Blank Five

Poetry by Elizabeth Godwi

everything starts in the middle

everything starts in the middle by Elizabeth Anne Godwi

Genetic Control of Sweetness, Acidity, and Seediness in Blackberry

The global blackberry (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus Watson) industry has experienced rapid growth during the past 15 years. Even so, many industry stakeholders report complaints from consumers and grocers stating blackberries are often too tart, too seedy, or not sweet enough for their liking. The development of molecular markers for high sweetness, low acidity, and reduced seediness would allow breeding programs to expeditiously make selection and crossing decisions in the early stages of the breeding pipeline. The objective of this study was to use a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) to identify marker-trait associations, locate quantitative trait loci (QTL), and find possible candidate genes related to sweetness, acidity, and seediness in autotetraploid blackberries. A panel of 307 commercially-available cultivars and University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture (UA) breeding selections grown at the Fruit Research Station in Clarksville, Arkansas, was phenotyped for soluble solids content (SSC) and pH in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Samples from a subset of 277 cultivars and breeding selections harvested during the summers of 2019 and 2020 were also evaluated for titratable acidity (TA), 100-seed weight, seed width to length (WL) ratio, seed area, and seeds per berry. The Rubus argutus Link. reference genome was used to design 35,054 Capture-Seq probes distributed across the genome, which were used to genotype the GWAS panel. Heritability estimates for flavor attributes concluded SSC had the lowest broad sense entry mean heritability at 61%, while pH and TA had heritabilities of 67% and 69%, respectively. Seediness attribute heritability estimates were 91% for 100-seed weight and WL ratio, 89% for seed area, and 70% for seeds per berry. Association analysis was performed in GWASpoly with 124,564 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated by Capture-Seq genotyping and a total of six QTL were identified. Three of the six QTL were related to flavor attributes; one for TA on Ra01, one for SSC on Ra02, and a shared QTL for TA and pH on Ra05. The remaining three QTL were related to seediness; one for WL ratio on Ra01, one for 100-seed weight on Ra03, and one for seed area on Ra05. No significant markers or QTL were identified for seeds per berry. Ten possible candidate genes for blackberry flavor attributes were identified, including an H+-ATPase 8 and a vacuolar proton-translocating pyrophosphatase associated with the QTL for TA on Ra01, a sucrose binding protein for the SSC QTL on Ra02, and two ALMT9 proteins, a MYB1, a PEPC, and three malate synthase genes for the shared TA and pH QTL on Ra05. Six seediness candidates were identified consisting of genes annotated for BRI1, CKX2, and GG3 associated with the WL ratio QTL on Ra01, an RPT2A and an AP2C1 in the QTL for 100-seed weight on Ra03, and a DA1 protein in the seed area QTL on Ra05. These results will be used to develop diagnostic markers for attributes related to sweetness, acidity, and seediness and as a training population for genomic selection

Chalked

Poetry by Elizabeth Anne Godwi

Alcohol use, alcohol-related aggression and intimate partner abuse: a cross-sectional survey of convicted versus general population men in Scotland

Introduction and Aims. Scotland has a particular problem with alcohol, and the links between intimate partner abuse (IPA) and alcohol appear stronger here than elsewhere across Europe. This study explored differences in alcohol use, related aggression and relationship conflict across a number of groups: men convicted for intimate partner abuse, men convicted of general offences and men recruited from community sports teams. Design and Methods. Participants (n = 64) completed three questionnaires exploring their experiences of alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, AUDIT); alcohol and aggression (Alcohol Related Aggression Questionnaire, ARAQ-28), and relationship conflict (Revised Conflict Tactics Scale, CTS-2). Results. There were significant differences across the groups in terms of AUDIT and ARAQ-28 scores, IPA and general offenders scored higher than the community sample. CTS-2 scores showed significant differences: both offender groups reported more use of negotiation and psychological abuse, than the community men, and IPA offenders reported causing more physical harm than either general offenders or the community sample. ARAQ-28 scores correlated with psychological abuse for general offenders. Alcohol use was very high across all groups, but the community group did not endorse an aggression-precipitating view of alcohol and did not report high IPA. Discussion and Conclusions. Discussed is the need for cross-cultural research to explore putative mediators and moderators in the relationship between alcohol, aggressiveness and IPA. [Gilchrist EA, Ireland L, Forsyth A, Godwin J, Laxton T. Alcohol use, alcohol-related aggression and intimate partner abuse: A cross-sectional survey of convicted versus general population men in Scotland. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:20-23

Senior Recital: Elizabeth Shaver, soprano and Non-degree Recital: Lizzy Godwin, soprano

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Ms. Shaver studies voice with Jana Young. Ms. Godwin studies voice with Eileen Moremen.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/2000/thumbnail.jp

Mobility of Trace Element Contaminants from Abandoned Gold Mine Dump to Stream Waters in an Agricultural Active Area

In this study, the selected streams within the Blesbokspruit located in South Africa were characterised in this study. Because of prolonged mining activities coupled with ineffective management practices, several mine tailing (MT) dumps are widely distributed in this area. Metals and metalloid contamination from these tailing facilities have been reported to be major contributors to environmental hazards such as acid mine drainage (AMD). With increased agricultural activities in this area, an assessment of the general quality of water being utilised for irrigation purposes and feeding of farm animals becomes inevitable. A procedural method was implemented in a bid to identify relations between tailing and stream water contamination. Representative gold tailing sediments and water samples were collected, respectively. With the aid of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the mineralogical characterisation of the tailing sediments was successfully carried out, while acid digestion using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was utilised in the determination of trace metal contents. Samples of different water sources were also characterised. There was a clear description of the link between tailings, water contamination and possible implications to animals and humans in the long run