Energy in Agriculture: Energy for Greenhouses Part 1: Energy Conservation

The increased cost and scarcity of all fuels have affected the greenhouse owner as badly as any segment of industry. For some, crops have been damaged or lost. For others, it has reduced the margin of profit. Growers, manufacturers, suppliers, horticulturists, engineers and many others have studied the situation thoroughly in order to come up with viable solutions and alternatives for conserving fuel

Spatial relationships between entomopathogenic nematodes and nematophagous fungi in Florida citrus orchards

Relationships between entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), nematophagous fungi (NF) and soil physical and chemical properties were studied in a survey of 53 citrus orchards in central ridge and flatwoods ecoregions of Florida. Seven species of NF associated with nematodes were quantified directly using a real time qPCR assay. All nematophagous fungi studied except Arthrobotrys musiformis and Hirsutella rhossiliensis were frequently detected (24-56%) in both regions. Paecilomyces lilacinus and Gamsylella gephyropagum were encountered more frequently in the flatwoods (P = 0.03) and on the ridge (P = 0.02), respectively. Redundancy analysis revealed seven abiotic and biotic factors as significantly related to the NF occurrence. Multiple regression of fungi on these variables explained 78%, 66%, 48%, 36%, 23% and 4% of the variation in Catenaria sp., A. musiformis, A dactyloides, P. lilacinus, A. oligospora and G. gepharopagum, respectively. When the data from citrus were pooled with those reported previously from natural areas and subjected to principle component analysis, the first two principle components explained 43% of the variation in NF communities. The surveys (citrus vs natural areas) were discriminated by PC2 (P < 0.001) and the ecoregion by PC1 (P < 0.002), and all but one NF species were related (P < 0.01) to one or both components. NF communities tended to have more species and greater diversity in the flatwoods, where EPN richness and diversity were the least. However, the strength of associations between individual EPN and NF species as measured by SADIE reflected the associations between each species and ground water depth, suggesting that ecoregion preferences affected the species associations. Within each ecoregion, significant relationships between the individual NF and EPN species measured by stepwise regression tended to be positive. The results did not support the hypothesis that NF modulate the spatial patterns of EPN species between or within these two ecoregions. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.USDA-CSREES Special Grant (TSTAR)U.S-Egypt Science and Technology Joint Fund [338]Ramon Areces Spanish FoundationMarie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Programme [FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IOF-252980

Analyzing spatial patterns linked to the ecology of herbivores and their natural enemies in the soil

Modern agricultural systems can benefit from the application of concepts and models from applied ecology. When understood, multitrophic interactions among plants, pests, diseases and their natural enemies can be exploited to increase crop production and reduce undesirable environmental impacts. Although the understanding of subterranean ecology is rudimentary compared to the perspective aboveground, technologies today vastly reduce traditional obstacles to studying cryptic communities. Here we emphasize advantages to integrating as much as possible the use of these methods in order to leverage the information gained from studying communities of soil organisms. PCR-based approaches to identify and quantify species (real time qPCR and next generation sequencing) greatly expand the ability to investigate food web interactions because there is less need for wide taxonomic expertise within research programs. Improved methods to capture and measure volatiles in the soil atmosphere in situ make it possible to detect and study chemical cues that are critical to communication across trophic levels. The application of SADIE to directly assess rather than infer spatial patterns in belowground agroecosystems has improved the ability to characterize relationships between organisms in space and time. We review selected methodology and use of these tools and describe some of the ways they were integrated to study soil food webs in Florida citrus orchards with the goal of developing new biocontrol approaches.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Characterisation of a population of Pratylenchus hippeastri from bromeliads and description of two related new species, P. floridensis n. sp. and P. parafloridensis n. sp. from grasses in Florida

Morphological and molecular analyses confirmed the presence of P. hippeastri in regulatory samples collected in commercial bromeliad operations from genera Guzmania, Neoregelia and Vriesea in central and south Florida, USA. These P. hippeastri from bromeliads contained males which were not detected in the type population from amaryllis. The rDNA sequences of these males matched those of P. hippeastri female type material. Pratylenchus hippeastri and related root-lesion nematodes from several hosts in Florida were characterized at the morphological and molecular level, whereas other samples from Russia and South Africa at the molecular level only. Phylogenetic and sequence analysis using the ITS rRNA gene of these root-lesion nematodes revealed the presence of eight putative new species (spH1-H8) closely related to P. hippeastri. However, detailed morphological and molecular analyses are still required to confirm their unique species status. Here we describe two Florida representatives of the amphimictic root-lesion nematodes from Bahia grass (N1) and maidencane (N2), previously characterized by Inserra et al. (1996) and Duncan et al. (1999), as two new species phylogentically related to P. hippeastri and named Pratylenchus floridensis n. sp. and P. parafloridensis n. sp., respectively. The small round or oval, rarely rectangular and occasionally oblong and enlarged spermatheca and the bluntly pointed or subacute tail with smooth and occasionally indented terminus separate P. floridensis n. sp. from P. parafloridensis n. sp., which has a quadrangular spermatheca and a sub hemispherical or bluntly pointed tail with generally smooth and rarely indented terminus. However, these characters may overlap in some specimens making the morphological separation problematic without the use of molecular analysis. The close phylogenetic relationships shared by the species characterized in this study indicate that they are representatives of a P. hippeastri species complex

Laser fresnel distance measuring system and method

A method and system for determining range to a target are provided. A beam of electromagnetic energy is transmitted through an aperture in an opaque screen such that a portion of the beam passes through the aperture to generate a region of diffraction that varies as a function of distance from the aperture. An imaging system is focused on a target plane in the region of diffraction with the generated image being compared to known diffraction patterns. Each known diffraction pattern has a unique value associated therewith that is indicative of a distance from the aperture. A match between the generated image and at least one of the known diffraction patterns is indicative of a distance between the aperture and target plane

Physics Opportunities with the 12 GeV Upgrade at Jefferson Lab

This white paper summarizes the scientific opportunities for utilization of the upgraded 12 GeV Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) and associated experimental equipment at Jefferson Lab. It is based on the 52 proposals recommended for approval by the Jefferson Lab Program Advisory Committee.The upgraded facility will enable a new experimental program with substantial discovery potential to address important topics in nuclear, hadronic, and electroweak physics.Comment: 64 page

Subterranean, herbivore-induced plant volatile increases biological control activity of multiple beneficial nematode species in distinct habitats

While the role of herbivore-induced volatiles in plant-herbivore-natural enemy interactions is well documented aboveground, new evidence suggests that belowground volatile emissions can protect plants by attracting entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). However, due to methodological limitations, no study has previously detected belowground herbivore-induced volatiles in the field or quantified their impact on attraction of diverse EPN species. Here we show how a belowground herbivore-induced volatile can enhance mortality of agriculturally significant root pests. First, in real time, we identified pregeijerene (1,5-dimethylcyclodeca-1,5,7-triene) from citrus roots 9-12 hours after initiation of larval Diaprepes abbreviatus feeding. This compound was also detected in the root zone of mature citrus trees in the field. Application of collected volatiles from weevil-damaged citrus roots attracted native EPNs and increased mortality of beetle larvae (D. abbreviatus) compared to controls in a citrus orchard. In addition, field applications of isolated pregeijerene caused similar results. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that pregeijerene increased pest mortality by attracting four species of naturally occurring EPNs in the field. Finally, we tested the generality of this root-zone signal by application of pregeijerene in blueberry fields; mortality of larvae (Galleria mellonella and Anomala orientalis) again increased by attracting naturally occurring populations of an EPN. Thus, this specific belowground signal attracts natural enemies of widespread root pests in distinct agricultural systems and may have broad potential in biological control of root pests.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

EPOCHS Paper II: The Ultraviolet Luminosity Function from 7.5<z<13.57.5<z<13.5 using 110 square arcminutes of deep, blank-field data from the PEARLS Survey and Public Science Programmes

We present an analysis of the ultraviolet luminosity function (UV LF) and star formation rate density of distant galaxies ($7.5 < z < 13.5$) in the `blank' fields of the Prime Extragalactic Areas for Reionization Science (PEARLS) survey combined with Early Release Science (ERS) data from the CEERS, GLASS and NGDEEP surveys/fields. We use a combination of SED fitting tools and quality cuts to obtain a reliable selection and characterisation of high-redshift ($z>6.5$) galaxies from a consistently processed set of deep, near-infrared imaging. Within an area of 110 arcmin$^{2}$, we identify 214 candidate galaxies at redshifts $z>6.5$ and we use this sample to study the ultraviolet luminosity function (UV LF) in four redshift bins between $7.5<z<13.5$. The measured number density of galaxies at $z=8$ and $z=9$ match those of past observations undertaken by the em Hubble Space Telescope (HST). However, towards higher redshifts we find that the evolution of the UV LF is mild, resulting in higher measured number densities of UV luminous galaxies at $z=10.5$ and $z=12.5$ compared to predictions from simulations and past HST observations. When examining the star formation rate density of galaxies at this time period, our observations are still consistent with a constant star formation efficiency, are slightly lower than previous early estimations using JWST and support galaxy driven reionization at $z\sim8$.Comment: 28 Pages, 4 Tables, 9 Figures, Submitted to Ap

Between-site reliability of startle prepulse inhibition across two early psychosis consortia

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) and reactivity of the acoustic startle response are widely used biobehavioral markers in psychopathology research. Previous studies have demonstrated that PPI and startle reactivity exhibit substantial within-site stability; between-site stability, however, has not been established. In two separate consortia investigating biomarkers of early psychosis, traveling subjects studies were performed as part of quality assurance procedures in order to assess the fidelity of data across sites. In the North American Prodromal Longitudinal Studies (NAPLS) Consortium, 8 normal subjects traveled to each of the 8 NAPLS sites and were tested twice at each site on the startle PPI paradigm. In preparation for a binational study, 10 healthy subjects were assessed twice in both San Diego and Mexico City. Intraclass correlations between and within sites were significant for PPI and startle response parameters, confirming the reliability of startle measures across sites in both consortia. There were between site differences in startle magnitude in the NAPLS study that did not appear to be related to methods or equipment. In planning multi-site studies, it is essential to institute quality assurance procedures early and establish between site reliability to assure comparable data across sites