Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

A newsletter for faculty, staff and students

November-December 2004 • Vol. 30, No. 6

People and Events

Departments, Centers, Branch Stations, other units and individuals may submit items to Amalie Holland, AGCS, AGRI 110 (ahollan@uark.edu). Eligible items include recent unit events, coming events, invited presentations, awards, foreign trips, election to leadership positions, new faculty and staff, retirements, etc. Include jpg photos @72 dpi.

Administration

Mark Power has been appointed to the board of directors for the National Agricultural Alumni and Development Association (NAADA). Power will help coordinate activities for development professionals at annual conferences and other events as needed and will serve a term of two years as the development track representative.

Agricultural and Extension Education

The American Society of Agricultural Engineers recognized the University of Arkansas’s Bachelor of Science degree program in Agricultural Systems Technology Management following a program review. ASAE recognition is granted for six years before another review. 

Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Department head Lalit Verma has been named to the board of directors of the national Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology for university programs in applied science, computing, engineering and technology. The board is a federation of 30 professional and technical societies. It currently accredits some 2,600 programs at more than 550 colleges and universities.

Zhihui Liu, Abani Pradhan, Xiaole Mao and Madhukar Varshney presented their posters on flow-through electrolyzing chamber, microbial risk assessment model, DNA biosensor, and nanobead separation method at the Arkansas Section of ASAE 2004 Annual Meeting in Little Rock on October 1. Liu and Pradhan won the first and second prizes in the Graduate Student Poster Competition.

Yanbin Li gave a talk on immunosensors for rapid detection of foodborne pathogens, and Xiaoli Su and Madhukar Varshney presented their posters on QCM biosensors and magnetic immuno-nanoparticles at the Food Safety Consortium 2004 Annual Meeting in Ames October 3-5. Dr. Li also gave an invited presentation at the 2004 CIGR (International Commission of Agricultural Engineering) International Conference in Beijing October 11-14 titled “Microfluidics based biosensors for rapid detection of E. coli O157:H7.” Dr. Li gave an invited presentation, titled “Brief introduction of biological engineering programs at the University of Arkansas,” at the International Forum on Biosystems Engineering Programs October 16-18 in Hangzhou, China.

Sreekala Bajwa attended the 2004 ASPRS Fall meeting in Kansas City September 13-16 and presented a paper titled “Spatial modeling of soil compaction with geographically weighted regression.” Dr. Bajwa also attended the America View annual meeting at EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls September 19-23.

Dennis Gardisser was awarded the state and regional award, "Aviation Safety Counselor of the Year," from the FAA this past Saturday at the annual Safety Counselor training workshop in Mountain View. This is a competitive award selected from applicants throughout Arkansas at the state level, and throughout Texas and surrounding states for the FAA regional level. Dr. Gardisser received a letter of congratulations from John Knight, Director of the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics and Governor Mike Huckabee.

J.-W. Kim, Steve Tung and R. Deaton gave an invited presentation, “Interfacing Micro-/Nano-Scale Biological and Abiological Materials for Bio/Abio Hybrid Systems,” at the 206th Meeting of the Electrochemical Society (Biological Nanostructures, Materials, and Applications Session) October 3-8 in Honolulu. Steve Tung and Dr. Kim also gave the invited presentation, “Flagellar Motor Based Micro Hybrid Devices,” at the 26th Annual International Conference IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS), Sept. 1-5 in San Francisco, and chaired the Technical Track under Technical Theme 4 – Micro- and Nano-Biotechnology – “Artificial Cells: Hybrid Devices Integrating Cell Machinery and Micro/Nano Sensors.”

Graduate Assistant Subodh Kulkarni and Dan Humburg, Associate Professor at SDSU, Brookings, presented "Modeling Sugar beet Quality Variables from Satellite Images and Canopy Spectral Indices" at the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Annual Meeting in Denver on May 24-28 and at the ASAE annual conferences in Ottawa August 1- 4. Kulkarni also wrote a paper on "Soil Compaction Modeling with GIS and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR)" for the fall ASPRS conferences in Kansas City September 12-16. Dr. Bajwa coauthored and presented the paper.

Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences

Graduate student Carrie Hawkins spent a very rewarding week (October 17) with Dr. Martin Shipitalo, an ARS (Agricultural Research Service) scientist, observing and working in his research program. Dr. Shipitalo is internationally recognized for his research on earthworms and their effect on water movement, especially with respect to protection of the environment and crop production. Ms. Hawkins worked with Dr. Shipitalo in the field at Wooster, Ohio, and in the laboratory at North Appalachian Experimental Watershed in Coshocton, Ohio. Ms. Hawkins is working with E. Moye Rutledge, and her thesis concerns the influence of earthworms on soil renovation of septic tank effluent. Dr. Rutledge says that Ms. Hawkins was exceptionally fortunate to spend a week working shoulder-to-shoulder with such an outstanding scientist.

James McD. Stewart spent 10 days, August 19-28, in China as the guest of Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei and the Chinese Cotton Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agriculture Science, Anyang, Henan. While in China, he attended the Plant Genomics in China-5 meeting August 20-22, where he gave a presentation entitled “Identification and characterization of stress-ameliorating genes induced by abiotic stress in rice,” coauthored by W. Antoine, M.R. Morsy and B.G. de los Reyes. Dr. Stewart also made a presentation, “Collection, evaluation and utilization of Gossypium Germplasm,” to the cotton research group at Huazhong Agricultural University. While visiting CCRI in Anyang August 27-28, he presented a lecture, “Gossypium genes expressed during drought, and evaluation of Gossypium germplasm,” coauthored by PhD student D. Hendrix and Research Associate Chunda Feng.

Dr. Stewart also spent eight days in India as the guest of Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (Mahyco). While in India, he attended the Fourth International Cotton Genome Initiative Workshop October 10-13, Hyberabad, Andha Pradesh. At the workshop he presented an invited paper, “Genes induced by water-deficit stress in tolerant Gossypium genotypes,” coauthored by Bill Hendrix,Chunda Feng, T.A. Wilkins and Derrick Oosterhuis. He also coauthored a volunteered presentation, “Evaluation of germplasm with microsatellites,” with M. Ulloa, Y.H. Park and J.E. Frelichowski. While visiting Mahyco in Jalna, Maharashtra October 14-15, he presented dual seminars, “A Fable—(the need for germplasm diversity)” and “Genes regulated by water deficit in cotton.”

Derrick Oosterhuis gave three invited presentations at the International Symposium on Strategies for Sustainable Cotton Production in Dharwad, India on  November 23-25, 2004.  The titles of his presentations were: "Enhancement of cotton growth and yield with imidacloprid", "Increased protein, endotoxin, insect mortality and yield with Atonik", and "Optimum blends for higher yarn quality and lower cost".  He also gave a presentation to Bayer CropScience India in Mumbai on November 30, 2004 entitled "Effects of environmental stress on cotton plant growth." Dr. Oosterhuis spent two weeks in June at the University of Thessaly in Greece conducting research on temperature effects on yield, as well as giving lectures on cotton physiology. He also gave an invited talk at the First Australian Fluid Fertilizer Workshop at the University of Adelaide on September 22.

Entomology

Fiona Goggin gave a presentation entitled “Acquired and innate resistance to aphid infestation in tomato” at the International Symposium on Insect-Plant Interactions in Berlin on August 8.

Sheri McElroy and Vanessa Ware each won first place in their respective sections in the Student Competition Display Presentations at the Entomological Society of America's national meeting poster competition. McElroy's poster was entered inStudent Competition Display Presentations, Section D. Medical and Veterinary Entomology and was titled “Molecular assay for the detection of Cochlosoma anatis in house flies and turkey specimens by polymerase chain reaction.” Sheri McElroy1, Allen L. Szalanski1, Tanja McKay1, Alex Bermudez2 and C. Dayton Steelman1, (1)Univ. of Arkansas, Dept. of Entomology, Fayetteville, AR, (2)Univ. of Missouri, Dept. of Veterinary Pathobiology, Columbia, MO. Ware's poster was entered inStudent Competition Display Presentations, Section Cd. Behavior and Ecology and was titled:  “Red oak borer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) larval mortality resulting from intraguild predation.” Vanessa L. Ware and Fred M. Stephen, Univ. of Arkansas, Dept. of Entomology, Fayetteville, AR

Food Science

Two Food Science alumni, Cheryll Reitmeier, associate head and professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University, and Jan Doherty, a food industry consultant in Dallas, returned to the department as guest speakers for a special seminar Oct. 29. Students, faculty and staff joined in to learn more about “Food Science Careers,” “Experiences with Food Product Development” and “Food Product Development Competitions.” 

Devon Cameron, Sheau Wen Chong, Daris Kuakpetoon, and Ya-Jane Wang authored or co-authored 4 poster presentations at the American Association of Cereal Chemists annual meeting in San Diego Oct. 19-22.

Horticulture

John R. Clark was recently elected Vice-President Elect for Research for the American Society for Horticultural Science. In this office he represents research issues of the organization and serves on its board of directors. Dr. Clark recently served on a review team for Washington State University and the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission as an evaluator of the tree fruit breeding programs in Wenatchee and Prosser, Washington. He was also invited as a participant in the Fruit Genomics Roadmap Workshop sponsored by USDA-ARS in Baltimore.

Poultry Science

David Chapman gave invited presentations on the control of coccidiosis to poultry producers in Thailand and Malaysia, July 5-17, and was the invited keynote speaker at the meeting of the World's Veterinary Poultry Association in Forli, Italy, Oct. 8.

James Denton served as Chairman of the National Alliance for  Food Safety and Security Operations Committee and Board of Directors Meetings in Phoenix, AZ on Aug. 7. Denton conducted a HACCP workshop in collaboration with Rich Linton and John Marcy and Jon Porter at Purdue University, Sept. 27-29. He gave an invited presentation during the National Turkey Federation Technical Regulatory Committee Meeting in Washington DC on Oct. 11-12; served as program chairman for the IFT International Food Safety and Quality Conference during the  IFT fall meetings held in Chicago Oct. 23-24, participated in the National Advisory Committee for Meat and Poultry Inspection Meeting in Washington Nov. 15-17; and served as chairman of the subcommittee reviewing the issue of developing a data depository to help FSIS anticipate food borne hazards.

Gisela Erf gave an invited talk at the Avian Immunology Research Group Meeting in Munich, Germany, on "the delayed wattle response in chickens - a measure of cell-mediated immunity" Sept. 4-7. This talk was based on research conducted by Erf’s Honors student Indu Ramachandran. She also gave an invited talk on Cell-mediated immunity in poultry: cells, cytokines and mechanisms in Mexico (Nov. 19) at a Symposium on Avian Immunology offered by ANECA (Asociacion Nacional de Especialistas en Ciencias Avicolas) in the city of Queretaro.

Jason Emmert was awarded the Poultry Federation Endowed Chair Oct.13 at the CEPS, and he recently received the National Award for Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences for the Southern Region. This award was presented by the USDA on Nov. 14 at the 117th Annual National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) meeting in San Diego.

Yanbin Li gave an invited presentation at 2004 CIGR (International Commission of Agricultural Engineering) International Conference in Beijing, China, October 11-14, 2004. The title was "Microfluidics based biosensors for rapid detection of E. coli O157:H7." He also gave an invited presentation, titled "Brief introduction of biological engineering programs at the University of Arkansas," at the International Forum on Biosystems Engineering Programs, October 16-18, 2004, Hangzhou, China.

Casey Owens presented "Eggs as Ingredients" in the National Egg Products School in Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 10-14. And Poultry 101 was held at Auburn University, Oct 19-21. Owens is a program planner for Poultry 101 and represented the University of Arkansas.

Park Waldroup gave presentations on “Enzymes for Corn-soybean meal diets” at the Central America and Caribbean Poultry Congress, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and “Recent Research in Broiler Nutrition” at the Arkansas Nutrition Conference in Rogers.

Susan Watkins served on the selection committee for the U. S. Poultry and Egg Family Farm Environmental Award. She gave invited presentations at the Egg Production and Health Seminar, the Georgia Poultry Conference in Athens, the Turkey Committee Meeting in Eureka Springs, the OSU Poultry Waste Management Annual Update in Poteau and Spiro, Okla., the Poultry Service Industry Workshop in Banff, Alberta, Canada, and at 11 poultry industry locations. Watkins also served as co-chair of the National Poultry Waste Management Symposium in Memphis.

Robert Wideman, Jr., was appointed to the board of directors of the National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR), which is a coalition of 20 national organizations, 43 universities and one corporation. Its mission is to sustain and enhance federal funding for food and agricultural research, extension and education. The Federation of Animal Science Societies nominated Wideman for service on the C-FAR board.

Poultry Judging Team members are (front, from left) Valerie Brewer, Ashley Swaffar and Neda Tilley; (back row) Dr. Jason Emmert (coach), Josh Evatt (alternate), Dustin Biery and LeAnn Layman (assistant coach).

The University of Arkansas Poultry Judging Team took first place at the National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest held Nov. 8-9. Members of the team are Dustin Biery from Fayetteville, Valerie Brewer from Prairie Grove, Ashley Swaffar from Farmington and Neda Tilley from Leslie. Alternate was Josh Evatt from Vilonia. Tilley also took high-point individual overall and Brewer took fifth place overall.

Zhihui Liu, PhD student of Yanbin Li’s, won the first prize of the Graduate Poster Competition at the Arkansas Section of ASAE 2004 annual meeting Oct. 1 in Little Rock. His poster title was "The mechanism, scale up, and pilot plant scale test of a flow-through electrolyzing chamber for in-line inactivation of Listeria in recirculated chilling brine." Abani Pradhan, also a PhD student of Yanbin Li’s, won the second prize at the same meeting. His poster title was "A quantitative microbial risk assessment model for Salmonella typhimurium in poultry processing."

Jada Thompson, freshman from Lincoln, took 2nd place in the nation for the Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ken.

Southeast Research and Extension Center

Jeremy K. Greene attended the XXII International Congress of Entomology—Strength in Diversity in Brisbane, Australia, August 15-21. Dr. Greene presented a volunteered paper entitled “Managing Stink Bugs in Cotton in Southeastern United States of America,” which was co-authored by Gus Lorenz, Glenn Studebaker, Randy Luttrell, and Charles Capps. Dr. Greene was also a co-presenter of another presentation at the same meeting on “Cotton IPM Program in Arkansas,” co-authored by Gus Lorenz and Glenn Studebaker.