Research@Lincoln

Research@Lincoln is an open access institutional repository collecting the research produced by Lincoln University staff and students. You may also be interested in Data@Lincoln or Lincoln University Living Heritage.

Students wishing to submit a thesis or dissertation should see the Depositing theses and dissertations guide.

Recent Submissions

  • PublicationOpen Access
    Mitigation of drought stress in plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) using plant growth promoting rhizobacteria
    (Lincoln University, 2025) Mosa, Dina
    Drought is a major constraint in agriculture that plays an essential role in restricting plant growth and yield globally. It not only affects plant water potential but also induces production of free radicals, leading to overaccumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are harmful to plant cells, and ultimately lead to plant death. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) inoculation can help plants better cope with drought stress by improving their growth and productivity through the enhancement of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. This glasshouse study had three main objectives: to i) isolate and identify PGPR from the rhizosphere and roots of two pasture plants from two drought stressed fields, ii) investigate the effect of selected PGPR on growth promotion and biomass yield of plantain and perennial ryegrass plants grown under drought stress, and iii) investigate the mechanism by which these PGPR can mitigate drought stress in plants. The first objective was accomplished by isolating 22 PGPR from the rhizosphere soil and roots of plantain and perennial ryegrass grown in two drought stress fields, and after DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing, characterising them into 16 different bacterial species. The 16 bacterial species were Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus pumilus, Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens, Exiguobacterium sp., Pantoea sp., Peribacillus sp., Priestia aryabhattai, Priestia megarterium, Pseudarthrobacter sp., Pseudomonas abietaniphila, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas sp., Rahnella aceris, Serratia liquefaciens, Stenotrophomonas sp., and Yersinia sp.. The majority of these PGPR isolates had previously been reported to enhance plant tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. Thirteen isolates, Bacillus mycoides, Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens, Exiguobacterium sp., Pantoea sp., Peribacillus sp., Priestia aryabhattai, Priestia megarterium, Pseudomonas abietaniphila, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas sp., Rahnella aceris, Serratia liquefaciens, and Yersinia sp were assessed for their impacts on plantain grown under drought and non-drought stress conditions. Of these Bacillus mycoides, Priestia aryabhattai, and P. abietaniphila produced stronger responses than the other PGPR isolates in improving leaf chlorophyll content, leaf relative water content (RWC), and shoot dry matter (DM) of plantain under drought stress. Consequently, these three isolates were selected for the second experiment to inoculate plantain and perennial ryegrass grown under drought and non-drought stress conditions. All three PGPR isolates significantly enhanced the growth and dry matter (DM) yield of the drought stressed plants by increasing leaf chlorophyll content and leaf RWC, plant height, and DM of shoots and roots. For the third objective some plant biochemical responses in drought stressed plants to the presence of the three PGPR isolates were assessed. In plants inoculated with Priestia aryabhattai, P. abietaniphila, and Bacillus mycoides, there was a significantly enhanced activity of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) as well as phenolic compounds and proline contents under drought stress, allowing the plants to better mitigate the impact of drought stress than the uninoculated plants. All three isolates also significantly increased the activity of POD and CAT in both plant species grown in the absence of drought stress. The results suggest that there is potential for use of PGPR inoculants for mitigating drought stress in New Zealand pastures. However, this will need to be confirmed in field trials at different sites around the country.
  • PublicationEmbargo
    Evaluating the impact of recycling used wool garment products on sustainable fashion in New Zealand : A thesis submitted in partal fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Commerce and Management at Lincoln University
    (Lincoln University, 2025) Weerawardana, Thilina
    The extent of waste produced is one of the reasons the fashion industry is considered the largest polluter, primarily due to the production of textile waste. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of recycling used wool garments as a sustainable fashion practice in New Zealand. It aims to assess the current practice of wool garment recycling, including its benefits, environmental and economic efficacy, and consumer perception. The current state of recycling wool garments in New Zealand is also assessed, and the collection of post-consumer wool garments, from collection through to subsequent processes, is outlined. The various steps, starting with the collection of post-consumer wool garments and proceeding through the mechanical and chemical recycling methods used in the processing of wool garments, are discussed. It highlights the benefits of environmental recycling of wool, including reduced carbon emissions and water usage, thereby underscoring the value that wool recycling holds in achieving sustainable development goals. Another critical area of concern, as captured in this research, is the economic feasibility. Evaluating the cost recovery of such recycling processes for fashionable consumers, the general research measures the profitability of cascading recycled wool into stylish products. Findings are encouraging for suppliers and producers, as they suggest a market opportunity to expand the development and promotion of recycled wool garments. Understanding consumer preferences allows producers to align product offerings with demand and invest confidently in sustainable practices that support both environmental goals and business growth.This research employs an exploratory research approach, utilising face-to-face semi-structured interviews with recycling centre managers, fashion designers, and industry specialists. This type of data is best analysed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and insights into the flow of wool recycling material within New Zealand. While the qualitative data are used, the research also acknowledges some weaknesses, including the possibility of interview bias and the difficulty of generalising the results to other countries, apart from New Zealand. The study outlines the strengths and drawbacks of encouraging people to recycle wool as a sustainable activity. Environmental impacts and business opportunities have been identified in the survey, highlighting the need for a more effective plan to change consumers' perceptions towards recycling and improve the recycling process. Recommendations are provided to policymakers and fashion brands on how to enhance recycling programs and promote collaboration with consumers. This work fills the knowledge gap in matching wool recycling with the international frameworks of sustainable development, while emphasising that further innovative contributions are still needed in the field of sustainable fashion consumption.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Enzymes in action
    (Lincoln University. Educational Solutions, 1997) Busch, Janette; Coup, Andrea; Hickford, Jonathan; Mason, Sue; Savage, Geoffrey; Vanhanen, Leo; Smith, Peter E.
    Enzymes in Action is the first in a series of school resources produced by Lincoln University. It aims to bring new ideas, based on the teaching and research of the university, into the senior high school. The resource itself is a collection of ideas contributed by several of the university staff. Their knowledge and understanding of enzymes is based on their research into practical solutions in animal biology, human physiology and in the winemaking industry. The practical experiments have been trialled by a score of teachers, whose feedback and suggestions have been invaluable in honing them for the classroom.
  • ItemRestricted
    Wool education and research in New Zealand and Australia : A report prepared for the New Zealand Wool Industry Charitable Trust in order to identify shortfalls and weaknesses in New Zealand wool education and research infrastructure
    (Lincoln University, 2003-10) Forrest, R.; Hickford, Jonathan; Robertson, L.
    Contents: Wool education in New Zealand -- Wool education in Australia -- Maximising benefits for the NZ wool industry from the educational resources available in Australasia -- Wool research in New Zealand -- Wool research in Australia -- Maximising benefits for the New Zealand wool industry from the research resources available in Australasia -- Appendices
  • ItemRestricted
    The definition of videogames revisited
    (University of Oslo, 2009) Tavinor, Grant
    What can philosophy contribute to the study of computer games?
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