Student Research

The Science Division at Truman State University prides itself in involving students in research and therefore Agricultural Science offers to its majors a wide variety of undergraduate research opportunities. These opportunities may include research with beef cattle, sheep, horses, crops (mostly corn), pumpkins that are planted each year, horticultural crops, soil conservation, or agricultural economics and rural sociology. The close proximity of the University Farm to Truman's campus enhances the opportunities for undergraduates to conduct research in this wide variety of areas.

Most of the faculty also teach AGSC 100, Agriculture, a course designed to educate nonmajors about agriculture. It is our strongly held conviction that all Americans should understand the agricultural roots of our society and -- maybe even more importantly -- an understanding of where their food comes from. As a component of this class students are required to do a semester-long research project that involves the development of hypotheses, the design of an experiment to test their hypotheses, the gathering of data from their experiment, and the statistical testing of their data to hopefully reach a meaningful conclusion about their hypotheses. Some of these student-designed projects are designed well enough to be presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium held on Truman's campus each year in March. Below is a compilation of recent research conducted by Agriculture faculty and students. In the case of those research projects which are complete, the title represents a link to the text of the abstract.

 

RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS AT PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS

• Allometric Scaling in Two Sizes of Equids (Equus caballus). Tammy R. Bragg , Kathryn M. Smith*. Dr. Charlie Apter, Faculty Mentor. Annual Meeting, Missouri Academy of Science. 2003. Warrensburg, MO. Took third place in the biology section.
• Evaluation of GEM Experimental Crosses for Starch Amylose. Nurtay Abdubeck. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor. GEM Cooperators' Meeting. American Seed Trade Association, 1999. Chicago, IL.
• Feed Efficiency of Pastured Poultry Systems. Joy L. Chisholm*, David L. Trott, Jeff G. Cox, Catherine E. Zivnuska. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor. Annual Meeting, National Council on Undergraduate Research. 2003. Salt Lake City, UT.
• Generating Knowledge for Sustainable Agriculture Systems: Pastured Poultry Research. David L. Trott, Jeff G. Cox, Joy L. Chisholm, Catherine E. Zivnuska. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor. Poster presented at “Training Tomorrow’s Trainers: A Conference for Students of Sustainable Agriculture”. 2002. Madison, WI.
• Growth Rates in Organic and Conventional Treatments of Cucumbis sativa. Cary L Rivard*, David L. Trott. Dr. Tom Marshall and Frank Louws (North Carolina State University), Faculty Mentor. Annual Meeting, National Council on Undergraduate Research. 2003. Salt Lake City, UT.
• Predictors of Community Satisfaction Among Rural Residents. Patrick LaShell. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor. Rural Sociology Conference, 1999. Chicago, IL.
• Rural Residents' Attitudes Toward Increased Regulation of Large-Scale Swine Production. Katie Dallam. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor. Rural Sociology Conference, 1999. Chicago, IL.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS, 2006

• Allometric scaling of equids (Equus caballus) in a continuum of body sizes. Alana N. Walker. Dr. Charlie Apter and Dr. Dean De Cock, Faculty Mentors. Oral paper.
• Comparison of Methods for Total Starch Determination. Anna T. O'Brien. Dr. Mark R. Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• Development of a Prediction Equation for Total Body Mass Across Three Sizes of Equids (Equus caballus). Kathryn M. Smith* and Tammy R. Bragg. Dr. Charlie Apter and Dr. Dean De Cock, Faculty Mentors. Oral paper.
• Development of Low Glycemic Index Popcorn. Eric B. Moore. Dr. Mark R. Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• An Initial Attempt to Develop a Cataloupe Production System for Northeast Missouri. Steven J. Webb*, Jennifer S. Glass, and Jennifer M. Lane. Dr. Charlie Apter and Dr. Dean De Cock, Faculty Mentors. Oral paper.
• An Investigation of the Use of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis for Determining the Presence of Low Phytate Genotypes within Single Maize Kernels. Courtney Bonney* and Laban K. Tabartet. Dr. Mark R. Campbell, Faculty Mentor, Faculty Mentor. Poster.
• Mapping Studies of Amylose Content in Maize Using SSR Markers and QTL Analysis . Peter J. Howe. Dr. Mark R. Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Poster.
• Use of Protease in Isolating Starch for a High Amylose Breeding Project. Eric N. Wittrock. Dr. Mark R. Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Poster.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS, 2005

• Apoptosis...Controlling Nature's Destructive Process. Amber S. Byrd. Dr. Michael F. Seipel and Dr. Edmund B. Rucker (University of Missouri-Columbia), Faculty Mentors. Poster.
• Comparing Consumer Preference for Corn Muffins Prepared with High Amylose Double-mutant Genotypes vs. the Single-mutant ae Genotype. Katarzyna M. Sadanowicz* and Laura N. Glasbrenner. Dr. Mark R. Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• Comparison of Soil Compaction: Equine vs. Bovine. Sarah M. Tucker. Dr. Charlie Apter and Dr. Mark R. Campbell, Faculty Mentors. Oral paper.
• Continued Screening of Amaranth Accessions for Variation in Starch Properties. Ejikemenwa "Ejike" I. Anih* and Melvin E. Omodon. Dr. Mark R. Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Poster.
• The Demographics and Attitudes of Shoppers at Missouri and Wisconsin Farmers Markets . Patience M. Rhodes. Dr. Michael F. Seipel, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• Development of a NITS Calibration for Starch Amylose Using Materials from an Amylomaze VII Yield Trial. Peter J. Howe. Dr. Mark R. Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• The Effects of High Amylose Corn Muffins Prepared Using Various Double-mutant Genotypes on Blood Glucose. Heidi Schulze* and Katie M. Johnson. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper
• The Effects of Nitrogen Application Dates and Amounts on Fescue and Fescue/Red Clover Stockpiled Pasture Yield.Joy L. Chisholm. Dr. Tom Marshall, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• The Effects of Shearing, Sex, and Time of Feeding on Growth and Feed Efficiency in Sheep.. Grant M. Phillips. Dr. Tom Marshall, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• Efficacy of an Apple Cider Vinegar Extract as a Natural Deworming Agent in Grazing Beef Cows.. Joshua Schaeffer. Dr. Glenn R. Wehner, Faculty Mentor. Poster.
• First Year Student Experiences: A Segue To Faculty-Student Mentoring Program.. Amber S. Byrd. Dr. Michael F. Seipel, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• Quantitating Mothering Ability in Gelbvieh Cow-Calf Pairs. Staci B. Lewis. Dr. Glenn Wehner, Faculty Mentor. Poster.
• Viability of Wet Inorganic Phosphorus Determination in Corn versus Spectroscopic Phosphorus Determination . Erik A. McGuire* and Emily C. Dunn. Dr. Mark R. Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• Yield and Quality Evaluation of Amylomaize VII Test Crosses. Anna T. O'Brien. Dr. Mark R. Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Poster.
• Yield in Commercial Tomato Plots Mulched with Painted Polyetheylene or Straw Mulch. Andrew K. Harken. Dr. Charlie Apter, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS, 2004

• Allometric Scaling in Three Sizes of Equids (Equus caballus). Kathryn M. Smith* and Tammy R. Bragg. Dr. Charlie Apter, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• Development and Evaluation of a Core Subset of Chilean Maize Populations by Near-Infrared Transmittance Spectroscopy. Christopher S. Conatser* and Ejikemenwa I. Anih. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• Esprit de corps: The Horse and Soldier . Kelly R. Moore. Dr. Charlie Apter, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• Feed Efficiency of Rainbow Broilers in Pastured Poultry Systems. Catherine E. Zivnuska. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.
• Influence of Genetic Background on Expression of the Recessive Sugary-2 Allele in Maize . Penny R. Kittle* and Christopher S. Conatser. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Poster.
• Performance Testing in Young Male Goats . Chelsea O. Gerrish* and Jane W. Wayland. Dr. Charlie Apter and Dr. Tom Marshall, Faculty Mentors. Oral paper.
• Screening For Natural High-Amylose Corn Starch Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry . Nathan W. Polaske. Dr. Mark R. Campbell and Dr. Dawood Afzal, Faculty Mentors. Oral paper.
• Screening of Amaranth Accessions for Variation in Starch Properties . Ejikemenwa I. Anih. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Oral paper.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS, 2003

• Allometric Scaling in Two Sizes of Equids (Equus caballus). Tammy R. Bragg , Kathryn M. Smith*. Dr. Charlie Apter, Faculty Mentor.
• A Comparison of the Value of the Horse in the Cowboy Era and Modern Times. Kari J. Hoebing. Dr. Charlie Apter and Dr. Julia DeLancey (Art History), Faculty Mentors.
• Continued Screening of Exotic Maize Germplasm for High Starch-Amylose. Amanda Wood. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor.
• Contrasts between Ancient Greek and Native American Views on Horsemanship. Teddy Kurth. Dr. Charlie Apter, Dr. David Christiansen (Language and Literature), and Dr. Sara Orel (Art History), Faculty Mentors. Selected for Phi Kappa Phi Interdisciplinary session.
• Determination of Mineral Flucuations in Cervical Mucus in the Cow . Owen Forck. Dr. Glenn Wehner and Dr. David McCurdy, Faculty Mentors.
• Development of a Core Subset of Chilean Maize Populations by Near Infared Transmittance Spectroscopy. Ejikemenwa I. Anih. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor.
• Feed Efficiency of Pastured Poultry Systems. Joy L. Chisholm*, David L. Trott, Jeff G. Cox, Catherine E. Zivnuska. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor.
• Foraging Behavior of Chickens in Day-Range Pastured Poultry Systems. Catherine E. Zivnuska. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor.
• Growth Rates in Organic and Conventional Treatments of Cucumbis sativa. Cary L Rivard*, David L. Trott. Dr. Tom Marshall and Frank Louws (North Carolina State University), Faculty Mentor.
• Identification of High-Amylose Modifying Genes From a Maize Backcrossing Project. Meghana R. Kunkala. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor.
• Native American and European Cultural Differences Reflected in the Type of Learning Principles Utilized in Horse Training. Greg S. Oberbeck. Dr. Charlie Apter and Dr. Julia DeLancey (Art History), Faculty Mentors. Selected for Phi Kappa Phi Interdisciplinary session.
• Nutritional Analysis of Poultry Reared in Controlled Pasture Conditions Versus Poultry Reared Conventionally. David L. Trott*, Joy Chisholm, Mark Vogel. Dr. Michael Seipel, Dr. Theo Clark and Dr. Sara Madsen, Faculty Mentors.
• Perspectives of the Horse during Times of War . Alexis N. Schoenekase. Dr. Charlie Apter and Dr. James Harmon (Art History), Faculty Mentors.
• Postures of Horses in Classical Artworks Reflect Stallion Sexual Behavior. Lauren E. Strange. Dr. Charlie Apter, Dr. David Christiansen (Language and Literature), and Dr. Sara Orel (Art History), Faculty Mentors.
• Screening for High-Amylose Corn Genotypes using Differential Scanning Calorimetry of Native Starch. Nate Polaske. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS, 2002

• Athletics in Rural America. Shannon Cox. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor.
• Development of a Core Subset of Chilean Maize (Zea mays L.) Populations by Near Infrared Transmittance Spectroscopy. Holly Lang. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor.
• Development of High-Amylose Inbred Lines from Three Native American Corn Populations. Nyambura Nedegwa and Patience Rhodes. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor.
• Efficiency of Gain of Cornish Cross Broilers on Free Choice Feed vs. Gain of Broilers Supplemented with Pasture. Jeff Cox, Joy Chisholm, and David Trott. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor.
• Formation of Equine Power Structures as a Political Process. Kristopher Stroup. Dr. Charlie Apter and Dr. Kevin Minch (Language and Literature), Faculty Mentors. Selected for presentation at the Phi Kappa Phi Interdisciplinary Session.
• Influence of Dressage on the Art of the Renaissance. Katie Fletcher. Dr. Charlie Apter and Dr. Julia DeLancey (Art History), Faculty Mentors.
• Isometric Scaling in Two Sizes of Equids (Equus caballus). Chris Alford, Holly Lang and Lacy Bach. Dr. Charlie Apter, Faculty Mentor. Freshman Research Stipend, 2001-2002.
• Reflections of Greek Horse Breeding Ideals in the Horses of the Parthenon. Christy Dicks. Dr. Charlie Apter and Dr. Kathleen Lynch (Art History), Faculty Mentors.
• Role of Agriculture in Rural Development. Doe Adovor. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor.
• Use of Scientific Discovery in the Development of Equine Art. Abby Risius. Dr. Charlie Apter, Dr. Julia DeLancey (Art History), and Dr. Susan Guffey (Biology), Faculty Mentors.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS, 2001

• Development of a Core Subset of Chilean Maize (Zea mays L.) Populations by Near Infrared Transmittance Spectroscopy. Jessica Talbert. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor. Freshman Research Stipend, 2000-2001.
• Direct Market Sustainability: A Trend in Agriculture. Katie Dallam. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor, 2001.
• Effects of Genetically Modified Corn on Lamb Growth and Diet Palatability. Floyd Simpson. Dr. Tom Marshall, Faculty Mentor, 2001.
• Energy Utilized by Rotational vs. Continuous Grazing Systems of Dairy Replacement Heifers. David Trott. Dr. Michael Seipel and Dr. Thomas Marshall, Faculty Mentors, 2001.
• Equine Education Web Site. Jennifer Crow. Dr. Charlie Apter, Faculty Mentor, 2001.
• Evaluation of Experimental Corn Lines Possessing Exotic Germplasm for Starch Amylose. Heather Yeager. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor, 2001.
• Growth Performance and Economic Comparisons of Two Starter Rations by Weaned Beef Calves. Justin Kelley, Beth Leubbering, and Shannon Klepper. Dr. Glenn Wehner, Faculty Mentor, 2001.
• Marketing Truman Popcorn. Katie Dallam, Laci Cook, Jenny Howk, Matt Jones, and Krista Hediger. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor, 2001.
• Social Stratification and the Role of Leaders in Ghanaian Agriculture. Doe Adovor. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor, 2001.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS, 2000

• Comparison of Methods for Amylose Screening Among Maize Starches from Exotic Backgrounds. Nurtay Abdubeck and Brandy Fuller. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor.
• Consumer Awareness of and Interest in Purchasing Locally-Produced Food Products. Gina Garrett and Heather Adams. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor, 2000.
• Determining the Value of Edible Oils as Herbicides. Mike Chen. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor, 2000.
• Effects of Large-Scale Livestock Facilities on Social Climate Within a Community. Katie Dallam and Kimberly Ratliff. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor, 2000.
• Evaluation of a White High-Amylose Corn Population After Two Cycles of Recurrent Selection. Brad Schottel. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor, 2000.
• Greenhouse Evaluation of Flax Germplasm. Tara Weeks. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor, 2000.
• Palatability of Sweet Feed, Strategy, Beet Pulp, and Beet Pulp with Molasses for Horses. Jennifer Crow, Paul Pagano and Michael Freiburg. Dr. Charlie Apter, Faculty Mentor.
• Relation Between Amylose Content of Pollen and Kernels of Corn. Cary Rivard. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor, 2000.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS, 1999

• Effects of Timed Breeding on Yield and Sex of Superovulated Bovine Embryos. Christine Ham and Andrea Louscher. Dr. Glenn Wehner, Faculty Mentor, 1999.
• Factors Affecting Perceptions of Water Quality and Risk. Amanda Henderson and Kimberly Ratliff. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor, 1999.
• Measures of Crainal Angles to Predict the Homozygous Polled Condition in Beef. Kae Dee Rinderknecht and Jennifer Payne. Dr. Glenn R. Wehner, Faculty Mentor, 1999.
• Mineral Ion Fluxes Between Non-estrus and Estrus in Beef Cow Blood and Vaginal Mucus. Ashley Davison. Dr. Glenn Wehner and Dr. David McCurdy, Faculty Mentors, 1999.
• Predictors of Community Satisfaction Among Rural Residents. Patrick LaShell. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor, 1999.
• Preliminary Studies in the Development of Truman Popcorn. Jody Heckethorn. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor, 1999.
• Rural Residents' Attitudes Toward Increased Regulation of Large-Scale Swine Production. Katie Dallam and Beth Lubbering. Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor, 1999.
• Screening Diverse Collection of Corn for Genes Influencing Starch Structure. Stacie Mannis and Brandy Fuller. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor, 1999.
• Use of Near-Infrared Transmittance for Classifying Mutant Grain Samples in Corn. Jeremy Sykes. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor, 1999.
• Visual Stimulation and Memory: Relationship in Chickens. Heather Adams, Kevin Alexander and Kristin Orf. Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor, 1999.