Seanna L. Annis

Using Peer Discussion Facilitated by Clicker Questions in an Informal Education Setting: Enhancing Farmer Learning of Science

Blueberry growers in Maine attend annual Cooperative Extension presentations given by university faculty members. These presentations cover topics, such as, how to prevent plant disease and monitor for insect pests. In 2012, in order to make the sessions more interactive and promote learning, clicker questions and peer discussion were incorporated into the presentations. Similar to what has been shown at the undergraduate level, after peer discussion, more blueberry growers gave correct answers to multiple-choice questions than when answering independently. Furthermore, because blueberry growers are characterized by diverse levels of education, experience in the field etc., we were able to determine whether demographic factors were associated with changes in performance after peer discussion. Taken together, our results suggest that clicker questions and peer discussion work equally well with adults from a variety of demographic backgrounds without disadvantaging a subset of the population and provide an important learning opportunity to the least formally educated members. Our results also indicate that clicker questions with peer discussion were viewed as a positive addition to university-related informal science education sessions.

Organic Lowbush Blueberry Research and Extension in Maine

A six-year organic systems research project was conducted in Maine from 2004 to 2009. The project had several components: (1) a large replicated interdisciplinary multifactor (fertility, weed, insect, and pathogen) experiment over three cropping cycles (6 years), (2) single disciplinary experiments designed to develop organic management tools for pest management, (3) an economic analysis of current organic production, (4) a survey of organic growers for the purpose of deriving a descriptive profile and the development of grower case studies, and (5) organic Extension workshops and field meetings and production of an organic wild blueberry growers guide. This article highlights some of the outcomes of this project including: ecological interactions among pests and fertility, novel management tactics, niche-market diversity, and economic viability.

Stem and Leaf Diseases and Their Effects on Yield in Maine Lowbush Blueberry Fields

SUMMARY In 2001, six lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) fields in crop production were examined for the effects of stem and leaf diseases on yield. Symptomatic and control stems were tagged during bloom and the flowers per stem were counted. In late July, the berries were counted. Fungi commonly found on stems and leaves included Alternaria, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, and Gloeo-sporium. For one field, stems with disease at their base showed a significant reduction in yield compared to healthy stems. Fungicides being evaluated for control of Monilinia blight had no significant effect on either stem disease or leaf spot incidence.

Efficacy of Organically Acceptable Materials for Control of Mummy Berry Disease on Lowbush Blueberries in Maine

The efficacy of biological controls and application of mulch for control of the blight stage of mummy berry disease was examined in different lowbush blueberry fields in Maine over 5 years. Biological controls tested included compost teas and commercial products containing Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus pumilus, B. subtilis, Streptomyces lydicus, and plant extracts of neem, garlic, citrus, and giant knotweed. Treatment with compost teas did not affect numbers of fungal and bacterial colony-forming units on leaves compared to controls. Early application of peat mulch before leaf bud break was partially effective at controlling disease in the field. In 2010, extracts of citrus and giant knotweed and a B. subtilis commercial product were effective at controlling disease in at least one of two fields. The other biological controls did not significantly decrease disease incidence compared to untreated controls.

Significance of fungal peptide secondary metabolites in the agri-food industry

Abstract Among the vast and varied secondary metabolites that fungi produce are small peptides, synthesized not as a result of translation, but rather by an unusual class of enzymes called nonribosomal peptide synthetases. These peptide secondary metabolites impact the agri-food industry in a numbers of ways. Ergopeptines and other peptides produced by plant pathogens or symbionts poison our food or animal feed. The production of HC-toxin, victorin, and other peptides by plant pathogens affects the yield and genetic constitution of some important crop plants. Still other peptides, such as beauvericin and destruxin, have a positive effect by contributing to the anti-insect arsenals of fungi used as biological control agents. In this chapter we address the nature and biosynthesis of these peptides, the impact of fungal peptides in examples from several agricultural systems, and, finally, speculate on how through biotechnological manipulations we may alter, augment, or diminish the biosynthesis of these peptides for our benefit.