The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) is the Connecticut state government's agricultural experiment station, a state government component that engages in scientific research and public outreach in agriculture and related fields. It is the oldest state experiment station in the United States, having been founded in 1875. Its official mission is to "develop, advance, and disseminate scientific knowledge, improve agricultural productivity and environmental quality, protect plants, and enhance human health and well-being through research for the benefit of Connecticut residents and the nation." The station operates a main research campus in New Haven, a research farm in Hamden, a satellite research facility and farm in Windsor, and a research farm in Griswold. The Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station is a separate agricultural research agency, founded in 1887 and part of the University of Connecticut, which also receives state and federal funding.
This study evaluated the efficacy of various bioactive extracts (BEs) as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fungicides for controlling postharvest peduncular rot caused by Fusarium falciforme and F. sulawesiense in ‘Yellow’ melon (Cucumis melo L.). Under in vitro conditions, all tested extracts - eucalyptus extract (EUE), brown propolis extract (BPE), red propolis extract (RPE), green propolis extract (GPE), and pyroligneous extract (PYE) - demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of fungal growth, with the highest efficacy observed at 8% (v/v) concentration. Notably, PYE and RPE emerged as the most potent inhibitors, exhibiting statistically significant differences compared to the other treatments. This superior activity was likely due attributed to the high concentrations of acetic acid, phenols, and isoflavonoids, which are known to disrupt fungal membrane integrity and mitochondrial function. In in vivo assays, BEs application significantly reduced postharvest peduncular rot severity did not compromising the physicochemical quality of the fruits. Critical parameters, such as total soluble solids (TSS) and pH, remained stable across treatments, indicating that these bio-based solutions can successfully replace conventional fungicides (e.g., fludioxonil) without impacting the marketability of melon fruits. Biochemical analysis revealed that the extracts significantly increased the activities of oxidative defense enzymes, including catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX), alongside key phenylpropanoid pathway enzymes, namely phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). This induction of the host’s defense system, coupled with a concomitant reduction in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels, suggests that BEs mitigate disease by promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification and tissue lignification in postharvest melon fruit. Based on in vitro and in vivo data, bioactive extracts, particularly RPE and GPE, are highly effective at suppressing Fusarium species while preserving essential postharvest fruit quality. These findings offer a promising, eco-friendly strategy for managing postharvest decay in melon production systems destined for premium international markets.
Subtropical forests play a key role in sequestering atmospheric methane (CH4), but rising nitrogen (N) deposition often suppresses soil CH4 uptake. Biochar amendment has emerged as a promising approach to counteract this inhibitory effect; however, its effectiveness and underlying mechanisms remain unclear in subtropical forest soils. In a three-year field study, we evaluated the effects of N deposition (60 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)) and biochar amendment (10 t ha(-1)), individually and combined, on soil CH4 uptake, physicochemical properties, and microbial activities. Results showed that N deposition reduced annual CH4 uptake by 17-23 %, while biochar alone increased this value by 11-25 %. When applied under N deposition, biochar led to a 26-42 % increase in annual CH4 uptake. This enhancement was linked to increased water-soluble organic carbon level and elevated abundance of pmoA gene that encodes particulate methane monooxygenase, along with reduced concentrations of water-soluble organic nitrogen, NH4+-N and NO3--N, and decreased abundance of mcrA gene that encodes methylcoenzyme M reductase. These changes enhanced CH4 oxidation rates and lowered CH4 production rates, resulting in higher soil CH4 uptake. The study highlights the capacity of biochar to strengthen soil CH4 absorption within subtropical forests under N deposition by modulating carbon and nitrogen fractions and microbial functions. Applied at scale, biochar amendment in Moso bamboo forests across China could increase annual soil CH4 uptake by approximately 6478 tons, offering a promising strategy for climate change mitigation.
Straw and biochar amendments markedly influence soil N2O emissions in subtropical Moso bamboo forests, but the microbial mechanisms driving these responses remain elusive. This study aimed to assess the contrasting influences of maize straw and its derived biochar on soil N2O emissions in a subtropical Moso bamboo forest. Straw amendment (5 t C ha−1) stimulated N2O emission by 16–27
More than a century after two introduced pathogens killed billions of American chestnut trees, introgression of resistance alleles from Chinese chestnuts has contributed to the recovery of self-sustaining populations. However, progress has been slow because of the complex genetic architecture of resistance. To better understand blight resistance, we compared reference genomes, gene expression responses, and stem metabolite profiles of the resistant Chinese and susceptible American chestnut species. To accelerate resistance breeding, we conducted large-scale phenotyping and genotyping in hybrids of these species. Simulation and inoculation experiments suggest that significant resistance gains are possible through selectively breeding trees with an average of 70 to 85% American chestnut ancestry. The resources developed in this work are foundational for breeding to create diverse restoration populations with sufficient disease resistance and competitive growth.
Ostrinia nubilalis is an introduced pest in North America. Populations show variation in sex pheromone communication where strains use predominately E11- or Z11-tetradecenyl acetate and seasonal timing of voltine ecotypes categorized by the duration of post-diapause development (PDD). Larval damage to corn has been effectively controlled for decades with hybrids that produce Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystalline (Cry) insecticidal proteins. Resistance to Bt field corn hybrids occurred in Canada, but not in the United States. Here, we documented in Connecticut the first instance of O. nubilalis injury of Bt sweet corn with Cry1Ab and Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2 that are active against O. nubilalis during 2023 and 2024. The severity of O. nubilalis injury in stalks did not differ between Bt and their non-Bt isoline hybrids during 2023. After flail-mowing in 2023 in accordance with resistance management, pressure was reduced in Bt hybrids but remained consistent in non-Bt isolines during the 2024 growing season. Genotyping of O. nubilalis collected in this study showed that the population sample in Connecticut is mainly E-pheromone strain with a long-PDD time. Genotype results at 4 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers within abcc2 that were previously reported as linked to O. nubilalis resistance to Cry1Fa corn, may not be linked to O. nubilalis resistance to Cry1Ab and Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2 corn. The resistance frequency, geographic distribution, and genetic basis of practical resistance to Cry1Ab and Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2 corn in Connecticut remain uncertain. The persistence and potential spread of Bt resistance threaten the sustainability of management practices.
