Research Centers
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/13
The Department of Research Centers was created in 1994. The Department represents the faculty and staff that conduct research and outreach programs at 7 off-campus research centers.
Central Agricultural Research Center
Eastern Agricultural Research Center
Northern Agricultural Research Center
Northwestern Agricultural Research Center
Southern Agricultural Research Center
Western Agricultural Research Center
Western Triangle Ag Research Center
Central Agricultural Research Center
Eastern Agricultural Research Center
Northern Agricultural Research Center
Northwestern Agricultural Research Center
Southern Agricultural Research Center
Western Agricultural Research Center
Western Triangle Ag Research Center
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246 results
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Item Investigating the effects of genotype and environment interaction (GEI) and stability analysis on short-duration rapeseed yield and oil content under different environmental conditions(Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2023-03) Shaila Islam, Shams; Khatun Ousro, Farhana; Kadir, Md Manjurul; Moonmoon, Sharifunnessa; Azam, MG; Khomphet, Thanet; Khairul Hasan, Ahmed; Soufan, Walid; Rajendran, Karthika; Abdelhamid, Magdi T.; El Sabagh, AymanThe yield and oil content of rapeseed (Brassica rapa), one of the most important sources of edible oil in the world, have been significantly impacted by environmental factors. The primary objective of this research is to identify the most optimal genotype(s) with a high yield and oil content that can adapt to various environments in Bangladesh. The GE interaction was estimated using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the AMMI model. An environment-wise ANOVA demonstrated significant variations in all traits across all environments. Heritability, genetic advance as a percentage of mean, GCV, and PCV were estimated. High GCV and PCV for seed yield and total dry matter were observed in all environments. Heritability and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean were found to be high for yield plant-1 across all environments. The AMMI analysis utilized the IPCA1 (First Interaction Principal Component Axis) scores of genotypes to predict environmental stability or adaptation. Higher IPCA1 scores indicated that a genotype was more suited to a given environment. Based on IPCA1 scores, BARI Sharisha-14 was a high-yielding, stable genotype. Under favourable conditions, BARI Sharisha-9 (G2), BARI Sharisha-15 (G4), and Sompod (G5) produced a higher yield. All genotypes in the Mymensing environment had high oil content (%). Sompod had the lowest mean seed yield across environments and was extremely environment sensitive. It was discovered that Ishwardi was better for rapeseed production than Cumilla.Item Compositional profiling of the rhizosphere microbiome of Canada thistle reveals consistent patterns across the United States northern Great Plains(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024-08) Eberly, Jed O.; Hurd, Asa; Oli, Dipiza; Dyer, Alan T.; Seipel, Tim F.; Carr, Patrick M.Canada thistle is a pervasive perennial weed, causing challenges to agricultural and natural ecosystems globally. Although research has focused on the phenology, genetics, and control of Canada thistle, little is known about the rhizosphere microbiome and the role plant–microbe interactions play in invasion success. This study investigated the rhizosphere microbiome of Canada thistle across diverse climates, soils, and crops in the U.S. northern Great Plains. Soil and rhizosphere samples were collected and bacterial 16S and fungal ITS2 sequencing were performed to characterize the core microbiome and identify potential factors contributing to invasion success. Amplicon sequencing revealed a stable core microbiome that was detected in the Canada thistle rhizosphere across all locations. The core microbiome was dominated by the bacterial phyla Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria and fungal phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Differential abundance analysis showed rhizosphere fungal communities were enriched in pathogen-containing genera with a 1.7-fold greater abundance of Fusaria and a 2.6-fold greater abundance of Gibberella compared to bulk soil. Predictive functional profiling showed rhizosphere communities were enriched (p < 0.05, FDR corrected) in plant pathogen fungal guilds which represented 19% of the fungal community. The rhizosphere microbiome was similar in composition across environments, highlighting the stable association between Canada thistle and specific microbial taxa. This study characterized the core microbiome of Canada thistle, and the findings highlight plant–microbe interactions shaping invasive behavior. These findings are important for understanding the ecological impacts of plant invasion and soil-microbe ecological processes.Item The Influence of Yeast Strain on the Chemical, Chromatic, and Sensory Characteristics of ‘Wodarz’ Apple Cider(MDPI AG, 2024-06) Wang, Zhuoyu; Svyantek, Andrej; Bogenrief, Sarah; Kadium, Venkateswara Rao; Hatterman-Valenti, HarleneA regionally developed and adapted dessert apple, ‘Wodarz’, was explored for its potential in apple cider production because of its consistent productivity when other apple cultivars have struggled with North Dakota’s climate. Due to the importance of yeast strain on the perceived quality of fermentation products, five commercial yeast strains, three wine yeasts (EC1118, Maurivin B, and 71B), and two cider yeasts (WLP775 and WY4766) were evaluated for their impact on the physicochemical properties, color, and sensory characteristics of ‘Wodarz’ cider. By assessing dynamic changes, such as spectral properties and sugar content, a comparison among yeasts was conducted across multiple dimensions. The lightness, chroma, and hue all showed variations throughout fermentation, though not across the final ciders. However, differences in the final color of the ciders were identified via ΔE calculations. Each yeast contributed different aromas and tastes to the final ciders. Among yeast strains, EC1118 had the strongest aroma intensity. Despite having subdued aroma intensity, 71B had strong acidity tastes and WLP775 had strong fruity tastes. Thus, our research suggests that yeast strains are an applicable factor in determining the final sensory attributes of local ‘Wodarz’ cider. This is the first report of fermentation outcomes using ‘Wodarz’ apples for cider. ‘Wodarz’ can be aromatically described using terms such as apple, honey, herbal, rose, and floral and fruit notes. The overall taste of ‘Wodarz’ cider is characterized by apple, honey, and rose notes followed by black pepper and grass.Item Enhancing Canola Yield and Photosynthesis under Water Stress with Hydrogel Polymers(Tech Science Press, 2024-01) Badr, Elham A.; Bakhoum, Gehan Sh.; Al-Ashkar, Ibrahim; Islam, Mohammad Sohidul; Sabagh, Ayman El; Abdelhamid, Magdi T.While Egypt’s canola production per unit area has recently grown, productivity remains low, necessitating increased productivity. Hydrogels are water-absorbent polymer compounds that can optimize irrigation schedules by increasing the soil’s ability to retain water. Accordingly, two field experiments were conducted to examine hydrogel application to sandy soil on canola growth, biochemical aspects, yield, yield traits, and nutritional quality of yielded seeds grown under water deficit stress conditions. The experiments were conducted by arranging a split-plot layout in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three times replications of each treatment. While water stress at 75% or 50% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) lowered chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, and total pigments content, indole-3-acetic acid, plant development, seed yield, and oil and total carbohydrates of seed yield, hydrogel treatment enhanced all of the traits mentioned above. Furthermore, hydrogel enhanced to gather compatible solutes (proline, amino acids, total soluble sugars), phenolics content in leaves, seed protein, and crop water productivity, which increased while the plants were under water stress. The results revealed that the full irrigation (100%ETc) along with hydrogel compared to water-stressed (50%ETc) led to enhanced seed yield (kg ha), Oil (%), and Total carbohydrates (%) of rapeseed by 57.1%, 11.1% and 15.7%, respectively. Likewise, under water-stressed plots with hydrogel exhibited enhancement by 10.0%, 3.2% and 5.1% in seed yield (kg ha), oil (%), and total carbohydrates (%) of rapeseed by 57.1%, 11.1% and 15.7%, respectively compared to control. As a result, the use of hydrogel polymer will be a viable and practical solution for increasing agricultural output under water deficit stress situations.Item Long‐term soil change in the US Great Plains: An evaluation of the Haas Soil Archive(Wiley, 2024-06) Liebig, Mark A.; Calderon, Francisco J.; Clemensen, Andrea K.; Durso, Lisa; Duttenhefner, Jessica L.; Eberly, Jed O.; Halvorson, Jonathan J.; Jin, Virginia L.; Mankin, Kyle; Margenot, Andrew J.; Stewart, Catherine E.; Van Pelt, Scott; Vigil, Merle F.Diverse patterns of climate and edaphic factors challenge detection of soil property change in the US Great Plains. Because detectable soil change can take decades, insights into the trajectory of soil properties frequently require long-term site monitoring and, where available, associated soil archives to enable comparisons with initial or baseline states. Unfortunately, few multi-decadal soil change investigations have been conducted in this region. Here, we document effects of dryland cropping on a suite of soil properties by comparing matched historic (1947) and contemporary (2018) soil samples from the Haas Soil Archive at three sites in the US Great Plains: Moccasin, MT, Akron, CO, and Big Spring, TX. Current analytical methods were used to provide insight into changes in soil texture, pH, carbon, and micronutrients at 0- to 15.2-cm and 15.2- to 30.5-cm depths. Changes in direction and magnitude of soil properties over 71 years were site specific. Changes in textural class occurred at all sites, with Moccasin and Akron transitioning from loam to clay loam and Big Spring from sandy clay loam to sandy loam. The soil pH reaction class changed from slightly alkaline to moderately acid at Akron and slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline at Big Spring. At 0–15.2 cm, soil organic carbon decreased by 15% and 36% at Moccasin and Big Spring, respectively, but increased by 15% at Akron. Soil micronutrients generally declined at all sites. Weather-related variables derived from air temperature and precipitation records were not correlated with soil change. Inferred factors contributing to soil change included on-site management, inherent soil features, weather metrics not evaluated, or a combination thereof.Item Compositional profiling of the rhizosphere microbiome of Canada thistle reveals consistent patterns across the United States northern Great Plains(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024) Eberly, Jed O.; Hurd, Asa; Oli, Dipiza; Dyer, Alan T.; Seipel, Tim F.; Carr, Patrick M.Canada thistle is a pervasive perennial weed, causing challenges to agricultural and natural ecosystems globally. Although research has focused on the phenology, genetics, and control of Canada thistle, little is known about the rhizosphere microbiome and the role plant–microbe interactions play in invasion success. This study investigated the rhizosphere microbiome of Canada thistle across diverse climates, soils, and crops in the U.S. northern Great Plains. Soil and rhizosphere samples were collected and bacterial 16S and fungal ITS2 sequencing were performed to characterize the core microbiome and identify potential factors contributing to invasion success. Amplicon sequencing revealed a stable core microbiome that was detected in the Canada thistle rhizosphere across all locations. The core microbiome was dominated by the bacterial phyla Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria and fungal phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Differential abundance analysis showed rhizosphere fungal communities were enriched in pathogen-containing genera with a 1.7-fold greater abundance of Fusaria and a 2.6-fold greater abundance of Gibberella compared to bulk soil. Predictive functional profiling showed rhizosphere communities were enriched (p < 0.05, FDR corrected) in plant pathogen fungal guilds which represented 19% of the fungal community. The rhizosphere microbiome was similar in composition across environments, highlighting the stable association between Canada thistle and specific microbial taxa. This study characterized the core microbiome of Canada thistle, and the findings highlight plant–microbe interactions shaping invasive behavior. These findings are important for understanding the ecological impacts of plant invasion and soil-microbe ecological processes.Item Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) accessions in the Mid-Atlantic region resistant to ALS-, PPO-, and EPSPS-inhibiting herbicides(Cambridge University Press, 2024-01) D'Amico Jr., Frank; Besanҫon, Thierry; Koehler, Alyssa; Shergill, Lovreet; Ziegler, Melissa; VanGessel, MarkCommon ragweed is a troublesome weed in many crops. Farmers and crop advisors in the coastal Mid-Atlantic region have reported inadequate control of common ragweed in soybean fields with glyphosate and other herbicide modes of action. To determine whether herbicide resistance was one of the causes of poor herbicide performance, 29 accessions from four states (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia) where common ragweed plants survived herbicide applications and produced viable seeds were used for greenhouse screening. Common ragweed seedlings from those accessions were treated with multiple rates of cloransulam, fomesafen, or glyphosate, applied individually postemergence (POST). All accessions except one demonstrated resistance to at least one of the herbicides applied at twice the effective rate (2×), 17 accessions were two-way resistant (to glyphosate and cloransulam, or to glyphosate and fomesafen), and three-way resistance was present in eight accessions collected from three different states. Based on the POST study, five accessions were treated preemergence (PRE) with herbicides that inhibit acetolactate synthase (ALS), and two accessions were treated with herbicides that inhibit protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO). All accessions treated PRE with the ALS inhibitors chlorimuron or cloransulam demonstrated resistance at the 2× rates. Both accessions treated PRE with the PPO inhibitor sulfentrazone had survivors at the 2× rate. When the same accessions were treated PRE with fomesafen, one had survivors at the 2× rate, and one had survivors at the 1× rate. Results from these tests confirmed common ragweed with three-way resistance to POST herbicides is widespread in the region. In addition, this is the first confirmation that common ragweed accessions in the region are also resistant to ALS- or PPO-inhibiting herbicides when applied PRE.Item Postharvest Treatment Effects on ‘Somerset Seedless’ Cold-Hardy Table Grapes(Informa UK Limited, 2024-05) Wang, Zhuoyu; Svyantek, Andrej; Miller, Zachariah; Jarrett, Bridgid; Green, Stacy; Kapus, AshelyLimited amount of information is available for cold-hardy table grape postharvest storage and strategies to extend the storage time. ‘Somerset Seedless’ is a cold-hardy table grape with a potential market for the Upper Midwest and Northern Great Plains. Postharvest treatments were assessed as a possible route to increase cold-hardy table grape shelf-life. In this study, a 1.4% chitosan postharvest treatment was tested on ‘Somerset Seedless’ grapes through 7 weeks of storage with temperature 1–4°C, humidity ≥90%. The effects were compared to two controls: one was diH2O, and the other one was acetic acid. The assessment included grape appearance traits (rachis, decay, mold, scattering, and splitting), physiochemical properties (TSS, pH and total acidity), antioxidant activity, as well as total phenolics and flavonoid content. In general, 1.4% chitosan, 1% acetic acid, and diH2O had a large impact on grape appearance during storage with limited impact on chemistry. Throughout 7 weeks of storage, no significant differences were observed in grape physiochemical and phytochemical changes. Chitosan performed the best for ‘Somerset Seedless’ postharvest storage in regard to the low rate of visible damage. Although acetic acid had similarly positive effects on mold control as chitosan treatment, it caused the highest split rate after 1 week and the highest shatter rate after 5 weeks of storage. Chitosan treated ‘Somerset Seedless’ still met the USDA standard of table grapes after 5 weeks. This study suggests chitosan postharvest treatments may have applications for enhancing the shelf-life of cold-hardy table grapes.Item Changes in Biological Soil Health Properties in Response to Increased Crop Diversity in a Dryland Wheat-Based Cropping System(Informa UK Limited, 2024-08) Eberly, Jed O.; Hammontree, Jenni W.; Fordyce, Simion I.; Jones, Clain A.; Carr, Patrick M.Diversifying wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-based cropping systems is important for the sustainability of dryland agriculture. Research has focused on the agronomic benefits of increased crop diversity in semi-arid environments, but less is known about the impacts of increased crop diversity on the soil microbial community. This work compared soil health parameters between a continuous wheat crop sequence to a diverse sequence that included pea (Pisum sativum L.), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius, L.), and spring wheat. Respiration was higher (p < .005) in the diverse sequence while activity of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase was lower (p < .05) with a mean rate of 26.3 and 16.3 mg ρ-nitrophenol kg−1 soil h−1 for the continuous wheat and diverse sequences, respectively. The mean net nitrogen mineralized during the growing season was 33.2 ± 2.5 kg ha−1 and was not different between treatments (p > .05). No difference was observed in bacterial alpha diversity, while fungal community diversity was 52% lower in the diverse rotation. The results of this work suggest that specific crops in a rotation may impact microbial processes related to nitrogen mineralization and that the soil fungal community may be more sensitive to changes in crop sequence than the soil bacterial community.Item Postharvest Treatment Effects on ‘Somerset Seedless’ Cold-Hardy Table Grapes(Informa UK Limited, 2023-12) Wang, Zhuoyu; Svyantek, Andrej; Miller, Zachariah; Jarrett, Bridgid; Green, Stacy; Kapus, AshleyLimited amount of information is available for cold-hardy table grape postharvest storage and strategies to extend the storage time. ‘Somerset Seedless’ is a cold-hardy table grape with a potential market for the Upper Midwest and Northern Great Plains. Postharvest treatments were assessed as a possible route to increase cold-hardy table grape shelf-life. In this study, a 1.4% chitosan postharvest treatment was tested on ‘Somerset Seedless’ grapes through 7 weeks of storage with temperature 1–4°C, humidity ≥90%. The effects were compared to two controls: one was diH2O, and the other one was acetic acid. The assessment included grape appearance traits (rachis, decay, mold, scattering, and splitting), physiochemical properties (TSS, pH and total acidity), antioxidant activity, as well as total phenolics and flavonoid content. In general, 1.4% chitosan, 1% acetic acid, and diH2O had a large impact on grape appearance during storage with limited impact on chemistry. Throughout 7 weeks of storage, no significant differences were observed in grape physiochemical and phytochemical changes. Chitosan performed the best for ‘Somerset Seedless’ postharvest storage in regard to the low rate of visible damage. Although acetic acid had similarly positive effects on mold control as chitosan treatment, it caused the highest split rate after 1 week and the highest shatter rate after 5 weeks of storage. Chitosan treated ‘Somerset Seedless’ still met the USDA standard of table grapes after 5 weeks. This study suggests chitosan postharvest treatments may have applications for enhancing the shelf-life of cold-hardy table grapes.