School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences - Theses
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ItemNo Preview AvailableSurvey of the sheep industry in the Western District of Victoria(University of Melbourne, School of Agriculture, 1952?)
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ItemNo Preview AvailableThe role of diffused carbohydrates in the infection of stone fruit by Sclerotinia fructicola (Wint.) rehm(University of Melbourne, 1970)
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ItemSunraysia : a social survey of a dried fruits area(University of Melbourne, 1948)
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ItemNo Preview AvailableObservations on fomes pomaceus (pers.) big. & guill. infecting plum trees ; An investigation of sooty moulds with particular reference to their taxonomy and their growth in culture(University of Melbourne, 1974)I. The Taxonomy of "Sooty Mould "-Fungi. 1. Existing schemes of classification are discussed. 2. A classification is offered in which, the inaccuracies of other taxonomic schemas, are corrected. 3. "Sooty Moulds� are arranged, according to the macroscopic appearance of their growth, into four groups. 4. Diagnostic features are given for five families of ��sooty mould"-genera. 5. The families Capnodiaceae v. Hohn. and Chaetothyriaceae Th. are emended. A key to the identification of the genera Included in each of these families Is given. 6. Chaetothyrium Citri (Arn.) nov. comb. is recorded for the first time in Australia. 7. A new species, Phycopsis australiensis is described. II. An Instigation of the Cultural Behaviour of some "Sooty Mould" Fungi with reference to Climatic Conditions. 1. Eight species which, were isolated from epiphytic moulds, are included in this study. 2. A preliminary survey is made of the nutritional recuirementa of these species. 3. The methods used for recording measurements of colony-size and for calculating the rate of growth are described. 4. Measurement is made of the growth occurring at the following temperatures: 10�C., 15�C., 18�C., 20�C. and 25�C. The optimum growth temperatures determined for seven "sooty mould" endemics lie between 15�C and 20�C. 5. The methods which were adopted for growing these fungi under conditions of controlled atmospheric humidity are described. 6. The humidity growth-rate relations determined here are similar to those of fungi from quite unrelated habitats. 7. The geographic distribution of epiphytic "sooty moulds" is discussed in relation to the temperature and humidity requirements of the species examined here. The temperature-growth relations of the Capnodiaceae species do not confirm the assumption that high temperatures are favourable, rather It would appear that growth is active during the winter months. 8. It la suggested that the deciduous nature of the flora in cool temperate regions is responsible for the almost entire absence of the Capnodiaceae in these regions.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableSelected papers(University of Melbourne, 1972)These selected papers are submitted for examination for the degree of Doctor of Agricultural Science bearing in mind the need to demonstrate that they should constitute - (i) "Substantial published contributions to science applied to some branch of agriculture"; (ii) "Evidence of research and ability satisfactory to the examiners". To this end the papers have been grouped in the following manner. Group I - Papers which collectively provide evidence of the evolution and development of principles and methods for studying land to provide the ecological information needed to determine its capability for various kinds of land-use and so enable better decisions to achieve conservation of natural resources. 1. Soil, land-use and erosion survey around Dookie, Victoria. CSIRO Bull. No. 243, 1949. 2. Soils of the Macquarie Region N.:. . CSIRO Soil Publication No. 4, 1955. 3. Principles and methods of ecological surveys for land-use purposes. Papers for Australian Soils Conference, 1957. 4. Reconnaissance survey of the ecology and land-use in the catchment of the Glenmaggie Reservoir. Soil Conservation Authority Tech. Pubn. No. 1, 1960. 5. A study of the land in north-western Victoria. Soil. Cons. Auth. Tech. Pubn. No. 2, 1963. 6. A study of the land in south-western Victoria. Soil Cons. Auth. Tech. Pubn. No. 3, 1964. 7. The role of humans in land evaluation. CSIRO-UNESCO Symposium on Land Evaluation, Canberra, 1968. Group II - Papers that report results of original research as evidence of contributions to scientific knowledge and its significance as the basis for work by others. 8. The use of the hydrometer for the mechanical analysis of soils. Journ. CSIR Vol. 17, 1944. 9. Tunnelling erosion in north-eastern Victoria. Journ. CSIR Vol. 19, 1946. 10. Studies in the variation of soil reaction - I Field variations at Barooga N.S.W Aust. Journ. Agric. Res. Vol. 2, 1951. 11. Cyclic salt as a dominant factor in the genesis of soils in south-eastern Australia. Aust. Journ. Agric. Res. Vol. 5, 19514. 12. The effect of subterranean clover an Wimmera rye grass in controlling surface run-off from four-acre catchments near Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Aust. Journ. Exp. Agric. & An. Husb. Vol. 2, 1962. Group III - Papers which indicate the application of a conceptual philosophy of conservation based on ecological principles to tae solution of problems of land-use, soil conservation and agriculture. 13. The Westgate Planning Project. Soil Cons. Auth. Pubn. 1953. 14. Conservation problems on solodic soils in Victoria. Journ. Soil & Water Cons. (USA), Vol. 11, 1956. 15. Land management problems following disturbance of the hydrologic balance of environments in Victoria. Proc. 7th Tech. Meeting IUCN, Athens. 1958. 16. Soil salinity in non-irrigated arable and pastoral land as the result of unbalance of the hydrologic cycle. Proc. UNESCO-Arid hone Symposium on Salinity Problems, Teheran, 1958. 17. The ecology and prevention of soil erosion. Chapter XXX - Biogeography and ecology in Australia. Publishers Junk - The Hague, 1959. 18. The water balance and land-use. Proc. Aust. Acad. Sci. Nat. Symposium on Water Resources, Use & Management. Melb. Univ. Press, 1963. 19. The rehabilitation of degraded land for agricultural and pastoral production. ANZAAS, Canberra, 1964. 20. The correlation of failure of earthen dams with environmental features - Colloquium on Failure of Small Earth. Dams - CSIRO, , 1964. 21. Agrometeorology in relation to the control of soil erosion - United Nations .O. Regional Seminar on Agrorneteorology. Melb., 1966. 22. Dryland farming - principles of applying conservation methods in Australia. T roc. Int. Lech. Dryland Farmg. Conf. - Deere Co. and. F.A.C., oline USA, 1969. Group IV - Papers which collectively demonstrate the extension of the conceptual philosophy of conservation as applied to soil conservation and agricultural problems to those related to tie conservation of all natural resources and its application as a basis for influencing social, political, legal and administrative activities in relation to them. 23. The Victorian High plains - The environment and its use. Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict. Vol. 75, 1962. 24. Soil conservation - ho is responsible? - from Coil conservation in the Pacific - Tenth Pacific Science Congress Series, University of Hawaii Press, 1963. 25. Conservation and the community. Journ. Soil & Water Cons. (USA) Vol. 20, 1965, 26. Nature reserves and National larks in relation to the conservation of man's environment. Aust. Journ. Sci. Vol. 30 196', 27. The conflict between conservation and exploitation of natural resources - Paper to ANZAAS Regional Symposium on The planning and management of Australia's natural resources. Univ. New England, 1967. 28. Soil conservation in Iran - Consultant report to F.A.O., 1967. 29. Resources of East Gippsland - Summary of Symposium - Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict. Vol. 82, 1969. 30. Soil Conservation Law in Australia - Soil. Cons. Authority Pubn., 1970. 31. Criteria for resolving conflict about land-use - Aust. Cons. Found. Seminar on Conservation & Wining, Syd. 1971. 32. Management of conservation reserves - ANZAAS Symposium, Brisbane, 1971.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableTribes and territories : aspects of Aboriginal political geography in the Northern Territory of Australia(University of Melbourne, 1989)
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ItemNo Preview AvailableControl of the black field cricket teleogryllus commodus (walker) (orthoptera: gryllidae) in Victoria(University of Melbourne, 1985)Techniques for improving control of the black field cricket Teleogryllus commodus were studied between 1981 and 1985 in series of laboratory and field trials in the western district of Victoria. In the laboratory, techniques were developed for assessing the palatability of substances to T. commodus. A number of plant extracts, especially water and acetone extracts from grasses, and other substances including sucrose and vegetable oils were shown to stimulate feeding in the cricket. Further laboratory trials showed that feeding stimulants could be used to encourage feeding on a commonly used substrate in cricket baits (wheat). Field trials to assess bait attractiveness revealed oats to be more attractive as a bait than wheat or barley. Efficacy trials conducted over consecutive years however, showed no differences in the level of control achieved with baits using wheat, oats or barley as the substrate. In addition, feeding stimulants added to the bait did not improve control, nor did the use of higher baiting rates. The level of control obtainable with the current recommended bait is between 80% and 95%.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableGenotype environment studies in Pisum Sativum L. in relation to breeding objectives : ideotypes of pea(University of Melbourne, 1981)The overall objective of this thesis is to provide the information necessary to produce new varieties of pea which are more productive, easier to harvest and better suited to present day markets. This thesis defines ideal plant types (ideotypes) of pea and outlines how a breeding programme could produce and test them. Some effects of genotype and environment on morphology, development, growth, nodulation and yield component interactions are documented. Sets of near-isogenic lines, segregating populations and collection lines were grown in environments varying for photoperiod, temperature, daily radiant flux and soil nutrient levels. The results obtained, and reviews of the literature, provided the knowledge necessary to specify ideotypes. The ideotypes are defined at two levels: 1. Traits which confer benefits in terms of increased general adaptation to cropping systems, and 2. Traits which are specific to particular cropping systems and product uses. Increased general adaptation of pea should result from changes to plant form (e.g., leaflets replaced by tendrils, pods clustered at the top of the plant instead of being spread along the stems) and appropriate manipulation of yield components (e.g., high number of seeds/pod rather than many pods/node). Also, total yield of agricultural products from a crop rotation system will depend, in part, on the nitrogen fixing, ability of the pea crop. The time of flowering is an important trait conferring adaptation to specific cropping systems. The ideotypes have a condensed flowering period compared with current cultivars, so it becomes critical that flowering occurs at the optimum time. Models to predict the time of flowering from climatic data are presented for a range of genotypes. Other traits required in specific situations are determined by aspects such as market preferences and disease and insect problems. The genetic control of most of the ideotype traits is known and is relatively simple, so new plant types could be produced rapidly. A breeding programme based on the ideotype concept could use backcrossing to a recurrent parent to combine the desired traits into one plant type. It would be wise to do this on a range of genetic backgrounds and it would be necessary to test the new plant types for negative gene interactions and detrimental pleiotropy.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableThe soil-root interface of Lupinus Albus L. and its significance in the uptake of manganese, iron, and phosphorus(University of Melbourne, 1981)It has been demonstrated using an agar film technique that L.albus is able to dissolve colloids of iron/silicate, iron/ phosphate, aluminium/silicate and aluminium/phosphate and also suspensions of manganese dioxide, calcium mono-hydrogen phosphate and ferric hydroxide. Dissolution of these compounds was most marked in proteoid root regions of lateral roots (dense clusters of 20 laterals of limited growth) and certain regions of the tap root. Soil associated with these root regions was found to contain more protons, reductants and chelating agents than the bulk soil. The effect of iron and phosphorus nutrition was examined in acid washed sand. The effect of phosphorus nutrition was also examined in three soils (acid, neutral and alkaline) under glasshouse conditions. The response of wheat, L.angustifolius and L.albus to phosphorus was compared at three sites (acid, neutral and alkaline) in field trials. Proteoid root formation was found to be predominantly controlled by the phosphorus status of the plant. Manganese uptake in L.albus was related to proteoid root formation, and inversely related to phosphorus supply in both L.albus and L.anqustifolius. The ability of L.albus to utilise soil and added phosphorus decreased as the pH of the soil increased. The role of micro-organisms in proteoid root formation and function was investigated. Proteoid roots formed under sterile conditions, but more formed under non-sterile conditions. The effect of varying root morphology on exudation characteristics in the rhizosphere was examined by computer simulation. The main exudate from the roots of L.albus has been identified by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry as citric acid. It is hypothesised that citrate ions react with the soil colloid and form a diffusible polymeric ferric hydroxy phosphate which moves to the root surface where it is broken up by a combination of ferrous ion uptake, proton secretion and reduction. An attempt has been made to examine iron in the roots using electronmicroscopy and X-ray microprobe. The results suggest that iron is mobilised about the root system in large amounts, although this is not reflected in above ground parts. The effect of intercropping wheat and L.albus was examined in both glasshouse and field for effects on the mineral nutrition of both species. Wheat intercropped with lupins appears to have access to a larger pool of available phosphorus, manganese and nitrogen than has wheat grown on its own.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableAspects of the biology and salt tolerance of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.(University of Melbourne, 1980)Reeds thrive under a wide range of conditions, but in the Gippsland Lakes system, high salinity levels - both alone and in conjunction with other environmental factors - have greatly reduced Phragmites growth on the shoreline and removed the reed fringe entirely in some areas. The Gippsland Lakes system provides an unstable environment, where salinity levels and water levels fluctuate seasonally and also between drought and flood years. Distribution of reeds along the lake edges is correlated primarily with salinity levels, but also with exposure to wind, wave and current action. The amount of salt absorbed by reeds is directly related to site salinity. High salinities reduce many aspects of productivity, including shoot height, density and dry weight, and seed production. The actual salinity tolerance of Phragmites in the field is dependent upon the severity and duration of the salinity regime and other habitat factors operating. Conditions on the north shore of Lake Wellington are near the tolerance limit of Phragmites. Reeds accumulate large quantities of mineral elements and growth is greatly improved in areas of high nutrient status. Phragmites can readily be grown from rhizome or shoot cuttings if these are collected at the appropriate stage of development. Establishment from seed is a rare occurrence in the field and germination depends on the formation of viable fruits. In the three Victorian populations studied, less than two per cent of the florets contained viable seed.