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This article examines development in grape research being undertaken by the U.S. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in the Finger Lakes region in New York, as of April 2006. Scientists with the recently established Grape Genetics Research Unit of ARS in postcard-pretty Geneva, New York, study the full gamut of grapes grown in the U.S., including those grown in the semiarid valleys of California and in northeastern states that experience cold winters. The new unit works closely with the Plant Genetic Resources Unit of ARS, which is also in Geneva and which is an integral part of the National Plant Germplasm System. Plant geneticist Christopher Owens said color is a vital quality trait of table, juice, and wine grapes.

The article discusses the research on apples by Phil Forsline, a curator of the Agricultural Research Service's Plant Genetic Resources Unit, located on Cornell University's campus in Geneva, Switzerland. Forsline and other researchers collected mostly during the 1990s in central Asia and Europe. They gathered their material during seven expeditions sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System aimed at expanding the known genetic diversity of apples. Among all the samples, the Kazak samples have become Forsline's favorite. According to Forsline, many of the Kazak apples lack the size and flavor needed for commercial success but it's the trees' ability to resist diseases that sets them apart. He also said that the Kazak trees showed significant resistance to apple scab, the most important fungal disease of apples.

Provides information on the research conducted by scientists of the U.S. Agricultural Research Service on Little Topashaw Creek in Mississippi. Physical changes in the watershed introduced by the scientists; Number of willow posts planted by the scientists along the creek; Strategies that might be used by researchers to restore the creek.

The article reveals the discovery of scientists at the U.S. Agricultural Research Service's National Animal Disease Center (NADC) regarding changes in the ability of bacterial species that causes leptospirosis to survive in water. This change is likely affecting the ability of this microbe, Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo, to spread through the environment. The recent finding was the result of genomic sequencing studies of L. borgpetersenii conducted at NADC by Richard Zuerner and veterinary medical officer David Alt, at Monash by scientists Ben Adler and Dieter Bulach, and at the University of Queensland's Australian Genome Research Facility under the direction of Elizabeth Kuczek.

The article discusses research being done by chemist Agnes Rimando of Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) Natural Products Utilization Research Laboratory on pterostilbene. It was noted that this berry compound's prospects for inhibiting breast cancer, diabetes, and low density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol in humans may soon make it as well known as other health-enhancing natural substances. Pterostilbene is one of many aromatic hydrocarbons called stilbenes. It has a derivative of resveratrol, which burst on the health scene when it was found to have cardiovascular and cancerfighting benefits. Pterostilbene had also been touted for its fungicidal and antidiabetic properties and showed potential for lowering blood glucose when Rimando started experimenting with it in the early 1990s.

The article reports that Ames, Iowa is also recognized globally as the site of breakthrough research on animal diseases. This community of 50,000, located about 35 miles north of Des Moines, is the site of three vital U.S. Department of Agriculture scientific facilities dedicated to animal health: the National Animal Disease Center, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, and the Center for Veterinary Biologics

This article examines a key role being played by U.S. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Stillwater, Oklahoma in a new mission to improve the peanut, as of April 2006. Actually, scientists in the Wheat, Peanut, and Other Field Crops Research Unit of the ARS have been developing better peanuts for decades. But now they are joining the Oklahoma Peanut Commission and state research and extension professionals in a wide-ranging initiative to produce disease-resistant plants whose peanuts consumers find tasty, fresh, and healthful. The program addresses recent declines in peanut production in Southern Plains states. A vital aspect of the new push is to continue work on combining traits of peanut plants that resist plant diseases with those that can boost the oleic acid content of the peanut.

Focuses on the research conducted by scientists John Zhang and Mark A. Nearing, on the use of rare-earth elements in documenting soil erosion. Abundance of rare-earth elements in Earth's crust; Lanthanide oxides which they are working with; Method to avoid the binding of rare-earth elements to fine-sized particles.

Focuses on a study on sorghum grain conducted by scientists in the Agricultural Research Service Natural Products Utilization Research Unit in Oxford, Mississippi. Importance of sorghum to food crops; Technique in isolating large quantities of root hair cells; Methods for creating a more allelopathic crop.

Provides information on a waste-handling system that treats swine-production wastewater. Evaluation of the system's ability to eliminate animal-waste discharge to surface and ground waters; Treatment process of the system's animal-waste management; Components of the system.

Discusses the incorporation of hybridization and microscopy technologies in studies of plant gene expression. Significance of the techniques in studying heavy metal transport capabilities of plants; Significance of nucleotides in studies using the new procedures; Results of studies that incorporated the techniques on alpine pennycress.

Focuses on the developments in watermelon research at the South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory of the U.S. Agricultural Research Service in Lane, Oklahoma. Development of low-sugar watermelons; Research on determining whether there is a critical sugar content concentration necessary for color development in watermelon flesh; Nutritional aspects of mini-watermelons; Focus of future research on watermelons.

Focuses on the Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), a technology used for monitoring atmosphere around agricultural operations. Description of LiDAR according to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Features of the technology based on the evaluation made by Jerry Hatfield, director of National Soil Tilth Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Service, and his colleagues; Particulates of dispersion models that can be validated by LiDAR.

Provides information on a study conducted by several U.S. Agricultural Research Service scientists, including microbiologist Evelyn Dean-Nystrom and veterinary medical officer William Stoffregen, in 2004 regarding the prevention of Escherichia coli (E. coli) 0157:H7. Effect of Shiga toxins on small blood vessels and kidney tissue; Number of people in the U.S. who are affected by E. coli-related diarrhea every year; Key ingredient of an oral vaccine developed in Bethesda, Maryland.

Presents information on a 2004 study on heat-shock proteins in nematodes. Remarks from zoologist David Chitwood, research leader at Nematology Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, on the ticking of the microscopic plant-parasitic worms; Examination of the genes and proteins of nematodes; Ways to disrupt biochemical development pathways in the worms.

Discusses the studies conducted by the scientists of Great Plains Agroclimate and Natural Resources Unit and Grazinglands Research Laboratory of the U.S. Agricultural Research Services at El Reno, Oklahoma, to examine the precipitation patterns over the continental U.S. Information on the precipitation rate over the entire U.S. from 1971 to 2000; Research models used by hydrologist Michael W. Van Liew; Details of the streamflow phenomenon discovered by Van Liew.

Presents an overview of a study by entomologist Ronald Ochoa, mite expert at the Systematic Entomology Laboratory (SEL) of the Agricultural Research Service in the U.S., on citrus leprosis. Damages caused by citrus leprosis to crops in South America; Collaboration of SEL with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, to clarify the difference among the Brevipalpus species; Role of SEL in the fight against citrus leprosis.

Deals with the benefits of reverse genetics to gain insight into the rapid spread of a swine flu type that contains gene segments from birds and humans as well as from pigs. Comments from Jürgen Richt, veterinary medical officer for the U. S. Agricultural Research Center; Description of swine influenza; Reason swine influenza presents a special challenge in genetics.

Explores the threat of salmonella infection on pigs waiting in holding pens before slaughter. Factors affecting meat quality; Results of research from the U. S. Agricultural Research Service and the University of Iowa; Comments from veterinary epidemiologist H. Scott Hurd.

Presents information on invasive scale insects. Description of the scale insects according to entomologist David Miller; Details on ScaleNet, an Internet database about scale insects operated by the U.S. Agricultural Research Services; Species of invasive scale insects.

Focuses on the research and development of disease-resistant dwarf and semi-dwarf lines of apple tree root conducted by the U.S. Agricultural Research Service. Difference between the height of normal and dwarf variety of apple trees; List of biotic stresses that causes tree ailments in dwarf variety of apple trees; Impact of the discovery of genetic inheritance of dwarfing.