Plant Sciences

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Research from the Department of Plant Sciences. The department website may be found athttps://www.ag.ndsu.edu/plantsciences

Blizzard Watch is the newsletter for the Department of Plant Sciences and can be found at https://hdl.handle.net/10365/28265

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Browsing Plant Sciences by browse.metadata.program "Horticulture"

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    Somatic Embryogenesis of Magnolia spp. and Cultivars
    (North Dakota State University, 2018) Plotke, Kathryn
    This study focused on induction of somatic embryogenesis of Magnolia spp. and cultivars utilizing leaf and seed (immature and mature) tissues with attempted micropropagation experiments. In a preliminary experiment, direct embryo regeneration was successful in a single leaf tissue of M. ‘Yellow Bird’. After various micropropagation experiments, microshoot proliferation rates decreased. As a result of minimal leaf material, mature seeds were utilized but had contamination issues. Subsequent experiments utilized immature seeds. M. ‘Leonard Messel’ and M. stellata had significantly greater embryo regeneration rates and M. ‘Rosea’, M. stellata, and M. kobus had greater callus induction rates. Woody Plant Medium had significantly greater rates of embryo regeneration as compared to Yellow Poplar medium. Further experimental measures including various collection times of immature seeds are necessary for an efficient regeneration protocol to support potential research utilizing floral-inducing genes to induce rapid breeding cycles for selection of magnolias with diverse floral characteristics.
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    Symmetric Protoplast Fusion in Interserial Syringa (Oleaceae) Hybridization
    (North Dakota State University, 2016) Maren, Nathan Allen
    Few other woody plants embody the preeminence of temperate woody plants in garden cultivation like the lilacs. In spite of their relationship, the trees lack the diversity of cultivated floral forms observed within the shrub lineages. Typical selection and cross-pollination schemes within the tree lilacs or between trees and shrubs have failed to yield the diversity of colors and fragrances on a tree form. With somatic fusion in Citrus spp. as a guideline for Syringa spp. protoplast isolation and culture, experiments were designed to optimize the conditions through somatic fusion. Protoplast isolation experiments revealed yield increases with increased exposure to cell wall degrading enzymes as well as losses in viability with increased exposure. Electrofusion experiments yielded somatic hybrids, yet further investigation is necessary to optimize the fusion electroporation settings and beyond.
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    Utilizing Pruning and Leaf Removal to Ripen Grapes and Encourage Cold Tolerance in North Dakota
    (North Dakota State University, 2013) Aipperspach, Andrew David
    Experiments were conducted at North Dakota vineyards in 2011 and 2012. Pruning limited vines to a specific number of primary buds while leaf removal exposed ripening grape clusters to increased sunlight. Variables included length of growth prior to dormant pruning, weight of growth, rate of ripening, total weight of harvested grapes, weight per grape cluster, berry weight, number of clusters per vine, soluble solid concentration (°Brix), titratable acidity (TA), and pH. Data were analyzed as a CRD with a factorial arrangement. Analysis showed varied significance with pruning and shade leaf removal interacting with specific cultivar traits to influence growth, grape yield, and grape quality. Impact on yield was minimal, treatment impacts on grape quality showed potential for use of shade leaf removal as means of decreasing titratable acidity levels in harvested grapes. Research supports the use of pruning and shade leaf removal treatments to influence grape production.