Phytophthora genome sequences uncover evolutionary origins and mechanisms of pathogenesis

Draft genome sequences have been determined for the soybean pathogen Phytophthora sojae and the sudden oak death pathogen Phytophthora ramorum. O?mycetes such as these Phytophthora species share the kingdom Stramenopila with photosynthetic algae such as diatoms, and the presence of many Phytophthora genes of probable phototroph origin supports a photosynthetic ancestry for the stramenopiles. Comparison of the two species' genomes reveals a rapid expansion and diversification of many protein families associated with plant infection such as hydrolases, ABC transporters, protein toxins, proteinase inhibitors, and, in particular, a superfamily of 700 proteins with similarity to known o?mycete avirulence genes.     

芒果营养特性及平衡施肥效应研究

三年试验结果得出,当芒果产量为18668kg/hm2,果实养分吸收量为N 22.4kg/hm2,P2O5 9.0kg/hm2,K2O 44.7kg/hm2,Ca 3.2kg/hm2,Mg 3.0kg/hm2,S 2.3kg/hm2,养分吸收比例为:1:0.40:2.00:0.14:0.13:0.10.芒果适量配施氮、磷、钾、镁和硫肥能获得较高效益;适宜施肥量为N 342kg/hm2,P2O5 107kg/hm2,K2O 274kg/hm2,Mg 34kg/hm2,S 34kg/hm2.     

Spatial variations of groundwater salinity in a mangrove-salt flat system,Cocoa Creek,Australia

In this work the average groundwater salt concentration in a mangrove swamp and tropical salt flat system adjacent to Cocoa Creek near Townsville in North Queensland was measured with ground conductivity probes based on low frequency EMI (Electromagnetic Induction) and V-I (Resistivity) Methods. Transects of conductivity were measured with the conductivity probes and the spatial variations in the average groundwater salt concentration were determined from conductivity measurement with both probes. Lower concentrations occurred within mangrove forest as well as near the edges of the salt flats. Comparison of the results above 0.8 m and below 0.8 m showed that as depth increases, the concentrations become more homogeneous. For example at 0.4 m, salt concentrations across the salt flat vary from 75 g/l to 175 g/l where at 2 m the variation is only from about 75 g/l to 125 g/l. High lateral groundwater salt concentration gradients occured at the boundary between the mangroves and salt flat and also at the edges of the salt flat. Typical gradients were about 6 g/l/m and 2 g/l/m respectively.     

Accumulation of Chemical Elements in Texas Shrimp Pond Soils

Abstract— This study evaluated changes in chemistry of shrimp pond soils over one production cycle. Several soil nutrients, pH, organic matter, and total soluble salts were analyzed in the upper 10 cm of pond-bottom soil on two Texas shrimp farms in two consecutive years. Soil concentrations of S, P, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mn, and Zn increased from one year to the next, S increased by 400 ppm. Organic matter did not accumulate. The pH decreased in all pond soils, owing perhaps to the oxidation of organic matter and/or inorganic compounds. There was no statistical difference in shrimp yield between the two consecutive years. These results indicated that the accumulation of S and soluble salts derived from seawater and feed should be monitored and evaluated to prevent excessive chemical element loading of pond soil and discharge water.     

Low-cost experimental unit and growth medium for testing soil effects on shrimp culture

PVC pipes, 10 cm in diameter and 46 cm long, sealed at one end and filled with 18 ppt of artificial seawater and a 6-cm layer of substrate, were tested as experimental units for the culturing of penaeid shrimp. The growth substrate was prepared by mixing 70% quartz sand, 24% Georgia kaolin, 5% Gonzales bentonite and 1% Bermuda grass hay. One juvenile Penaeus vannamei was placed in each container and shrimp weight gain was monitored. In the first study (four replicates), shrimp grew to 8.15 g within 8 weeks at a rate of ≈1 g week⁻¹ with no mortality; thereafter, growth decreased and 25% mortality was observed. In the second study (seven replicates), the average weight of shrimp was 8.66 g in 10 weeks, with 29% mortality occurring between the seventh and eighth week. Experimental unit cost was $3.30.     

Gelatin Films Containing Hydrolysates from Whitecheek Shark (Carcharhinus dussumieri) Meat

The effect of adding different concentrations of freeze-dried (FD-WCPH) and spray-dried (SD-WCPH) whitecheek shark (Carcharhinus dussumieri) protein hydrolysate to the physical properties (solubility in water, contact angle, water vapor permeability, and opacity), mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break, and elastic modulus) and color of gelatin films has been studied. The results showed that FD-WCPH and SD-WCPH led to an increase in water solubility and water vapor permeability and a decrease in contact angle and opacity of gelatin films (P < 0.05). Fish protein hydrolysate concentration showed a linear relation with elongation at break and an inverse relation with the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the films (P < 0.05).     

Dietary supplementation of autolysed yeast enhances growth,liver functionality and intestinal morphology in African catfish

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the potential of dietary supplementation of autolysed brewer's yeast (AY) on African catfish. The catfish (22.5 ± 1.15 g/fish, 20 fish 33 L/tank) were fed with either of diets (390 g/kg crude protein, 140 g/kg lipid) supplemented with 0, 3, 6 or 10 g/kg AY (n = 3). After 49 days of feeding, the final body weight and metabolic growth rate of the catfish fed 3 g/kg AY (3‐AY) diet were higher than those fed the control diet (p < .05). The lowest level (p < .05) of alanine transaminase was detected in the blood of the catfish fed 3‐AY diet. The mid‐intestinal histology of the catfish revealed no significant difference (p > .05) in intestinal perimeter ratio. However, an elevated (p < .05) abundance of goblet cells and intraepithelial leucocytes were found in the intestine of catfish fed 3, 6 and 10 g/kg AY diets, with the highest level of abundance recorded in the mid‐intestine of the catfish fed 3‐AY diet. The results suggest that dietary 3 g/kg autolysed brewer's yeast supplementation improves growth performance of African catfish without deleterious effect on liver functionality and gut morphology.     

Evaluation of In Vitro Apparent Protein Digestibility by Shrimp Using Gut Enzyme Extracts

Knowledge of apparent protein digestibility (APD) is required for optimization of feed formulae for the production of marine penaeid shrimp. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an in vitro method for determining APD in marine penaeid shrimp using gut enzyme extracts. A high correlation (r² = 0.95) was shown between single‐ingredient APD values for fish meal diets using in vivo methodology and those derived from in vitro testing of ingredients. A second study showed positive correlation (r² = 0.71) between in vitro APD of selected purified and semipurified ingredients and their reported in vivo APDs. This correlation was much higher for purified ingredients (r² = 0.93) versus less‐refined ingredients (r² = 0.24). A third trial compared in vitro APD at three different enzyme extract pH values and showed that for most protein sources, APD was significantly highest (P < 0.05) at pH = 7.0 and lower at pH = 6.1 or 7.9, indicating a neutral pH optimum for this methodology.