http://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy Latest open access articles published in Agronomy at http://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/ http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/2/1/1/ The effects of five rates of nitrogen fertiliser applications on the performance of the cereal aphid Metopolophium dirhodum on winter wheat, within the range of rates recommended for UK crops, were investigated over two seasons in field-grown crops and also on plants grown in the glasshouse. Longevity was unaffected by the level of fertilisation, but aphid intrinsic rate of increase and fecundity increased with each level applied. In the second field season, when a higher upper limit was used, many of these increases were significant. A previously unreported finding for this species was that there was a significant decrease in fecundity for the highest rate of fertilisation. Results for the glasshouse-reared aphids followed a similar pattern to those in the field, and overall they underline recent reports in the literature of the negative effects of high nutrient concentrations on the performance of herbivorous insects. The underlying reasons for these are discussed. http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/2/1/1/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CET Agronomy 2012-02-09 2 1 Article 1 13 2073-4395 Wheat Nitrogen Fertilisation Effects on the Performance of the Cereal Aphid Metopolophium dirhodum 2012-02-09 doi: 10.3390/agronomy2010001 Alan F. J. Gash http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/1/1/3/ Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) has lagged other crops on use of molecular genetic technology for cultivar development in part due to lack of investment, but also because of low levels of molecular polymorphism among cultivated varieties. Recent advances in molecular genetic technology have allowed researchers to more precisely measure genetic polymorphism and enabled the development of low density genetic maps for A. hypogaea and the identification of molecular marker or QTL’s for several economically significant traits. Genomic research has also been used to enhance the amount of genetic diversity available for use in conventional breeding through the development of transgenic peanut, and the creation of TILLING populations and synthetic allotetraploids. Marker assisted selection (MAS) is becoming more common in peanut cultivar development programs, and several cultivar releases are anticipated in the near future. There are also plans to sequence the peanut genome in the near future which should result in the development of additional molecular tools that will greatly advance peanut cultivar development. http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/1/1/3/ Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CET Agronomy 2011-12-20 1 1 Article 3 17 2073-4395 Impact of Molecular Genetic Research on Peanut Cultivar Development 2011-12-20 doi: 10.3390/agronomy1010003 C. Corley Holbrook Peggy Ozias-Akins Ye Chu Baozhu Guo http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/1/1/1/ Agronomy is a highly multidisciplinary area of science. It includes all aspects of science and technology related to the production and utilization of plants for food, feed, fuel, fiber and even land reclamation. In many respects, agronomy represents the integration of activities and disciplines ranging from genetics, chemistry and biotechnology to ecology, soil science and meteorology. [...] http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/1/1/1/ Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 CET Agronomy 2011-01-21 1 1 Editorial 1 2 2073-4395 Agronomy—A Multidisciplinary and Open Access Journal 2011-01-21 doi: 10.3390/agronomy1010001 Peter Langridge