Symposium Symposium

Symposium. Symposium. Symposium. Abstract. Abstract. Abstract. Symposium. Symposium. Symposium. Presentation Title. Presentation Title. Presentation Title. Symposium. Symposium. Symposium. PowerPoint. PowerPoint. PowerPoint. Symposium. Doomsday. Symposium. MakesMegan'sLifeHellForDaysOnEnd. Symposium. MakeATwentyTwoYearOldStressOutLikeThereIsNoTomorrow. Symposium. I-think-if-I-hear-that-word-one-more-time-I-will-go-bat-shit-crazy-and-never-return-from-crazyland-and-just-lie-in-bed-forever-and-ever-and-just-watch-Netflix-until-there-is-nothing-else-to-watch-on-Netflix-and-then-cry-because-I-heard-the-word-symposium-and-I-remembered-the-time-where-I-did-nothing-but-symposium-which-brought-me-to-where-I-am. So hey guys! I will be out of that funk as of tomorrow morning!

I have been doing symposium duties for a month now and quite frankly I will be extremely happy when this darn symposium is over so I can get back to a normal life! Anyways, would y'all like to read my abstract? I bet y'all will understand the vast majority of it!! Too bad, you're going to read it anyways (unless you skip down to the fun part).

Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides are pathogens that cause ear rot of maize in North Carolina (NC) and produce the mycotoxins aflatoxin and fumonisin, respectively. The activity of these fungi during drought conditions before and during silking can contribute to the occurrence of mycotoxin contamination in maize seeds. High levels of mycotoxin contamination can render the seed unsellable for human and animal consumption. The FDA regulates the maximum level of contamination for aflatoxin, but not for fumonisin, allowed in food for consumption. In 2013 and 2014, we conducted three field experiments in Rocky Mount, NC to evaluate management practices for reducing mycotoxin contamination in maize. The management practices evaluated were; 1) Syngenta hybrids: N78S-3111 (Viptera), N78S-GT (non-Bt hybrid) and N74R-3000GT (Yield Guard), 2) biological control agents Afla-Guard® and AF36 applied at different rates and times during the growing season; and 3) application of fungicides: Stratego YDL, Headline, and Quilt Xcel used alone or in combination with Afla-Guard®. In 2013, Viptera had the lowest levels of aflatoxin contamination, whereas in 2014, Yield Guard had the lowest. In 2013, Quilt Xcel was the most effective in reducing aflatoxin contamination. In 2014, there was more mycotoxin contamination when Stratego YDL was applied. In both years there was no significant difference when Afla-guard® was applied in combination with fungicides. Biological control efficacy was highest when 10lb/A was applied to the fields at growth stages V5 and VT. Afla-guard® and AF36 performed equally well in fields in reducing aflatoxin contamination; neither significantly reduced fumonisin contamination.

So the fun part. I had my favorite kind of visitor last weekend. Aaron braved the heat and headed south. Unfortunately, it wasn't all that warm; he brought the Wisconsin weather with him! We had a nice, relaxing weekend. He flew in Thursday night so we had a full 2.5 days together. Friday, I showed off my amazing breakfast cooking skills, took a short walk around Lake Johnson, went climbing at TRC-MV with Dane, and had dinner at a Himalayan/Tibetan restaurant. YES! I found a Tibetan restaurant in Raleigh. I am now a very happy North Carolinian. Anyways, we had delicious food for dinner and then played a card game I am apparently very good at. (No worries, he got me back later).

Saturday, once again I charmed him with my chef skills for breakfast and we went to go see Interstellar. It was pretty darn good!! Then we bouldered at TRC-NR with Patrick! After climbing we went on the hunt for a place to eat. We ended up at Brio Tuscan Grille and played chess while waiting for our food. IT WAS DELICIOUS. We went home and he taught he a card game he is very good at so he got me back. I learned that he has incredible reaction skills and mine are just not as fast as his. After I got schooled multiple times, we cuddled up to watch a movie. I am incredibly skilled at falling asleep during movies as I discovered. I believe we were watching Stardust which I proceeded to finish Sunday after he left.

I could live here.

Sunday, we went to Hillsborough Street to get cookies and coffee. We hung out by the BellTower for awhile. Then we had a late lunch/early dinner of Farro with veggies before I had to drop him off at the airport. I think I only like airports when they are dropping off people to me or delivering me to someone. Isn't that what airports are designed for? Haha, anyways, I'm going to go practice my presentation a few more times until I can discuss it in my sleep. Joy. Enjoy the cold!