Progress 03/15/23 to 03/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:In 2023, the grant paid for 6 students from Hispanic Serving University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to do a 10 weeks externship with faculty members under the Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas. Student Project Title Evelyn Madrigal Quantification of leaf trichomes and examination of their consequences for Fall Armyworm feeding in soybean Myranda de Leon Cantu Molecular Diagnosis of Bacterial Species Isolated from Infected Bones of Lame Broiler Chickens Marisol Prevalence ofDirofilaria immitisin different species of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Arkansas Emanuel Toxicity of systemic insecticide to a solitary bee species. Ashley The potato cyst nematode effector RHA1B controls stability of other effector proteins in planta" Geovanni Effect of cover crops on plant growth and root associated fungi on corn Changes/Problems:This year, we have more students. We plan to accomplish signifiacntly more research this year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Between May and July 2023, the students were exposed (and engaged) in the following activities: Dinner and Dialogue Sessions (Every week from UA REU program): A Keynote speaker and dinner with him/her on professional development 2.Safety Trainings The presenter explained safety in the lab and precautions to prevent any disasters. should be reported. 3.Research and Innovation In this session, Theylearned what it means to perform research and how different paths of academics can take you along your journey. 4.Research Presentation Students presented posters andlearned a little bit of different fields by others presenting their research. Arthropod Museum Visit In the arthropod museum, theylearned about different insect species across the U.S and across the world. They also learned a bit about the difficulties in maintaining and conserving species within the museum. University of Arkansas Plant Health Clinic learned how they diagnose pathogens in plants and their procedures used in pathogen identification. Theyalso learned how they develop procedures used for pathogen treatment and removal. J&M Mushroom Company Visit, Oklahoma In this trip, we went to the J&M Mushroom farm in Miami, Oklahoma. Here, they learned the different processes based on scientific data used by the company to grow mushrooms. We also learned the industrial side of the company. Tyson Microbiology and Chemical Laboratories, Springdale, AR In this trip, we went to the Tyson Company Laboratories. Here, theylearned direct applications of microbiological processes and sanitation practices performed by the company to ensure health standards. On the chemistry side, theylearned the different instrumental and classical methods used by scientists to determine chemical compositions of feeding stocks and other developmental processes beneficial to the company. Departmental Seminars Olivia Kline's exit seminar: Studentslearned about her project and the multiple studies she conducted to build a more comprehensive understanding of the bioecology of Osmia lignaria and to build a ecotoxicological profile of O. lignaria to two pesticide formulations AminaTaibus exit seminar: Studentslearned about the toxicity of several pesticide formulations to three different types of beetles which are considered pests to corn farms. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Each student submitted biweekly summaries and reflections. The PI's are currently working on usng the data for their manuscripts. Anexample of a summary is below: Marisol Sagategui, student in Dr. Emily McDermott lab (Live stock entomology) This week I was finally assigned my project being, the possible Culicidae vectors that carry Dirofilaria immitis in the state of Arkansas. Dirofilaria immitis is also known as heartworm and it mainly affects canines. However, felines and humans are also able to be infected, but it is rare. Mosquitoes become infected during a blood meal when a microfilariae gets into the mosquito's system. It starts growing as days go by until it reaches the stage where it can be an infective larva. As I did more research, I learned that two of the main species that carry this disease are Aedes vexan and Anopheles quadrimaculatus. Both of these species are very common in this area, so I was able to obtain a few in my data. I had to get my data set up by recording the location and site of the traps, date, trap type, type of species, and how many species were found. I had to do two separate charts on the mosquitoes since somewhere females and the other were males. It is known that only female mosquitoes can transmit diseases. After this, me and Mrs. McDermott decided that it was best to pool the mosquitoes since I had 132 samples. We first tested 12 samples; the first six mosquitoes were individual, while the second half were pools of 10 mosquitoes. 1,2,3 and 7,8,9 was homogenized while 4,5,6, and 10,11,12 was non-homogenized. Each bead tube contained 1.75 mL from solution 1A and 5.25 mL from solution 1B. Those of who were homogenized were put in the bullet blender on a speed of 10 for 3 minutes. The beads placed inside each tube were 1.32 mm stainless steel. Once the tubes were done, all 12 samples were spun in the centrifuge at a speed of 10,000 for 30 seconds. All 12 samples were put in the water bath for 30 minutes, then centrifuged the same as before and added 500 microliters of solution 2 to each tube. For my mosquito pool extraction, we had to add a master mix sample and cycle them in a temperature of 95, 45, and 72. After they were ready, we were able to test them with the gel electrophoresis. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In 2024, we have 8 students. Here is what the plans are in addition to 2 poster sessions, and a presentation. Friday 23rdJune: Mushroom Production facility June 29 thursday: UA Farm, Apiary visit July 7: Tyson Headquarters visit July 6 ENPL Confocal Drs Goggin and Jiamei Crystal Bridges Museum:July 8 Drs. Korth and Kariyat Food Science Sensory lab visit: June 29Dr. Seo Food Science Arkansas Clean Plant network: June 29, Prof. Ioannis Fundamentals of Scanning Electron Microscopy: Second week of July (Kariyat) Arthropod Museum visit: Dr. Jones: First week of July

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Six students from UTRGV did 10weeks externship with U. Arkansas Faculty under UA Division of Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences. 2. Each of them successfully completed a research project, presented at Annual Summer REU conference at UA in July 2023 2. Each of the made a research poster and presented at University of Arkansas Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Annual SUmmer Poster Session in July 2023 4. Two students have been accepted to MS programs (pending admission paperwork) at U. Arkansas (Livestock Entomology, Poultry Science) 5. Evelyn Madrigal: First Place in the Undergraduate Student Poster Competition ($250). Awarded by the Subtropical Agriculture & Environment Society (SAES) to Evelyn Madrigal for her presentation of the "Quantification of Leaf Trichomes and Examination of their Consequences for Fall Armyworm Feeding in Soybean Accessions." 6. Jessica Ayala (Mentor to Evelyn Madrigal): Best MS student awardfromUniversity of Arkansas Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology 7. Six faculty participated in the program in 2023.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Jessica Ayala, Alejandro Vasquez, Devi Balakrishnan, Evelyn Madrigal, Justin George & Rupesh Kariyat (2024) Effects of fast and slow-wilting soybean genotypes on fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) growth and development, Communicative & Integrative Biology, 17:1, 2354421, DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2024.2354421
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Evelyn Madrigal, Jessica Ayala, Rupesh Kariyat. Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas. Quantification of Leaf Trichomes and Examination of their Consequences for Fall Armyworm Feeding in Soybean Accessions. Subtropical Agriculture & Environment Society Annual Meeting 2024. South Padre Island, Texas. February 9th, 2024.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Emmanuel A. Flores, Olivia Kline, Ngoc T. Phan, Leah Cuthill, Duy Trinh, Neelendra K. Joshi. Department of Chemistry, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas. A Prospective Study: Suitability of a CYP Monooxygenase Assay for Assessing Detoxification Enzyme Activity in Osmia californica after Exposure to Systemic Pesticides and Mixtures. Subtropical Agriculture & Environment Society Annual Meeting 2024. South Padre Island, Texas. February 9th, 2024.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Geovanni Hernandez, Jennifer Roa, Qiurong Fan, Sherif Sharfadine, Juanita Gil, Trent Roberts, Alejandro Rojas. Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas. Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas. Effect of Cover Crop Rotation on Plant Growth and Root-Associated Fungi on a Corn Cropping System. Subtropical Agriculture & Environment Society Annual Meeting 2024. South Padre Island, Texas. February 9th, 2024.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Myranda de Leon Cantu, Adnan Alrubaye. Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas. Molecular Diagnosis of Bacterial Species Isolated from Infected Bones of Lame Broiler Chickens. Subtropical Agriculture & Environment Society Annual Meeting 2024. South Padre Island, Texas. February 8th, 2024.