Vernalization and gibberellin physiology of winter canola

xii, 138 leaves : ill., ports. ; 28 cm.Winter canola (Brassica napus cv. Crystal) requires vernalization, exposure to chilling, to induce bolting and flowering. Since gibberellins (GAs) have been implicated in the regulation of stem elongation and reproductive development in numerous plants, the role of GAs in events induced by vernalization was investigated. Three classical approaches for studying GA physiology were taken. Plant growth regulators were applied and showed that: (i) GA application induced stem elongation but not flowering in nonvernalized plants and (ii) plant growth retardants that block GA biosynthesis prevented elongation and flowering in vernalized plants. Endogenous GAs were extracted from vernalized and nonvernalized shoot tips, chromatographically purified and quantified by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring. GA1,3,8,19 and 20 concentrations were higher in the vernalized shoots following vernalization. Feeds of [3H]GA20 to vernalized and nonvernalized plants demonstrated higher rates of [3H]GA1 formation after vernalization, suggesting increased metabolism to the biologically active form. Collectively, these studies indicate a regulatory role of GAs in the control of stem elongation in winter canola, but the role of GAs in flowering was less clear. Vernalization apparently induces stem elongation by increasing GA synthesis and particularly the biosynthesis of GA1

Advancing sustainable development in a corporate setting

Bibliography: p. 169-18

Visually Impaired Assistant (VIA) [aid for the visually impaired]

Expanding the possibilities and depth-of-field of the visually impaired is highly desired. They are unfortunately limited to only a couple of valid options in the current market. There are an estimated 285 million people who are regarded as visually impaired worldwide. With the VIA, we at Sensible Solutions are hoping to change how a large portion of these visually impaired people approach the world. Our objective is to create a remote-like device for a more compact and accurate solution. We will use audio feedback through a speaker to indicate obstacles. This will give an indication of how far the obstacle is from the person and what kind of obstacle it is. It will give the user a larger awareness radius. With our design, we are taking some very important measures into consideration. Specifically, our aim is to give the greatest radius possible, but this must also stay very accurate. Size and form factor is also a very important consideration