Megachile rotundata (F.), an adventive, gregarious, cavity-nesting, leaf cutting bee, is used throughout North America for the pollination of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., seed crops. We examined the inßuence of various postcocooning (prewintering) temperature regimes on development, survival, emergence time, and longevity in both nondiapausing and diapausing forms of this species. Diapausing ma...

Traces of luteolin, an important rhizobial nod gene inducer in Rhizobium meliloti, are released by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seeds, but most luteolin in the seed exudate is conjugated as luteolin-7-O-glucoside (L7G). Processes affecting the production of luteolin from L7G in seed exudate are poorly understood. Results from this study establish that (a) seed coats are the primary source of fl...

The role of mutualistic interactions in adaptive diversification has not been thoroughly examined. Lycaenid butterflies provide excellent systems for exploring mutualistic interactions, as more than half of this family is known to use ants as a resource in interactions that range from parasitism to mutualism. We investigate the hypothesis that protection from predators offered to caterpillars b...

Evidence of tetrasomic inheritance in alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. and M . falcata L., for multiple codominant alleles at three isozymic loci is reported in this study. The locus Prx-I governing anodal peroxidase and the loci Lap-I and L a p 2 governing anodal leucine-aminopeptidase were studied by starch gel electrophoresis in seedling root tissue or seeds. The progenies from several di-, trior...

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial leguminous plant, with strong tap root system that plays an important role in alfalfa’s adaptation to drought stress. However, better understanding of functional traits and how these are related whole plant responses order improve pasture productivity under water deficit. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted: Experiment 1 used three alfalfa culti...

Phenology and abundance of bean leaf beetles, Cerotoma trifurcata (Förster), were examined throughout two eastern South Dakota growing seasons in relation to grain yields in chisel- and ridge-tilled soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] grown in 2-yr rotation with corn (Zea mays L.) with and without added nitrogen (N). Populations were also sampled early and late season in alfalfa (Medicago sativ...

The potential environmental risks of transgene exposure are not clear for alfalfa (Medicago sativa subsp. sativa), a perennial crop that is cross-pollinated by insects. We gathered data on feral alfalfa in major alfalfa seed-production areas in the western United States to (1) evaluate evidence that feral transgenic plants spread transgenes and (2) determine environmental and agricultural produ...

The growth responses of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to azomite, a natural composite earth mineral, were assessed in greenhouse experiment at Virginia State University, Chesterfield, VA. Alfalfa plants raised on lime-amended Bojac, Bourne, Emporia and Cullen soils that received 224 kg K/ha 14 × 16 cm pots. Azomite, micronutrients fertilizer, was applied 0, 200, 400, 600 kg/ha replicated three t...

Several studies have addressed plant primary physiological responses (gas exchange responses) to insect herbivory. However, relatively few plant species have been examined. It is unknown whether responses to leaf-mass removal by insects vary among plant families and species. Within the legumes, only alfalfa,Medicago sativaL., and soybean,Glycine max (L.)Merrill, have been examined. The goal of ...