Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Articles

Time Costs to Digitize Print Agricultural Serial Publications

ABSTRACTTime studies were conducted on the various steps in the digitization, quality control and ingestion into a DSpace institutional repository of Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletins. The average time to scan each page was 0.92 minutes. The time to create Dublin Core metadata, assign NALT subject terms, and do item quality control of images was 20.48 minutes per item. PDF file creation was 16.4 minutes per item on average. The time to create a DSpace batch load for automated ingestion was 1.34 minutes. The time to do quality control checking on ingested items and publish the items was 2.03 minutes

Registration of LONREN-1 and LONREN-2 Germplasm Lines of Upland Cotton Resistant to Reniform Nematode

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) germplasm lines LONREN-1 (Reg. No. GP-977, PI 669509) and LONREN-2 (Reg. No. GP-978, PI 669510) were developed and released by the USDA–ARS, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Cotton Incorporated in 2007 to provide breeders with desirable germplasm resistant to the reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis Linford and Oliveira). The resistance was transferred from wild G. longicalyx via a triple-species hybrid. Crosses, backcrosses, and single plant selections were used to develop the F2 progeny used for seed production. Resistance was followed with the codominant simple sequence repeat BNL 3279_114 marker, located 1.4 cM proximal and the phenotypic marker ‘greenfuzz’ (LTCOL_F) located 4.5 cM distal to the Renlon resistance gene on chromosome 11. A single nucleotide polymorphism marker also was developed for rapid screening of large numbers of seed. The introgressed chromosome segment is smaller in LONREN-2 than in LONREN-1. Both lines reduced reniform populations by 95% in growth chamber bioassays and by 50 to 90% in fields. In the absence of nematodes in the field, growth rate, yield, and fiber quality of the lines were similar to that of the ‘Fibermax 958’ parent. In the presence of reniform nematodes in the field, the lines often showed stunting and yield losses, probably due to enhanced severity of fungal seedling diseases, especially Thielaviopsis root rot. The seedling diseases in LONRENs were diminished by control measures such as fungicides, nematicides, and crop rotation with corn or sorghum, and were negligible in a second year of planting in the same field.

Registration of Tx3301 through Tx3360 Sorghum Germplasms with Resistance to Downy Mildew

The sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] germplasm lines Tx3301 through Tx3360 (Reg. No. GP-733 to GP-792, PI 668030 to PI 668089) were developed and released by Texas A&M AgriLife Research (formerly the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station), College Station, TX, in 2005. All lines were developed from intentional crosses using the pedigree method of plant breeding. Most breeding crosses for these lines were made in Lubbock, TX; a few were made in an Isabela, PR, winter nursery. Selections in subsequent generations that led to the development of these lines were completed in nurseries throughout Texas and Puerto Rico over many years. Screening for downy mildew resistance was completed primarily under field conditions in nurseries where pathotypes 1, 3 and more recently 6 were present. All of these germplasm lines are resistant to pathotypes 3 and 6 of Peronosclerospora sorghi, which cause sorghum downy mildew. They provide the sorghum industry with sources of resistance to the most prevalent pathotypes of P. sorghi in an elite and diverse genetic background. Among the 60 germplasm lines are both seed and pollinator lines, representing an array of combinations for grain color, plant color, and other agronomic traits.

Evaluation of Corn Germplasm Lines for Multiple Ear-Colonizing Insect and Disease Resistance

Ear-colonizing insects and diseases that reduce yield and impose health threats by mycotoxin contaminations in the grain, are critical impediments for corn (Zea mays L.) production in the southern United States. Ten germplasm lines from the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) Program in Ames, IA, and Raleigh, NC, and 10 lines (derived from GEM germplasm) from the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Lubbock, TX, were examined in 2007 and 2008 with local resistant and susceptible controls. Four types of insect damage and smut disease (Ustilago maydis) infection, as well as gene X environment (G X E) interaction, was assessed on corn ears under field conditions. Insect damage on corn ears was further separated as cob and kernel damage. Cob penetration rating was used to assess corn earworm [Helicoverpa zea (Boddie)] and fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)] feeding on corn cobs, whereas kernel damage was assessed using three parameters: 1) percentage of kernels discolored by stink bugs (i.e., brown stink bug [Euschistus serous (Say)], southern green stink bug [Nezara viridula (L.)], and green stink bug [Chinavia (Acrosternum) hilare (Say)]; 2) percentage of maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky)-damaged kernels; and 3) percentage of kernels damaged by sap beetle (Carpophilus spp.), "chocolate milkworm" (Moodna spp.), and pink scavenger caterpillar [Pyroderces (Anatrachyntis) rileyi (Walsingham)]. The smut infection rates on ears, tassels, and nodes also were assessed. Ear protection traits (i.e., husk tightness and extension) in relation to insect damage and smut infection also were examined. Significant differences in insect damage, smut infection, and husk protection traits were detected among the germplasm lines. Three of the 20 germplasm lines were identified as being multiple insect and smut resistant. Of the three lines, entries 5 and 7 were derived from DKXL370, which was developed using corn germplasm from Brazil, whereas entry 14 was derived from CUBA117.

The Texas Superstar® Program: Success through Partnership

T exas Superstar is a marketing assistance program that involves the promotion of outstanding plants that have proven performance in most regions of Texas. From the beginning, this program has represented a partnership between the Texas AM 2) must be unique and offer desirable and ornamental characteristics (i.e., the ability to perform in the heat of a Texas summer or pest resistance) not usually available in commonly sold plants; 3) must consistently perform well for most Texas consumers regardless of their gardening expertise and growing locations; 4) must be as pest resistant as possible (deer proof an added bonus); 5) must be able to be propagated and massproduced in sufficient numbers to meet increased consumer demand; and 6) preferably is so attractive in the sales container that it sells itself to consumers who have never heard of the many attributes of the plant. Conservatively, Texas Superstar marketing promotions have been estimated using informal surveys of producers to have resulted in $15 million of increased sales at the major wholesaler level not including value-added components or smaller wholesaler production. Texas is a climatic microcosm of much of the United States (Mackay et al., 2001). The state spans four U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones, has 15 unique land resource areas and eight major soil orders, and has annual precipitation rates ranging from 8 inches per year in the far west to 56 inches per year in the far east. The trial sites for the program are in College Station, Lubbock, Overton, and San Antonio. These sites represent major differences in ecological zones near the vast majority of the population centers in the state. All decisions concerning plants selected for trialing or designated for promotion based upon trial site performance are made by the Texas Superstar Executive Board. Members are: B. Pemberton (Chair), Texas AgriLife Research, Overton; M. Arnold, Texas AM T. Davis, Texas AM D. Lineberger, Texas AM C. McKenney, Texas Tech University, Lubbock; D. Rodriguez, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, San Antonio; and L. Stein, Texas AgriLife Extension ServiceUvalde. B. Pemberton directs the trial site at Overton. M. Arnold directs the trial site at College Station. T. Davis serves as an administrative liaison to the Executive Board. D. Lineberger maintains the website for the program. C. McKenney directs the trial site in Lubbock. D. Rodriguez and L. Stein direct the trial site in San Antonio. All of the Executive Board members are engaged in the search for new and unique plants for the program, provide research support when needed for production aspects of a promotion, and are involved in industry relations. In many cases, these efforts have been integrated into teaching and student research programs (Arnold et al., 2001). The Texas Superstar program grew out of regional marketing promotions coordinated by J. Parsons in the San Antonio region in the 1980s. From the beginning, these promotions of plants with proven performance were coordinated with industry to insure an adequate retail supply at the time of the promotion. In 1989, the first statewide marketing promotion was accomplished featuring the Texas bluebonnet. By the mid 1990s, the acronym CEMAP, which stands for Coordinated Education and Marketing Assistance Program, was used for the program. In 1997, the term Texas Superstar was coined by the Executive Board. All promotions were retroactively designated Texas Superstar plants. Texas Superstar was trademarked at the time. Later, the trademark was registered, and the rights were assigned to the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (now Texas AgriLife Research). In 1998, Texas Superstar tags were first used; $0.05 per tag sold was designated for the program. Horticultural Marketing and Printing (Mesquite, TX) helped develop the brand by donating artwork and the patent search. Wal-Mart (Bentonville, AR) purchased the first tags. The tag revenue is used to support all aspects of the program as approved by the Executive Board. In the mid 1990s, D. Lineberger created the Aggie Horticulture website. The CEMAP Program folder was

Gleanings from Past Issues of the Journal

Noting that cowpeas (black-eyed peas) were an important food item in the diet of rural Texans, but that the peas were difficult to store because. ‘‘weevils … may destroy them within a very few weeks. They stated: ‘‘During the summer of 1934, with grain crops cut short by the drouth [sic] and cotton production doubtful because of the same continuing condition, and with the cash funds of the rural population at a low level, it appeared that a method requiring a minimum of equipment and easily applied by a small producer should be devised for the destruction of weevils so that the crop of peas produced in spite of the drouth might be saved for fall and winter food.’’ They built two wooden trays with galvanized sheet iron floors (3 K 3 28 K 3 39 K inches), one open and the other covered with glass. The trays were filled to a uniform depth of K’’ and placed in the sun; temperature readings were taken in the trays and in adjacent shade. Their studies resulted in distributing a mimeographed circular (‘‘MS-248’’) from which I quote: ‘‘The suggested procedure in using this equipment is to set first the empty tray flat on the ground, place the thermometer in it, and cover it with glass. When, and if, the thermometer in it runs up to 150 degrees, the treatment of the peas may start. The cowpeas are poured in the tray, spread out about K inch deep and the thermometer set in them, and the glass cover placed over them. After the thermometer reaches 150 degrees, leave the cowpeas for about 10 or 15 minutes and then empty them in a weevil free container and recharge the tray with cowpeas, and repeat the process…Temperatures in the treating trays above 180 degrees are apt to impair germination of the cowpeas; however, it is unlikely that a dangerously high temperature will occur within 10 or 15 minutes after a temperature of 150 degrees is attained…’’ The authors noted that their work ‘‘was not in the nature of a well planned experiment, but to determine…data practical for the farmers to apply for the immediate preservation of their crop of peas from weevil attack.’’ The authors were extension entomologists working at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at College Station, Texas. It is fascinating that they were able to turn the excessive summer heat to some benefit for farmers during the dust bowl days of the middle 1930’s.

Registration of Tx2935 through Tx2944 Sorghum Germplasm

The sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] germplasm lines Tx2935 through Tx2944 (Reg. No. GP‐674, PI 650871 to Reg. No. GP‐683, PI 650880) were developed and released by Texas Agricultural Experiment Station—now Texas AgriLife Research—College Station, TX in 2004. These germplasm lines were selected and developed to provide the sorghum industry with elite seed‐parent sorghum germplasm of diverse pedigree with good general combining ability and unique combinations of grain color, plant color, agronomic traits, and resistance to head smut [caused by Sporosorium relianum) (Kuhn) Langdon & Fullerton], rust [caused by Puccinia purpurea (Cooke)], and anthracnose [caused by Colletotrichum graminicola (Ces.) G.W. Wilson]. These lines were developed using the pedigree breeding approach with selection environments in Texas and Puerto Rico. Each of these germplasms was then evaluated in testcross combinations (with common seed parent testers) in multiple environments in Texas. Each of these germplasms showed good general combining ability and adaption for Texas sorghum production environments. This germplasm is suitable for use as a pollinator parent for the production of grain sorghum hybrids or as a parental source for the development of improved pollinator parent lines

Registration of Tx2929 through Tx2934 Sorghum Germplasm

The sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] germplasm lines A/BTx2929 through A/BTx2934 (Reg. No. GP‐662, PI 650859 to Reg. No. GP‐673, PI 650870) were developed and released by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station—now Texas AgriLife Research—College Station, TX, in 2004. These germplasm lines were selected and developed to provide the sorghum industry with elite seed‐parent sorghum germplasm of diverse pedigree with good general combining ability and unique combinations of grain color, plant color, agronomic traits, and resistance to head smut [caused by Sporosorium relianum) (Kuhn) Langdon & Fullerton], rust [caused by Puccinia purpurea (Cooke)], and anthracnose [caused by Colletotrichum graminicola (Ces.) G.W. Wilson]. These lines were developed using the pedigree breeding approach, and selections were carried out in Texas and Puerto Rico. Male‐sterile versions of these seed parents were produced using backcross breeding approaches and ATx623 as the source of male‐sterile cytoplasm. Backcrossing was conducted at either the Texas or Puerto Rico locations. Each of these germplasms was then evaluated in testcross combinations (with common pollinator parents) in multiple environments in Texas. Each of these germplasms showed good general combining ability and adaption for Texas sorghum production environments. This germplasm is suitable for use as a seed parent for the production of grain or forage sorghum hybrids or as parental sources for the development of improved seed parent lines.

Registration of ‘Nelson’ Annual Ryegrass

‘Nelson’ ryegrass is a newly released variety of annual ryegrass that will be used as a forage crop for grazing livestock in the southern USA. Nelson (Reg. No. CV‐257, PI 658137) Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was developed by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station—now Texas AgriLife Research—as a forage‐type annual ryegrass. Plant breeding of Nelson was conducted at what is now the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, Texas. Nelson is a tetraploid where 2n = 4x = 28 chromosomes. Nelson is an open‐pollinated three‐way cross from ryegrass breeding lines TXR2000‐T2, TXR2002‐T17, and the cultivar ‘Jumbo’. Both TX breeding lines were from ‘TAM 90’ germplasm that had its chromosome numbers doubled from 14 to 28. Adjacent rows, which were replicated, were grown in an isolation block and allowed to cross‐pollinate and produce seed. Subsequent generations were grown and selected for high forage‐yield potential and crown rust (caused by Puccinia coronate Corda) resistance at Beaumont, Texas. Seed from these populations was increased in Oregon and was later tested for forage yield across the southern USA. Nelson has high forage‐yield potential, good crown rust resistance, and good cold tolerance for the southeastern USA. Nelson is improved for forage yield potential compared with most commercial cultivars in East Texas. The predominant use is projected to be in overseeding warm‐season pastures for winter production of forage for grazing animals. Seed production of Nelson will be in Oregon. Nelson was tested as TXR2006‐T22 and released in 2009.

Registration of ‘Intercross’ Ryegrass

‘Intercross’ (Reg. No. CV‐258, PI 658507) intermediate ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum × L. perenne Lam.) was developed by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station—now Texas AgriLife Research—at what is now the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, Texas. Intercross was approved for release in 2010 by Texas AgriLife Research. The objective for the development of Intercross was to improve turf quality while retaining the early transition from the annual parent. The annual parent, ‘Axcella’ does not have good turf quality, whereas the intermediate parent, experimental 01‐ARG, has good turf quality but transitioned as a perennial under Texas conditions. Therefore the cross was made in an attempt to widen the genetic base not present in the annual and then to select for improved turf characteristics in segregating populations. Intercross was tested under the experimental designation TXR2007‐TF‐PR‐A and is a turf‐type, intermediate, transition‐type ryegrass. Intercross is a diploid ryegrass where 2n = 2x = 14 chromosomes. Intercross should be labeled as an intermediate ryegrass, indicating that it has some characteristics of an annual and some characteristics of a perennial ryegrass. The main attributes of Intercross are a darker‐green leaf color compared with Axcella, ‘Axcella 2’, ‘Panterra’, and ‘Gulf’. Darker leaf color is more evident late in spring in Texas (April). Turf‐quality ratings are good from November until early May and then decline. The transition of Intercross is similar to that of Panterra and Axcella 2 and is much earlier than most intermediate or perennial ryegrass cultivars. Intercross has been evaluated in turf‐overseeding trials at Overton for the past 2 yr. Seed production of Intercross will be in Oregon.

Effects of physiological age on residual feed intake of growing heifers

Using a retrospective evaluation of feed efficiency, this study investigated the effects of physiological age on residual feed intake (RFI) in growing heifers. Data were collected during 1973 and 1974 at the McGregor location of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. Heifers (n = 77) were obtained from a large crossbreeding program utilizing a five-breed diallel mating scheme using Angus, Brahman, Hereford, Holstein and Jersey breeds. At approximately 6 months of age, pre-pubertal heifers were individually penned and received ad libitum access to a balanced diet. Individual feed intake and body weight data were collected at 28-day intervals for 84 days prior to puberty and for 90 days after puberty. The diet was changed at puberty to provide a lower energy density. Considering all females as cohorts, RFI was calculated for each heifer for each period using separate models for the pre- and post-pubertal periods. A moderate, positive Pearson correlation (r = 0.48; P < 0.001) was detected between pre- and post-pubertal RFI. Furthermore, heifer RFI rank was compared between the pre- and post-pubertal periods using Spearman rank order correlation and a similar correlation (r = 0.46; P < 0.001) was revealed. This suggests that RFI determined during the pre-pubertal period may only be a moderate predictor of post-pubertal RFI. As a result, physiological age should be considered when evaluating cattle for feed efficiency using RFI.

Preservation of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin in the Digital Repository

To assist agricultural librarians in their new role as digital preservation and distribution specialists, this article documents the basic procedures for scanning and digitizing print agricultural serial publications and submitting them to a DSpace digital repository, through a case study of a project at Texas A&M University Libraries to digitize Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletins. It is hoped that a dispersed network of similar agricultural materials in all the various land grant university digital repositories could be crawled to harvest the metadata records and make them accessible in a central user-friendly digital library for agriculture.

Registration of 16 Sorghum Germplasm Lines

The sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] germplasm lines Tx2945 through Tx2952 and Tx2954 through Tx2961 (Reg. No. GP‐645 to GP‐660, PI 655260 to PI 655275) were developed and released by Texas AgriLife Research (formerly the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station), Lubbock, TX, in 2006. These lines are 3‐dwarf (dw1Dw2dw3dw4) in height and possess unique combinations of tan plant color, agronomic traits, traits for resistance to head smut [Sphacelotheca reiliana (Kuhn) Clinton], rust [Puccinia purpurea (Cooke)], zonate leaf spot (Gloeocercospora sorghi Bain and Edgerton), bacterial leaf streak [Xanthomonas holcicola (Elliot) Starr and Burkholder], and bacterial leaf stripe [Pseudomonas andropogoni (E.F. Smith) Stapp], and biotype E greenbug [Schizaphis graminum (Rondani)] resistance.

Breeding for Reduced Post‐Harvest Seed Dormancy in Switchgrass: Registration of TEM‐LoDorm Switchgrass Germplasm

The switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) germplasm line TEM‐LoDorm (Reg. No. GP‐98, PI 636468) was developed by the USDA‐ARS in cooperation with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and was released in May 2007. TEM‐LoDorm has reduced post‐harvest seed dormancy and was developed to provide breeders with a germplasm source to improve germination and stand establishment. The cultivar Alamo was used as a base population, and TEM‐LoDorm was developed using four cycles of recurrent selection. During the first three cycles, recently harvested seed from about 200 entries were germinated to evaluate immediacy of germination. Seedlings from seed that germinated within 3 to 14 d were used to establish a polycross nursery to produce seed for the next cycle of selection. Twenty‐four plants in the cycle 3 crossing block that produced seed with the most rapid germination rate were dug and used to establish cycle 4 crossing blocks. Over a 2‐yr period, germination of recently harvested seed from most of these 24 plants was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher than seed from unselected Alamo; some plants were 10 or more times higher than Alamo. Equal quantities of seed from these 24 plants were bulked to constitute TEM‐LoDorm germplasm.

Applying Quantile Regression to Analysis of AFIS Cotton Fiber Distribution

Varying fiber length distributions of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., impacts its spinning performance. Advanced Fiber Information System (AFIS) facilitates the analysis of the length distribution of individual fibers in cotton. Quantile regression is a variant of standard regression with which conditional quantile values can be calculated by minimizing weighted sums of absolute deviations across the entire distribution. Quantile regression was used to analyze AFIS fiber length distribution among five genotypes of upland cotton grown at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Farm near College Station, TX during 2001 and 2002. The shape of the distribution of ‘CAMD‐E’, a short‐staple variety, was actually similar to ‘Acala 1517‐99’, a long staple variety with good spinning quality, even though CAMD‐E had consistently lower fiber lengths. ‘FM 832’, and ‘TAM 94L‐25’ had similar mean fiber lengths to Acala 1517‐99, but their distribution shape was less skewed. ‘TTU 202’ had high cross entropy values, but little difference was detected in distribution shape by quantile regression. Year had a significant impact on distribution of fiber lengths, affecting distribution scale and location, which may be due to lower fiber fineness and maturity in 2001. Quantile regression was found to be an effective method for analyzing AFIS fiber length distributions, although further testing with a larger set of genotypes and environments with spinning data is needed.

Registration of TxAG‐8 Peanut Germplasm Line

Journal of Plant RegistrationsVolume 1, Issue 2 p. 150-150 Germplasm Registration of TxAG-8 Peanut Germplasm Line Y. López, Y. López Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 1102 East FM 1294, Lubbock, TX, 79403Search for more papers by this authorM. D. Burow, Corresponding Author M. D. Burow [email protected] Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 1102 East FM 1294, Lubbock, TX, 79403 Texas Tech Univ., Dep. of Plant and Soil Science, Lubbock, TX, 79409Corresponding author ([email protected]).Search for more papers by this authorJ. L. Ayers, J. L. Ayers Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 1102 East FM 1294, Lubbock, TX, 79403Search for more papers by this authorM. R. Baring, M. R. Baring Dep. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX, 77843Search for more papers by this authorC. E. Simpson, C. E. Simpson Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 1229 U.S. Hwy. 281, Stephenville, TX, 76401 Partial support for the development of TxAG-8 was provided by the Texas Peanut Producers BoardSearch for more papers by this author Y. López, Y. López Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 1102 East FM 1294, Lubbock, TX, 79403Search for more papers by this authorM. D. Burow, Corresponding Author M. D. Burow [email protected] Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 1102 East FM 1294, Lubbock, TX, 79403 Texas Tech Univ., Dep. of Plant and Soil Science, Lubbock, TX, 79409Corresponding author ([email protected]).Search for more papers by this authorJ. L. Ayers, J. L. Ayers Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 1102 East FM 1294, Lubbock, TX, 79403Search for more papers by this authorM. R. Baring, M. R. Baring Dep. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX, 77843Search for more papers by this authorC. E. Simpson, C. E. Simpson Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 1229 U.S. Hwy. 281, Stephenville, TX, 76401 Partial support for the development of TxAG-8 was provided by the Texas Peanut Producers BoardSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 September 2007 https://doi.org/10.3198/jpr2006.12.0832crg All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permission for printing and for reprinting the material contained herein has been obtained by the publisher. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. Volume1, Issue2September 2007Pages 150-150 RelatedInformation

Exserohilum pedicellatum Root Rot of Corn in Texas.

Extensive blighting associated with root rot was seen in a 0.5-ha field of flowering corn (Zea mays inbred line 'Tx714B') at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Weslaco, TX (Hidalgo County) in October of 2006. All plants were affected and most of the leaves of each plant were dead. Plants subsequently failed to produce any seed. Primary and secondary roots of blighted plants had extensive, dark brown necrotic lesions. Symptomatic root samples from 11 plants were surface disinfested with 10% bleach for 1 min, followed by two rinses with sterile distilled water, and plated onto water agar plus streptomycin. Fungal growth was transferred to one-fifth-strength potato dextrose agar plus streptomycin (PDAS). A dematiaceous hyphomycete was isolated from 45% of plated root segments from eight plants. The isolates had characteristics consistent with Exserohilum pedicellatum (Henry) Leonard & Suggs: straight, elongated conidia 57 to 75 μm long × 23 to 25 μm wide, with 4 to 6 pseudosepta, a protuberant hilum, and a prominent pedicel-like extension at the base (2). Four isolates were evaluated for pathogenicity. Conidia were scraped from PDAS plates, suspended in 100 ml of water, and mixed with 2.9 kg of autoclaved 1:1 (v/v) sand/sandy loam soil to obtain a density of 150 to 475 conidia per g of soil. Soil was placed in 20- × 4-cm-diameter plastic Cone-Tainer cells (Stuewe & Sons, Corvallis, OR) and a corn seed ('Tx714B') was planted 1.5 cm deep in each. Seeds were previously disinfested 2 min with 10% commercial NaOCl. Plants were kept in a growth chamber at 26°C for 4 weeks. There were six replicates per isolate and the experiment was repeated once. All four isolates caused a dark brown root necrosis covering 16 to 29% of the nodal roots and 43 to 83% of the seminal roots. Necrosis did not occur on roots from noninfested control containers. The pathogen was consistently reisolated from symptomatic roots, fulfilling Koch's postulates. This fungus is also pathogenic to sorghum (1), which is grown in rotation with corn in this field, increasing the chances that the fungus will persist. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the disease on corn in Texas.

`Golden Eye Cream': A Large-seeded, High-yielding, Early-maturing Southernpea for the Fresh Market and Home Garden

Golden Eye Cream is a unique, largeseeded, cream-type southernpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] released by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in 2006. The name describes the appearance of the pea. It was developed for the fresh market and home garden trades possibly to replace some of the small-seeded creams. It does not appear to be suitable for canning. Generally, Golden Eye Cream matures at least 10 d earlier than White Acre and about the same or slightly earlier than Early Acre and is higher yielding than both, especially at narrow-row spacing. Golden Eye Cream consistently produces a higher percent shell-out (66% to 69%) than White Acre or Early Acre . It exhibits a high level of resistance to root knot nematode. Golden Eye Cream resists lodging and pod shattering.

Sweetness and light: illuminating the honey bee genome

come this, Martin Beye supplied AT-rich DNA isolated fromis the first hymenopteran andthe fifth insect genome to be sequenced (Honey BeeGenome Sequencing Consortium, 2006) in what promisesto be a swarm of insect genome sequences expected toappear over the next few years (Table 1). The Honey BeeGenome Sequencing Project (HBGSP) was conceptualizedover a period from 1998 to 2001 by the community atcourses, conferences and workshops (Robinson, 1999;Maleszka, 2000; Pennisi, 2001). In addition, initial effortswere directed at physical and genetic maps of the genome(Estoup

Weighing Lysimeters for the Determination of Crop Water Requirements and Crop Coefficients

Weighing lysimeters are accurate instruments to measure crop evapotranspiration. Three weighing lysimeters, consisting of undisturbed 1.5- ×2.0-m surface area by 2.5-m depth cores of soil, were constructed and installed at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Uvalde, Texas. Two lysimeters, each weighing approximately 14 Mg, were located beneath a linear irrigation sprinkler system and used in the field production of several crops commonly grown in the area. The third lysimeter was constructed and is used to measure reference ET from a well-watered, grass (ETos) located adjacent to the field lysimeters. Design construction, installation, engineering details and other considerations to ensure acceptable performance of the lysimeters are discussed. The lysimeter facility was developed to accurately assess crop water requirements of vegetables as well as other field crops grown in the Winter Garden region of Texas. Preliminary detection capability of the scale system is also reported.