Mutagenesis of seed storage protein genes in Soybean using CRISPR/Cas9.

Objective: Soybean seeds are an important source of vegetable proteins for both food and industry worldwide. Conglycinins (7S) and glycinins (11S), which are two major families of storage proteins encoded by a small family of genes, account for about 70% of total soy seed protein. Mutant alleles of these genes are often necessary in certain breeding programs, as the relative abundance of these protein subunits affect amino acid composition and soy food properties.

Comparison of Transeius montdorensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to Other Phytoseiid Mites for the Short-Season Suppression of Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Under winter and early spring greenhouse growing conditions, suppression of thrips by predatory mites can vary considerably on a species basis. For certain mite species, shorter photoperiods, cooler temperatures, and lower vapor pressures translate to reductions in predation, oviposition, and survival. Therefore, predator species need to be assessed simultaneously to identify those most suitable for use under short-season conditions.

Development of a Simple Hydroponic Assay to Study Vertical and Horizontal Resistance of Soybean and Pathotypes of Phytophthora sojae.

Phytophthora root rot, caused by Phytophthora sojae, is one of the most damaging diseases of soybean and the introgression of Rps (Resistance to P. sojae) genes into elite soybean lines is arguably the best way to manage this disease. Current bioassays to phenotype the gene-for-gene relationship are hampered with respect to reproducibility and long-term stability of isolates, and do not accurately predict horizontal resistance individually.

The function of supplemental foods for improved crop establishment of generalist predators Orius insidiosus and Dicyphus hesperus.

As with many biological control agents, generalist predators rarely survive prolonged periods of prey scarcity. Towards improving crop establishment of two major predators used in North America, Orius insidiosus and Dicyphus hesperus, this study examined the role of supplemental foods in achieving greater predator survival and faster development. In controlled environment trials, developmental time and survival were compared for predators offered diets including Ephestia eggs, Artemia cysts, Typha pollen, or combinations of these.

Saproxylic Diptera assemblages in a temperate deciduous forest: implications for community assembly.

Saproxylic insects, those associated directly or indirectly with decaying wood for all or part of their life cycle, compose a large proportion of forest organisms. Flies (Diptera) are often the most abundant and species-rich group of insects in forest microhabitats, yet most work to date on saproxylic insect diversity and ecology has focused on beetles (Coleoptera). We compared saproxylic Diptera assemblages reared from two tree species (sugar maple and American beech) at two stages of decay (early/young and advanced/old) for a total of 20 logs in an eastern Canadian Nearctic old-growth forest.

Climate change impacts on crop yield, soil water balance and nitrate leaching in the semiarid and humid regions of Canada.

The impact of climate change on agricultural systems is a major concern as it can have a significant effect on the world food supply. The objective of this study was to evaluate climate change impacts on crop production and nitrate leaching in two distinct climatic zones in Canada. Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.

Effect of elevated CO2 and spectral quality on whole plant gas exchange patterns in tomatoes.

In controlled environment plant production facilities, elevating either light or CO2 levels generally has led to increased biomass and yield due to enhanced canopy photosynthesis. Today, advancements in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have made this technology a viable option for both supplementary lighting in greenhouses and a sole lighting source in controlled environment chambers. Our study used tomato plants grown under both ambient CO2 (AC) and elevated CO2 (EC) conditions then exposed them to various CO2 and lighting treatments during both whole plant and leaf level measurements.

Dynamin-Like Proteins of Endocytosis in Plants Are Coopted by Potyviruses To Enhance Virus Infection.

Endocytosis and endosomal trafficking regulate the proteins targeted to the plasma membrane and play essential roles in diverse cellular processes, including responses to pathogen attack. Here, we report the identification of (soybean) endocytosis dynamin-like protein 5A (GmSDL5A) associated with purified soybean mosaic virus (SMV) virions from soybean using a bottom-up proteomics approach. Knockdown of and its homologous gene inhibits SMV infection in soybean.

Curve-fitting techniques improve the mid-infrared analysis of soil organic carbon: a case study for Brookston clay loam particle-size fractions.

Few studies have evaluated structural features of soil organic carbon (SOC) in different soil particle fractions, especially SOC changes induced by tillage, using Fourier transformed mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy. To make a contribution in this context, soil samples of a Brookston clay loam (mesic Typic Argiaquoll) with averaged pH and organic matter concentration at 7.28 and 43.

Effects of Light Quality and Intensity on Diurnal Patterns and Rates of Photo-Assimilate Translocation and Transpiration in Tomato Leaves.

Translocation of assimilates is a fundamental process involving carbon and water balance affecting source/sink relationships. Diurnal patterns of CO exchange, translocation (carbon export), and transpiration of an intact tomato source leaf were determined during CO steady-state labeling under different wavelengths at three pre-set photosynthetic rates. Daily patterns showed that photosynthesis and export were supported by all wavelengths of light tested including orange and green.

Primer selection influences abundance estimates of ammonia oxidizing archaea in coastal marine sediments.

Quantification of the α-subunit of ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) through PCR is an established technique for estimating the abundance of ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) in environmental samples. This study quantified AOA with two established primer sets in 1 cm increments from the sediment surface (0-1 cm) to a depth of 10 cm at two locations within Port Phillip Bay (PPB), Australia. Primer choice had a significant effect on within sample estimates of AOA with copy numbers ranging from 10 to 10 copies per ng DNA.

Modeling phosphorus losses from soils amended with cattle manures and chemical fertilizers.

While applied manure/fertilizer is an important source of P loss in surface runoff, few models simulate the direct transfer of phosphorus (P) from soil-surface-applied manure/fertilizer to surface runoff. The SurPhos model was tested with 2008-2010 growing season daily surface runoff data from clay loam experimental plots subject to different manure/fertilizer applications. Model performance was evaluated on the basis of the coefficient of determination (R), Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), percent bias (PBIAS), and the ratio of the root mean square error to the standard deviation of observed values (RSR).

Chloropid flies (Diptera, Chloropidae) associated with pitcher plants in North America.

We review the taxonomy and ecology of Chloropidae (Diptera) associated with pitcher plants (Sarraceniaceae) in North America. Mlynarek sp.n.

GmHMA3 sequesters Cd to the root endoplasmic reticulum to limit translocation to the stems in soybean.

A single point-mutation in GmHMA3 (Glycine max heavy metal-associated ATPase; a wild type allele cloned from a low Cd-accumulated soybean) is closely associated with seed cadmium (Cd) concentration. It is linked to Cd transportation in yeast, and is primarily expressed in the roots of plants. We hypothesized that the function of GmHMA3w in soybean would be akin to that of OsHMA3 in rice, which expresses in the root tonoplast and sequestrates Cd into the root vacuole to reduce Cd translocation to the shoots and limit its accumulation in the seeds.

The effect of greenhouse covering materials on phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity of tomato cultivars.

Background: The effect of light transmission (direct and diffuse) on the phenolic compounds of five tomato cultivars was investigated under controlled conditions in greenhouses covered with different covering materials.

Results: The type of covering material and type of diffusion of light simultaneously affected the reducing power of cultivars. Two-way analysis of variance showed statistically significant differences in total phenolic content for the different cultivars (P < 0.

Genetic mapping and validation of the loci controlling 7S α' and 11S A-type storage protein subunits in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.].

Four soybean storage protein subunit QTLs were mapped using bulked segregant analysis and an F population, which were validated with an F RIL population. The storage protein globulins β-conglycinin (7S subunit) and glycinin (11S subunits) can affect the quantity and quality of proteins found in soybean seeds and account for more than 70% of the total soybean protein. Manipulating the storage protein subunits to enhance soymeal nutrition and for desirable tofu manufacturing characteristics are two end-use quality goals in soybean breeding programs.

Cytosolic acetyl-CoA promotes histone acetylation predominantly at H3K27 in Arabidopsis.

Acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) is a central metabolite and the acetyl source for protein acetylation, particularly histone acetylation that promotes gene expression. However, the effect of acetyl-CoA levels on histone acetylation status in plants remains unknown. Here, we show that malfunctioned cytosolic acetyl-CoA carboxylase1 (ACC1) in Arabidopsis leads to elevated levels of acetyl-CoA and promotes histone hyperacetylation predominantly at lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27).

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase overexpression in herbicide-resistant large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis).

Background: The occurrence of herbicide-resistant weed biotypes is increasing and this report of an acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor-resistant Digitaria sanguinalis L. Scop. from southwestern Ontario is another example.

Effects of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) on plant growth and its distribution in a controlled plant-soil system.

To demonstrate the responses of plant (Pakchoi) and soil to poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is essential to better understand the pathways of the promotional effect of γ-PGA on plant growth. In this study, the effects of γ-PGA on soil nutrient availability, plant nutrient uptake ability, plant metabolism and its distribution in a plant-soil system were tested using labeled γ-PGA synthesized from C-N-L-glutamic acid (L-Glu). γ-PGA significantly improved plant uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) and hence increased plant biomass.

Cellular localization of the Arabidopsis class 2 phytoglobin influences somatic embryogenesis.

Mutation of phytoglobin 2 (Pgb2) increases the number of somatic embryos in Arabidopsis. To assess the effects of the cellular localization of Pgb2 on embryo formation, an inducible system expressing a fusion protein consisting of Pgb2 linked to the steroid-binding domain of the rat glucocorticoid receptor (GR) was introduced in a pgb2 mutant line lacking the ability to express Pgb2. In this transgenic system, Pgb2 remains in the cytoplasm but migrates into the nucleus upon exposure to dexamethasone (DEX).

Soil phosphorus loss in tile drainage water from long-term conventional- and non-tillage soils of Ontario with and without compost addition.

Recent ascertainment of tile drainage a predominant pathway of soil phosphorus (P) loss, along with the rise in concentration of soluble P in the Lake Erie, has led to a need to re-examine the impacts of agricultural practices. A three-year on-farm study was conducted to assess P loss in tile drainage water under long-term conventional- (CT) and non-tillage (NT) as influenced by yard waste leaf compost (LC) application in a Brookston clay loam soil. The effects of LC addition on soil P loss in tile drainage water varied depending on P forms and tillage systems.

Scenario analysis of fertilizer management practices for NO mitigation from corn systems in Canada.

Effective management of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application by farmers provides great potential for reducing emissions of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (NO). However, such potential is rarely achieved because our understanding of what practices (or combination of practices) lead to NO reductions without compromising crop yields remains far from complete. Using scenario analysis with the process-based model DNDC, this study explored the effects of nine fertilizer practices on NO emissions and crop yields from two corn production systems in Canada.

How do changes in bulk soil organic carbon content affect carbon concentrations in individual soil particle fractions?

We test the common assumption that organic carbon (OC) storage occurs on sand-sized soil particles only after the OC storage capacity on silt- and clay-sized particles is saturated. Soil samples from a Brookston clay loam in Southwestern Ontario were analysed for the OC concentrations in bulk soil, and on the clay (<2 μm), silt (2-53 μm) and sand (53-2000 μm) particle size fractions. The OC concentrations in bulk soil ranged from 4.