SPRING 2015 ndergraduates · 2018. 7. 23. · Weed Biology and Ecology poster section. FARMER . and. TROWER . place at 2015 North Central Weed Science Societies annual meeting. Spencer

1

University of Missouri, Division of Plant Sciences, Columbia, MO 65211 • plantsci.missouri.edu

this issue

Division of Plant SciencesUniversity of Missouri

Fall/Winter 2015

AWARDS & HONORS

PROGRAMS & PEOPLE

AROUND THE DIVISION

RECENT GRANTS

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

26

1210

17

from the Interim Director

Inside Plant Sciences is produced by Jared Fogue and Tonya Mueller.

JIM ENGLISH

he Fall semester of 2015 will long be remembered by our students, faculty and staff. A number of issues came to

the forefront of the MU community, including diversity, graduate student health insurance, possible graduate student unionization, and Medical School involvement with Planned Parenthood. This type of issue convergence likely occurs once or rarely twice in an academic career, and will require continued attention to understand their implications for MU’s future.

During the past year, the Division’s undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff continued to focus on our long-standing missions of education, research, extension/outreach, and service. Our continuing strength and dedication to research is reflected in the more than 80 grants received during the 2015 calendar year. Details of the range of research topics funded and a sampling of the many resulting publications can be found beginning on page 11. During the spring and summer terms of 2015, 16 undergraduate students and 8 graduate students completed their degree programs. Congratulations are due all of these students (see page 2) as they begin professional careers or pursue further studies.

Many of our undergraduate and graduate students were honored for their academic performance and the quality of their research during 2015. Twelve undergraduate students received recognition for scholarship, leadership, and design creativity. In addition, six graduate students received awards for the quality of their research presented at professional conferences during the year, and for society contributions. Division faculty members also received recognition for contributions in their disciplinary areas, including Craig Roberts, Rob Kallenbach, Bob Sharp, and Henry Nguyen. You will find details of the notable accomplishments of our students and faculty beginning on page 2.

Graduate study in the Division of Plant Sciences often leads to unique opportunities beyond the classroom and research lab or field. David Chappell, a graduate research assistant in Anne McKendry’s program, describes one such opportunity in his volunteer work with Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture, a partner with a United States Agency for International Development program. On page 10, you can read about David’s contributions to this program through his work in Malawi.

In this edition of the newsletter, you can also learn about Blake Meyers, who recently joined the Division as Professor, and about Greg Luce, who became an Adjunct Instructor during the fall semester. Also, please read to learn about Dean Volenberg’s new responsibilities as Director of the MU Grape and Wine Institute, and Todd Lorenz’s roles as Regional Horticulture/Agronomy Specialist.

This brief sampling of activities and accomplishments serves as a reminder of the great significance of the Division’s roles in serving Missouri, the nation, and the world.

t

I N S I D E PLANT SCIENCES

facebook.com/ MUPlantSciences

http://plantsci.missouri.edu

http://facebook.com/ MUPlantSciences

http://facebook.com/ MUPlantSciences

2


We placed 3rd as a TEAM!We also had students place in the top ten of every category and students who made the top ten highest scoring individuals list.

TOP TEN PLACING IN Arrangement Design:

1st - Hanna Souther 8th - Gina Olsen

TOP TEN PLACING IN Duplicate Design:

2nd - Hanna Souther

TOP TEN PLACING IN Body Flowers Design:

4th - Katie Stoops

TOP TEN PLACING IN Wedding Design:

4th -Taylor Strain 8th - Katie Stoops

TOP TEN STUDENTS BY Overall Points:

8th - Hanna Souther 10th - Katie Stoops

Awards & Honors

Congratulations!

SPRING 2015 UndergraduatesSadie Barnes Crop Management

Logan Bishop Crop Management

Christopher Borgman Crop Management

Monica Campen Crop Management

Kaitlin Flick Crop Management

Nicholas Meier Crop Management

Christy Mennemeier Breeding, Biology & Biotechnology

Regan Mudd Crop Management

Jonathan Palmer Turfgrass Science

Casey Pearcy Horticultural Science & Design

John Schaefer Breeding, Biology & Biotechnology

Jacob Shoemake Breeding, Biology & Biotechnology

Jeremy Stephens Horticultural Science & Design

Justin Verbryck Landscape Horticulture

Hannah Wahl Breeding, Biology & Biotechnology

SUMMER 2015 UndergraduatesChristine Maupin Breeding, Biology & Biotechnology

SPRING 2015 Graduate StudentsRyan Geisert Entomology

Rachel Heth Entomology

Brock Leonard Crop, Soil & Pest Management

Jeremy Matson Crop, Soil & Pest Management

Brandon Nystrom Crop, Soil & Pest Management

Tamra Reall-Lincoln Entomology

John Smith Plant Stress Biology

SUMMER 2015 Graduate StudentsHeidi Davis Crop, Soil & Pest Management

Several floral design students made their mark at AIFD’s 2015 Student Floral Design Competition that was held as part of AIFD’s 2015 National Symposium “Journey” that was held in Denver June 30-July 4. With 14 schools from the U.S. and Canada and 48 students competing, the competition was tough.

Hanna Souther placed 1st in arrangement design, 2nd in duplicate design and 8th in overall points.

Taking to the podium at AIFD’S 2015 NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM

GRADUATES


3


Awards & Honors

Criag Roberts received the Grasslander award from the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council at their annual conference November 2-3, 2015 in Lake Ozark, MO. This is the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council's highest award. The recognition is given to an individual each year who has made outstanding contributions to the stewardship of grasslands in Missouri. Of particular note was Craig’s work with the Alliance for Grassland Renewal.

Grasslander Award

ESA Student Activity Award

Robert Kallenbach was elected fellow to both the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America. Fellow is the highest recognition bestowed by the Societies. Members

of each Society nominate worthy colleagues based on their professional achievements and meritorious service. Up to 0.3 percent of the Society’s active and emeritus members may be elected Fellow.

Kallenbach was also awarded the Crop Science Extension Education Award and the Agronomic Extension Education Award. The Crop Science Extension Education Award is presented in recognition of excellence in extension teaching activities in the area of crop science. The award criteria are based on educational innovations developed and used successfully in the area of crop science. Effective extension performance evidenced by demonstrated ability to: communicate ideas clearly, influence client attitudes and motivate change in client or audience action. The Agronomic Extension Education Award recognizes educational contributions of extension agronomists, industrial agronomists, or others whose primary contributions are in teaching or education outside the university classroom.

Tamra Reall-Lincoln received the Entomological Society of America’s Student Activity Award. This annual award is presented to recognize a student for outstanding contributions to the Society, his/her academic department, and the community, while still achieving academic excellence. Tamra recently received her Ph.D. from the Division of Plant Sciences and is currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Entomologist with the USDA ARS.

Curtis Ransom, a student of Dr. Newell Kitchen, won first place at the North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conference held in Des Moines, IA, November 4-5 2015. His poster, titled “Which Corn Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate Tools Preforms the Best in the Midwest?” was to determine the best, by comparison, publicly available nitrogen recommendation tools across eight Midwest states where plot research was conducted in 2014.

BEST IN THE MIDWEST?


4


Awards & Honors

Dr. Henry Nguyen, (left) professor of plant sciences was recently named 2015 Curators Professors, the University of Missouri’s highest and most prestigious rank.

Nguyen earned his Ph.D. in agronomy (genetics) from MU in 1982. He returned to MU in 2002 as the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council Endowed Professor of Genetics and Soybean Biotechnology, Division of Plant Sciences. He has served as the Director of the National Center for Soybean Biotechnology since 2004.

Nguyen is part of numerous professional and honorary societies and serves in many capacities at MU. In 2009, he was named a Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2005, he received an Outstanding Research Award from the Missouri Soybean Association. Nguyen is a fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and Crops Science Society of America.

Excerpt from article by Logan Jackson, http://cafnrnews.com/2015/10/nguyen-weisman-named-curators-professors/

DPS undergraduate student, Michael E. Patterson, senior in Crop Management, received a scholarship ($1K) from Mississippi Valley Chapter of Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. This organization awards students who are interested in pursuing a career in turf-related industry. Michael is currently working on a project related to control of billbugs on golf courses.

Bob Sharp presented The Harold Woolhouse Lecture 2015 at the Department of Plant Science, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Australia, on October 13, 2015. The title of his lecture was “Root growth under water deficits: physiological complexity and coordination”. The annual lecture series, focused on plant physiology, is held in honor of Professor Woolhouse, who was the Director of the Waite Agricultural Research Institute at the University of Adelaide from 1990-1995. Between 1980 and 1989, Professor Woolhouse developed and directed the John Innes Centre in the UK.

Nguyen Named Curators Professor

MVCGCSAA Scholarship

Sharp 2015 Harold Woolhouse Lecturer

Several students participated in the graduate student oral presentation competition at the ASA-CSSA-SSSA meetings held in Minneapolis, MN, November 15-18, 2015.

Xiaowei Pan placed third in the Turfgrass weeds, diseases, and insect pests category of the C-5 Turfgrass Science section with her presentation titled " Effects of Organic Amendments and Cultural Practices for Control of Large Patch (Rhizoctonia solani) on Zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) Fairway".

Enzhan Song placed third in Turfgrass management and cultural practices category of the C-5 Turfgrass Science section with his presentation titled " Effects Of Selected Wetting Agents On Removing Organic Coatings From Water Repellent USGA Sand".

ASA-CSSA-SSSA competitions


http://cafnrnews.com/2015/10/nguyen-weisman-named-curators-professors/

5


Awards & Honors

The 2015 North Central Weed Science Societies annual meeting was held December 7-10 in Indianapolis, Indiana. At this meeting University of Missouri weed science graduate students participated in paper and poster contests against more than 80 other graduate students from universities around the north central United States. Awards were presented to Jaime Farmer and Zach Trower, both advised by Kevin Bradley. Jaime Farmer won first place in the Weed Biology and Ecology poster section, and second place in the Weed Biology and Ecology paper section. Zach Trower won second place in the Weed Biology and Ecology poster section.

FARMER and TROWER place at 2015 North Central Weed Science Societies annual meeting

Spencer Hoagland, Division of Plant Science Senior, was named the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Outstanding Senior for Fall 2015. Hoagland graduated Dec. 18, 2015, with a degree in plant sciences with a horticultural science and design emphasis, and a minor in agricultural economics. She is from Schell City, Missouri. This award is given based on Co-Curricular/Leadership Activities, Work Experience/Internships/Study Abroad, GPA, a student essay and a letter or recommendation.

Outstanding Senior

Alexandria Berghaus, Plant Sciences Senior, and Elizabeth Prenger, Plant Sciences Sophomore, were selected as Golden Opportunity Scholars. The Golden Opportunity Scholars Institute is a program of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America that matches undergraduates with scientist-mentors during the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Annual Meetings. Undergraduate scholars are selected on their academic achievements and interest in agronomy, crop and soil sciences.

Golden Opportunity Scholars


6


Programs & People

Two students in the Division of Plant Sciences were recognized by the Western Seed Association. Reid Smeda (center) accompanied Gatlin Bunton (left) and Alexandria Berghaus (right) to a banquet in Kansas City on November 9, 2015. Gatlin and Alexandria were among students from the University of Nebraska, Kansas State University, Iowa State University, and Oregon State University who were honored.

STUDENTS RECOGNIZED

By the Western Seed Association

Missouri Seedmen’s Association Scholarship Award Banquet

Jeanne Mihail accompanied students, who were recognized at a banquet in Osage Beach, MO on October 8, 2015. Six students from the Division of Plant Sciences and two students from Missouri State University (MSU) were honored. Pictured from left to right (front row): Susan Kelso, Raschely Flint, and Elizabeth Prenger, unnamed MSU student. (back row); Joshua Tooley, Nick Wesslak, and Matthew Fleetwood, unnamed MSU student.

The Division of Plant Science would like to recognize the

MISSOURI SEEDMEN’S ASSOCIATION for their generous scholarship contributions.

Beginning January 1, 2016, Dean Volenberg added Director of the Grape and Wine Institute (GWI) to his job duties. As the new GWI Director at the University of Missouri, Volenberg will have ample opportunity to build and cultivate relationships with grape growers and wineries.

“I view the director position more as a liaison position,” Volenberg said. “In this respect I work as a conduit between the GWI faculty and staff, the Division of Plant Sciences, and the Wine and Grape Board. The current faculty of GWI are all fairly new employees and are in the process of establishing their research or Extension programs. My main focus is to make these faculty successful by providing them the resources to elevate the GWI.

“Although I may be assigned a title of director and have some added responsibilities, my foremost responsibility is to make the Missouri wine and grape industries successful by addressing their research and educational needs.”

Excerpts taken from an article written by Logan Jackson, http://cafnrnews.com/2016/01/building-relationships/.

DEAN VOLENBERG named director of the MU Grape and Wine Institute


http://cafnrnews.com/2016/01/building-relationships/

7


Programs & People

Todd Lorenz is a University of Missouri Regional Horticulture/Agronomy Specialist located in Cooper County. His educational background includes a B.S. degree in Agricultural Business from Central Missouri State University and a M.S. in Plant Science from the University of Missouri. During his M.S. he was employed by the Soils Department and conducted soil fertility and forage fertility research for the Missouri Agriculture Experiment Station.

Todd LorenzMEET YOUR EXTENSION SPECIALIST

His primary responsibilities included management of historical Sanborn Field and the F.L. Duley-M.F. Miller Soil Erosion Plots where he has hosted many international tours.

In his current role, Todd is responsible for both Horticulture and Agricultural educational programming in the 17 county west central region and has presented at regional, state, national and international meetings. He is simultaneously pursuing a PhD in Plant, Insect and Microbial Science where his program focuses on soil health parameters. Todd also has four children who are all currently enrolled in college.

Todd was recently awarded grants through The Mizzou Advantage and a NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant for the study of soil health with our agricultural producers. This process is utilizing the 1914 Extension delivery model with a multidisciplinary collaboration of campus and field faculty while expanding and strengthening collaborations with state, federal and private agencies and involving producers as adviser from the start. The ultimate goal is to have research based educational resources available to improve understanding of soil

health and its value in our production systems and contribute to the nationwide interest.

In absence of a local experiment station, Todd works collaboratively with a group of Regional Extension Specialists in the Clifton City area where many producers are not responsive to adopting current management techniques without experiencing them first hand. Together, they have cooperated to conducted on-farm research and field days on topics such as forage fertility, novel endophyte fescue, stand establishment, harvest management, precision agriculture nutrient applications to both forage and row crop systems.

Todd recently worked with the USDA International Cochran Fellowship Program, through CAFNR International Programs, on a High Value Horticulture Crop Production program for a group of internationals from Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. He also hosted the Directors of Agricultural Extension Services and Human Resource Development and Management Directors of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to explore the potentials for re-orienting agriculture extension training in colleges and farms of Ghana by patterning University of Missouri Extension. Todd utilized his local clientele, Extension Council and office to showcase Extension.

His Extension Teaching Philosophy is to provide a superior learning structure where research-based knowledge is provided in an assortment of approaches as necessary to address the high-priority needs of citizens. He establishes an open rapport with clientele, and encouraging participation and ownership beyond the program where he establishes a long term relationship with learner audiences that enhance the Land Grant Mission. Todd is a firm believer in taking research based educational information to the public.


8


Programs & People

GREG LUCE Joins the Division of Plant Sciences as an Adjunct InstructorGreg Luce is an Adjunct Instructor in Plant Sciences focusing on grain crops, primarily corn, wheat and grain sorghum. Greg is also the Research Director for the Missouri Soybean Association. In his role with the University of Missouri, Greg provides information on cereal cropping systems and the management impacts on crop productivity and sustainability due to plant interactions with soils and landscapes. He works with and supports educational programs and is particularly interested in on-farm research with growers throughout Missouri. Prior to his current roles, Greg worked for many years with Pioneer Hi-Bred in several different positions; Agronomist, Agronomy Research Manager, Technical Product Manager and Area Manager.

PROFESSOR BLAKE MEYERS joins Plant Sciences and the Danforth CenterBlake Meyers has joined both MU and the Danforth Plant Sciences Center in St. Louis. Meyers will be located at the Danforth Center, but will have a faculty appointment in the Division of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at MU. Meyers is the first hire as part of a joint initiative to attract four accomplished researchers in plant and crop science. All of the joint hires will have appointments at both institutions.

The primary emphasis of the Meyers lab is the analysis of small RNAs in plants. With their many collaborators, they have pioneered genomic analysis of small RNAs and their targets, including experimental and computational approaches. Meyers lab has applied these methods to study plant genomes and their RNA products, and the lab continues to develop and apply novel informatics approaches for the analysis of RNA function in plants.

Specific areas of research include small RNA function and evolution, with focused studies in Arabidopsis, maize, soybean, rice, and a wide variety of other species. They are currently characterizing diverse small RNAs, microRNA targets, and non-coding RNAs to determine patterns of gene expression under different developmental conditions. Their recent work focuses on phased siRNAs in plants, including their function, evolution, and biogenesis. They have also created several databases with query & analysis tools to enable the use of these data for the scientific community.

Meyers is also interested in disease resistance genes in plants. The Nucleotide Binding Site-Leucine Rich Repeat (NB-LRR) proteins encoded by many resistance genes provide the first line of defense in many specific plant-pathogen interactions. Approximately 150 of these proteins are encoded in the Arabidopsis Col-0 genome; with variable numbers ranging up to hundreds per plant genome in other species. They study sequence variation, function, and evolution in this class of genes. Connecting two of their long-standing interests, they were the first to describe microRNAs as "master regulators" via direct and indirect targeting (phasiRNAs) of this gene family, and they continue to study the evolution and function of these microRNAs, and their target genes, the NB-LRRs.


9


Programs & People

University of Missouri / University of the Western Cape Plant Science Symposium, June 15-18, 2015

The MU Division of Plant Sciences has been developing a plan to BUILD. Not only have we been building outstanding research, extension and teaching programs but we are ready to build a new facility that will allow greater collaboration amongst our outstanding faculty, staff, students and the world.

For more details visit the project website:BuildingPlantSciences.missouri.edu

BUILDING Plant Sciences

Garden view

North entrance

A total of 12 participants from MU, including 3 graduate students and postdocs, attended the symposium, with generous sponsorship provided by Deans Tom Payne and Mike OBrien, and Interim Chancellor Hank Foley. Faculty participants were: David Braun (Bio Sci), Felix Fritschi (Plant Sci), Walter Gassmann (Plant Sci), Antje Heese (Biochem), Paula McSteen (Bio Sci), David Mendoza (Plant Sci), Mel Oliver (USDA-ARS), Scott Peck (Biochem), Bob Sharp (Plant Sci). Graduate student and postdoctoral participants were Isaiah Taylor (Bio Sci; graduate student rep., IPG Exec. Committee), Jacob Washburn (Bio Sci, representing Chris Pires’ program), and Amanda Durbak (Bio Sci, postdoc rep., IPG Exec. Committee).

Better Safe than SorryHave you ever been browsing the internet or working on your computer and gotten a screen that said “your computer is infected” or “you have been hacked” or “you have a thousand viruses on your computer”… then you are asked to call someone or press a button to clean your computer or install some software or update?

All of these scenarios are used to scare you and throw you off your guard. That way you will likely do something against your better judgement like call, press or install. Even if they say they are from Microsoft DON’T DO IT! Attackers have gotten smarter and know that if they use the Microsoft, Windows, Apple or other trusted company logos people are more likely to fall for their scam.

So what should you do? CONTACT YOUR IT PROFESSIONAL!

What if you did call, press or install? As soon as you come back to your senses and your internal warning bells start going off, CONTACT YOUR IT PROFESSIONAL!

Don’t be embarrassed or try to remedy the problem on your own. We IT pros can usually fix the situation quickly but the sooner we get to it the better. And if you think you are hassling us with your concerns please know that we would rather prevent something from happening than clean up after it.

the University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Plant Group and the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Cape Town, South Africa, held a joint Plant Science Symposium at UWC from June 15-18, 2015. The symposium was aimed as a vehicle to further advance the long-standing academic exchange program between MU and UWC, which was established in 1986 (see http://www.umsystem.edu/president/southafrica/history). The symposium was generously hosted by the South African multi-institutional Center for Excellence in Food Security (http://www.uwc.ac.za/Faculties/EMS/COEFS/Pages/default.aspx), which is headquartered at UWC and in which MU is a partner, and brought together scientists with research interests in plant biotic and abiotic stresses from MU and UWC and also from the University of Pretoria, the University of Cape Town, and Stellenbosch University.


http://BuildingPlantSciences.missouri.edu

http://www.umsystem.edu/president/southafrica/history

http://www.uwc.ac.za/Faculties/EMS/COEFS/Pages/default.aspx

10


Around the Division

In August of this year, I was privileged to serve as a volunteer with Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA),

a participating partner with the United States Agency for International Development’s John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program. My assignment was in Dedza, Malawi with the Mwaiwathu Tomato Producers and Processing Cooperative. The Mwaiwathu Cooperative, which means “our luck” in Chichewa, consists of 88 smallholder farmer members, almost exclusively female, who pool resources and meet twice a month to find markets for the tomatoes they produce. Some members of the cooperative live over 20 kilometers away from Dedza, and many make the bimonthly journey to the group’s meetings on foot. The cooperative was formed in 2012 and has recently opened a processing center for tomatoes, where

readily available due to low demand in the area, but could be acquired if requested. Through a consultation with the local Ministry of Agriculture, I discovered that an array of tomato varieties had been tested for their processing capacity, and that a published list had been released. Several of the processing varieties recommended by the agricultural suppliers had not yet been tested for processing capacity, so I made the recommendation for the Ministry of Agriculture to test those varieties. I also shared the published list of varieties recommended for processing with members of the cooperative, and informed them of how they could obtain these varieties through their local suppliers.

Another observation I made was that the members of the cooperative were heavily reliant on chemical fertilizers and pesticides for their tomato production. These items were a significant cost for them, so I thought that perhaps teaching some

members hope to begin operations soon. My assignment was to focus on teaching members of the cooperative optimum techniques for tomato production.

Upon my arrival in Dedza, I quickly discovered that the innovative members of the cooperative already possessed a wealth of knowledge about how to grow tomatoes. The problem was that the tomato varieties that were being grown were exclusively for market production, but were not the correct varieties for use in making processed tomato products. The members of the cooperative wished to learn what the suitable varieties for processing were, and how to locally obtain these varieties. Through visits to local agricultural extension offices, as well as local agricultural suppliers, I discovered that most of the seeds available locally were acquired from Tanzania or South Africa. I also discovered that many of the varieties suitable for processing were not

David Chappell, graduate research assistant under Anne McKendry in crop, soil and pest management, demonstrates the process of making insecticidal soaps from tobacco, dish soap, and ashes.

David Chappell

AN Agricultural Development Experience in Malawi


11


low input integrated pest management techniques might help them minimize their expenditures and maximize profitability. I taught them how to make compost, how to conduct soil tests to ensure precise application of compost and fertilizer, techniques for making insecticidal soaps and other biopesticides, soil solarization techniques to minimize weed infestations, and pruning and training techniques to increase yields. However, throughout my assignment teaching worked both ways. In fact, I think I learned more from members of the Mwaiwathu Cooperative than they learned from me. For each of the techniques that I taught, the members in turn helped to explain how they could be practically applied on their own farms. For example, with biopesticide application, backpack sprayers were a luxury item, so most members of the cooperative did not own them. Instead, the members taught to mix the ingredients in a bucket and use a broom to apply them to the plants. Some of the members also shared their knowledge regarding indigenous plants that could be used to make biopesticides. In addition to sharing their knowledge regarding viable practices suitable for Malawi smallholder agriculture, the members of the cooperative were happy to educate me on the rich customs, traditions, and history of Malawi.

bonds established with these wonderful people and will not forget the life lessons learned during my brief time in Malawi. I hope to be able to return someday in the future and know that this resilient, determined organization will meet with resounding success.

In case you are interested in pursuing volunteer opportunities with CNFA or the Farmer to Farmer program, or even with the Mwaiwathu Cooperative in Malawi, opportunities abound. The cooperative would be interested in finding a volunteer who can teach them sanitary and commercially viable techniques for processing tomatoes. If this is not your area of expertise, there is an abundance of other volunteer opportunities available through CNFA and the Farmer to Farmer Program. I highly encourage you to use your valuable skills to give back to those who can greatly benefit from them. I certainly have no regrets regarding my volunteer opportunity. You will be a better person and the world will be a better place for your efforts!

After learning new techniques to optimize their tomato production, the members of the Mwaiwathu Cooperative were eager to share their knowledge with other members who were unable to attend the classes. We embarked on a series of farm outreach visits, where the members of the cooperative who had attended the training taught the new techniques to members who were not able to attend the classes. Class attendees demonstrated outstanding proficiency with all of the tasks covered in class, showing those who were not able to attend how to effectively apply the new techniques on their farms. During the outreach visits, farmers were happy to show me their scrupulously maintained farms and educated me on the variety of crops that could be grown in Malawi’s smallholder agricultural systems. They assured me that the new techniques could have real, lasting impacts for reducing costs and optimizing production on their farms.

Before my departure from Malawi, I shared seeds provided by Tim Reinbott, Kerry Clark, and the crew at Bradford Research and Extension Center. The assortment included beans, peanuts, okra, melons, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, and a myriad of other crops that cooperative members could experiment with for suitability on their farms. My gift was quickly answered with a gift of their own. The members of the Mwaiwathu Cooperative gave me a beautiful matching set of coffee mugs made using traditional pottery techniques. I am grateful to CNFA, the USAID Farmer to Farmer Program, the Mwaiwathu Cooperative, and the people of Malawi for the opportunity to have had such a rewarding experience. I am also grateful to the University of Missouri and the Division of Plant Sciences for providing me with the technical knowledge to be able to provide lasting, tangible contributions to smallholder agriculture in Malawi. I will forever cherish the strong

Members of the cooperative are selecting the types of seeds provided by Tim Reinbott, Kerry Clark, and the crew at the Bradford Research and Extension Center that they would like to grow on their farms.

Around the Division

David with members of the cooperative on one of the outreach visits to local farmers

<


12


Investigators Title Sponsor Amount of Funding Dates

Mitchum, M. Korkine, D.

Modulation of host defense responses by soybean cyst nematode effectors Iowa State University $55,722 05/01/2015-

04/30/2016

Heiser, J. Effects of Pre-emergent Herbicides on Stressed Cotton-NDVI Measurements Cotton Incorporated $900 01/01/2015-

12-31/2015

Heiser, J. Bioassay to Determine Soil Residues of the Herbicide Fomesafen Cotton Incorporated $5,000 01/01/2015-

12-31/2015

Jones, M. iPIPE: Missouri Soybean Component North Carolina State University $39,742 03/01/2015-

12/31/2015

Stevens, G. Kaiima Soybean and Rice at Delta Center KAIIMA BioAgritech $40,120 05/25/2015-10/31/2015

Mitchum, M. Testing Trial Agreement (Syngenta &MGM) Syngenta Seeds, Inc. $6,750 02/24/2012-08/31/2017

Gassman, W. Wrestling with pathogens: host SUMOylation and bacterial interference in the plant immune system National Science Foundation $622,431 08/01/2015-

07/31/2016

Stacey, G.Development and refinement of an in situ ”molecular microscope” utilizing ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry

Department of Energy $600,000 07/01/2015-06/30/2016

Schultz, J. Rodgers, S.

NRT-IGE:A test bed for STEM graduate student communication training National Science Foundation $487,468 09/01/2105-

08/31/2018

Mitchum, M. CLE effector peptide signaling in plant-nematode interactions National Science Foundation $668,433 08/01/2015-

07/31/2018

Bradley, K. Sub-Agreement No. HP15USABL1 Bayer CropScience, LP $10,000 05/01/2015-12/31/2015

Gassman, W. Appel, H. Mendoza-Cozati, D.

Meeting: Plants Between a Rock and a Hard Place. The Interface between Plant Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses (2015 IPG Symposium)

National Science Foundation $10,000 06/15/2015-05/31/2016

Jones, A. Monsanto Service Order #30 Monsanto Company $4,680 04/15/2015-04/14/2016

Jones, M. Establishing Apiary at the Fisher Delta Research Center

Missouri Department of Agriculture $5,392.71 06/15/2015-

08/29/2015

Bradley, K. Monsanto Service Order #32 Monsanto Company $10,400 04/15/2015-04/14/2016

Reed, S. Muzika, R. English, J.

Evaluation and Etiology of rapid white oak (Quercus alba) mortality (RWOM) in the north central and adjacent oak hickory forests

Forest Service $68,000 05/01/2015-04/30/2016

Xiong, X. Barrett, B.

Bill bug Species Composition and Life Cycle on Missouri Zoysiagrass

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America $5,000 05/01/2015-

04/30/2017

Fritschi, F. Improving Heat Tolerance: Identification and Characterization of Soybean Germplasm

Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council $89,479 04/01/2015-

03/31/2016

Fritschi, F. Scaboo, A. Nguyen, H.

Foundations for Soybean in Africa University of Illinois-Champaign $25,393 10/01/2014-

09/30/2015

Nguyen, H. Shannon, G. Vuong, T.

Identification of Genes for Resistance to Multi-Soybean Nematode Species


06/30/2016

Recent Grants


13



Zhang, Z. Nguyen, H.

Novel Construct Design for Plant Gene Silencing Employing Artificial tasiRNA


04/30/2016

Nguyen, H. Shannon, G.

Development of Soybeans with Improved Functional Traits for Missouri


07/31/2016

Zhang, Z. Nguyen, H.

Novel Strategy for Gene Stacking through Coordi-nated Gene Expression

Missouri Soybean Merchan-dising Council $85,330 08/01/2015-

07/31/2016

Jones, M. Management of Insecticide Resistance in Corn Earworm Populations


03/31/2016

Scaboo, A. Nguyen, H. Shannon, G.

North Missouri Soybean Breeding Program Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council $384,536 07/01/2015-

06/30/2016

Shannon, G. Stevens, G.

Improving Soybeans for Increased Productivity on Specific Soil TJJPeS-Sand Loam and Clay


04/30/2016

Shannon, G. Nguyen, H.

To Develop Productive Group IV and V Soybeans Resistant to Nematodes and Diseases


06/30/2016

Stacey, G. Role of Extracellular ATP in Plant Growth and Development Gachon University $352,898 05/01/2012-

12/31/2017

Stacey, G. Shannon, G. Stacey, M.

Fast neutron mutagenesis in soybean: A resource to aid in the translation of genomic information into applied technologies


02/29/2016

Mitchum, M. Nguyen, H. Shannon, G.

The Use of Microgenomics to Identify New Sources of Soybean Cyst Nematode Resistance in Soybean


07/31/2016

Appel, H. Cocroft, R.

Plant perception of insect herbivores includes leaf vibrations caused by chewing National Science Foundation $210,000 05/15/2014-

04/30/2017

Warmund, M. Morphological Characterization of Hickory and Black Walnut Gall-Inducers in Missouri Forest Service $5,000 07/01/2015-

09/30/2018

Song, Q. Monsanto Service Order #6 Monsanto Company $32,600 03/01/2015-08/31/2016

Nguyen, H. Stacey, G. Shannon, G.

Development and Deployment of Biotechnology for Soybean Improvement


05/31/2016


Germplasm Identification and Selection for Soy-bean Cyst Nematode


05/31/2016

Bradley, K. MGI herbicide-tolerant soybeans: Evaluation of mesotrione-based weed management programs Syngenta Seeds, Inc. $10,000 03/11/3015-

04/30/2016

Bradley, K.Support of MU Weed Science Extension Efforts Directed Towards the Management of Glypho-sate-resistant Weeds


02/29/2016

Nelson, K. Utility of Subsurface Drip Irrigation for Soybean Production


02/29/2016

Bradley, K. DAS Trials Dow Agroscience $10,500 04/01/2015-12/31/2017


Recent Grants


14


Recent Grants





Bradley, K.An Integrated Pest Management Approach to Addressing the Multiple Herbicide-resistant Weed Epidemic in U.S. Field Crop Production (Missouri)

Agricultural Research Service $43,000 08/25/2015-08/24/2020

Heiser, J. Monsanto Service Order #28 Monsanto Company $7,800 05/01/2015-04/30/2016

Heiser, J. Monsanto Service Order #36 Monsanto Company $6,500 05/01/2015-04/30/2016

Hosack, P. Miller, L.

MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic Michigan State University $50,000 07/01/2015-06/30/2016

Fritschi, F. Scaboo, A.

Enhancing water use efficiency of advanced soy-bean germplasm to improve drought Tolerance


03/31/2016

Jones, A. Evaluate variety differenced in NDVI, which could lead to incorrect on-the-fly N recommendations Cotton Incorporated $10,700 01/01/2015-

12/31/2015

Jones, A. Suppression of Root-Knot Nematodes with Cover Crops for Cotton Production Cotton Incorporated $13,520 01/01/2015-

12/31/2015

Jones, A. Demonstrating the Effects of Simulated Dicamba Drift at Six Growth Stages of Cotton Cotton Incorporated $5,110 01/01/2015-

12/31/2015

Stevens, G.

To develop proof-of concept for Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) FieldScripts (SM) elements related to hybrid, seeding rate, nitrogen, and water management in multiple yield environments on a farm scale in the Missouri Delta region

Monsanto Company $337,264 08/01/2015-12/31/2017

Scharf, P. Alcoa greenhouse study protocol Alcoa $48,330 01/01/2015-06/15/2016

Stacey, G. Physiological and Molecular-Genetic Characteriza-tion of Basal Resistance in Sorghum

North Carolina State Univer-sity $152,497 09/01/2015-

08/31/2018

Stacey, G. Plant Response to CO/LCO Signals (DE-FG02-02ER15309) Department of Energy $107,955 06/01/2015-

05/31/2016

Mitchum, M. Appel, H. Gassman, W. Mendoza-Cozati, D.

The 32nd Annual Interdisciplinary Plant Group Symposium-The Interface Between Plant Abiotic And Biotic Stress Responses

Department of Agriculture $10,000 09/01/2015-08/31/2016

Mitchum, M.Understanding the genetic control of SCN resis-tance and nematode virulence to enhance durabili-ty of resistance in soybean

Smith Bucklin and Associates $241,284 10/01/2014-09/30/2016


Discovery of Novel Nematode Resistance Genes and Development of Productive Soybeans with Multiple-Nematode Resistance

University of Georgia $391,194 06/01/2014-09/30/2016


15


Recent Grants


Stevens, G. Effects of the Introduction of Feed Grains into Mid-South Soybean Production Systems Mississippi State University $20,800 10/01/2013-

09/30/2016

Nelson, K. Enlist Soybean/ERICA/Sonic, Enlist Duo, 2,4-D Dow Agroscience $6,000 04/01/2015-12/31/2017

Smeda, R. Monsanto Service Order #39 Monsanto Company $7,540 08/01/2015-07/31/2016

Miller, L. Syngenta Testing Agreement Syngenta Crop Protection $8,000 05/28/2015-12/27/2015

Nelson, K. Evaluation of a New Nitrification Inhibitor for Anhydrous Application in Corn Koch Agronomic Services $16,650 01/01/2015-

04/01/2016

Nguyen, H. Valliyodan, B. Shannon, G.

Discovery of Yield Genes for Soybean Improve-ment


05/31/2016

Scaboo, A.Genetic Mapping of a Unique Morphological Trait in Soybean and Evaluation of the Correlations with Yield Potential and Seed Composition


03/31/2016

Sites, R. Macroinvertebrates of Prairie Headwater Streams: Spatial Patterns of Community Structure Missouri Prairie Foundation $1,882 03/01/2015-

12/31/2016



Song, Q.Action Plan for Bioassays on Field-collected Southwestern Corn Borer Populations Supplied by Agrigenetics and/or Pioneer to Cooperator

Pioneer Hibred Intl, Inc. $3,478 04/01/2014-07/01/2017

Stevens, G. Tracking soil moisture levels for irrigation in cotton fields Cotton Incorporated $15,069 01/01/2015-

12/31/2015

Thomas, A. Carbon and nutrient dynamics of a bioenergy agro-forestry system Agricultural Research Service $6,514 04/01/2015-

03/31/2016

Warmund, M. Morphological Characterization of Injurious Erio-phyid Mites on Black Walnut Trees

Missouri Department of Agriculture $14,929.90 06/15/2015-

08/29/2015

Xiong, X. Cold-hardy, fine textured zoysiagrass trials United States Golf Associ-ation $3,000 03/01/2015-

01/31/2016

Warmund, M. A Comparative Study of Midge-Induced Hickory Galls and Their Larval Inhabitants

Northern Nut Growers Asso-ciation $4,286 08/01/2015-

12/31/2016

Zhang, Z. Transforming Cereal Genomics: Tooling Up for Empowered Cereal Crop Phenotyping Platforms

NSF through the University of Rhode Island $268,234 08/01/2015-

07/31/2017

Reed, S. Evaluation and etiology or rapid white oak mortality Missouri Department of Conservation $53,857 07/01/2015-

06/30/2016

English, J. Schmidt, F. Schoelz, J.

Defense Peptides for Control of Pythium Seed Rot and Damping of Soybean


04/30/2016

Scharf, P. Lory, J.

Adaptive management for phosphorus to improve economic and water quality outcomes

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $474,922 06/01/2015-

08/31/2018


16



Jones, A.Water use efficiency and the effects of furrow irri-gation patterns on plant and root growth, shedding, maturity, and yield on silt loam and sandy loam soils

Cotton Incorporated $30,000 01/01/2015-12/31/2016

Jones, M. Regional Sorghum Project United Sorghum Checkoff $8,000 03/12/2015-03/12/2016

Jones, M.Biochemical mechanisms responsible for re-sistance of bollworm to select insecticides and mixtures


03/31/2016

Nelson, K.Pennycress bio-energy winter crop develop-ment-renewable fuel for biodiesel, jet fuel; press-cake for livestock feed

Department of Agriculture $65,750 01/01/2015-06/15/2016

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Do you know about an upcoming event...If you know of an upcoming event that DPS faculty and/or students are involved in or attending, please contact Jared Fogue at [email protected].

Show-Me Grape & Wine ConferenceMarch 16-18, 2016 | Columbia, MOhttp://gwi.missouri.edu/events/ IPG 33rd Annual SymposiumMay 25-27, 2016 | Columbia, MOhttp://ipg.missouri.edu/symposium/ Integrated Pest Management Field DayJuly 14, 2016 | Bradford Research Center, Columbia, MOhttp://bradford.cafnr.org/events/ Crop Injury and Diagnostic ClinicJuly 28-29, 2016 | Bradford Research Center, Columbia, MOhttp://bradford.cafnr.org/events/


mailto:foguej%40missouri.edu?subject=Upcoming%20event

http://gwi.missouri.edu/events/

http://ipg.missouri.edu/symposium/

http://bradford.cafnr.org/events/

http://bradford.cafnr.org/events/

17


Recent Publications

Frank, D.L., R. Kurtz,, N.A. Tinsley, A.J. Gassmann, L.J. Meinke, D. Moellenbeck, M.E. Gray, L.W. Bledsoe, C.H. Krupke, R.E. Estes, P. Weber, and B.E. Hibbard. 2015. Effect of seed mixtures and soil-insecticide on western and northern corn rootworm from mCry3A + eCry3.1Ab Bt maize. J. Econ. Entomol. 108: 1260-1270.

Robert, C.A.M., S. Schirmer, J. Barry, B.W. French, B.E. Hibbard, J. Gershenzon. 2015. Belowground herbivore tolerance involves delayed overcompensatory root regrowth in maize. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 157: 113-120.

Nelson, K.A., C.J. Dudenhoeffer, S. Nelson, and D. Harder. 2015. Corn hybrid, row spacing, and seeding rate effects on yield in upstate Missouri. Online. Crop, Forage, & Turfgrass Management. On-line. pp. 1-9. doi:10.2134/cftm2015.0120.

Sandler, L.N., K.A. Nelson, C.J. Dudenhoeffer, R.J. Miles, and P.P. Motavalli. 2015. Effect of radish overseeded planting date on interseeded soybean and corn yield. Online. Crop, Forage, & Turfgrass Management. pp. 1-10. doi:10.2134/cftm2015.0119

Nash, P., K.A. Nelson, and P.P. Motavalli. 2015. Corn response to drainage and fertilizer on a poorly drained, river bottom soil. Agron. J. 107:1801-1808. doi:10.2134/agronj14.0380

Shetley, J., K.A. Nelson, W.G. Stevens, D. Dunn, B. Burdick, P.P. Motavalli, J.T. English, and C.J. Dudenhoeffer. 2015. Corn yield response to pyraclostrobin with foliar fertilizers. J. Agric. Sci. 7:18-34. doi:10.5539/jas.v7n7p18

Nash, P., P. Motavalli, K. Nelson, and R. Kremer. 2015. Ammonia and nitrous oxide gas loss with subsurface drainage and polymer-coated urea fertilizer in a poorly-drained soil. J. Soil and Water Conservation 70:267-275.

Sandler, L., K.A. Nelson, and C.J. Dudenhoeffer. 2015. Radish planting date and nitrogen rate for cover crop production and the impact on corn yields in upstate Missouri. J. Agric. Sci. 7:1-13. doi:10.5539/jas.v7n6p1.

Phat T. Do, Joann R. De Tar, Hyeyoung Lee, Michelle K. Folta, and Zhanyuan J. Zhang. Expression of ZmGA20ox cDNA alters plant morphology and increases biomass production of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Plant Biotechnology Journal. In press.

Siddique S, Radakovic ZS, De La Torre CM, Chronis D, Holbein J, Novak O, Matera C, Hutten M, Gutbrod P, Anjam MS, Rozanska E, Habbash S, Elashry AN, Sobczak M, Strnad M, Kakimoto T, Schmulling T, Mitchum MG, Grundler F. A plant-parasitic nematode releases cytokinins that control cell division and orchestrate feeding-site formation in host plants. PNAS 2015; 112(41):12669-74

Noon JB, Hewezi T, Maier TR, Simmons C, Wei J-Z, Wu G, Llaca V, Deschamps S, Davis EL, Mitchum MG, Hussey RS, Baum TJ. Eighteen new candidate effectors of the phytonematode Heterodera glycines produced specifically in the secretory esophageal gland cells during parasitism. Phytopathology 2015; 105(10):1362-72.

Schultz, J. L., M. Weber, J. Allen, and K. W. Bradley. 2015. Evaluation of weed management programs and response of FG72 soybean to HPPD-inhibiting herbicides. Weed Technol. 29:653-664.

Meyer, C. J., J. K. Norsworthy, B. G. Young, L. E. Steckel, K. W. Bradley, W. G. Johnson, M. M. Loux, V. M. Davis, G. R. Kruger, M. T. Bararpour, J. T. Ikley, D. J. Spaunhorst, and T. R. Butts. 2015. Herbicide program approaches for managing glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus and Amaranthus rudis) in future soybean-trait technologies. Weed Technol. 29:716-729.

Chatham, L. A., K. W. Bradley, G. R. Kruger, J. R. Martin, M. D. K. Owen, D. E. Peterson, J. Mithila, and P. J. Tranel. 2015. A multistate study of the association between glyphosate resistance and EPSPS gene amplification in waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus). Weed Sci. 63:569-578.

Li L, Jiang YP, Liu ZY, You LL, Wu Y, Xu B, Ge LQ, Stanley D, Song Q and Wu J.C. (2016) Jinggangmycin increases fecundity of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) via fatty acid synthase gene expression. Journal of Proteomics 130, 140-149.

Jiang YP, Li L, Liu ZY, You LL, Wu Y, Xu B, Ge LQ, Song Q and Wu JC (2015) Atgl-mediated regulation of the antibiotic jinggangmycin-induced stimulation of reproduction in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stål. Scientific Reports (Accepted on Dec 3, 2015) DOI:10.1038/srep18984.

Zhang YX, Ge LQ, Jiang YP, Lu XL, Li X, Stanley D, Song Q and Wu JC (2015) RNAi knockdown of acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene eliminates jinggangmycin-enhanced reproduction and population growth in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens. Scientific Reports 5, 15360.

Ge LQ, Xia T, Song Q, Stanley D, Kuai P, Lu XL, Jiang YP, Yang GQ and Wu JC (2015) Silencing a sugar transporter gene reduces fecundity, growth and development in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). Scientific Reports 5, 12194.

Huang PX, Yang J, Ning J, Wang M and Song Q (2015) Atrazine triggers DNA damage response and induces DNA double-strand breaks in MCF-10A cells. Int J Mol Sci 16, 14353-14368.


Documents

SPRING 2015 ndergraduates · 2018. 7. 23. · Weed Biology and Ecology poster section. FARMER . and. TROWER . place at 2015 North Central Weed Science Societies annual meeting. Spencer