The Iowa Academy of Science Parish Farm: Its Past, Present and Future - A 25 Year Overview

This article focuses on the Iowa Academy of Science Parish Farm celebration of its 25th anniversary in 1985 at the Farm. The celebration provided an opportunity to view the progress made in establishing the Farm as a model for both farming and non-farming conservation practices. The celebration also included opportunities to review the history of the Farm, the life of Jessie A. Parish, and the interactions of the Iowa Academy of Science with the Parish Farm management, tenants, and Grundy County Conservation Board. These activities are followed by an in-depth account of the struggles which have occurred within the Board of Directors and Finance, Farm, and Social Implications committees to rationalize owning and operating a farm versus selling it and investing the principle for general Academy use. All of these accounts are placed in perspective with the growth and development of the Academy during the past 25 years to the present. What the role of the Farm will be in the future of the Academy is discussed in light of a changing and active membership and the continued growth of the Academy within the realms of science and science education

A comparison of leaf crystal macropatterns in the two sister genera Piper and Peperomia (Piperaceae)

Premise of the study: This is the first large-scale study comparing leaf crystal macropatterns of the species-rich sister genera Piper and Peperomia. It focuses on identifying types of calcium oxalate crystals and their macropatterns in leaves of both genera. The Piper results are placed in a phylogenetic context to show evolutionary patterns. This information will expand knowledge about crystals and provide specific examples to help study their form and function. One example is the first-time observation of Piper crystal sand tumbling in chlorenchyma vacuoles. Methods: Herbarium and fresh leaves were cleared of cytoplasmic content and examined with polarizing microscopy to identify types of crystals and their macropatterns. Selected hydrated herbarium and fresh leaf punches were processed for scanning electron microscopy and x-ray elemental analysis. Vibratome sections of living Piper and Peperomia leaves were observed for anatomical features and crystal movement. Key results: Both genera have different leaf anatomies. Piper displays four crystal types in chlorenchyma-crystal sand, raphides, styloids, and druses, whereas Peperomia displays three types-druses, raphides, and prisms. Because of different leaf anatomies and crystal types between the genera, macropatterns are completely different. Crystal macropattern evolution in both is characterized by increasing complexity, and both may use their crystals for light gathering and reflection for efficient photosynthesis under low-intensity light environments. Conclusions: Both genera have different leaf anatomies, types of crystals and crystal macropatterns. Based on Piper crystals associated with photosynthetic tissues and low-intensity light, further study of their function and association with surrounding chloroplasts is warranted, especially active crystal movement

The Iowa Academy of Science Parish Farm: A Dream About Tomorrow

A gift may be given for many reasons and what the receiver does with it may depend on many things. The Iowa Academy of Science Parish Farm fits this situation and serves as an appropriate focal point to tell a story-a story with a beginning and a developing plot, but one whose ending is yet to be written, if ever. The Farm story represents a relatively small part of the Academy\u27s first hundred years, yet its potential is great for becoming a significant and unique part of the second hundred years. Just like those who may excitedly look back in the year 2075 and reflect on what has come to pass, we who have experienced the birth and early growth of the Iowa Academy of Science Parish Farm can excitedly look forward to what that future history may be

Seed-set evaluation of four male-sterile, female-fertile soybean lines using alfalfa leafcutting bees and honey bees as pollinators

Male-sterile, female-fertile plants were used to produce hybrid soybean seed. Manual cross-pollination using male-sterile plants to produce large quantities of hybrid seed is difficult and time-consuming because of the low success rate in cross-pollination. Insect pollinators may be suitable vectors to transfer pollen, but the most suitable vector for pollen transfer from the male parent to the female parent has not been identified for soybean. The objective of the present study was to evaluate seed-set on four male-sterile, female-fertile soybean lines by using alfalfa leafcutting bees (Megachile rotundata (F.)) and honey bees (Apis mellifera (L.)) as pollinators. Seed-set was evaluated in summers 2003 and 2005 near Ames, Iowa, USA and in summers 2003, 2004, and 2005 near Wooster, Ohio, USA. Neither the effect of pollinator species nor the interaction effect of pollinator species×location was significant for any year. Honey bees performed similarly to alfalfa leafcutting bees at both locations. The results indicated significant differences for seed-set among male-sterile lines, suggesting preferential pollination. Male-sterile lines, ms1(Urbana) and ms2 (Ames 2), had higher cross-pollinated seed-set compared to ms6 (Ames 1), and ms6 (Corsoy 79). At the Ames location, ms1ms1 (Urbana) plants had the highest seed-set (50·16 seeds per male-sterile plant in 2005). At the Wooster location, ms1ms1 (Urbana) plants also had the highest seed-set (92·04 seeds per male-sterile plant) in 2005. Costs and local conditions need to be addressed to support the choice of either pollinator species as a pollination vector to produce hybrid soybean seed

Callus Formation and Differentiation in Tissue Cultures of Normal and Texas Cytoplasmic Male-Sterile Corn

Callus cultures were established from 10 lines of Zea mays containing cytoplasms with normal and Texas cytoplasmic malesterile factors. Calli from the different lines varied in their growth characteristics. One callus line was treated with Helminthosporium maydis race T toxin extract

Calcium Oxalate Bipyramidal Crystals on the Basidiocarps of Geastrum minus (Lycoperdales)

Geastrum minus (Persoon) Fischer is a temperate-zone, litter-associated fungus that displays bipyramidal crystals of calcium oxalate dihydrate (weddellite) on the peridial surfaces of its basidiocarps. The chemical nature and habit of the crystals were determined by X-ray diffraction and elemental energy dispersive analyses, and scanning electron microscopy. This study represents the first known report of calcium oxalate crystals being associated with Geastrum and extends the list of soil, litter, and wood-rot fungi that produce crystals during some stage of their life cycles. The occurrence of crystal-forming fungi in these micro-environments is intriguing for a variety of reasons that include their involvement in soil formation, soil fertility, and retention and/or cycling of elements necessary for plant growth