Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

5-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Alexis Racelis

Second Advisor

Dr. Robin Choudhury

Third Advisor

Dr. Pushpa Soti

Abstract

Sunn hemp (Crotalaria junceae) is an emerging cover crop with many reported benefits such as nitrogen fixation, carbon sequestration, and suppression of weeds and nematodes. Relatively little is known about appropriate ways to inoculate sunn hemp ensuring nitrogen fixation, and diseases that affect sunn hemp within the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Four sticking agents, peanut oil, jaggery, gum arabic, and water used to aid inoculation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum in sunn hemp was checked on nodulation. Water treatment was least effective. Peanut oil and jaggery treatment showed better performance in overall total nodules, and active nodules. Gum arabic exhibited better main root nodulation and jaggery exhibited best lateral root nodulation. Survey of diseased sunn hemp pathogens found many fungal isolates from diseased sunn hemp, and cross inoculation studies and pathogenicity assays on healthy sunn hemp and sorghum determined some fungal isolates could host on both suggesting a green bridge.

Comments

Copyright 2021 Qulina Rai. All Rights Reserved.

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/utrgv.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/practical-challenges-using-sunn-hemp-as-cover/docview/2570989216/se-2?accountid=7119

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