Use of strigolactone for stress relief and increased productivity in high-yielding environments

Harmon, Andrew William

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/97380 Copy

Description

Title

Use of strigolactone for stress relief and increased productivity in high-yielding environments

Author(s)

Harmon, Andrew William

Issue Date

2017-04-24

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Below, Frederick E.

Committee Member(s)

• Moose, Stephen P.
• Huber, Steve C

Department of Study

Crop Sciences

Discipline

Crop Sciences

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

Strigolactone

Abstract

Due to the projected global population increase, food production will need to increase by 60 percent. Of this food production increase, 90 percent is projected to originate from intensified management and increases in yield. Producers will need to utilize new technologies in order for food production to reach its fullest potential. Strigolactones have recently been classified as plant growth regulators, as they have been implicated in the regulation of shoot inhibition and root growth and development. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of a strigolactone to increase the grain yield of corn (Zea mays L) in combination with varying levels of crop management. This study was conducted in Champaign, IL in 2015 and in Harrisburg, Champaign, and Yorkville, IL in 2016. Treatment applications were designed to evaluate the strigolactone analog AB-01, developed by Asilomar Bio, Inc, as either a seed treatment or foliar application. Hybrids in this study were evaluated at planting densities of 79,000, 88,000, and 108,600 plants ha-1. In no instance, when averaged over locations, management level, or hybrid, did strigolactone treatments significantly increase grain yield. However, foliar applications of AB-01 resulted in a significant reduction in yield when grown at Champaign in 2016. Although the AB-01 seed treatment had no impact on root biomass accumulation at the planting densities of 79,000 or 88,800 plant ha-1, there was significant increase in R6 root biomass accumulation in response to the AB-01 seed treatment when grown under the intensive management system that utilized a planting density of 108,600 plants ha-1, suggesting strigolactone may be an effective strategy for increasing root growth under high planting populations.

Graduation Semester

2017-05

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/97380

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2017 Andrew Harmon

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