Naturalism in the Work of Stephen Crane

A critical study of naturalism and its influence in the works of Stephen Crane

Identification of Select Fumonisin Forming Fusarium Species Using PCR Applications of the Polyketide Synthase Gene and its Relationship to Fumonisin Production in vitro

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based diagnostic assay was used to develop markers for detection of Fusarium verticillioides (=F. moniliforme), a fumonisin producing fungus in maize tissues. Species-specific primers were designed based on sequence data from the polyketide synthase (PKS) gene (FUM1- previously FUM5) responsible for fumonisin production in fungi. Four sets of oligonucleotide primers were tested for their specificity using 24 strains of F. verticillioides, 10 F. proliferatum, and 12 of other Fusarium species. In addition, 13 species of other fungal genera, from four phyla, were tested as negative controls. Among the four sets, primer set B consistently amplified a 419-bp fragment from the DNA 96% of all F. verticillioides strains and 83% of F. proliferatum. All other fungi tested were negative using primer set B. A total of 38% of the F. verticillioides strains grown on a selective liquid medium produced fumonisin and 92% formed the toxin on standard rice medium. When fumonisin formed in culture, PCR assay using primer set B detected every strain of F. verticillioides, but only amplified 80% of F. proliferatum strains that produced the toxin. PCR detection was consistent at 100 pg/μl concentration of genomic DNA from 4 F. verticillioides strains, but varied at 10 pg/μl. Two duplicate greenhouse tests using artificially inoculated maize plants, had greater levels of F. verticillioides detected after re-evaluting using primer set B than from culturing of the tissues. The molecular protocols described in this study requires only 1 day for completion compared to approximately 10 days for cultural work and morphological determination. In conclusion, conventional PCR assay using primer set B provides a sensitive and accurate detection assay that can be used as a primary or secondary confirmation method for identification and occurrence of F. verticillioides within the maize tissues. However, studies using primer set B for fumonisin production determined by strains of F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum will require further verification

International home economics

The conference was planned to serve the interests of those who wish to work in home economics programs abroad and those who are concerned with the education of international students in the universities and colleges of the United States. Approximately 165 home economists from other states and from foreign countries I including the African and Latin American countries I participated in the conference.https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/card_reports/1026/thumbnail.jp

Diversity and density of the EM fungal community present in high elevation Fraser fir forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A study of the diversity and density of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi in two Fraser fir stands near Clingmans Dome, Great Smoky Mountains National Park was conducted over a period of three years. Plots were established in three naturally occurring age class treatments including mature tree, sapling, and low regeneration (no trees) sites. Lesser vegetation data were determined for nine plant species within all plots including two ferns and two grasses that impeded survival of Fraser fir seedlings. Diversity and densities of vegetation were significantly greater in low regeneration plots as compared to other treatments. For each plot bryophyte mat forest floor percent occurrence/cover was obtained and percent root colonization/sclerotia of the EM fungus taxa were collected from the three management treatments including 11 decomposers and 33 ectomycorrhizal species. Clavulina cristata occurred in 22.5% of all plots and had a frequency of 1.7% in low regeneration treatments. Four species of Laccaria occurred in 17.3% of all plots, and Laccaria laccata and L. laccata var. pallidifolia were the most common of these species, the former having the highest frequency of occurrence (1.9%) in low regeneration treatments. Four species of Cortinarius occurred in 10.3% of the plots, and Cortinarius anomalus s.l., the most common Cortinarius, occurred in 4.4% of all plots. Seven of the 44 species had significantly greater percent frequency among the three treatments, and six of those were the most frequent in sapling plot treatments at the two locations. Species found at the two locations were similar, although in 2009 their frequency values were greater than in 2010 and 2011 due to greater total precipitation. Mature and sapling plot frequency values were significantly greater than those for low regeneration sites due to the low establishment of Fraser fir. Significant results for species richness, diversity and evenness between years, locations and treatments are present below. Based on percent frequency values, Laccaria could be used in reforestation of Fraser firs in all plots. A project is underway to evaluate seedling establishment and survival following inoculation with Laccaria spp. on a low regeneration site at Mount Buckley