Potential Nematicidial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Against the Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne Incognita)

Gregory C. Bernard1*, Jacob Fitch1, Byungjin Min2, Naresh Shahi2, Marceline Egnin1, Inocent Ritte1, Willard E Collier3, and Conrad Bonsi1 1 Department of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, USA 2 Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Tuskegee University, USA 3 Department of Chemistry, Tuskegee University, USA

Nematode collection and preparation

Meloidogyne incognita race three juveniles were collected from infested soil and suspended in 1ml of sterile tap water. Approximately 100-160 nematodes were placed in 1 ml microcentrifuge tubes and treated with 0.0005 ug AgNPs suspended in 0.05 mg chitosan/0.005% lactic acid at 1min, 24 hr and 48 hr intervals, incubated at 28o C. Nematodes treated with 0.05 mg ug of chitosan and 0.005% lactic acid served as controls

Biomagnetics and Molecular Responses in Plants

Lockett *, M. Egnin, I. L. Mitchell, I. Ritte, A. Brown, O. Idehen, D. Mortley. C. Bonsi, and G.C. Bernard

Dept. of Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences

1200 W Montgomery Rd, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088

Plants sense and respond to environmental stimuli (light wavelengths, gravity, touch, electromagnetic stimulation) with alterations at the molecular level, which are expressed through physiological changes in growth and development. Some reports suggest that plants exposed to magnetic fields have shown a variety of physiological responses. Although magnetic field exposure effects to stimulate growth are well-documented, the molecular impact of geomagnetic field exposure effects in plants is not well-understood. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of magnetoreception dynamisms in plants necessitates more in-depth approaches. The objectives of this study are to 1) screen plant metabolomics responses and the secondary metabolite expression to magnetic fields through by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) -electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS) 2) identify the effects of magnetic fields in plants by transcriptome profiling to characterize genetic responses and potential differential gene expression patterns in exposed plants. The proposed study can contribute to the fundamental understanding of magnetic field effects on plant development through a comprehensive molecular approach.

Keywords: biomagnetism, plants, molecular and transcriptomic profiling, magnetic fields

Topic Area: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products
Type of Presentation: Poster
Presenter’s Name: Andrea Lockett
Affiliation: CAENS, Tuskegee University
Presenter’s Classification: Graduate Student
Presenter’s email: alockett7364@tuskegee.edu

The Use of Autonomous Robots to Address Labor Demands and Improve Efficacy in Agriculture