Crops Science Tile 5 and 6

Climate

patterns of variation in meteorological factors over a large area formed over many layers (time)

Weather

Environmental condition described by the short-term variations in meteorological factors within a local area

Meteorologist

An individual who studies the environment factors that define weather and climate

Troposphere

Layer of atmosphere nearest the earth’s surface. 0-10 miles high

Stratosphere

A layer of atmosphere spanning 10-50 miles from the earth’s surface

High Pressure

Can bring in wind and sun causing temps to rise

Low Pressure

Can bring rain, hurricane/tropical storms are considered low press

Hopkins Bioclimatic Law

Planting and harvesting are delayed by 4 day every 1 degree latitude, 5 degress longitude, and 400 feet of altitude.

Latitude

Is measured N to S but RUNS E to W. (horizontal)

Longitude

Is measured E to W but RUNS N to S (vertical)

Unseasonable Weather Patterns

Measurable Stress, temperature stress, and natural disasters

Factors that affect Wheat

Frost, variety, and maturity group

Microclimate

the atmospheric Environmental conditions in the immediate vicinity of the plant

El Nino

Souther Oscillation, a weather system responsible for warming of the tropical pacific water.

La nina

The in between phase before the phases/patterns switch

What is BT and how is it used?

• BT= Bacillus Thuringiensis

• It is a soil bacteria that was but into corn that produces a crystal protein that wards off/kills pests like the European Corn Borer from eating the corn.

Examples of Cross Pollination

Alfalfa, Corn, Potato, rye, sunflower, sweet potato

Examples of Self Pollination

barley, clover, cotton, oat, peanut, rice, sorgum, soybean

Translation

The biological process by which a cell uses the genetic info encoded in mRNA

Reverse Transcription

The biological process of synthesizing complementary DNA from an RNA template

Transcription

The Biological process of making an RNA copy from a DNA sequence.

Steps of creating GMO’S

1. Identify the trait

2. Isolate the trait

3. Insert the trait

4. Propagate/breed

Transgenic Plant

Plant whose genotype consists of the introduced foreign DNA from an unrelated source.

Recombinant DNA

The biotechnology whereby genes can be mixed across biological barriers

Biotechnology

a collection of tools used to manipulate organisms or use them to make products

Back Cross Method

Conservative breeding method and used to transfer qualitative genes

Pedigree Method

• Success depends on the operator’s skill and ability to identify desirable individuals

• The method is very long; it takes years to develop a cultivar

Mass Selection Breeding

Is an inclusive strategy whereby only atypical materials are discarded.

Cross Pollination

The transfer of pollen from the anthers of one flower to the stigma of another plants flower.

Self Pollination

The transfer of pollen from the anthers (dad) of a plant to the stigmas (mom) of flowers of the plant.

Central Dogma of Molecular biology

DNA → (Transcription)→ RNA → Translation → Protein

law of Independent Assortment

Pair of alleles of a gene controlling different traits separate independently of each other during gamete formation and form zygotes.

Law of Segregation

pair of alleles of a gene separate Independently during gamete formation

Phenotype

the appearance of an organism as a result of the combined influence of genetic makeup

Genotype

The genetic makeup of a cell or an organism

Allele

One of two or more alternate forms of a gene (dominant or recessive)

Gene

The basic unit comprised of DNA and determines the synthesis of a particular polypeptide

What are the objectives in crop breeding

• Resistance to disease, insects, drought, cold, lodging, and alkali soils.

• Adaptaion to photoperiods, short and long seasons

• feed qualtiy

• market quality

• seed quality

• Higher viability

• Growth Habits

• Prostate Stems

• More or Less Tillering

• Harvest Quality

• Uniform Flowering

What does Civilization Need?

• Food

• Fiber

• Pharma

Crop Improvement

A process of developing and breeding crops based on the needs of human civilization.