Variation in Broccoli Cultivar Phytochemical Content under Organic and Conventional Management Systems: Implications in Breeding for Nutrition

Organic agriculture requires cultivars that can adapt to organic crop management systems without the use of synthetic pesticides as well as genotypes with improved nutritional value. The aim of this study encompassing 16 experiments was to compare 23 broccoli cultivars for the content of phytochemicals associated with health promotion grown under organic and conventional management in spring and fall plantings in two broccoli growing regions in the US (Oregon and Maine). The phytochemicals quantified included: glucosinolates (glucoraphanin, glucobrassicin, neoglucobrassin), tocopherols (δ-, γ-, α-tocopherol) and carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, β-carotene). For glucoraphanin (17.5%) and lutein (13%), genotype was the major source of total variation; for glucobrassicin, region (36%) and the interaction of location and season (27.5%); and for neoglucobrassicin, both genotype (36.8%) and its interactions (34.4%) with season were important. For δ- and γ-tocopherols, season played the largest role in the total variation followed by location and genotype; for total carotenoids, genotype (8.41–13.03%) was the largest source of variation and its interactions with location and season. Overall, phytochemicals were not significantly influenced by management system. We observed that the cultivars with the highest concentrations of glucoraphanin had the lowest for glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin. The genotypes with high concentrations of glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin were the same cultivars and were early maturing F₁ hybrids. Cultivars highest in tocopherols and carotenoids were open pollinated or early maturing F₁ hybrids. We identified distinct locations and seasons where phytochemical performance was higher for each compound. Correlations among horticulture traits and phytochemicals demonstrated that glucoraphanin was negatively correlated with the carotenoids and the carotenoids were correlated with one another. Little or no association between phytochemical concentration and date of cultivar release was observed, suggesting that modern breeding has not negatively influenced the level of tested compounds. We found no significant differences among cultivars from different seed companies

The hydrology of the humid tropics

Hydrological processes in the humid tropics differ from other regions in having greater energy inputs and faster rates of change, including human-induced change. Human influences on population growth, land use and climate change will profoundly influence tropical hydrology, yet understanding of key hydrological interactions is limited. We propose that efforts to collect tropical data should explicitly emphasize characterizing moisture and energy fluxes from below the ground surface into the atmosphere. Research needs to chiefly involve field-based characterizations and modelling of moisture cycling and catchment processes, as well as long-term data acquisition and organization

Genome biology of the paleotetraploid perennial biomass crop Miscanthus

Miscanthus is a perennial wild grass that is of global importance for paper production, roofing, horticultural plantings, and an emerging highly productive temperate biomass crop. We report a chromosome-scale assembly of the paleotetraploid M. sinensis genome, providing a resource for Miscanthus that links its chromosomes to the related diploid Sorghum and complex polyploid sugarcanes. The asymmetric distribution of transposons across the two homoeologous subgenomes proves Miscanthus paleo-allotetraploidy and identifies several balanced reciprocal homoeologous exchanges. Analysis of M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus populations demonstrates extensive interspecific admixture and hybridization, and documents the origin of the highly productive triploid bioenergy crop M. x giganteus. Transcriptional profiling of leaves, stem, and rhizomes over growing seasons provides insight into rhizome development and nutrient recycling, processes critical for sustainable biomass accumulation in a perennial temperate grass. The Miscanthus genome expands the power of comparative genomics to understand traits of importance to Andropogoneae grasses

Late Holocene vegetation history from Hawaiian peat deposit

Western Region, National Park Servic

The interception of fog and cloud water on windward Mauna Loa, Hawaii

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.Fog drip is an important parameter in the water balance of montane forest ecosystems on Mauna Loa (summit elevation 4170 m). In the present study relative fog interception was sampled on the windward slope of Mauna Loa, along an altitudinal transect from 600 to 3400 m. Stations were instrumented with louvered aluminum screen fog interceptors, paired to standard rain gages. The analysis of weekly rain and fog data over an 11 month period exposed the substantial contribution of fog in the mid-mountain belt between 1500 and 2500 m, particularly during the summer months with low direct rainfall. A set of simple regression equations were derived to predict fog interception as a function of rainfall and elevation.This research was supported in part by a grant from the Office of Water Resources Research, U. S. Department of Interior to Hilo College, University of Hawaii

Mountain fog on Mauna Loa, Hawaii

Theses for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (University of Hawaii at Manoa). Geography, no. 974.This study investigates the mountain fog regime on the windward and leeward slopes of Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Methodological approaches utilized in the study included: 1) development of a standardized louvered screen fog gage; 2) development of an indirect approximation method for estimating average droplet sizes during precipitation episodes and for separating the rain and fog components; 3) establishment of an extensive fog sampling network on the windward and leeward slopes of Mauna Loa; and 4) development of an original computer program for detailed temporal and spatial analysis of rain, fog and wind parameters. An analysis of mountain fog data for the period 1974 - 1976 yielded the following conclusions: 1) a well defined fog belt exists on windward Mauna Loa in the altitudinal zone between 1500 - 2500m; 2) on leeward Mauna Loa mountain fog increases with elevation up to at least 2000m, with fog amounts lower than at comparable elevations on the windward slope; 3) seasonal and altitudinal patterns in fog frequency and intensity are related to the dynamic interaction of the trade wind field (particularly the trade wind inversion)and the local land/sea breeze regime; 4) mountain fog appears to be a significant factor in the water balance of mountain ecosystems on Mauna Loa; 5) the potential for large scale mechanical recovery of fog water for domestic and agricultural water supply may be feasible for limited areas of the mountain slope

WRRCTR No. 85 Methodological Approaches in Hawaiian Fog Research

Recent studies have demonstrated the important moisture contribution from fog precipitation in mountain areas on the island of Hawaii. The present study investigates research methodologies useful in the study of Hawaiian upslope fog, including: (1) development of an improved fog gage; (2) development of indirect approximation methods for estimating average droplet sizes during precipitation episodes and separating fog and rainfall components; (3) establishment of an extensive fog sampling network on the island of Hawaii employing continuous recording equipment, for both rain, fog, and wind; (4) development of an original computer program for detailed temporal and spatial analysis of rain, fog, and wind parameters.OWRT Project No. A-041-HI, Grant Agreement No. 14-31-0001-4011 The programs and activities described herein were supported in part by funds provided by the United States Department of the Interior as authorized under the Water Resources Act of 1964, Public Law 88-379

WRRCTR No.118 A Climatology of Mountain Fog on Mauna Loa, Hawai’i Island

This study of the mountain cloud and fog regimes on the windward and leeward slopes of Mauna Loa, Hawai'i Island (1) develops a standardized louvered-screen, fog-catchment gage; (2) develops an indirect approximation method for estimating average droplet sizes during precipitation episodes and for separating the rainfall and fog components; (3) establishes an extensive fog sampling network on the windward and leeward slopes of Mauna Loa; and (4) develops an original computer program for detailed temporal and spatial analyses of rainfall, fog, and wind parameters. An analysis of data for the 1974 to 1976 period yielded the following conclusions: (1) a well-defined fog belt exists on windward Mauna Loa in the altitudinal zone between 1 500 to 2 500 m with fog-catchment amounts as great as one-half the rainfall, or about 750 mm; (2) mountain fog on leeward Mauna Loa increases with elevation up to at least 2 000 m, with fog amounts equivalent to one-fourth the rainfall, or about 250 mm; (3) seasonal and altitudinal patterns in fog frequency and catchment amounts are related to the dynamic interaction of the tradewind field (particularly the tradewind inversion) and the local land/sea breeze regime; (4) mountain fog. appears to be a significant factor in the water balance of mountain ecosystems on Mauna Loa; and (5) the potential for large-scale mechanical recovery of fog water may exist for selected locations on Mauna Loa.Office of Water Research and Technology, U.S. Dept. of the Interior Grant/Contract No. A-041-H