Debra E. Palmquist

Herbicidal activity of glucosinolate-containing seedmeals

Abstract Defatted seedmeals from 15 glucosinolate-containing plant species were analyzed for herbicidal activity by determining inhibition of seedling emergence when added to a sandy loam soil containing wheat and sicklepod seeds at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, and 1% (w/w). In general, the seedmeals were more phytotoxic to wheat than sicklepod. For wheat, all of the seedmeals significantly inhibited seedling emergence at the 1.0% concentration. At the 0.1% concentration three of the seedmeals (Indian mustard, money plant, and field pennycress) completely inhibited wheat emergence. For sicklepod emergence, eight of the seedmeals were completely inhibitory at the 1% level (Indian mustard, field pennycress, garden rocket, Siberian wallflower, English wallflower, garden cress, sweet alyssum, and evening stock) and four were completely inhibitory at the 0.5% level (brown mustard, garden rocket, English wallflower, and sweet alyssum). Intact glucosinolates and their corresponding hydrolysis products varied among the seedmeals with the highest activity. Major hydrolysis products produced by the seedmeals with the most phytotoxicity, respectively, included 2-propenyl (allyl) isothiocyanate (AITC) by brown mustard seedmeal, allyl thiocyanate and AITC by field pennycress seedmeal, erucin (4-methylthiobutyl isothiocyanate) by arugula seedmeal, 3-butenyl isothiocyanate and lesquerellin (6-methylthiohexyl isothiocyanate) by sweet alyssum seedmeal, and isopropyl isothiocyanate by money plant seedmeal. From our data it appears that both the type and concentration of glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products present in the seedmeals affect seed-emergence inhibition. Nomenclature: English wallflower, Erysimum cheiri (L.) Crantz; evening stock, Matthiola longipetala (Vent.) DC. MTLLB; Field pennycress, Thlaspi arvense L. THLAR; garden cress, Lepidium sativum L. ‘Cressida’ LEPSA; garden rocket, Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav. subsp. sativa (Mill.) Thell. ‘Astro’ ERUVE; Indian mustard, Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. ‘Southern Giant Curled,’ BRSJU; money plant, Lunaria annua L.; Siberian wallflower, Erysimum × allionii; sicklepod, Senna obtusifolia (L.) H. S. Irwin & Barneby CASOB; sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. LOUMA; wheat, Triticum aestivum L. ‘Cardinal’.

A Standardized Method for Analysis of Medicago truncatula Phenotypic Development

Medicago truncatula has become a model system to study legume biology. It is imperative that detailed growth characteristics of the most commonly used cultivar, line A17 cv Jemalong, be documented. Such analysis creates a basis to analyze phenotypic alterations due to genetic lesions or environmental stress and is essential to characterize gene function and its relationship to morphological development. We have documented morphological development of M. truncatula to characterize its temporal developmental growth pattern; developed a numerical nomenclature coding system that identifies stages in morphological development; tested the coding system to identify phenotypic differences under phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) deprivation; and created visual models using the L-system formalism. The numerical nomenclature coding system, based on a series of defined growth units, represents incremental steps in morphological development. Included is a decimal component dividing growth units into nine substages. A measurement component helps distinguish alterations that may be missed by the coding system. Growth under N and P deprivation produced morphological alterations that were distinguishable using the coding system and its measurement component. N and P deprivation resulted in delayed leaf development and expansion, delayed axillary shoot emergence and elongation, decreased leaf and shoot size, and altered root growth. Timing and frequency of flower emergence in P-deprived plants was affected. This numerical coding system may be used as a standardized method to analyze phenotypic variation in M. truncatula due to nutrient stress, genetic lesions, or other factors and should allow valid growth comparisons across geographically distant laboratories.

Soil surface characteristics and emergence of big sagebrush seedlings.

The emergence of big sagebrush (Artemtricr frkfeufotcr) seedlings from 5 gardens where both the seed source and the soils were reciprocated was investigated over a g-year period in western Nevada. The sites where the study was conducted were located at the arid extremes for mountain (A. rrGfenturu subsp. vareyuna) and basin big sagebrush (A. tridentata subsp. tridentata) in the transSierra Nevada area. Soils, sites, and seed sources differed significantly (FO.01) in seedling emergence. The driest site, where it was difficult to obtain seedling emergence even on a year of above average precipitation, had a soil surface that was very conducive to the germination of seeds of big sagebrush when the seedbed was moved to garden locations with greater environmental potential. Seedbed quality differed markedly among sites with soil derived from decomposing granite versus metavolcanic sources. Big sagebrush seeds were buried in soils derived from granite through a winnowing action. Seeds from a non-granltlc soil site were also adapted, apparently through size and shape, to this winnowing self-burial. The dominant microenvironmental factors contributing to seedling emergence tended to be site and seed source specific. Microtopography in the fall, when seeds were dispersed, and seasonal precipitation were dominant factors controlling the emergence of big sagebrush seedlings.

Seeding Indian ricegrass in an arid environment in the Great Basin.

Indian ricegrass [Oryzopsis hymenoides (R. & S.) Rickerl is a valuable forage species adapted to arid rangelands in temperate deserts. The purpose of this study was to test the influence of seeding date, depth, and rate on Indian ricegrass emergence and seedling establishment of acid scarified and intact caryopses (seeds). The seeding experiments were conducted on a wind eroding sand sheet of Lahontan age in western Nevada. During the initial year of planting, seeds of the cultivars Nezpar and Paloma Indian ricegrass were successfully established without pretreatment by acid scarification. Acid scarified seeds did not result in the established seedling stands in the field. Initial seedings were done in a season with prolonged moisture events with total precipitation about twice the average. Seedling stands of crested wheatgrass [Agropyron desertorum (Fisch.) ex Link Schult] as well as other exotic and native herbaceous and woody species were established during the first year. During the next 4 years crested wheatgrass seedlings were never again established. Indian ricegrass seedlings were established in 3 of the 4 subsequent years of seeding trials using a seeding rate of 0.8 seeds/cm of row and a seeding depth of 1 cm. Indian ricegrass seedling emergence was increased by either increasing the planting depth to 5 cm or by reducing the seeding rate to 0.03 seeds/cm of row. The ultra-low seeding rate resulted in a significant saving in seed cost.

Classification of distinct seed carbohydrate profiles in soybean.

Soybeans are an important source of protein-rich meal for livestock feed formulations. Recent changes in the cost of commodity-based sources of metabolizable energy (ME) inputs has put pressure on soybean meal to deliver both protein and ME in feed formulations. The non-oil fraction of soybean contains approximately 12% soluble carbohydrates, principally sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose. Of these carbohydrates, only sucrose is positive for ME. Both raffinose and stachyose, belonging to the raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFOs), are considered antinutritional because of the negative consequences of their fermentation in the gut of monogastric animals when RFOs are consumed in the diet. Therefore, there is an interest in improving soybean seed composition so that it contains higher ME and fewer antinutritional components by increasing the sucrose content while lowering the RFOs. Several soybean lines have been discovered that contain altered levels of RFOs, and recent molecular genetic investigations have shown the phenotype to be caused by mutations in a raffinose synthase 2 (RS2) gene encoding the enzyme that is the committed step for RFO biosynthesis. The objective of this research was to determine the variation in carbohydrate profile for different soybean lines grown in a single location containing one of three different alleles of the RS2 gene. The results indicate that, although there is variation in the carbohydrate profiles for each line, different lines with the same RS2 genotype tend to produce a characteristic carbohydrate profile. Although the carbohydrate profile for each RS2 genotype class was consistent in different genetic backgrounds under two conditions grown at one location, more research will be necessary to determine the environmental stability of the carbohydrate profiles in multiple locations over different years.

Temperature profiles for germination of big sagebrush seeds from native stands

The germination of seeds of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata, Nutt.) from 5 locations on the margin of the Carson Desert, Nevada, was studied over 5 growing seasons. Temperature profiles for germination were developed for seeds collected from each location. The profile consisted of 55 constant or alternating temperatures from 0 through 40 degrees C. Seed quality was high with optimum germination, defined as germination not different from the maximum observed at the 0.01 level of probability, averaging 80% for all years and all locations. Differences in germination parameters existed among locations, but not within locations among years of production. Differences among years of production were most pronounced at extreme incubation temperatures. The most frequent temperature regime supporting optimum germination of big sagebrush seeds was 15/20 degrees C (15 degrees C for 16 hours and 20 degrees C for 8 hours in each 24-hour cycle).

Bioactivity of Cedarwood Oil and Cedrol Against Arthropod Pests

ABSTRACT Heartwood samples from Juniperus virginiana L. were extracted with liquid carbon dioxide, and the bioactivity of carbon dioxide-derived cedarwood oil (CWO) toward several species of ants and cedrol toward ticks was determined. Repellency was tested for ants, and toxicity was tested for ticks. Ants in an outdoor bioassay were significantly repelled by the presence of CWO on a pole leading to a sugar—water solution. Similarly, CWO was a significant repellent barrier to red imported fire ants and prevented them from finding a typical food source. Black-legged tick nymphs exhibited dosage-dependent mortality when exposed to cedrol and at the highest dosage (i.e., 6.3 mg/ml) tested, the cedrol killed 100% of the ticks. These repellency and toxicity results together demonstrate a clear potential for the use of CWO as a pest control agent.

Comparison of GC and HPLC for quantification of organic acids in two jaboticaba (Myrciaria) fruit varieties

Gas chromatography (GC) with trimethylsilyl derivative formation was compared to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for quantification of organic acids (OAs) in two jaboticaba (Myrciaria) fruit (pulp and pericarp) varieties (Sabara and Acu Paulista). Succinic and citric acids were the major OAs found in all the samples analyzed. Besides being much more tedious, the results obtained with GC were significantly lower than HPLC (p<0.05) when the data (acids, variety, two parts and flowering days) were considered together. The presence of both acids was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Germination and net in vitro growth of peach, almond and peach-almond hybrid embryos in response to mannitol inclusion in the nutrient medium

Nine Prunus accessions were evaluated for germination and plantlet growth in an in vitro osmotic screening test using mannitol as an osmoticum. Embryos from diverse peaches, almonds and peach-almond hybrids were cultured in Woody Plant Medium, and in this same medium modified with the inclusion of 350 mM mannitol. Embryos were stratified in vitro for 60 days, induced to germinate for a two week period and then allowed to develop and grow for another 20 days prior to harvest. Fresh weights of both roots and shoots as well as percent germination were recorded at harvest. The main effects of nutrient medium, germplasm type (peach, peach-almond, almond) and specific Prunus accession were all highly significant (P = 0.01) with regard to fresh weight of roots and shoots. Embryo germination was affected significantly by the inclusion of mannitol in the nutrient medium and by the particular germplasm type (P=0.01 and P=0.05, respectively). Significant interactions of nutrient medium × Prunus accession and nutrient medium × germplasm type were also detected for both root and shoot fresh weights. Almond germplasm cultured in Woody Plant Medium with 350 mM mannitol produced significantly more roots and shoots than either peaches or peach-almond hybrids grown in the same medium. Peach-almond hybrid embryos were observed to germinate at a significantly higher frequency than peach embryos when averaged across both media. Results obtained in this study indicate a wide range of average plantlet fresh weight relative to the specific germplasm challenged in the osmotic screen.

Influence of temperature on germination of Japanese brome seed.

Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus Thunb.), an introduced annual grass, is now common in some northern mixed-prairie communities. This species has the potential to alter both the seasonality of standing crop and forage quality. We sought to gain a greater understanding of Japanese brome seed germination by subjecting seed to a series of 55 constant or alternating temperature regimes following 3 to 9 months of dry laboratory storage. Cold and moderate temperature regimes provided optimum germination conditions (defined as not lower than the maximum observed minus one-half its confidence interval at the 0.05 level of probability). Extremely cold or warm temperatures suppressed germination. Germination of afterripened seed over a wide range of temperature combinations, many of which occur during fall in the Northern Great Plains, should enhance establishment and perpetuation of Japanese brome on rangelands.