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Contents
Foreword
Producers Benefit from 1993 AAES Research
AAES Wildlife Studies Support $400 Million Alabama Industry
AAES Researchers Vital in AU's New Food Technology Institute
Dixon Center Crucial in Many AAES Studies
Gene Guns, Lasers, and Satellites: High-Tech Equipment
Used in AAES Research
AAES Research Award Winners
Financial Highlights
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
William V. Muse, President
Paul F. Parks, Provost
1 Gerald W. Johnson, Vice President
for Research
2 Lowell T. Frobish, Director
David H. Teem, Associate Director
8
Russell B. Muntifering, Associate
Director
10
Patrick D. Green, Assistant Director
16 James R. Roberson, Assistant
Director
18
23
25
The information contained
herein is available to all
regardless of race, color, sex,
or national origin.
This report was produced by
the Office of Research Information:
James R. Roberson,
Editor and Assistant Director
Catherine L. Smith,
Associate Editor
Robert A. Hearn,
Associate Editor
Teresa E. Rodriguez,
Art Designer
Research conducted
by the Auburn University
faculty and staff who
constitute the Alabama
Agricultural Experiment
Station is ever-changing,
but the traditional land-
grant mission of providing
innovations vital to the
production of food and
fiber, the protection of our
natural resources, and
improving the quality of
life for all Alabamians has
remained constant after
more than a century.
Whether our efforts
were directed toward
developing or perfecting
new technology, such as a
genetically engineered
cotton variety or a proce-
dure for producing test-
tube calves ... addressing
age-old problems, such as
crop pests or livestock
disease ... or confronting
social issues, such as
children's health care or
changes in rural life ...
AAES scientists in 1993
continued to excel in
meeting the needs of
Alabama producers and
citizens.
AAES research
provided direct benefits to
many of the industries
that are the backbone of
Alabama's economy
forestry, livestock, aquac-
ulture, recreation, and
fruit, vegetable, and row
crop production. The
Experiment Station is not
only dedicated to improv-
ing the state of the art in
these areas, it is dedicated
to providing economical
technology and techniques
that can be implemented
without harming or
depleting the state's
valuable natural re-
sources. Environmental
protection is a primary
goal in many AAES
projects, as is the enhance-
ment of Alabama's most
important resource - its
citizens.
One of 1993's biggest
developments with
implications for the
Experiment Station was
the establishment of the
AU Food Technology
Institute (FTI). AAES
scientists have conducted
nutrition, food safety, 
and
food product research for
decades. The institute is
still in an early stage 
of
development, but when it
gets up and running, it
promises to make these
already active research
programs even more
productive. The FTI
Administrative Board
hopes to appoint a direc-
tor for the institute in
early 1994.
It would require an
annual report roughly the
size of the Birmingham
telephone directory to
cover every AAES re-
search project underway
in 1993. However, the
following pages summa-
rize a cross section of the
year's developments and
hopefully convey the
breadth and scope of the
entire Experiment Station
research program.
Lowell T. Frobish
AAES Director
T hroughout its 110-
year history, the Alabama
Agricultural Experiment
Station has improved the
production of timber.
livestock. crops. and other
commodities in Alabama.
AAES researchers in 1993
continued Auburn
Unix ersit\ \ tradition ot
excellence in prox iding
innoxations for the direct
benefit of producers and
the ultimate benefit ot
consuenrs. Researchers
emphasized not only the
economic reality of
implementing new tech-
nology, but also its impact
on the environment.
Conf ronting crop and
liv estock disease and pest
problems. dexveloping nexx
crops and improved
animals. and testing
innoxatixe new technology
and production techniques
wxere sonme of the areas in
wxhich researchers ex-
celled. The folloxing
pages present a brief
overxiew of proj.ects
exemplary of the wide-
ranging Experiment
Station research program
last ylear.
A GMPfl R T
\AES agionomists
haxve showx n that a nex
geneticallx engineered cotton
xvariety is unaffected by
herbicide applications that
kill normal cotton and several
common weeds. BXN, a
"transgenic" cotton xarietx
dex eloped bx Calgene Inc. of
California, contains a
bacterial gene that makes it
resistant to the herbicide
bbomox\xnil.
\o v isual injuri was
seen in 13XN cotton treated
with cp to 1.5 pounds per
acre of bromoxvnil. Treat-
ments one-third as strong
killed non-tiansgenic cotton.
Bromoxynil provided
excellent control of yelxetleaf,
entireleaf morningglorv,
prickly sida, tropic crofon,
and other wxceds. BXN seed
should be commercially
available by 1995.
AAES pathobiologists
and AL veterinaians
successtultx used in-itro
fertilization (IVF) to produce
embrx os from a valuable
registered cow xw ith 
terminal,
xviral-induced cancer. IVF is a
procedure in which an egg
froImi one cow is fertilized in a
laboratory setting and
transferred into a surrogate
mother. Three embryos from
the cow wre transferred, but
at press time the pregnancy
status of recipient coxw s had
not been determined.
Researchers also are
investigating a concern that
IVF mainly produces bull
caixves. One theory is that
faster-growing eggs dcvelop
into male embryos, and the
most advanced eggs are the
ones usually collected for
transfer. Bx prefelring slow er-
growing eggs, researchers got
a higher percentage of heifers.
More research is needed to
determine it this method
consistently results in a
normal sex ratio.
In other studies,
researchers experimcntcc
xith an IVF method called
"trans-x aginal cltrasound-
guided aspiration," which
uses an ultrasound-guided
needle attached to a suction
pump to remove eggs. It is
expected that this piroccduric
can be performed up to twxice
a week without interfering
with long-term fertility,
xhereas traditional IVF
procedures reqiired s rgerx
to retriee eggs.
Viiral epidemics in 1992
and 1993 seereix reduced
tomato production in
Alabama. In response to the
xvirus problem, AAES
researchers launched a
program to reduce the effects
of futire outbreaks.
Thev foind that the
LYME DISEASE IN ALABAMA
Although approxi-
mately 80o of dogs in the
Northeast are exposed to
Lyme disease, AAES ento-
mologists and AU veterinary
researchers found almost no
evidence that the tick-borne
disease affects dogs in Ala-
bama. A state-wide survey
and a two-year field study in
Lee County, where human
cases have been 
documented,
revealed few signs of canine
Lyme disease and no con-
firmed clinical cases. Practic-
ing veterinarians from across
the state provided blood se-
rum samples from dogs not
vaccinated for Lyme disease;
only 1.7, of the 579 samples
showed signs of exposure to
the disease. Results indicate
that dogs are at low risk and
Lyme disease vaccination is
not justifiable in 
Alabama,
even where human cases are
documented.
disease problems were
caused by the cucumber
mosaic virus, potato 
virus Y,
and/or the tobacco etch
virus, which are spread by
aphids. The green peach
aphid and potato aphid were
identified in the affected
fields. Studies indicated that
possible ovecrwintering hosts
of the viruses include
collards, turnip, mustard,
broadleaf dock, white clover,
honeysuckle, wild garlic,
henbit, and wild geranium.
Virus incidence usually
remained low until three
weeks after transplanting in
the earliest settings, and
symptoms were mild.
However, in fields trans-
planted after June 1, inci-
dence increased more rapidly,
and in most cases the crop
was not harx estable.
Many swine, dairy, and
egg producers use liquid
waste management systems
in their production areas. The
Iffluent storage and treatment
process usually involves
some type of lagoon.
AAES agricultural
engineers and agronomists
ire adapting a technique used
n municipal waste treatment
to dispose of lagoon effluent
by overland flow for forage
production. Effluent 
is
pumped to the uphill side of
a sloped field. It then is
released through perforated
pipes to flow down the field.
Researchers are loading
-wine effluent on fields at
various rates of nitrogen to
determine its effects on the
growth of Bermuda grass.
;oals are to learn how to
most efficiently apply effluent
ind to monitor runoff and
leaching water quality.
1993 was a good test
\ear for an AAES-developed
system for predicting
outbreaks of lesser cornstalk
borers (LCB), a major pest in
peanuts. A simple prediction
equation helped entomolo-
gists more accurately time
scouting and pesticide
application for the insects.
The system predicts
when conditions are best for
the insect by recording daily
temperatures and rainfall
after peanuts are planted. A
950-dav with no rain is +1
"LCB day" on the scale; less
than 5
0? 
x ith at least one-
tenth inch of rain, -1 LCB da.
Researchers found that 0-10
LCB days meant scouting was
needed. Danger existed at 
5-
10 LCB days, and damage
occurred at more than fi.
When LCB days were mostli
negative, the insects were
rarely found. Insecticide
applied after negative LCB
days did not increase yields.
With accurately timed
scouting and 
pesticide use,
fewer plants are sacrificed in
the search for insects and
insecticide applications arl
more effective. If insecticides
are applied too early, they can
degrade in as few as 19 da1\
in the hot, drx' weather that
favors the lesser cornstalk
borer. If treatments are
applied too late, much of the
damage already will ha\e
occurred.
AAES plant patholo-
gists conducted the first
complete study of wheat root
and crown rot diseases in
Alabama, providing in-depth
information on the distribu-
tion and prevalence of
soilborne fungal pathogens.
Researchers found
extensive infestations of take-
all root rot in North Alabama
and to a lesser degree in
Mobile and Baldwin counties.
Common root rot and
Fusarium foot rot were found
throughout the state. Rhizoc-
tonia root rot was found
mostly in South Alabama.
The survey will serve as
a basis of future efforts to
control these pathogens.
Researchers also examined
healthy root systems to
isolate beneficial bacteria for
use as biological control
weapons against the patho-
gens and other pests.
AAES agronomists
hope to release a new
soybean cultivar in 1995. The
cultivar matures 
early,
produces good yields, and is
resistant to several major
soybean diseases.
AU87-547 combines
resistance to both major root
knot nematode species, 
two
of the most common types of
soybean cyst nematodes, and
frogeye leaf spot. Seed yield
of AU87-547 on a site with
severe nematode infestation
was 25.7 bushels 
per acre,
compared to other nemataode-
resistant cultivars, Bryan, 22.1
bushels; and Leflore, 17.4
bushels. AU87-547 matured 2-
4 days earlier than other
resistant varieties.
The effort to de\velop
leaner swine has concentrated
the genes for porcine stress
syndrome, which can kill
hogs or cause them to
produce poor-quality meat.
AAES animal scientists are
using a DNA test to detect
syndrome-related genes in an
effort to breed lean hogs
without passing along the
disorder.
Hogs with stress
syndrome are leaner and
convert feed more efficiently.
Researchers want to deter-
mine exactly which genes are
related to the positive traits
and whether they can be
separated from the genes that
control porcine stress
syndrome. Such information
could be used 
to breed lean,
efficient animals that are not
prone to porcine stress
syndrome.
B ROIR UTT
A large amount of
broiler litter is fed to cows in
the months before they calve,
and these animals sometimes
show signs of milk fever 1-3
weeks after calving. Animals
can be treated for the debili-
tating disease, but calves
cannot nurse while the cows
are down.
To investigate this
problem, AAES animal
scientists fed some cows a
diet of 80% litter/20%,, 
corn,
while others were fed a
control diet of hay. Some
cattle also were given a feed
II
additive of ammoniuml-
chloride. Out of 45 cows, only
one had clinical signs of milk
fever, and it was on the
control diet. However, 
the
cows on litter without the
additive did have lower
calcium levels.
GF' CROPS
AAES agronomists
released Alabama's first new
crimson clover variety in
decades. AU Robin is an
early-maturing winter cover
crop that provides high-
protein feed for livestock.
The forage reaches full
bloom 7-10 days earlier than
I ibbee, the earliest 
maturing
crimson clover previously
\ailable. This benefit allows
\U Robin to be left in the
.round long enough 
for
producers to take advantage
of its full nitrogen-fixing
ability and still get 
a jump on
preparing fields for summer
crops. AU Robin yielded an
average of 3,513 pounds of
dry matter per acre, com-
pared to 3,447 pounds for
Tibbee.
In other forage re-
search, agronomists are
conducting a regional 
study
of sweet white lupins, 
an
annual legume 
with great
potential for use as a winter
cover crop and high-protein
feed grain. Efforts funded in
part by the Alabama Farmers
Federation are directed
toward developing a new
lupin variety that flourishes
in Alabama's climate.
AAES fisheries experts
in 1993 made several impor-
tant findings for catfish
producers. In one study,
PLANT EFFECTS ON BASS
public reservoirs, such as ski-
ing or sailing. Experiment Sta-
because of the beneficial ef- tion fisheries scientists 
found
fects vegetation has on bass
populations, but excessive
plant growth can prevent
other recreational activities in
that bass reproduction in Lake
Guntersville was not neces-
to the amount of water com-
ing into the reservoir during
the spring when the fish were
spawning. During high peri-
ods of rainfall between April
sarily related to the amount of and June, the reservoir 
flushes
aquatic vegetation, but rather much faster, diminishing 
the
food supply of young bass
and making it harder for them
to survive. However, aquatic
plants do help to dampen the
negative effects of high in-
flow coming into the reser-
voir.
Most bass anglers pre-
fer to fish near aquatic plants
researic her s c ompari d the
effects of fettding cattish
supplements of fish oil,
animal tat, and xvegetable oil.
A combination of fish oil and
vegetable oil promoted good
groxxth and d iseaste resis-
tance. Catfish grew wxell on
is i I ut xx tie moi e
susceptible to bacteirial
Rt'searc hers also found
that channel tatfish are
capable' of compensatory,
wxeight gain. In other wxordis,
it thex are placed on an
t\ ti ci' irestiric ted ci t, then
fe't all ft",y wxant, they, wxill
catch up wxith fish fed
conisistentl. Fish taken off
feed for three xxeeks caught
up wxith tontrol fish wi thin
three wxeeks. Those not ted for
si\ wveeks wxere 91)",as large
iiotroiI tih at hiair\ 2t
those not fed for nine wxeeks,
s as larme.
Winter feeding wxas
priebously thought necessary,
to miaintain fish health and
xeight, but AL researchers
prox ed otherwxise. Cattish not
fed December-Februar, wxere
the same si/e in April as
those ted all wxinter. Those not
led from No\. I to AprilI 23
acre0 12' smaller at the end
of xxinter, but due to compen-
satorx weight gain, they,
attained normal weights bx'
ha rxest.
AAES- zoologists are
ix estigating a coccidian
pariasite cal led Cart/l-Jospori, a
mit roorgan ismn proved fatal
il some animals. The pairasite
cal kill dogs, and it infects
but is not fatal to sxx me. It can
be transmittetd bx eating
under-cooked meat from an
infected animal. The effect of
c i itosporai on hu mans5 is
unknowxn, btit it has affected
e\ ti', mammal tested so tar.
CiiriiJtl iiir causes
coct idiosis that affects bone
marrow, tonnetfixe tissue,
and other tissues. In dogs, it
auses the face, ex es, miuzzle,
and foot pads to swxell anti
dexvelop infectetd lesions; the
animals usuall, tie 8-9~ daxvs
after infection. Rattlesnakes,
the' primairy hosts of
Cao isjieri, spread the
parasite's eggs in their feces.
Zoologists tiiscox ered
that Caritmospir is the only
cotcidlian that Canl undergo
dexelopment through its life
cx cle in a cell cultule sy stem.
The abilitx to continuouslx
stuidy the paiasite "in xitro"
alloxxws researchers to viewx its
growth and dex eloprnent and
to test drugs against
C ioiJloa and related
parasites that cause
coccidiosis in poultry' and
cattle.
AAES agricultural
engineers~ demonstrated that
conserxvation tillage, xxhich
relies on plant residue left on
the soil surface, proxvides
cotton xyields equal to
conxventional tillage xhile
preserx ing much more soil
water.
Cotton \xwas growxn for
tie\ ,.\Car, -. [-Im"~ clrtil
tillage, reduced tillage, and
reduced tillage wx ith a xw inter
wxheat co\ er crop. Soil water
content was the lowest tor
con\ entional throughout the
groxw ing season. At about
eight inches, soil water
content was the highest for
reduced tillage wx ith cox er
crop, but ieduced tillage
wx ithout a cox er crop pro-
content at depths belowx 15.7
inches.
Conservation tillage
prevents soil erosion, slows
runoft, reduces cvaporation,
and increases water intiltra
tion. It also sax es time, tuel,
and labor.
Ip _. .... ~ ~ ~ ~ - - -
ADVANTAGE FOR CATFISH PRODUCERS
Alabama could gain a
competitive advantage over
the top catfish-producing
states, Mississippi and Arkan-
sas, under expected changes
in effluent regulations, such
as discharge restrictions or
taxes, according to a study by
AAES agricultural econo-
mists. Results suggested that
watershed pond production
would be preferred over levee
production in methods to con-
trol the release of pollutants
into nearby streams. The flat
terrain in Mississippi and Ar-
kansas favors levee construc-
tion, whereas Alabama's ter-
rain favors the less expensive
watershed pond. The study
also indicated that water recy-
cling is the least-cost treat-
ment. However, producers
would not decide to recycle
water unless a tax of at least
S10 per unit of pollution 
is
imposed.
AAES Deer Studies Support $400 Million
Alabama Industry
D eer hut1LIno1 III
Alabama generates more
than ?400 million each x ear in
sales ot xvehic les, clothing,
grin, tertilizer, hunting
permits, spoirting goods, and
other related goods and
mn ices. Iminpioxedl deei
management helps the state's
total hunting industrv, xxhich
is xvaluied at nearly $,700t
million.
At the North Auburn
Deer Research Facilitx and in
xi derness
aras through-
out Alabama,
V\E \Fxildlife
s, ienti',ts are
inv olved in a
xide-ranging
research
dedic~ated to the
t pe of recal-
ol d studies
til in main-
Ming and
pro\ ing the
rent study,
researchers
addressed the
hcuet held by
nuiy liunteis
that Alabama
drer are
,eetica lly
iterior and
, x stock imust
imrported
iurn other
2,1005 to
nprox e the
oral popula-
11i. Wildlife
en ttists
-iimwed that the
ronth
potential cot
itive wvhite-
tails is a tactor
of toodi qualitx,
riot genetic; -Pr~iotein was
found to be an important
limiting' factor in deer girowth
and antler development. Deer
need about 17 crude
pirotein, but Alabama's wild
vegetati on prov ides only 8-
In 1987-88, 55 tawns
wxere captuied trom around
the state and taken to the
Deer Research Facility, wxhere
they xwere bottle ted and
wxeaned onto a special ration
designed tor optimuim
groxwth and antler dev elop-
ment At 18 months, the
bucks all had branched
antlers and wxeighed an
axverage ot 1 28 pounds,
higher than the average
weight ot wxild deer in the
state.
These deer wxere bred
and produced 60) fawns.
Eighteen-month-old males of
the tirst genemration in
captix ity wxeighed an axverage
ot 142 pounds and dev eloped
tour- to eight-point antler s. At
txwo x ears, their xxeight
axveraged 198 pounds. One
reached a phe nonmenal 240)
pounds and dex eloped a 22-
inch, eight-point rac.
These tindings illus-
trate that it ted properly,
natix e deer can groxx as xxeli
any deer. Deer adapt to their
enxironment; it lairge deei
xxere imported, their bodies
xxould adjust in siue to
survxix e in the Alabama
habitat.
Using the captixve
population, researchers also
are addressing the issue ot
deer habitat irnproxvement.
Wi th expei mental plantings
at the research tacilit,
scientists aire exvaluating
xwhich combinations of
torages deei managers can
economicallx plant to turnish
a xear-round souice ot hic'h-
protein food. Deei are giv en
access to various forage plots
to dctermine wx hich plants are
moat preterred.
()ne surprising finding
ca, that rx egrass, a typeot
tort gras, is the most
economical torage that deer
fa \ or. It is cheap 
to plant,
prod uces more over a longer
period ot time, and v oluntar-
ily regrows the next year.
Reseatrchers found that
planting a combination ot
rxvegrass and crimson cloxver
ici give deer a boost in
attaining their full growth
potential.
Also in 1993, wildlite
researchers completed a
studv of howx transplanted
d eer respond to restocking
pr ograis. Results show ed
that the Alabama (ame and
I tsh Division was successful
in relocatitig deer tron the
Ftred T. Stimpson Wildlife
it ttuarv ii Clarke Countv
to the Willian B. Batkhead
\ational Forest in Northwest
\laiama.
Wildlite scientists
placed radio transmiitters on
)0 ot the stocked deer, wxhich
wx ere then located daily using
aerial telemetr. Otnly three of
the 30 died withiin a Year atter
relocation, most likely due to
post-release traunma. No deer
wx ere lost to poachers. Also,
the deer did not move off the
target release site during; the
stii.
i other research,
wx ildlite scientists are -
- developing guide-
lines tor wsing electric tences
and other techniques tor
excluding deer ftom fields
and home gardens,
- determiningi the
extelit to wx hich latge bodyx
size atd antler growth are
inherited from bucks to their
ttspring;
- analyzing the effects
ot earl, wx eanitg on the
groxxwtlh and dex elopmet ot
fawins;
- testing the effect ot
proxviding supplemiental
minerals on deer's bodv size
and attlet dev elopment;
- dexeloping a
tetliod tor agitig deer tiv
measurting tooth growxth,
wx eat, atd ireplacement, wx hich
should be much more precise
than existing techniques.
CHAPTER 12 GOOD FOR FARMERS
A study by AAES agri-
cultural economists indicated
that the special farm provi-
sions in the U.S. Bankruptcy
filed for reorganization of
their financial obligations
under the guidelines pro-
vided by Chapter 12 have
Code have been beneficial to been successful in maintain-
farmers. A significant number ing their farming operations.
of Alabama farmers who have In addition, results of a survey
of Alabama attorneys who
have worked with Chapter 12
cases indicated that over half
felt that farmers had
benefitted from the availabil-
ity of Chapter 12 and that the
special provisions of the law
should be continued. Results
of the total study should pro-
vide valuable information to
Congress as the provisions of
the law are debated.
AES CAPSULE
AAES Researchers Vital in AU'S New 
Food
Tech nologv Instit itc
A hurn Unix ersity
established the Food
Technology Institute in
1993, a development that
will enhance already active
AAES research programs
in the areas of nutrition.
food safety and develop-
ment of newL and xalue-
added products.
Continued economic
vitality in Alabama
depends largeiN on re-
search to improve the
complex process of
bringing food to consum-
ers. Production of poultry.
meat, fish, fruit. vec
etables. and row crops
represents a significant
portion ot Alabama's
economy. In addition.
about 30() food processing
companies employ 30)0()
people and return more
than $4.8 billion additional
dollars through
agribusiness to the
economy.
AU's Food Technol-
ogy Institute relies on
actixe faculty in the
colleges of Agriculture,
Veterinary Medicine, and
Sciences and Mathematics.
and the School of Human
Sciences to promote the
interaction and interdisci-
plinary cooperation that is
needed to ensure contin-
ued groxxth in Alabama's
agriculture- and food-
related industries.
This article presents
a cross section of AAES
research designed to
improxe the food supply or
solxe problems facing
food industries. With the
adxent of the Food Tech-
nology Institute, these and
many other related
projects are expected to
become even more active
and productixe.
VALUE-ADDED MLI If UOU tS
One of Auburn's most
prominent tood science
efforts wx as the development
of the AL Lean low-fat meat
products. The AL Lean
research team has nowx
dexeloped an all-meat
trankfurter wxith only 8% fat
- compared to 30 fat in
traditional tran ks. Consumer
panelists report that the new
frank looks like other franks
and tastes as good as many
all-beet products.
The tormulation uses a
product trom a newx commer-
cial process tor separ ating tat
trom lean meat. In the
process, meat trimmings are
finelx ground, heated to
approximately I)0'F, and
placed in a centrifuge until
most of the fat spins out. The
remaining lean meat is ft ozen
and cut into small chips.
Other nex products are
under dex elopment using
meat t1utu 1 cull x s treated
xith the growth hormone
boxine somatotropin (bST).
Cull coxxs ate old, tat animals
noxx slaughtered for ground
beef. AAES research shoxed
that bST injections reduce tat
and increase muscle develop-
ment in cull cows, producing
leaner meat for higher value
products.
Researchers are
exaluating a breaded beef
fingler made from the
tenderloin ot bST-treated cull
cows. Shelf-life and taste tests
are underwax for the product.
Another product on the
draxing; board is a marinated
steak from the rejux enated
cull cows.
Consme so1 poultrx
products also stand to benefit
from AAES research. IPoultrx
scientists are xxorking to
stabilize poultrx products to
commercial preparation bx
altering the nature of fatty
acids in chicken fat. Research-
ers plan to alter chickens'
diets to contain
monounsaturated fats that are
stable enough to xithstand
the sex eritx of fuirther
processing, freeing,
microxaving, and deep
frx ing and to maintain good
taste and color. Goals also
include making poultrx
products more healthfu I and
extending their shelf life.
Research also continues in
et( rt i, iXti 1ICJ' illh ii 1 I
Harv est of the Nort-i
Amercan paddlefish in-
creased drastically in the
earl' 19
8 0
s betause of the
skx rocketing value of thi i
eg~s, \hich can be used i
ca iar. Ov erhar\esting
prompted the \abama
Department of Conserx ation
to place a moratorium on
harX est and possssio n of the
fish in 1989.
AAES fisheries experts
are assessing the current
status of paddlefish in the
Tallapoosa and Cahaba riv ers.
Rescarchers collected and
tagged 906 fish during 1992-
93 and analvzed factors
affecting their distribution
and abundance. Most fish
wXere collected in the
Tallapoosa River, and no fish
mov ed betwX een riv ers.
Spawn fing actix ity was
documented in both riv ers.
Field work in the studv is
complete, and researchers are
ii rking, to qu1LiailI\ paddle-
fish age structur e, mortality
rates, and genetic composi-
tion. Results XX ill help the
Depairtment of Conserv ation
to continue reev aluating the
moratorium.
DEVLOPING NEW CROPS
In addition to perform-
ing annual v ariety tests of the
fruits and v egetables
Commonly grown in Ala-
bama, AAES horticulturists
wX ork to dev elop newX,
impd\ cd trop
)ne newX breed ing line
has the potential of putting
Alabama into the shping
cantaloupe business. Breed-
ing line "AC8237" is a
multiple-disease-resistant
melon \with sw\ eet, high-
qualitx fruit Its tough, thin
rind approximately triples
the cantaloupe's shelf life.
The new x line may be ieleased
in 1996.
Auburn is internation-
ally recognized for its
XX atei Iilclol rest~ch it urth
strides wertie made in Ihis
programiii during 1993 as
researchers produced the first
hybrid melons wXith pollina-
tion by bees. This innovation,
wxhich eliminates expensive
hand pollination, should
greatly reduce the cost of
hybrid seed.
Earlier watermelon
varieties - AU Golden
Producer and AU Sweet
Scarlef - continued to gain
recognition when the U.S.
MARKETING APPAREL IN MEXICO
Even before the North ties are expected to grow.
American Free Trade Agree- Given the trend of increasing
ment, Mexico was Alabama's exports, state apparel manu-
fastest-growing apparel cus- facturers need to be aware of
tomer. Apparel exports to the preferences of Mexican
Mexico in 1992 were $23 mil- consumers. AAES consumer
lion, and market opportuni- affairs researchers studied
apparel buyer behavior and
attitudes toward U.S. products
in Mexico. Consumers there
have very favorable opinions
on U.S. apparel, but they have
different tastes and needs
than U.S. consumers. What
sells in the U.S. may not sell
in Mexico, and what sells in
Mexico City may not sell in
Guadalajara. Further research
will be conducted to refine
the Mexican consumer pro-
file.
11111 Ilr ~C -Ls _ Ir ~CT 1111 111
" ri l ttiifl to proIO\ a~
high-duality pear tIVC tot
\Iabama. Top-qunality
commeirial (ulti\ ars such as
Bartlett cannot be gr oox in
the state because of suscepti-
bility to fire blight disease.
T he cultix aiis that can be
O\\ ii pr oduce poor-quality
fruit. Researhers have
collected European-type pear
tes that de\veloped tfrom the
,edling rootstoc ks of trees
planted on old Southern
home sites 100X or more years
ago. These trees not onlx
nur\ ixe tire blight, thex
coniitnue to produce high-
,ualitx pears. The samples
haye been grafted onto ne"x
rootstoc k and propagated tor
experimental plantings this
year.
Auburn hortir ultumrists
arc equaliy activ e in veg-
etable iresearch. lxx o AL-
(](\yeloped blac kexye pea
varieties should be approv ed
[ior toundation seed produt-
nion in 1994 and axvailable for
planting in 1995. AIJ le,
vyix i h stands for Ali
Sceta ix oi Agicul1turie
issued Plant V
7
arietx Protec-
tion Certiticates tor the
melons. These xvarieties are
re-istant to sexeiral ot the
South's most seious wxater-
melon disease problenms and
are superior in yileld and
qualitx
In othei firuit-related
resea rch, hortitculturists hope
to rely on M'other Nature's
growx th habit that allow's
easier ha rv est. Genegreen h.i,
an attractive green seedciiat
that it retains after it dries.
tHSPOWI I0 tiLAi, COLiW
AAES botanists aina
horticultur ists hae d isc%\
ered that elev ated tempera-
ture can delay the ripening of
tomatoes by about a xxr ..
Iemper atures of 90 -941
cause heat shock wxhich
inhibits the sx nthesis ot
enz mes that make tom itue
change color, pioduce sugat
and become soft.
1The next step is to
determine it this knoN% ledge
can he used in commercial
applications. Possible
adxantages include reduced
shipping expenses and
improx ed w inter production
ot tomatoes.
In a related stud,
researcheirs are examining a
possible relationship betwx een
the heat shock response and
the protection of tomatoes
from chilling injury, Which
occurs wx hen temperaturis
drop belowx 55oFl. They are
using short pest-harx est
incubations ot tomatoes in
elev ated temperatures to
protect the tiuit trom chilling
inju r.
"DNA tingerprinting"
techniques, used successfully
to snaie criminals, aie being
dex eloped by AAES microbi-
ologists to track wxater-borne
bacteria that cause disease in
humans and commercial
cattish populations.
II MMMWWW"
I )\ \ ting't p intn cin
detect and help identity the
source of food contamination
and tish disease, wxhich aids
in axoiding the problems. The
techniques are moire seisitiv e
than classical methods and
can he pertfrmed in less time.
Many bacteria seem identical,
but these techniques can
SHADE TREE BOOK
AAES ornamental horti-
culturists recently published
a valuable reference manual
for landscapers, nursery pro-
ducers, master gardeners, ur-
ban foresters, garden center
owners, or anyone who enjoys
trees. Shade Trees for the
Soitlhetistern United States:
An Ai1ub urn Uivjer'sijty, Evlui-
ation presents in-depth infor-
mation about more than 60
native and exotic trees and
explains how they performed
over the past i3 years in the
AU Shade Tree Evaluation at
the AAES Piedmont Substa-
tion in Camp Hill. Facts on
growth rates, fall color, flow-
ers, and other desirable fea-
tures, as well as limitations,
for each tree are included.
About 200 color photos illus-
trate these attributes in the
133-page book, which is avail-
able at the AA[S Office of
Research Information for $10.
detect minui-cuIc diffretntes,
often rexveal ing dozens of
subtx pes some more
pathogenic than others.
Researchers are
dexveloping methods to detect
Edaim dsim'llai tolia, which
affects catfish and humans,
and F. ictalurni, xwhich is
pathogenic to catfish. Tests
also are being dcx eloped for
bacteria often foLlnd in
seafood -- Lisfm'it
rrrioci top'; ics , xhich can
cause meningitis or abortions;
and 1 ilmio mull'miiicius,, which
can cause intestinal disease.
COWAMNATION
Esc/cricit mt coli 0157:H7
has caused sex eral food-
borne disease outbreaks, the
most highly publicized of
xwhich occurred wxhen a fast-
food chain sold under-cooked
hamburgers. AAES poultr
and meat scientists are
studxving temperature
tolerance of E. soli to proxide
better guidelines for handling
and cooking meats.
Researchers tested E.
coli-inoculated ground
chicken, turkey, beet, and
pork, including Al Lean
products. Thex found that fat
hcps the bac tet ma sLi ixe.
AU Lean products, wxhich
haave red uced fat, requi red
less cooking time. Also,
poultry products had a better
kill rate at loxw er tempera-
tui es. In general, researchers
found that 40OF for 2-3
minutes is sufficient to kill E.
col i.
In a related stud,
researchers fouind bacteiia
still surx i\ ing on inoculated
meat after fixve weeks of
iefrigerator storage. Some
xxere found aftei 18 months
in freezer storage.
'URG NUnR4RNIL QUAIIfTY
-00DS
AAES tood scientists
a wt xxorking to ensure the
iiutritional xvalue of food
riducts. In one project,
researc hers are analyzing the
nitritional content ot deli
pioducts for a major Ala-
bama-based grocery store
c han.
Nutrient analyses are
pcirfolrmed for pr oducts such
1' potato salad, cole slaw, and
irious entrees. In an effort to
proxvide deli items for health-
conscious consumers, this
information wxill be used to
dcevelop labels for the
products. Aubuin experts
a iso aire providing adxvice on
xx axys to improx e the nutri-
tional quality of some deli
foods.
In other research to
bcnefit Alabama consumers,
\ \ES food scientists are
dcx eloping improvxed
methods for detecting loxx
cxv el adulteration and
substitution in meat products.
State inspectors need a
conxenient and reliable
regulatory tool, but commer-
cially axvailable test kits are
v ery expensixve, and other
traditional methods are time
consuming and subject to
various limitations.
Researchers are
dc eloping tests based on
"monoclonal antibodies,"
wxhich are molecular tools
tailored to seek out specific
antigens in a giv en meat
species. One goal to identify
heat-stable antigens and
dcvelop monoclonal antibod-
ies for use in testing cooked
meat prcducts. Researchers
must dexvelop usable antihod-
ies speific to each meat
species. They are nowx
dex eloping monoclonal
antibodies to detect pork.
IMPROVING IFlAN: FORMULAS
Infant frmcilas do not
contain all the essential fatty
acids fouind in breast milk,
but tull-term babies are
beliexved to be able to conv ert
other torm ula nuttrients into
the needed tats. lowexer,
premature babies may not
have the erinzxmes necessary
to make this conx ersion,
possiblx resulting in subtle
effects on brain and eve
development.
Some companies are
trx ing to make tormulas
closer to breast milk by
adding supplements ot the
essential tats. AAES nutrition
experts are evaluating the
effects of sich enhanced
formulas on the dev elopment
of ne'v born pigs, wxhich aie
phx siologically similar to
human intants.
Their research has
x ielded information on which
combination of fattv acid
supplements closelx simu-
lates the benetits ot breast
milk xithout impacting on
other growxth xvariables.
Research is continuing in in
effort to identiif nen? fa
supi 'n 'l
Nil
BABi = ouL
AAES footed eictists
xxere among the first to
quantify the concentration, in
babx food ot a nutrient that
can be fatal to intants x'ith a
rare metabolic disorder.
Calactose, a sugar, must be
con',erted into glucose for the
body to use, but some infants
cannot prodice the enzyne
needed to metaboli/c
galactose.
Galactose was once
thought to be found onlx in
milk, bit a prixvate laboratoirx
recentlx tound it in fruits and
vegetables. Fcr the one child
out of 50,000 born xithoit the
abilit to metabolize galac-
tose, the nutrient biilds up in
brain tissue, causing stunted
groxx th, mental retaidation,
and possibly death. This
didner (teIlcl he controled~c
xith restricted diets.
To aid in planning such
diets, researchers analx 7ed
galactose content in com-
nonlx axvailable babx foods
and truit juices. Extremelx
small iriieunt v crc touni in
most pirodlucts. All
applesauce prodicts were
high is galactose, as xxere
some scluash and creamed
spinach products.
II IIi II
PRIVATE FOREST RIGHTS
Perhaps the most hotly owners, 84'% agreed property
debated issue in forest man-
agement is the tradeoff be-
tween environmental protec-
rights are important, but only
if they do not hurt the envi-
ronment. A mnajority sup-
tion and private property ported government regula-
rights. In an AAES survey of tions to protect the environ-
Alabamians, including forest ment, but most also supported
compensation for forest own-
ers when regulations cause
economic loss. Seventy-two
percent agreed that trees are
like other crops that are cut
and replanted to provide con-
sumer products. But this ac-
ceptance was conditional
upon the lack of adverse en-
vironmnental effects. Only 330
agreed with chemical weed
control, but the survey indi-
cated widespread misunder-
standing about the practice.
Dixon Center Crucial in Man AXES Studies
T he Solon Dixon
Forestry Education
Center, located near
Andalusia, is perhaps best
knoxwn tor the practical field
experience it has proxvidet
Aubirn forestrx students
since I980), bit in recent xears
its 5,000 acres of timberland
haxve proxvec im alciable in
forest iegeneiration, pecan
production, and xxwilciliftc
research projects sponsored
bx the AALS and other
agencies.
Much ot the AAFS
forestr\ research wx ill benetit
the 220,000 noninustrial
prixate forest oxxncis wx'ho
control most ot the iplancd
torest acreage in Alabama.
Researchers are evaluating
low-cost, loxxw-inpcit mixed
pint-harIxxwood foirest
regt'neration methods that
not onlx meet management
goals ant maintain site
prodiuctixitv, btt also
preserxve the beauit; xildlite,
and enx ironment ot prixvatelv
oxned timberland.
In one stdiy, research-
ers compared the ecological
consequences ot sexeraI pine-
haiclxxod regneration
techniqlues. Of particular
interest xxwere methods that
maintain organic debris,
minimize soil mcixement, or
stinuilate i apid iCxv'gc'tation
on the harx est site, factors
critical to erosion pree'ntion,
nutrient ax ailabilitx, ant
reduction of silt flox ing into
nearb steams.
Rtegeneration methods
included clearftel Iand-burn,
in xxwhich all remaining
'c'tation is cut back
nd burned betcre
me seedlings are
n,lated; clealcut-and-
,lant, in wxhich
(-etation is cut but
gt burned betore pine
I cdlings are planted;
and seed-tree, in
xxhich sex eral lairge
mines are lett to reseed
!re area, and pre-
ribed burning is not
-'d. In addition,
11 ne plots waere
S pplied with a
iL'rbicide sold under
the trade name Oust to
,rttei control crop tree
ensitx.
All methods were
ee r etfectixve at
Iregenerating mixed
pine-hardwx ooti
torests, but the
leartell land-burn method
piod uced the greatest pine
component, followed by the
seed-tree method. However,
the clearfell -and -bu n
ttchnique resulted in less
oiganic co\er and a greater
potential tor erosion.
In one phase of the
studx, researchers examined
the effects of regeneiation
techniquies on div ersity ot the
grasses and forbs (broadleaf
plants such as the goldenrod)
that grow atter clear cutting.
Dix ersitx is x ital in maintain-
ing forest aesthetics, as xw ell
as providing wxildlife 
habitats,
protecting rare plants, and
ensuring wxater qualitx.
Results indicated that the
learftell-and-burn method
without the heibicide
piromoted the gireatest
dix eisitx .- leirbicide-treated
sites xx ith seed-trees xxwere the
least diverse.
A long-term studx is
underayv to examine torest
regroxwth oxer the y ears after
the xarious harest and
regenciation methods are
used.
In addition to its pine
and hardwxx ood torests, the
[Dixon Center also includes
AU's largest tontinuous
pecan orchard, a I30-acre
plantation of 0-yeai-old
trees. The oichard includes
blocks ot the Southeast's
three major pecan xarieties
Sche, Stexwait, and Success.
\uburn horticultue research-
ers use the orchard in xarious
studies, including insecticide
trials and an ixvestigation of
the effects of chemical sprays
on pecan tree pollination.
One studx nearing
completion tests the econom-
ics and ettectixveness of using
the ground-applied pesticide
Aldicarb to control aphids
and mites on pecan trees.
'reliminarx results indicate
that the best returns above
the cost of using Aldicarb can
be attained from a single late-
season application.
Ihe Dixon Center's
wooded acres are also ideal
tor xxiltlife studies. AALS
xildlite scientists established
one of the region's most
successful bireeding colonies
of indigo snakes at the center
in an ongoing effort to
preseirxe th' threatened
reptile. Other AAF S research-
ers addlessed the conceirni
that forestrx practices art'
remoxving grax squirrel
habit .t Ih 11 \ -Ohk)\ed t <
artificial nest boxes increased
squirrel populations in young
mixed pine-hardwood areas.
In response to concern
1bout phrcei\ cd deline> iI
numbers of songbirds, the
Dixon Center is surveying
bird species abundance
duringspring spriand fall
migation period, the ,prini
and summer breeding 
period,
and winter in nine different
forest types. During the 1993
breeding season, 57 different
spcii c \\ clc r I \ eO d, i 1 Oi
them in early-stage pine
plantations. The study will
continue in this year.
MAKING WASTE A RESOURCE
AAES and Tennessee
Valley Authority researchers
are developing technology
to convert newsprint, 
wood,
cardboard, and yard waste
into a material that can be
used to manufacture a 100"o
biodegradable plastic. Re-
cently, a fully biodegradable
plastic was manufactured
from lactic acid and ap-
proved by the Food and
Drug Administration. Re-
searchers are using bacterial
cultures to break solid
wastes down into simple
sugars and convert them to
lactic acid. Such a technique
not only could turn more
than 100 million tons of mu-
nicipal solid waste into a
valuable resource, it could
spur the development of a
product to replace some of
the 15 million tons of non-
biodegradable plastic used
in the U.S. every year.
0JLiNL UULlN3, L\0IW A-~L 
1 
\tLLLi1L
High-Tech Equipment Used in AAES Research
menution a<,ricuil-
tural and forestry research
to many people and they
are likely to) have a mental
image ol tractors.
ciiainsaxxs. and cattle
chUteS. Hoxx cxer nmodern
research in these areas is
more likeiy to involx e an
array of higth-tech equ~ip-
mient.
AAES researchers
use a x ariety of state-of-
the-art dexvices or i nnova-
tixve approaches to
confront problems
taced by agrmcul-
tore. the forest
industry. and the
citizens of Ala-
hama.
Satellite technol-
ogx. laser dex ices.
sophisticated
computers, and
adx anced medical
equipment all aue
part of Auhtnns
research arsenal.
GENE GUN USED TO
TRANSFORM PLANTS
biololgists are Usinlg a nioxel
genetic engineering tec hniqjue
to tranisform plant cells bx
blasting foreign D\ A into
themr with a high-xvelocitx
~gene gun." The dex ice
allows resea rc hers to pertorm
genetic engineering experi-
mxents not possible witoh
traditional technicc
Tungsten or gold
particles are coated xxith
foreign genes and
applied onto a tetloi
cylinder xxhich is
inserted into the harirel of
the gene gun. 
A 22
caliber bullet is used to
accelerate the particles
into a partiallx exvacuated
chamber containin" a
plant sample, cauit
them to strike xxith sch
force that the foreign
genes enter in to diffterent
cell compartments.
I he ;;eitc gun is ciscd in
mn c'ftorts, iccling
ncclear and chlorcoplast
tiransfcormation to dexelop
crops resistant to insects,
herbicides, salt, and dirought;
genetic engineering of plants
to express antimicrobial
proteins; and genetic engi-
nicc' ii. Li ex clp tobacco
plaints that procduce bCide
giadable plastic.
ULTRASOUFII USD TO MIAIMC
REVE STEAK PRODUCT1ION
AAES animal scientists
are using cultrasocinrd to
den ti fx Iarge ribev e-prodc-
ing; cattle for use in a selective
hirceding progiram designed
to pass along the positixve
miuscliiig trait.
Calvxes trom these elite
rattle are examined to
determine hoxx accurate
ultrasound is at predicting
1 'eliininarx results shoix
piromise that ultra socund can
be used to select cattle that
are genetically pr one to have
lairger ribexves.
LItrasound is the best
method to measure carcass
characteristics wxithout
slacighterin g the animal. An
ul trasocund probe is placed on
an animal's hack to measire
the amount ot riheve mcuscle
and backfat.
aL SORTER USED K CHUCKEN
ISEASE STUDY
Pocilfrx scientists are
using a high-tech "cell sorter"
to studx the region of a
chicken chiomcsoime that
controls disease resistance.
Researc hers are looking at
\U-bred chickens xxith
increased resistance to
\larek's Disease to deter mine
\hat tactors accocunt for the
hinrds' enhanced immune
xystem.
The cell sorter, or floxx
x tometer. uses a lasei beam
to analx ze fluoiescent
propeirties of cel Is as they
floxx thocigh the dex ice. A
co~mputer isolates and
anaix ,es cells cit interest. One
goal is tco localize xxhich genes
account tor the difference in
disease resistance.
LUnderstanding hoxx the
imimune sx stem wxorks xwill
('\ Lilt Il~ Ielc ti t '
ititit l\oltiLion;s to diisease
piroblems. IFoi example,
intormation tromi the A\uburn
stutix coultd help in tiesign of
iiew v accines.
IfvlrbUL rM'dih
AAES wxood chemists
aie using a ctimputer
motieling sx stem to analx ie
the molecular structure anti
tbtimix (ot wooicd in inudit,
that touiltd leati to mole
efticient pulping processes
and retitceti pollution.
Computer-assisteti
chemistry proxvides three-
dimensional molecular
imaiges oft lignin, a tomnplex
chemical that binds wxooti
alRn tist be rem~ov ed to
make pa per. Researc hers can
analyz e the electrica Icha rge
and shape of7 lignin strut-
tur es, a long wxith experimen-
tal pulping and bleching
chemicals.
SuchI stui~iles can
indicate wxhich pulping and
bleaching chemicals best react
wxith lignin. One goal is to
exvaluate or dexvelop more
eux ironmentally benign
organic compounds that can
be economicallx used in the
paperma iking process.
UMH SATJJHIM TO
IMPROVE FORESTRY
A\ES ariicultural
engineers and toresters aie
assessing the effectixveness tof
using the satellite global
positioning sxystem (CPS) to
tiuck anti help measure the
pert olmanice ot torest
machines. Research ind icates
that GI'S can be a xvaluable
manag'ement or engi neeiring
tool tindier sonme contditions.
A tipS receiv er is
DOGWOOD DISEASE
An AA[S survey of
state parks and national for-
ests in Alabama indicates dog-
wood anthracnose, a destruc-
tive disease of flowering dog-
woods, has spread southward
into the state. The disease
threatens the health and
beauty of flowering dog-
woods in forested upland ar-
eas of Northwest Alabama,
and extensive tree death is ex-
pected in some areas. Few
healthy trees were seen in
Monte Santo and Desoto state
parks, and scattered damage
was seen in many other parks.
Spread of dogwood anthra-
cnose into forested areas at
elevations down to 600 feet
indicates that damage may
eventually occur over wider
areas of Alabama, including
home landscapes. The disease
causes leaf spot and blight
and is most prevalent in
shaded areas.
mounted on the toic~t
machine to interpreti
mnicrowxa\ e signals
troim lDiepar tment o
Detense satellites,
tratcking the location
anid elexvation of tihe
matchine. The receixeI
can be linked to a cdat
acq(uisition s\ stem to
collect such intornma-
tion as inachine
v elocity,, statuis, and
peirformance.
Performnance
information coliected
wxith the aid oft (P5
coulid be used to
imipirove forest
mac hine designs. It
also tould help
determine the impart
ot torest miachines o1
the env ironment andi
the actturacy oft i!,
sucih as hi bIh( t'
spraiaxOk
M-f PHD IU UbM A
WEATHER BALLOMI
Mleasuremnents of
youing torest x egetation tirorm
ground leveci can be subjet-
tix e and time consuming,
Xx bile ex aluations from
helitopters are otten too
costly. Forestrv researchers
haxve dev eloped a x aluable
alter natix e -a svstem of
shooting three-dimensional
photos tf om a low- level
weather balloon.
A IForestry, Canada
balloon tarries a lightxweight
aluminlum boomh with two
35mm cameras that are
rcmotcly triggered by radio
control. Thle balloon tan rise
on a tether up to about 33
feet, xxherie tile camer~ias shoot
phlotos tir011 slighltly ditterent
perspettixves. A stereoscope is
later used to proxvide a 3-D
viexx ot tihe trees aind underi
groxxth tapture oil tihe
phlotos.
Firoim tile 3-D images,
researchlers tail measure tree
hleight, crown area, pertent
cox er ot hlerbateous groxxth,
and other tactors iimportant to
torest maniageilen t. Photo
measuremleints xxere simlilar to
ground-based incasu remnits
iin termls ot acturac', anld
prec ision.
alV~inUltilwiniAL t ,NR~M1 JjI
N co MKUDS
Understanding hoxx
iincreasinlg carboin dioxide
tonlcenltratioins iintlueince
plant toimiltiiities is imlpor-
tant to Alabanma's torest
inldustry. Special cenxiroinmen-
tal tchamlbers at tile LU.S.
Departmlent of Agriculture
National Soil D',niaicis
1I boriator',, based oni thet AL
camlpuis, are helping USDA
aind AAES researchiers ailsxxei
importanlt CC)
2 
questions.
Thie chlamlbers
tvlindical alurnuim trames
coxvered by tclear plastic tilim
gene rate large-scale,
computer-conltrolled test
atnmosphleres thiat are cointinu-
(hisi' moinitoied xia an
iintraired CO-
1 
analy zer. Plants
grown 1 in the chambers are
exposed to twice the ambient
toncentration of CO,?.
In oine studyx, sorghum
aind sox beans are groxxni tol
determine wxhat plants do
xxith thle extra CC)
2 
and to
examine eftects ot higher 
CO
2
on root groxwth aind othe'r
belowxgrouind processes. First-
year iresults indicated that
C 02 enicihment increased
groxxth aind xvield of both
species. A studx xxith longleat
pine examiines thec interacting
eftetts of elxvated CO-) and
resource axvailabilit, on
carbon allocation patterns,
respiration, aild root ttinction.
ROOT SYSHE STUDES
BY WISCOPE
AAES toresters are
using a nondestructive
tec hnique to study lroot
svstems in regenerating
forests. PIlexiglass tubes w cre
placed in the ground
thr oughout a .harx ested site to
prop ide access points for a
special endoscope, an optical
instrument used in medicine
tor x ie ing the interior of a
ho llr~c on ,iul
Researchers aric
making long-term
assessments t pine,
hardwx ood, and
herbaceous plant root>
as thex dcevelop. The
encoscope can he
inserted up to onL
meter underground in
the 108 tubes to p ox ide
video images of the
rocot s\stems.
One goat is to
detiermine hoxx
xegetatix c
coiposi ti i
afttects xx a tci
luailit. Killing
h iirdxxoods,
s isses, and
w eecls helps pines
*4.. '4i o\\w faster, but
plentitul roots help
keep nitirates from
icaching round
x a tcir Pine-onlx plots
werei e shown to have
lone root densities,
but grasses and
x ceds inc rease root
densitx throughout
the soil protile.
- I lcwoocs intercept
noe xw ater, wx hich is
Ooid for wxater
7~
-~ -
c
1
uillitV but coild aIim I wxatci
ax ailabihitv.
E.ECTRONC MONFORKO OF
COCKROACH HABITATS
AAES entomologists
used a unique simulation of
smokxbroxi cockroach
habitats to find clues for
contiolling the pest. Ihex
found that pine straw
provides the most faxvorable
climate for the insect because
it maintains soil moisture,
insulates the soil trom
summel heat, ,lnl proxvides
good hiding places.
Researchers placed
xvarious ground coxers
around simulated houses.
Light intcnsitx, temperatu 
rc,
and soil moisture impor-
tant factors in cockroach
habitats - wcre recorded
kxith electronic sensors
installed at the soil surface of
each plot. Measurements
wxecre taken hourlx for two
years by a computer.
RANKING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
A survey by AAES vey ranked the more cos-
fisheries scientists and rural netic problem of litter as
sociologists revealed that Alabama's greatest environ-
Alabamians seem to have mental risk, whereas con-
very different environmen- 
taninated drinking water,
tat views than those of tech- air pollution, industrial
nical experts. Respondents waste water, and hazardous
in a statewide telephone sur- waste 
were ranked 9th, 10th,
11th, and 12th, respectively,
in a list of 25 environmental
problems. These findings
indicated a need for the pub-
lic to become better in-
formed about the relative se-
riousness of the environ-
mental problems facing Ala-
bama today. The study was
initiated by the Alabama
Department of Environmen-
tal Management, which con-
ducted a parallel study in
which technical experts
ranked the same 25 environ-
mental risks.
Entomologists calcu-
lated the percentage of time
when factors were favorable
to cockroaches for each
ground cover. Pine straw
provided a favorable 
climate
75", of the time, followed by
thatched grass (70%),
dethatched grass (68%),
garden stones (65%,), blue rug
juniper (61%,), and bare soil
(45'%).
.ELECTROMC
SURVlIANCE
OF WLDLFE
Scientists with the
AAES and Alabama Coopera-
tive Wildlife Research Unit
are using innovative elec-
tronic devices to study wild
game and threatened animals
in Alabama and elsewhere in
the Southeast. Miniature
radio transmitters and
specially adapted camera
equipment allow the re-
searchers to discover infor-
mation important in manag-
ing turkeys and quail, as well
as reestablishing threatened
animals such as the gopher
tortoise and indigo snake.
By placing hundreds of
tiny radio transmitters on hen
turkeys and poults, research-
ers found that young birds
are lost to predators during
the first month after hatching
at a rate of up to 70% in
Alabama and up to 90% in
South Georgia and North
Florida. Whether they were in
the stomach of an alligator or
a raptor's hollow-tree 
nest,
the transmitters could be
tracked to provide clues
about the fates of the young
birds. Raccoons, dogs, and
foxes were identified as the
top predators of young
turkeys. In a similar study
with quail, researchers found
that rising raccoon popula-
tions in some areas are
causing problems on quail
reserves.
Wildlife specialists also
adapted a closed-circuit
television camera origi-
nally designed for underwa
ter nuclear reactor inspection
to examine the under-
ground dens of gopher
tortoises and indigo snakes.
The camera, equipped with a
fish-eve lens to permit
observation of the entire
-S CAPS :
bulrrow, is mounted at the
end of a 36-foot steel cable.
Lights encircle the lens, and
the entire apparatus is
covered with a protective
glass globe. Linked with
recording equipment at
ground level, the device is
pushed down into the den.
Such studies provided vital
information about the
reptiles' habitat requirements.
SURVIVAL OF RURAL RETAILERS
AAES consumer af- rural study sites identify
fairs researchers are con- potential growth from tour-
ducting a five-year study ism, recreation, or 
retirees,
with the goal of formulating they give little consideration
merchandising, marketing, to the retail possibilities of
and management strategies these options. Also, retailers
to help rural retailers sur- are more likely to adjust
vive. Although retailers in strategies in relation to other
retailers rather than in rela-
tion to meeting customers'
needs. Understanding con-
sumer purchasing patterns
can lead to better strategic
planning and repositioning
for individual businesses
and a better definition of the
retail mix for communities.
A survey of consumers is
being conducted to deter-
mine shopping behavior, at-
titudes toward local mer-
chants, and other factors.
22
W inners~ of the
1993 AAES Director's
Research Award were
Brian Vaughn, a protes-
sor ot family and child
development in the
School of Human
Sciences, and Jim Cane,
an associate professor of
entomology in the
College of Agriculture.
The awards are giv en
annually to recognize
outstanding research
accomplishments within
the AAES. Vaughn and
Cane each received
$1 0,000 grants to sup-
port their research
programs, plus personal
stipends.
\ aughn s work focusc ,
on Alabama's most alihable'
of resourices its children.
\ ughn is an interiiatiorhill
recognized expert in the area
of children's social deveOlop-
ment. His A\AES research
focuises on regionalization of
health care and the use of pie-
and postnatal infant care in
Alabama. His findings
documented the pirobable
red uction ox er the next
decade in obstetric and
pediatric services for wxomen
and infants in rural and non-
urban counties and high-
lighted the dire consequence,
that could result wxhen
pirenatal car e is unax ailable.
Va ighn5si Suve 11,x hs be.'n
used extensix el' bx state and
n'tiona I legislators and has
been cited bx' colleagues
thrtoughout the wxorld. A
related piroject targets the
mental health of rural
Alabama children and their
Lniili"
\,iiighri also is wxell
I iio\x f oi his research in the
,u icas of mother-infant
attachment, peer relation-
ships, and children's tem-
perament. He irecently
ueceix ed a 5470),000Q grant
Iirom the U.S. Department of
I lealth and Human Services
to studx the formation and
maintenance of social
str uctures in play-groups of
oung children in an effort to
better understand the
diex elopment of social
comipetence.
Cane's wxork is in a
critical, x et often ox erlooked
area of plant production, the
relationship betxxeen insects
and plants. Cane has studied
the ex olution of Ips bairk
beetles, xxhich has an impact
on Alabama's forest industrx;
and the relationship betwxeen
toiraging habits and pollina-
tion ettic iencx of bees, xxhich
affec ts crop production. One
example of the impact of his
xxork is his studxv ot a solijtarx,
gr ound-nesting bee,
I hlu epeda I lbiriosa. Cane
shioxxed that this bee, noxx
commonly called the blue-
berrix bee, is x ital for proper
pollination and fruit set in
rabbi texve blueberries, a
common xvarietx used in the
Southeast Cane's pioneering
research also has draxxni the
attention of g~ranting~ agen-
cies, resulting in more than
$500),000t in Competitix e
grants.
Vaughn ieceix ed a
bacheloir's degiee in psx chol-
ogx tromi Arizona State
Unixversitx' and earned
master's and doctoral degrees
in child psxychologx fromi the
LUnixversitx ot MIinnesota.
Before coming to Auburn in
1988, Vaughn serx ed as a
post-doctoral telloxx at the
Unixversitx ot California-ILos
Angeles and as an associate
professoi in the Department
of P~sychologx and the
lunti lute tor the. Studx Ot
Dev elopmental Disabilities at
the U niversitv ot Illinois-
Chicago.
Cane graduated iumma
curn laude, wxith a bachelor's
degree in entomologx from
the State U niv'ersitv of Nexw
York in 1977. In 1982, lie
ear ned the Ph.D wxith honor
in entomology from the
Unixversitv ot Kansas. Djuring
his graduate studies, hie xxas ,
Fuibright Felloxx, a Danforth
Felloxx, and a Felloxx ot
Sxverige-Ameirika Stittelsen.
Cane wxas a post-doctoral
felloxw of the Mijller Founda-
tion at the Unixversitx ot
California at Berkeley betore
joining the AU facultx in
1985.
Financial
Highlights
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