Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Plant Management Network: journals and more
UW-Madison is a partner of the Plant Management Network, managed by the American Phytopathological Society, American Society of Agronomy, and Crop Science Society of America. Students, staff and faculty have full access to the site, including:
• Plant Health Progress - peer-reviewed journal focusing on plant protection; covers plant disease, entomology, and nematology of crops and ornamentals.
• Crop Management - peer-reviewed journal covering crop management practices, crop nutrients, and production agriculture; focuses on maximizing crop yield and value.
• Forage and Grazinglands - peer-reviewed journal covering animal nutrition and rangeland management.
• Applied Turfgrass Science - peer-reviewed journal covering the many aspects of turfgrass management.
• Plant Disease Management Reports - More than 5,000 searchable efficacy reports on various means of pest control, such as fungicides, nematicides, and biological controls. PDMR’s purpose is to help users determine the most effective chemicals and nonchemical pest management agents and to ensure maximum effectiveness/minimum use in terms of application. Reports cover various crops, ornamentals, turf and forage.
• Arthropod Management Tests - Efficacy reports of insecticides and other means of insect control. Helps users determine the most effective chemicals and brands in managing insects and also to ensure maximum effectiveness/minimum use in terms of application rates. Reports cover crops, ornamentals, turf and forage.
• Symposium/Meeting Proceedings - A collection of proceedings on topics related to agriculture and horticulture.
• Focus on Soybean - An online portal for growers, crop consultants, and researchers seeking information on producing healthy, high-yielding soybean crops. Features webcasts from noted extension agents on soybean crop production, protection, and management.
• Focus on Potato - An online portal for growers, crop consultants, and researchers seeking information on producing healthy, high-yielding potato crops. Features webcasts from noted extension agents on potato crop production, protection, and management.
• Focus on Ag Practitioners - A one-stop portal of agricultural resources for certified crop advisers, independent consultants, and other ag practitioners.
• PMN Image Collections - A collection of more than 4,000 plant disease and agricultural images for disease identification, class illustrations, and presentations.
Monday, February 22, 2010
5/18-22: Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries, Seattle, WA

A pre-conference workshop focusing on disaster preparedness will launch this annual meeting. During the week, several local Seattle speakers with interesting plant science library connections will share their perspectives. In addition, members’ papers and panels will explore a variety of library topics and projects.
The Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries is the leading professional organization in the field of botanical and horticultural information services. It recognizes the critical importance of collecting, preserving, and making accessible the accumulated knowledge about plants for present and future generations. For more information about CBHL, visit its web site at http://www.cbhl.net.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Blight affecting tomatoes and potatoes

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UPDATE August 5, 2009: The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection confirms that late blight on tomato has appeared in Dane and Rock counties, the first cases of the disease in the state in six years. Full article: LATE BLIGHT ALERT
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Gardeners are being warned to destroy any Solanaceae plants (tomato, potato, eggplant) suspected of suffering from "late blight" disease, especially those purchased from big box stores.
The disease, associated with the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840's, is caused by the Phytophthora infestans fungus. While not harmful to humans, it is extremely contagious and deadly to plants.
Books:
- Phytophthora infestans: The cause of late blight of potato
- Resistance to phytophthora infestans in the potato
- Diseases, pests and disorders of potatoes: a color handbook
- Potato health management
- Phytophthora: identifying species by morphology and DNA fingerprints
- Illustrated glossary of Phytophthora / Glossário ilustrado de Phytophthora: técnicas especiais para o estudo de oomicetos
- Phytophthora: Symposium of the British Mycological Society, the British Society for Plant Pathology, and the Society of Irish Plant Pathologists held at Trinity College, Dublin, September 1989
- Proceedings of the IInd International Symposium on Tomato Diseases: Kusadasi -Turkey, October 8-12, 2007
- Proceedings of the IIIrd International Late Blight Conference: Beijing, China, April 3-6, 2008
UW-Madison dissertations & theses:
- Biological properties of Phytophthora infestans isolates from Wisconsin
- Characterization of RB and identification of additional genes involved in RB-mediated potato late blight resistance
- Genetic analysis of R9 conditioning late-blight resistance in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
- Late blight resistance linkages in a novel cross of the wild potato species Solanum paucissectum (series Piurana)
- Characterization of late blight resistance and unilateral incompatibility in diploid (1EBN) solanum species
- Characterization of late blight resistance and unilateral incompatibility in diploid (1EBN) solanum species
UW-Madison patent:
UW Extension Report:
More information:- Plant Pathology Research Guide
- Tomato Fruit Disorders (UW Extension)
- Tomato Diseases Powerpoint (UW Extension)
- Potato Diseases Powerpoint (UW Extension)
- Plant disease hits eastern US veggies early, hard (Associated Press)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
NEW e-book! Encyclopedia of Genetics, Genomics, Proteomics, and Informatics

NEW! Online reference book provided by the UW-Madison Libraries:
Encyclopedia of Genetics, Genomics, Proteomics, and Informatics
"...covers the basics and the latest in genomics, proteomics, genetic engineering, small RNAs, transcription factories, chromosome territories, stem cells, genetic networks, epigenetics, prions, hereditary diseases, and patents."
"...about 56% more words than the 1,392-page second edition of 2003. The number of illustrations increased to almost 2,000 and their quality has improved by design and four colors. In addition, cross-references among entries are expanded and the statements are supported by references: more than 14,000 journal papers and more than 3,000 books are listed."
"Target audience includes research workers in general genetics, genomics, proteomics, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, evolution, cytogenetics, human genetics, ethics, natural philosophy; professors...; physicians, law professionals; students...; science administrators and journal editors..."
Selected entries:
- C3 Plants
- C4 Plants
- Crop Plants
- Cryptogamic Plants
- Egg Plant ( Solanum melongena )
- Elite Plants
- Embryogenesis in Plants
- Entomology
- Genetic Sterilization (sterile insect technique, SIT)
- Hevea brasiliensis (rubber plant)
- Holometabolous Insect
- Insect Control, Genetic
- Insect Resistance in Plants
- Insect Viruses
- LDP (long-day plant)
- Light Controlled Reactions in Plants
- Long-Day Plants
- Lupines (leguminous plants)
- Mineral Requirements of Plants
- MITE (mariner insect transposon-like element, miniature inverted-repeat transposable element)
- Mitochondrial Abnormalities in Plants
- Molecular Plant Breeding
- Mustards (family of cruciferous plants)
- Phosphate Response of Plants
- Plant Breeding
- Plant Defense
- Plant Disease Resistance
- Plant Genomes
- Plant Genomics Database
- Plant Hormones
- Plant Pathogenesis
- Plant Vaccines
- Plant Viruses
- Plantibody (antibody synthesized by plants)
- Polyploid Crop Plants
- Regeneration of Plants
- Sex Determination in Plants
- Short-Day Plants
- SIT (sterile insect technique)
- Social Insects
- Sterile Insect Technology (SIT)
- Transposable Elements, Plants
- Transposons-Controlling Elements, Plant
- Vermilion Eye Color of Insects
- Virus-Free Plants
- Wildfire Disease of Plants
Monday, June 8, 2009
Light harvesting in plants

24 highly-cited papers from 2003 to 2009 form a "research front" on light harvesting in plants, as reported at Sciencewatch.com.
Topics covered include:
- Carotenoid and regulation of light harvesting
- Chloroplast protein kinase
- Light stress
- Organization of thylakoid proteins
- Photo-inhibition
- Photo-protection
- Photosystem I - crystal structure
- Photosystem II - core phosphorylation
- Photosystem II - light-harvesting antenna
- Photosystem II - repair
- Plant antenna protein
- Proteases in chloroplasts
- Quenching
Title: Crystal structure of spinach major light-harvesting complex at 2.72 angstrom resolution
Journal: NATURE, 428 (6980): 287-292 MAR 18 2004
Authors: Liu, ZF; Yan, HC; Wang, KB; Kuang, TY; Zhang, JP; Gui, LL; An, XM; Chang, WR
Title: Crystal structure of plant photosystem I
Journal: NATURE, 426 (6967): 630-635 DEC 11 2003
Authors: Ben-Shem, A; Frolow, F; Nelson, N
Title: Carotenoid cation formation and the regulation of photosynthetic light harvesting
Journal: SCIENCE, 307 (5708): 433-436 JAN 21 2005
Authors: Holt, NE; Zigmantas, D; Valkunas, L; Li, XP; Niyogi, KK; Fleming, GR
Title: Supramolecular organization of thylakoid membrane proteins in green plants
Journal: BBA BIOENERGETICS, 1706 (1-2): 12-39 JAN 7 2005
Authors: Dekker, JP; Boekema, EJ
Title: Rote of chloroplast protein kinase Stt7 in LHCII phosphorylation and state transition in Chlamydomonas
Journal: SCIENCE, 299 (5612): 1572-1575 MAR 7 2003
Authors: Depege, N; Bellafiore, S; Rochaix, JD
Title: Molecular basis of photoprotection and control of photosynthetic light-harvesting
Journal: NATURE, 436 (7047): 134-137 JUL 7 2005
Authors: Pascal, AA; Liu, ZF; Broess, K; van Oort, B; van Amerongen, H; Wang, C; Horton, P; Robert, B; Chang, WR; Ruban, A
Title: Evidence for direct carotenoid involvement in the regulation of photosynthetic light harvesting
Journal: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCE OF THE USA, 100 (8): 4377-4382 APR 15 2003
Authors: Ma, YZ; Holt, NE; Li, XP; Niyogi, KK; Fleming, GR
Title: Photoinhibition - a historical perspective
Journal: PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH, 76 (1-3): 343-370 2003
Authors: Adir, N; Zer, H; Shochat, S; Ohad, I
Title: Is PsbS the site of non-photochemical quenching in photosynthesis?
Journal: JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, 56 (411): 375-382 JAN 2005
Authors: Niyogi, KK; Li, XP; Rosenberg, V; Jung, HS
Title: Coordinated regulation and complex formation of YELLOW VARIEGATED1 and YELLOW VARIEGATED2, chloroplastic FtsH metalloproteases involved in the repair cycle of photosystem II in Arabidopsis thylakoid membranes Journal: PLANT CELL, 15 (12): 2843-2855 DEC 2003
Authors: Sakamoto, W; Zaltsman, A; Adam, Z; Takahashi, Y
Title: Molecular design of the photosystem II light-harvesting antenna: photosynthesis and photoprotection Journal:JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, 56 (411): 365-373 JAN 2005
Authors: Horton, P; Ruban, A
Title: Dynamics of photosystem II: a proteomic approach to thylakoid protein complexes
Journal: JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, 56 (411): 347-356 JAN 2005
Authors: Aro, EM; Suorsa, M; Rokka, A; Allahverdiyeva, Y; Paakkarinen, V; Saleem, A; Battchikova, N; Rintamaki, E
Title: Photosystem II core phosphorylation and photosynthetic acclimation require two different protein kinases Journal: NATURE, 437 (7062): 1179-1182 OCT 20 2005
Authors: Bonardi, V; Pesaresi, P; Becker, T; Schleiff, E; Wagner, R; Pfannschmidt, T; Jahns, P; Leister, D
Title: FtsH-mediated repair of the photosystem II complex in response to light stress
Journal: JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, 56 (411): 357-363 JAN 2005
Authors: Nixon, PJ; Barker, M; Boehm, M; de Vries, R; Komenda, J
Title: Protein degradation machineries in plastids
Journal: ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY, 57: 599-621 2006
Authors: Sakamoto, W
Title: Photoprotection in an ecological context: the remarkable complexity of thermal energy dissipation
Journal: NEW PHYTOLOGIST, 172 (1): 11-21 2006
Authors: Demmig-Adams, B; Adams, WW
Title: Recent advances in the study of Clp, FtsH and other proteases located in chloroplasts
Journal: CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY, 9 (3): 234-240 JUN 2006
Authors: Adam, Z; Rudella, A; van Wijk, KJ
Title: Identification of a mechanism of photoprotective energy dissipation in higher plants
Journal: NATURE, 450 (7169): 575-U22 NOV 22 2007
Authors: Ruban, AV; Berera, R; Ilioaia, C; van Stokkum, IHM; Kennis, JTM; Pascal, AA; van Amerongen, H; Robert, B; Horton, P; van Grondelle, R
Title: Lack of the light-harvesting complex CP24 affects the structure and function of the grana membranes of higher plant chloroplasts
Journal: PLANT CELL, 18 (11): 3106-3120 NOV 2006
Authors: Kovacs, L; Damkjaer, J;Kereiche, S; Ilioaia, C; Ruban, AV; Boekema, EJ; Jansson, S;Horton, P
Title: Psb27, a cyanobacterial lipoprotein, is involved in the repair cycle of photosystem II
Journal: PLANT CELL, 18 (11): 3121-3131 NOV 2006
Authors: Nowaczyk, MM; Hebeler, R; Schlodder, E; Meyer, HE; Warscheid, B; Rogner, M
Title: Architecture of a charge-transfer state regulating light harvesting in a plant antenna protein
Journal: SCIENCE, 320 (5877): 794-797 MAY 9 2008
Authors: Ahn, TK; Avenson, TJ; Ballottari, M; Cheng, YC; Niyogi, KK; Bassi, R; Fleming, GR
Title: Zeaxanthin radical cation formation in minor light-harvesting complexes of higher plant antenna
Journal: JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 283 (6): 3550-3558 FEB 8 2008
Authors: Avenson, TJ; Ahn, TK; Zigmantas, D; Niyogi, KK; Li, Z; Ballottari, M; Bassi, R; Fleming, GR
Title: Interorganellar communication
Journal: CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY, 10 (6): 600-606 DEC 2007
Authors: Pesaresi, P; Schneider, A; Kleine, T; Leister, D
Title: How do environmental stresses accelerate photoinhibition?
Journal: TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE, 13 (4): 178-182 APR 2008
Authors: Takahashi, S; Murata, N
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Recent publications from UW-Madison researchers

- Allen, H.K.; Cloud-Hansen, K.A.; Wolinski, J.M.; Guan, C.H.; Greene, S.; Lu, S.; Boeyink, M.; Broderick, N.A.; Raffa, K.F.; Handelsman, J. (2009). Resident microbiota of the gypsy moth midgut harbors antibiotic resistance determinants. DNA and Cell Biology 28(3): 109-117.
- Broderick, N.A.; Robinson, C.J.; McMahon, M.D.; Holt, J.; Handelsman, J.; Raffa, K.F. (2009). Contributions of gut bacteria to Bacillus thuringiensis-induced mortality vary across a range of Lepidoptera. BMC Biology 7(11).
- Cardoza, Y.J.; Vasanthakumar, A.; Suazo, A.; Raffa, K.F. (2009). Survey and phylogenetic analysis of culturable microbes in the oral secretions of three bark beetle species. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 131(2): 138-147.
- Cavagnaro, P.F.; Chung S.M.; Szklarczyk, M.; Grzebelus, D.; Senalik, D.; Atkins, A.E.; Simon, P.W. (2009). Characterization of a deep-coverage carrot (Daucus carota L.) BAC library and initial analysis of BAC-end sequences. Molecular Genetics and Genomics 281(3): 273-288.
- Contreras-Govea, F.E.; Muck, R.E.; Armstrong, K.L.; Albrecht, K.A. (2009). Fermentability of corn-lablab bean mixtures from different planting densities. Animal Feed Science and Technology 149(3/4): 298-306.
- Copas, M.E.; Bussan, A.J.; Drilias, M.J.; Wolkowski, R.P. (2009). Potato yield and quality response to subsoil tillage and compaction. Agronomy Journal 101(1): 82-90.
- Dauer, J.T.; Mortensen, D.A.; Luschei, E.C.; Isard, S.A.; Shields, E.; Van-Gessel, M.J. (2009). Conyza canadensis seed ascent in the lower atmosphere. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 149(3-4): 526-534.
- Duke, S.H.; Henson, C.A. (2009). A comparison of barley malt amylolytic enzyme activities as indicators of malt sugar concentrations. Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists 67(2): 99-111.
- Hatfield, R.D.; Marita, J.M.; Frost, K.; Grabber, J.; Ralph, J.; Lu, F.C.; Kim, H. (2009). Grass lignin acylation: p-coumaroyl transferase activity and cell wall characteristics of C3 and C4 grasses. Planta 229(6): 1253-1267.
- Konieczka, C.M.; Colquhoun, J.B.; Rittmeyer, R.A. (2009). Swamp dodder (Cuscuta gronovii) applied ecology in carrot production. Weed Technology 23(1): 175-178.
- Kramer, L.C.; Choudoir, M.J.; Wielgus, S.M.; Bhaskar, P.B.; Jiang, J.M. Correlation between transcript abundance of the RB gene and the level of the RB-mediated late blight resistance in potato. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (22)4: 447-455.
- Lorenz, A.J.; Coors, J.G.; de Leon, N.; Wolfrum, E.J.; Hames, B.R.; Sluiter, A.D.; Weimer, P.J. (2009). Characterization, genetic variation, and combining ability of maize traits relevant to the production of cellulosic ethanol. Crop Science 49(1): 85-98.
- Madritch, M.D.; Greene, S.L.; Lindroth, R.L. (2009). Genetic mosaics of ecosystem functioning across aspen-dominated landscapes. Oecologia 160(1): 119-127.
- Markham, M.Y.; Stoltenberg, D.E. (2009). Red:far-red light effects on corn growth and productivity in field environments. Weed Science 57(2): 208-215.
- Pethybridge, S.J.; Gent, D.H.; Esker, P.D.; Turechek, W.W.; Hay, F.S.; Nutter, F.W. (2009). Site-specific risk factors for ray blight in Tasmanian pyrethrum fields. Plant Disease 93(3): 229-237.
- Posner, J.L.; Frank, G.G.; Nordlund, K.V.; Schuler, R.T. (2009). A constant goal, changing tactics: the Krusenbaum dairy farm (1996-2005). Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 24(1): 8-18.
- Rhemtulla, J.M.; Mladenoff, D.J.; Clayton, M.K. (2009). Historical forest baselines reveal potential for continued carbon sequestration. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106(15): 6082-6087.
- Rotenberg, D.; Krishna Kumar, N.K.; Ullman, D.E.; Montero-Astua, M.; Willis, D.K.; German, T.L.; Whitfield, A.E. (2009). Variation in tomato spotted wilt virus titer in Frankliniella occidentalis and its association with frequency of transmission. Phytopathology 99(4): 404-410.
- Shinners, K.J., Huenink, B.M., Muck, R.E., Albrecht, K.A. (2009). Storage characteristics of large round and square alfalfa bales: Low-moisture wrapped bales. Transactions of the ASABE 52(2): 401-407.
- Sonnentag, P.J; Jeanne, R.L. (2009). Initiation of absconding-swarm emigration in the social wasp Polybia occidentalis. Journal of Insect Science. 9: 11.
- Willis, D. K.; Kinscherf, T. G. (2009). Population dynamics of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strains on tomato cultivars Rio Grande and Rio Grande-Pto under field conditions. Journal of Phytopathology 157(4): 219-227.
- Zedler, P.H.; Anchor, T.; Knuteson, D.; Gratton, C.; Barzen, J. (2009). Using an ecolabel to promote on-farm conservation: the Wisconsin Healthy Grown experience. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 7(1): 61-74.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Plants & insects in the National Archives

The United States National Archives contains a wealth of information in multiple formats. Search the Archival Research Catalog for topics of interest, or search by departments such as:
- Records of the U.S. Food Administration, 1917 - 1920
- Records of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, 1863 - 1956
- Records of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, 1839 - 1981
- Records of the Extension Service, 1888 - 1995
- Records of International Conferences, Commissions, and Expositions, 1825 - 1972
- Records of the Office of Government Reports, 1932 - 1947
- Records of the Bureau of Land Management, 1685 - 2006
- Records of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering, 1879 - 1972
- Records of the U.S. Geological Survey, 1839 - 2002
- Records of the Work Projects Administration, 1922 - 1944
- Records of the National Park Service, 1785 - 2005
- Records of the Forest Service, 1870 - 2000
- Records of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1875 - 1977
- Records of the Bureau of Reclamation, 1889 - 2008
- Records of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, 1909 - 1992
- Records of the Environmental Protection Agency, 1944 - 2000
- General Records of the Department of Energy, 1915 - 2003
- Audiovisual Collection, 1957 - 2006
- Records of U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies, 1942 - 1961
- Records of the Cooperative State Research Service, 1888 - 1989
- Records of the Office of Education, 1870 - 1979
- Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, 1826 - 1981
- Records of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, 1876 - 1959
- Records of the Office of War Information, 1926 - 1951
- Records of the Agency for International Development, 1948 - 2003
- Series from Record Group 7: Records of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, 1863-1956
- Contact: Still Picture Records Section, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001. PHONE: 301-837-3530; FAX: 301-837-3621; EMAIL: stillpixorder@nara.gov
- Subjects Represented in the Archival Material:
- Agricultural experiment stations
Agricultural machinery
Agricultural research
Crops
Flowers
Insects
Clarksville (Montgomery county, Tennessee)
Columbus (Franklin county, Ohio)
Farmville (Chatham county, North Carolina)
Madison (Dane county, Wisconsin)
Phoenix (Maricopa county, Arizona)
Richmond (Virginia)
Ventura (Ventura county, California)
Whittier (Los Angeles county, California) - Contributors to Authorship and/or Production of the Archival Materials:
Department of Agriculture. Federal Horticultural Board. (08/21/1912 - 07/01/1928), Photographer - Scope & content: This series consists of images relating to entomological research conducted on plants and insects from 1898 to 1942. These images were collected primarily from offices within the Division of Entomology and later the Bureau of Entomology and Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. The photographs show experimental farm fields and orchards, agricultural research facilities, pests, insect damage to various crops, including mushrooms and potatoes; and insect eradication efforts. There are also images of agency research activities, including field work and various types of machinery and equipment used in Bureau facilities in Clarksville, Tennessee; Farmville, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Madison, Wisconsin; Phoenix, Arizona; Richmond, Virginia; Hogen, Utah; Whittier, California; and Ventura, California. In addition, there are a few of the photographs obtained from the Federal Horticultural Board that show flower bulbs, insect pests, insect damage to flowers, and pest eradication efforts.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Native Plant Sale: 5/9

The Friends of the UW Arboretum sponsor an annual Native Plant Sale, which will take place on May 9th from 9:00am-2:00pm, next to the Arboretum Visitor Center, Madison, Wisconsin.
More than a hundred species of native plants will be available. Information about soil and light conditions, bloom dates, plant height and color are provided for selection decisions.
Possible shrubs, vines & trees include:
- Blueberry
- Cranberry
- Dogwood
- Elderberry
- Hazelnut
- Hickory
- Ninebark
- Plum
- Viburnum
- Cinnamon fern
- Interrupted fern
- Lady fern
- Maidenhair fern
- Royal fern
- Sensitive fern
- Wood fern
- Anemone
- Baneberry
- Blue cohosh
- Dutchman's breeches
- Ginger, Wild
- Grass, Bottlebrsh
- Greendragon
- Jack-in-the-pulpit
- Jacob's Ladder
- Leek, Wild
- Mayapple
- Mitrewort
- Phlox, Wild Blue
- Sedge, Pennsylvania
- Solomon's Seal
- Trillium
- Trout lily
- Violet, Yellow Forest
- Alumroot
- Baptisia
- Bergamot
- Blue-eyes grass
- Boneset
- Butterfly weed
- Cardinal flower
- Compass plant
- Coneflower
- Culver's Root
- Cup plant
- False dragonhead
- Gentians
- Grass, Side-oats Grama
- Harebell
- Hyssop, Lavender
- Iris, Wild
- Ironweed
- Joe-pye weed
- Leadplant
- Liatris
- Lupine
- Petunia, Wild
- Prairie Smoke
- Prickly Pear Cactus
- Rattlesnake Master
- Shooting Star
- Spiderwort
- St. John's Wort
- Strawberry, Wild
- Thimbleweed
Top 100 Plant Science Questions

"How can plant scientists change the world?"
Initiated by researchers in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol, "100 Plant Science Questions" invites submissions of pressing plant-related research issues facing the world today. Deadline: March 31st, 2009.
A panel drawn from academia, the public services sector and the corporate world will screen submissions.
From the website:
"Plant science is helping to address many of the big issues facing society today, such as food security, biofuels, and the effects of climate change, but what are the key questions that you think the next generation of plant scientists should be addressing?
Anyone is welcome to contribute their question, including members of the general public; agriculture, horticulture and forestry industries; ecologists; charities; policy makers; food, fibre, fuel and pharmaceutical industries; funding bodies; and researchers."
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Horticulture scholarship

The Madison District of the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation invites applications through 4/15 for a $500 scholarship to a student planning to pursue a degree in a horticulture-related field of study (including landscape architecture, botany, conservation, forestry or environmental studies).
Eligible applicants must attend high school in a city in which a district club is located: Madison, Verona, Sun Prairie or Mount Horeb.
The WGCF, founded in 1928 to stimulate gardening knowledge, promote civic beauty and protect natural resources, is the largest volunteer gardening organization in the state.
Information on the scholarship is available in the administration offices of schools in the affected communities or by contacting Judith Niederberger, Madison District scholarship chair, at 608-845-7057.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Citrus fruit pathogen genome sequenced

"Citrus greening" (also known as Huanglongbing, HLB, or yellow dragon disease) is a tree disease, caused by the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and Candidatus Liberibacter africanus. The bacterium is transmitted by psyllid insects.
Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus' genetic sequence has been saved to GenBank, an open access database sponsored by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), a division of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Also of interest:
- Plant Pathology research guide
- "ARS scientists sequence citrus disease bacterium" (2/12/09)
- "Questions and answers: USDA’s federal order to prevent the spread of citrus greening and the Asian citrus psyllid" (July 2008)
- "Diversity of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” based on the omp gene sequence" (2005)
- "Ecology of the insect vectors of citrus systemic diseases and their control in Taiwan" (1998)
- "Report of a mission to Malaysia and Thailand (June 28 - July 9, 1990) on citrus greening disease"
- "Virus diseases of citrus" (1989)
- "Psyllids of America North of Mexico : (Psyllidae: Homoptera)" (1943)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Plant + insect movie archive

The Internet Archive is a non-profit organization that preserves public access to websites, out-of-copyright book texts, audio (including live music), and video in digital format. Over 158,000 movies can be watched online, or downloaded as files, including:
- Andy Leigh: Terrestrial Plant Ecophysiology (2008) - "Biologist Andrea Leigh speaks to Shannon Jones about her research into how leaves deal with heat." University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
- Gardening (1940) - "Follows a boy and a girl through a garden-raising project from the selection of seeds to the harvesting of the crops. Includes radishes, carrots, tomatoes and potatoes. Emphasizes aspects of soils, growth, role of the sun, insect pests and the various parts of plants used for food--leaves, stems, buds and roots."
- Goodbye, Mr. Roach (ca.1959) - "Detailed film about cockroaches, their habits and methods of extermination, with a harrowing sequence of roach nymphs hatching." Clemson College Extension Service.
- Goodbye, Mrs. Ant (1959) - "The life cycle and habits of the ant, and how to control and exterminate them with insecticides. Begins with a wonderful sequence in which we hear ants screaming "We're hungry! We're hungry!"" University of Georgia, Agricultural Extension Service.
- Hemp for Victory (1942) - "U.S. government propaganda film made during WWII touting the virtues of hemp. The film was aimed at farmers at a time when the miltary was facing a shortage of hemp, it shows how hemp is grown and processed into rope and other products."
- The Plow that Broke the Plains (1936) - "Classic drama which details the Great Plains during the Depression. With Cinematography by Leo Hurwitz, Ralph Steiner, Paul Ivano and Paul Strand. Selected for the 1999 National Film Registry of "artistically, culturally, and socially significant" films."
- The Southerner (1945) - "Jean Renoir's classic tale of a cotton picker (Zachary Scott) who moves his wife (Betty Field) and children to a run down farm in hopes that they can grow their own cotton and make for a better future."
- Weed Ecology: Competition (2008) - "[Powerpoint] lecture about crop/weed competition for resources." Andrew Kniss, University of Wyoming.
- Who Shall Reap? (1969) - "Insects or humans? Weeds, diseases, and other pestilence that confound farmers and threaten the worlds food supply."
- Zaagkii Wings & Seeds Project: Northern Michigan teens and KBIC tribal youth protecting pollinators (2008) - "Northern Michigan teens are on a mission to protect pollinators by helping butterflies and restoring native plants to areas of the Upper Peninsula."
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Wisconsin: Latest ag stats

The latest USDA Census of Agriculture was just released.
Wisconsin statistics:
- # of farms in 2007: 78,463 (#9 in U.S.A.)
- # of farms in 2002: 77,131
- # of acres in farms 2007: 15,190,804
- # of acres in farms 2002: 15,741,552
- Average # of acres per farm 2007: 194
- Average # of acres per farm 2002: 204
- Commodities raised and delivered under production contracts (vegetables, melons and potatoes) - 527 farms (#2 in USA)
Organic agriculture:
- 1,443 farms (#2 in USA)
- 147,120 acres (#4 in USA)
- $80,630,000 product sold (#4 in USA)
North American Industry Classification System:
- Oilseed and grain farming: 13,508 farms
- Vegetable and melon farming: 1,645 farms
- Fruit and tree nut farming: 1,320 farms
- Greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture operation: 2,147 farms
- Other crop farming: 22,081 farms (#5 in USA)
- Beef cattle ranching and farming: 11,593 farms
- Cattle feedlots: 2,485
- Dairy cattle and milk production: 13,081 farms (#1 in USA)
- Hog and pig farming: 989 farms
- Poultry and egg production: 2,297 farms
- Sheep and goat farming: 1,501 farms
- Animal aquaculture or other animal production: 5,816 farms - including 828 farms with colonies of bees
- Asparagus - 244 acres (#6 in USA)
- Green lima beans - 3,435 acres (#3 in USA)
- Snap beans - 70,885 acres (#1 in USA)
- Beets - 2,784 acres (#1 in USA)
- Head cabbage - 5,990 acres (#6 in USA)
- Carrots - 3,988 acres (#4 in USA)
- Cucumbers and pickles - 6,084 acres (#8 in USA)
- Ginseng - 554 acres (#1 in USA)
- Peas, Chinese (sugar and snow) - 69 acres (#5 in USA)
- Green peas (excluding Southern) - 37,405 acres (#3 in USA)
- Potatoes - 63,933 acres (#4 in USA)
- Pumpkins - 3,600 acres (#8 in USA)
- Winter squash 823 acres (#8 in USA)
- Sweet corn - 91,218 acres (#3 in USA)
- Corn for grain - 437,174,706 bushels
- Corn for silage or greenchop - 11,645,140 tons (#2 in USA)
- Mint for oil, All (pounds) - 325,782 (#5 in USA)
- Oats for grain - 11,122,339 bushels
- Soybeans for beans - 54,701,222 bushels
- Sunflower seed - 4,449,621 pounds
- Apples - 6,406 acres (#7 in USA)
- Cherries - 2,567 acres (#3 in USA)
- Cranberries - 18,696 acres (#1 in USA)
- Currants - 11 acres (#4 in USA)
- Raspberries - 286 acres (#9 in USA)
- Aquatic plants - 1,342,175 dollars in sales (#7 in USA)
- Flower seeds - 1,718,916 dollars in sales (#4 in USA)
- Greenhouse fruits and berries - 28,927 dollars in sales (#4 in USA)
- Mushrooms - 2,057,661 dollars in sales (#4 in USA)
- Maple syrup - 108,108 gallons produced (#4 in USA)
- Forage - land used for all hay and all haylage, grass silage, and greenchop (tons, dry equivalent) - 8,528,063 (#3 in USA)
- Alfalfa hay (tons, dry) - 3,673,619 (#6 in USA)
- All haylage, grass silage, and greenchop - 8,446,369 green tons (#1 in USA)
- Hay, haylage, grass silage, and greenchop - 8,528,063 dry tons (#4 in USA)
- Haylage or greenchop from alfalfa or alfalfa mixtures (tons, green) - 7,931,573 (#1 in USA)
- Honey - 4,167,522 pounds collected
- Manure - 2,011,176 acres treated
- Commercial fertilizer, lime, and soil conditioners - 6,988,477 acres treated
- Chemicals to control weeds, grass, or brush - 5,227,166 acres treated
- Chemicals to control insects - 2,125,800 acres treated
- Chemicals to control diseases in crops and orchards - 251,421 acres treated
- Chemicals to control nematodes - 128,798 acres treated
- Chemicals to control growth, thin fruit, ripen, or defoliate - 67,308 acres treated