Browsing by Author "Wells, M Scott"

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    Alfalfa leaf protein concentrate: A sustainable protein source for aquaculture feeds
    (2019) Samac, Deborah A; Coburn, Jessica E M; Phelps, Nicholas B. D.; Wells, M Scott
    Interest in local, sustainable aquaculture is continuing to expand across the United States. To ensure profitability and high consumer acceptance, a plant-based non-GMO source of protein is needed for replacing fishmeal in aquaculture diets. Most replacements in current use are derived from seeds, and often contain undesirable antinutritional components. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a high biomass perennial legume that is grown across the U.S. for use in animal feeds. We evaluated the yield and composition of protein concentrates derived from fresh alfalfa foliage. Furthermore, a commercial alfalfa protein concentrate (APC) was used to replace fishmeal in diets for yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Weight gains, growth rate, and feed conversion ratios were measured.
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    Lignin reduction in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) does not affect foliar disease resistance
    (2018) Samac, Deborah A; Ao, Samadangla; Dornbusch, Melinda R; Grev, Amanda M; Wells, M Scott; Martinson, Krishona; Sheaffer, Craig C
    Disruptions in the lignin biosynthetic pathway have been shown to reduce disease resistance in a number of crops. Recently, genetically modified alfalfa (Medicago sativa) varieties have been marketed with reduced lignin and improved forage quality traits, including increased digestibility by ruminants at later stages of plant maturity. The objective of this study was to compare foliar disease resistance in three reference alfalfa varieties, 54R02, DKA43-22RR, WL355.RR, and the reduced lignin variety, 54HVX41, to evaluate the effect of the reduced lignin trait on foliar disease resistance. Alfalfa plants in research plots at three locations in Minnesota were evaluated for percent defoliation caused by foliar pathogens at four maturity stages; early bud, bud, early flower, and flowering; with natural inoculum. Spring black stem and leaf spot, Leptosphaerulina leaf spot, and common leaf spot were observed from June through September in all locations on all varieties. Summer black stem and leaf spot was most prevalent in August on all varieties at one location. The amount of defoliation increased with maturity stage for all varieties. When harvest was delayed until the flowering stage, moderate to severe (32 to 64%) leaf loss occurred, depending on location. Alfalfa varieties did not differ in percent defoliation at any maturity stage indicating that the reduced lignin trait did not affect foliar disease resistance.
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    Winter oilseed pollinators in IA and MN in 2017 and 2018
    (2020-07-10) Forcella, Frank; Patel, Swetabh; Lenssen, Andrew W; Hoerning, Cody; Wells, M Scott; Gesch, Russ W; Berti, Marisol T; mswells@umn.edu; Wells, M Scotty; UMN CAP Study Team
    Data include observations of insect pollinators visiting flowers of two winter oilseed crops (field pennycress and winter camelina) at three sites during the flowering seasons of 2017 and 2018. Two sites were in Minnesota and one site in Iowa each year. The value of these data are that they document an important agroecosystem service provided by the two novel winter oilseed crops. The purpose of saving the data files in the Digital Conservancy is to abide by new journal requirements that call for universal access to data used in professional qualifications.