Duties as Research Associate
includes
working as primary researcher on certain projects and assisting others
on their projects. Studies currently being conducted include Pierce’s Disease of
grapevines, Total Nitrogen Determination of rice plant
tissue, and
a Rice Project which is a field scale study of carbon, water,
and energy flow in irrigated rice.
- The Pierce’s
Disease
of grapevine study concerns leafhoppers (Cicadellidae), the vectors
of the casual agent, Xylella fastidiosa. This study involves
travel through-out the state to numerous grape vineyards. At each
vineyard, transects are laid out in each quadrant for sweep net and
sticky card placement. Captured leafhoppers are collected and later
identified
as to genus and species. Data from this study will provide valuable
information as to population sizes and movements of those leafhoppers
known to be vectors of Pierce’s disease.
- Total nitrogen
determination
of rice plant tissue, including roots, culms, leaves, and panicles,
involved extensive literature review and experimentation. To determine
total nitrogen in plant tissue it is necessary to first break down
organic nitrogen. This is achieved utilizing an alkaline potassium
persulfate digestion described by Purcell and King (1996). After
digestion,
the resulting nitrates are reduced to nitrites using a cadmium mediated
reduction similar to that described by Vodovotz (1996). Nitrites
are then quantified using the Griess assay.
- The rice
project involves
design and layout of research plots and collecting data concerning
the growth and development of various rice genotypes. Data collected
includes leaf and tiller measurements, chlorophyll content of leaves
(measured in SPAD units), and samples taken for total nitrogen
determination
and total non-structural carbohydrates.
- Additional
duties
include hiring and training of student workers and procuring any
and all equipment necessary for field and laboratory work.
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