Posts Tagged: A
A Bee and a Butterfly: Sharing a Lavender Blossom
Ever seen a honey bee and a butterfly sharing a lavender blossom? Just in time for National...
A Gulf Fritillary and a honey bee sharing the same lavender blossom in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Oleander: Shrub or Toxic Weed?
Oleander, also known as Nerium oleander, is a fascinating plant that often sparks curiosity and debate. Is it a toxic weed or a beautiful shrub?
Oleander is celebrated for its stunning flowers, which come in a variety of colors such as pink, white, red, and yellow. Its evergreen leaves and ability to thrive in hot, dry climates make it a favorite among gardeners, especially in regions with limited water. This hardy plant can grow quickly and form dense hedges, providing both beauty and privacy in your yard. My oleander is quite large and has beautiful white flowers that are abundant right now.
However, it's important to know that oleander is highly toxic. All parts of the plant contain substances that can be harmful if ingested. Symptoms of oleander poisoning include nausea, vomiting, and even serious heart issues. Because of this, some people might think of oleander as a "toxic weed," especially in places where it grows uncontrollably and poses a risk to pets.
Whether oleander is considered a weed or a shrub often depends on where it is growing. In some areas, oleander spreads easily and can take over natural spaces, making it seem more like a troublesome weed. But in a well-maintained garden, where its growth is monitored, oleander can be a delightful addition that brings vibrant color and greenery without much hassle. However, if you have pets or small children, oleander is surely a weed in your book and removal might be the best way to go. Good luck with removal efforts. Mine is reluctant to leave in spite of my efforts when my children were small and curious. They've since grown up and now I just keep an eye on the dogs. They seem to know better than to bother it.
Oleander can be seen as both a toxic weed and a cherished shrub. Its toxic nature means we need to handle it with care, but its resilience and beauty make it a popular choice for many gardeners. With proper knowledge and responsible gardening, you can enjoy the stunning oleander safely. This remarkable plant truly offers the best of both worlds—just remember to treat it with the respect it deserves!
photo by Thanasis Papazacharias on Pixabay
Launching ServiceNow for UC ANR IT and HR
We are happy to announce that we are approaching the go-live date for our new ServiceNow platform for Information Technology and Human Resources! This upgrade to ServiceNow replaces Zendesk that has been used by IT and HR. UC ANR's implementation of ServiceNow is the start and will provide a strong and recognized platform that can help us streamline how we manage requests and services.
ServiceNow will go live the evening of Friday, June 21, 2024.
Here's what you can look forward to with ServiceNow:
- Single Platform Convenience: Track and manage IT and HR tickets in one location, ServiceNow's Employee Center
- Secure Access: Log in securely using UC ANR's Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Improved Visibility: Stay updated on request status from submission to resolution
- Knowledge Base: Over time, UC ANR IT and HR will expand knowledge bases to provide information on common questions
As we move forward, it's important to recognize that, like any major transition, we may experience some initial bumps. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we fine-tune the system to better serve you.
How to Request IT and HR Support:
- Upon go-live, the UC ANR Portal will be updated to link to ServiceNow at https://ucanr.service-now.com/esc, where employees must login using UCANR Single Sign-On (SSO) to access our new Employee Center where you can create tickets for HR and IT
- Remember the HR (humanresources@ucanr.edu) and IT (help@ucanr.edu) emails will remain available to create tickets in ServiceNow
Preparing for Go-Live:
- Be Aware - Open tickets will be forwarded to ServiceNow, so if you have an open ticket, you will receive notifications as part of the move to ServiceNow
- Validate Access - For UC ANR employees, verify your access to UCANR Single Sign-On (SSO) with DUO as it is required to access UC ANR's ServiceNow
- Review Training Materials – Learn about our new UC ANR Employee Center, how to submit tickets and how to view tickets – https://ucanr.edu/sites/servicenow
- Office Hours will be available June 24, 25, 26 1-1:30 p.m. for support:
- Join Zoom Meeting: https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/91385989113?pwd=M2VwZHN1VzVDbVhQTEdjM3FOOTNwUT09
- Meeting ID: 913 8598 9113
- Passcode: 570931
Thank you for your continued support as we move forward with our implementation of ServiceNow!
Tu Tran, Associate Vice President for Business Operations
Bethanie Brown, Interim Executive Director of Human Resources
Rice Quality Workshop - July 18, 2024
Date: July 18, 2024 Location: Granzella's Banquet Hall, 457 7th St.,...
New Weed Control Method
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Sterile Pollen Technique Shows Promise for Palmer Amaranth Weed Control
Newly published research provides a novel and sustainable weed-management strategy
WESTMINSTER, Colorado – 22 May2024 – Recently published research in the journal Weed Science shows that a sterilization technique commonly used to control insect pests can be modified to control weeds that require pollination to reproduce. More specifically, the researchers determined that employing a sterile pollen technique (SPT) could effectively disrupt Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S.) reproduction.
Palmer amaranth remains among the most detrimental weeds in North American agriculture, and its resistance to several herbicide groups makes its control a serious challenge. Yet, researchers in this study were able to find a promising new control method for Palmer amaranth and possibly for many other difficult-to-control weeds.
“Our results indicate that SPT, using irradiated pollen, can be a valuable approach for reducing weed-seed production,” says Mohsen B. Mesgaran, Ph.D., a plant sciences assistant professor at the University of California Davis, and the article's corresponding author. “SPT also holds potential for broad-spectrum weed control by mixing sterile pollen from multiple weed species in a single application.”
Additionally, the researchers found that SPT shows promise for managing troublesome herbicide-resistant weeds that have survived in-season control efforts.“We observed the greatest reduction in seed set when irradiated pollen was introduced to the stigma through artificial pollination prior to open pollination,” notes Mesgaran. “It appears that irradiated pollen exerts a preventive effect on naturally occurring pollen that arrives later.”
While the researchers determined that a dose of 300 units of ionizing radiation (Gy) strikes the optimal balance to achieve both efficient Palmer amaranth pollination and seed sterility, challenges still remain. For example, irradiated pollen is currently less competitive than naturally occurring pollen. Thus, field managers may need to employ additional measures to successfully control Palmer amaranth with SPT, such as dispersing irradiated pollen in the field before male anthesis and releasing it multiple times.
More information about SPT and Palmer amaranth control can be found in the article (by Wenzhuo Wu and Mohsen B. Mesgaran), “Exploring sterile pollen technique as a novel tool for management of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri).” The research is featured in Volume 72, Issue 3 of Weed Science, a Weed Science Society of America journal, published online by Cambridge University Press.
Original source: Weed Science Society of America (https://wssa.net/2024/05/sterile-pollen-technique-shows-promise-for-palmer-amaranth-weed-control/)
palmer amaranth