05-27</p><p>Uppsatsen godkänd 2019-06-12</p>

Legal, accounting and tax aspects of transformations of companies. The presented dissertation focuses on transformation of companies. The work provides the accounting, tax and legal perspective of company transformations with the goal of interconnecting these perspectives and providing the reader with a deeper insight into company transformations. The accounting perspective is often directly connected to the tax perspective. The individual forms of transformation are discussed in the work, including their graphic model-showcasing, followed by individual basic company transformation elements and institutions related to company transformations. The individual elements are also put into historical context. Basic principles affecting company transformations and their impact primarily on the tax area are discussed within the individual views of transformation. The individual elements, institutions and principles are further examined first separately in general and then with regard to their interrelations and ways they affect one another. To conclude, a step by step scenario of one of the forms of transformation, namely split, is provided.