Effect of temperature on survival,growth and development of Mytilus galloprovincialis larvae

Mussel aquaculture is widely prevalent worldwide, but generally relies on natural seed collection, which does not always meet the needs of the producers. Thus, development of mussel hatcheries is of economic interest in some parts of the world, such as Europe; it provides opportunities not only on annual reliability of seed but also on genetic improvements. To broaden knowledge on mussel larval physiology, we carried out temperature treatments (17, 20 and 24 °C) on Mytilus galloprovincialis larvae under laboratory conditions. The trials ended when 30% of the larval population was in the post‐larval stage. The temperature coefficient Q₁₀ indicated a strong relationship between temperature and increase in growth from 17 to 20 °C, but not between 20 and 24 °C. Exposure of M. galloprovincialis larvae to 17 °C resulted in poor growth, low survival and a delayed development and was considered to be inadequate for M. galloprovincialis larval culture. Rearing the larvae at 20 or 24 °C produced better growth, higher survival rates and faster metamorphosis as compared with 17 °C. The temperature region within 20 and 24 °C was suggested as adequate for the mussel M. galloprovincialis larval culture, and implications of these results on the development of commercial hatcheries were discussed.     

Does Ralstonia eutropha,rich in poly‐β hydroxybutyrate (PHB), protect blue mussel larvae against pathogenic vibrios?

The natural amorphous polymer poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate (PHB‐A: lyophilized Ralstonia eutropha containing 75% PHB) was used as a biological agent to control bacterial pathogens of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) larvae. The larvae were supplied with PHB‐A at a concentration of 1 or 10 mg/L for 6 or 24 hr, followed by exposure to either the rifampicin‐resistant pathogen Vibrio splendidus or Vibrio coralliilyticus at a concentration of 10⁵ CFU/ml. Larvae pretreated 6 hr with PHB‐A (1 mg/L) survived a Vibrio challenge better relative to 24 hr pretreatment. After 96 hr of pathogen exposure, the survival of PHB‐A‐treated mussel larvae was 1.41‐ and 1.76‐fold higher than the non‐treated larvae when challenged with V. splendidus and V. coralliilyticus, respectively. Growth inhibition of the two pathogens at four concentrations of the monomer β‐HB (1, 5, 25 and 125 mM) was tested in vitro in LB₃₅ medium, buffered at two different pH values (pH 7 and pH 8). The highest concentration of 125 mM significantly inhibited the pathogen growth in comparison to the lower levels. The effect of β‐HB on the production of virulence factors in the tested pathogenic Vibrios revealed a variable pattern of responses.