The development of new alternative platforms for subunit vaccine production is a priority in the biomedical field. In this study, Ustilago maydis, the causal agent of common corn smut or 'huitlacoche'has been genetically engineered to assess expression and immunogenicity of the B subunit of the cholera toxin (CTB), a relevant immunomodulatory agent in vaccinology. An oligomeric CTB recombinant ...

Silage accounts for 30 to 40% of the diet of dairy cattle in over 90% of the dairies in the Southeast. Corn silage is the main silage fed to dairy cattle in Florida and it plays a vital role in supplying digestible fiber and energy to dairy cows. The fiber supply from corn silage is also necessary for stimulating salivation and buffering microbial acid production in the rumen, thereby minimizin...

Seed production is one of the least visible yet most important aspects of food and feed production. This part of the system is often taken for granted, even by the farmers who plant the seed. One of the reasons is that much of the seed in the United States is provided by the private sector, particularly for corn and soybean. Also, seed production is a technical process that requires in-depth kn...

In the United States, losses in crop production due to drought and flooding accounted for more than 70% of the yield reductions in 2011, and the frequency of these climate extremes is increasing in farming regions (Bailey-Serres et al., 2012). Incidence of excessive rainfall events in the Midwest region has increased over 30% from 1958 to 2007 and is expected to increase more in the future, esp...

Terrestrial carbon sequestration potential is widely considered as a realistic option for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. However, this potential may be threatened by global changes including climate, land use, and management changes such as increased corn stover harvesting for rising production of cellulosic biofuel. Therefore, it is critical to investigate the dynamics of soil organic ca...

Glucose and high fructose syrup (HFS) are made extensively from corn starch and the high cost of production demands the lookout for alternative starches as raw material. The present study was to compare the potential of tuber starches such as arrowroot, cassava, Curcuma, Dioscorea, sweet potato and Xanthosoma with corn starch for HFS production. The process consisted of liquefaction followed by...

Organic farming has increased to a $4.2 billion industry in the U.S. and continues to expand approximately 20% annually. In Iowa alone, organic acreage for all crops has increased from 13,000 in 1995 to 120,000 in 1998. Organic corn production in 1997 was reported at 9,920 acres. International demand for organic products, particularly from the Japanese and European markets, is also on the rise....

Diversified crop rotation may improve production efficiency, reduce fertilizer nitrogen (N) requirements for corn (Zea mays L.), and increase soil carbon (C) storage. Objectives were to determine effect of rotation and fertilizer N on soil C sequestration and N use. An experiment was started in 1990 on a Barnes clay loam (U.S. soil taxonomy: fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Calcic Hapludo...

Effect of Poultry Litter Biochar on Saccharomyces cerevisiae Growth and Ethanol Production from Steam-exploded Poplar and Corn Stover