Jason J. Griffin

Role of anthocyanin‐enriched purple‐fleshed sweet potato p40 in colorectal cancer prevention

SCOPE Anthocyanins, the natural pigments in plant foods, have been associated with cancer prevention. However, the content of anthocyanins in staple foods is typically low and the mechanisms by which they exert anticancer activity is not yet fully defined. METHODS AND RESULTS We selected an anthocyanin-enriched purple-fleshed sweet potato clone, P40, and investigated its potential anticancer effect in both in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal model. In addition to a high level of total phenolics and antioxidant capacity, P40 possesses a high content of anthocyanins at 7.5 mg/g dry matter. Treatment of human colonic SW480 cancer cells with P40 anthocyanin extracts at 0-40 μM of peonidin-3-glucoside equivalent resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in cell number due to cytostatic arrest of cell cycle at G1 phase but not cytotoxicity. Furthermore, dietary P40 at 10-30% significantly suppressed azoxymethane-induced formation of aberrant crypt foci in the colons of CF-1 mice in conjunction with, at least in part, a lesser proliferative PCNA and a greater apoptotic caspase-3 expression in the colon mucosal epithelial cells. CONCLUSION These observations, coupled with both in vitro and in vivo studies reported here, suggest anthocyanin-enriched sweet potato P40 may protect against colorectal cancer by inducing cell-cycle arrest, antiproliferative, and apoptotic mechanisms.

Growth, Yield, Fruit Composition of 24 Wine and Table Grape Cultivars and Selections

ABSTRACT Eight American (Vitis labrusca L.); eight European (Vitis vinifera L.), including four Eastern European selections; four hybrids; and four table grape cultivars planted in 2002 were evaluated for yield components, berry composition, berry split, and frost damage from 2004 to 2006 in south-central Kansas. Over the three years, harvest started in July, although summer of 2006 was the warmest year, which accelerated maturity, reduced titratable acidity (TA), and increased soluble solids concentration (SSC). Earliest-and latest-ripening grapes, respectively, were ‘Valiant’ and ‘Catawba’ (American), ‘Nero’ and ‘Bromariu’ (European), ‘LaCrescent’ and ‘Traminette’ (hybrids), and ‘Reliance’ and ‘Marquis’ (table grapes). In 2005, hybrids were the most productive grapes, with highest crop load, whereas American grapes were the least productive, with the lowest crop load. Table grapes produced the largest clusters (160 g). ‘LaCrescent’ was the least productive hybrid, with the smallest cluster (65 g). ‘Toldi’, produced the largest berry (4 g), whereas ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ produced the smallest berry (1.2 g). The highest mean SSC was recorded for the hybrids at 21.7°Brix, followed by European grapes at 20.3°Brix. Titratable acidity was reduced for most of the grapes in 2006 by more than 20%. Hybrid berries, especially ‘Swanson Red’, were the most susceptible to hail damage, whereas American and table grapes were the least susceptible. Frost damage was greatest on European grapes and least on American grapes. ‘Cabernet Franc’ was the most sensitive cultivar, whereas ‘Valiant’ was the least sensitive American cultivar to frost.

2012 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Tall Fescue Test: 2012–2017 Summary Report

Research efforts to improve cultivar quality include selecting for disease resistance and stress tolerance as well as finer leaf texture, a rich green color, and better sward density. Several cultivars included in the 2012 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Tall Fescue Test performed well and showed good brown patch resistance in south central Kansas throughout the course of the study.

2013 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Bermudagrass Test: 2013–2017 Summary Report

Kansas represents the northernmost region in the central United States where bermudagrass can be successfully grown as a perennial turfgrass. Historically, few cultivars that have both acceptable quality and adequate cold tolerance have been available to local growers. Because new introductions are continually being selected for improved hardiness and quality, both seeded and vegetative types need regular evaluation to determine their long-range suitability for use in Kansas.

Performance of Landscape Roses Grown with Minimal Input in the North-central, Central, and South-central United States

Landscape roses (Rosa sp.) are popular flowering shrubs. Consumers are less willing or able to maintain landscape beds than in years past and require plants that are not only attractive, but well-adapted to regional climatic conditions, soil types, and disease and pest pressures. Marketing and distribution of rose cultivars occurs on a national level; therefore, it is difficult for U.S. consumers in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zones 3 to 5 to identify welladapted, cold-hardy cultivars. Identifying suitable cultivars that have strong genetic resistance to pests and disease and that will tolerate temperature extremes without winter protection in theUSDAPlantHardiness Zones 3 to 5 is of tremendous value to consumers and retailers in northern states. Twenty landscape rose cultivars, primarily developed in north-central North America, were evaluated at five locations in the United States (three in the north-central United States, one in the central United States, and one in the south-central United States) using the lowinput, multiyear Earth-Kind methodology. Six roses had ‡75% plant survival at the end of the study and were in the top 50% of performers for overall mean horticultural rating at each of the three north-central U.S. sites: ‘Lena’, ‘Frontenac’, ‘Ole’, ‘Polar Joy’, ‘Sunrise Sunset’, and ‘Sven’. Five of these six roses met the same criteria at the central United States (exception ‘Lena’) and the south-central United States (exception ‘Polar Joy’) sites. Cultivar, rating time, and their interaction were highly significant, and block effects were not significant for horticultural rating for all single-site analyses of variance. Significant positive correlations were found between sites for flower number, flower diameter, and overall horticultural rating. Significant negative correlations were found between flower number and diameter within each site and also between black spot (Diplocarpon rosae) lesion size from a previous study and overall horticultural rating for three of the five sites. Cane survival ratings were not significantly correlated with overall horticultural rating, suggesting some cultivars can experience severe winter cane dieback, yet recover and perform well. Data from this study benefit multiple stakeholders, including nurseries, landscapers, and consumers, with evidence-based regional cultivar recommendations and breeders desiring to identify regionally adapted parents.

2013 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Bermudagrass Test: 2017 Data

Kansas represents the northernmost region in the central United States where bermudagrass can be successfully grown as a perennial turfgrass. Historically, few cultivars that have both acceptable quality and adequate cold tolerance have been available to local growers. Because new introductions are continually being selected for improved hardiness and quality, both seeded and vegetative types need regular evaluation to determine their long-range suitability for use in Kansas.

Evaluation of Colorants on ‘Sharpshooter’ and ‘Cody’ Buffalograss

Turf colorants effectively enhanced green color of dormant buffalograss. Using a higher application rate or adding a midwinter application helped longevity of color. Colorants increased canopy temperatures more consistently than soil temperatures, which may encourage earlier spring greenup.

2012 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Tall Fescue Test: 2012 and 2013 Data

Tall fescue is the cool-season turfgrass best adapted for the transition zone because it tolerates drought and heat and has few serious insect or disease problems. It possesses a rather coarse leaf texture, lacks stolons, and has only very short rhizomes. Efforts to improve cultivar quality include selecting for finer leaf texture, rich green color, and better sward density while maintaining good stress tolerance and disease resistance. New introductions need regular evaluation to determine their long-range suitability for use in Kansas.

Influence of Cultivation Practice and Mowing Height on Conversion of Golf Course Rough from Tall Fescue to ‘Sharps Improved II’ Buffalograss

Slit-seeding buffalograss provided the quickest (85% cover, 8 weeks after seeding) establishment of all the cultivation practices. Mowing height had no effect on establishment success.

2012 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Tall Fescue Test: 2017 Data

Research efforts to improve cultivar quality include selecting for disease resistance and stress tolerance as well as finer leaf texture, a rich green color, and better sward density. Several cultivars included in the 2012 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Tall Fescue Test performed well and showed good brown patch resistance in south central Kansas during the 2017 growing season.