Field experiments were conducted in 2002 to 2006 to characterize yield potential and disease resistance in the Bolivian landrace peanut (Arachis hypogaea) cv. Bayo Grande, and breeding lines developed from crosses of Bayo Grande and U.S. cv. Florida MDR-98. Diseases of interest included early leaf spot, caused by the fungus Cercospora arachidicola, and late leaf spot, caused by the fungus Cercosporidium personatum. Bayo Grande, MDR-98, and three breeding lines, along with U.S. cvs. C-99R and Georgia Green, were included in split-plot field experiments in six locations across the United States and Bolivia. Whole-plot treatments consisted of two tebuconazole applications and a nontreated control. Genotypes were the subplot treatments. Area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) for percent defoliation due to leaf spot was lower for Bayo Grande and all breeding lines than for Georgia Green at all U.S. locations across years. AUDPC for disease incidence from one U.S. location indicated similar results. Severity of leaf spot epidemics and relative effects of the genotypes were less consistent in the Bolivian experiments. In Bolivia, there were no indications of greater levels of disease resistance in any of the breeding lines than in Bayo Grande. In the United States, yields of Bayo Grande and the breeding lines were greater than those of the other genotypes in 1 of 2 years. In Bolivia, low disease intensity resulted in the highest yields in Georgia Green, while high disease intensity resulted in comparable yields among the breeding lines, MDR-98, and C-99R. Leaf spot suppression by tebuconazole was greater in Bolivia than in the United States. This result indicates a possible higher level of fungicide resistance in the U.S. population of leaf spot pathogens. Overall, data from this study suggest that Bayo Grande and the breeding lines may be desirable germplasm for U.S. and Bolivian breeding programs or production.
With the growing demand for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs in the U.S., the attainment of college degrees in these areas is of paramount importance. Both federal and state governments have established initiatives to grow the number of STEM degrees earned by women and racial minorities, as these groups graduate in STEM disciplines and work in STEM fields at a lower rate than that of their majority counterparts. The factors that can deter women and underrepresented minorities from pursuing STEM careers have been identified with one of the most prominent being low self-efficacy, or a reduced belief in one's capability of accomplishing a goal or task. This study aimed to assess the current level of self-efficacy of Chatham County, Georgia high school students in the STEM disciplines and their interest in pursuing a STEM career. No difference in the levels of self-efficacy in mathematics and science was reported by females and males; however, males reported significantly higher self-efficacy in engineering and technology compared to females. When asked about the future, females and males reported no difference in interest in a variety of STEM vocations; however, males had a significantly stronger preference for jobs in the areas of physics, computer science, medicine, energy, and engineering compared to females. Race did not influence selfefficacy in the three STEM areas, but interest in careers in the physical sciences was low among underrepresented minority students. Continued implementation of strategies to create and maintain female self-efficacy and interest in STEM, especially in engineering and technology, remains a necessity. While underrepresented minority students appeared to possess self-efficacy in the STEM disciplines during high school, strategies are needed to ensure their successful progression through STEM degree programs and later obtainment of a STEM job.
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