Quality of raisins under different packaging and storage conditions

We determined the effect of different storage systems and packaging on the quality of ‘Sultana Seedless’ raisins. The fruit were packed in plastic boxes and kept under controlled atmosphere (1% O₂ and 3% CO₂) at 0°C and 75–85% RH for 12 months (CA), packed in vacuum bags and kept under normal atmosphere (21% O₂–0.03% CO₂) (NA) and packed in thin plastic bags + carton boxes and kept under ambient condition (semi-refrigeration), at 0°C and 90% ± 5 RH for 12 months (AC). Fruit kept under CA or NA had acceptable fruit quality in terms of general appearance and taste for 10 months, whereas fruit quality was unacceptable at that time under AC. Fruit under NA had less weight loss than fruit under the other conditions. Differences in skin colour were relatively small, apart from the h° values. Concentrations of ochratoxin A were generally higher with AC. External appearance and taste were better with CA and NA. As a result, raisins can be stored for 10 months with good quality in vacuum package in NA (0°C and 90% ± 5 RH) and CA (1% O₂–3% CO₂) at 0°C and 75–85% RH.     

Evaluation of dietary protein and lipid requirements of two-banded seabream (Diplodus vulgaris) cultured in a recirculating aquaculture system

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth performance and bioeconomic benefits of two-banded seabream (Diplodus vulgaris) juveniles, a candidate species for aquaculture sector. Eight experimental diets were formulated with four protein (50, 45, 40 and 35 %) levels for each of the two lipid levels (15 and 10 %). Triplicate groups of juvenile fish with an average initial body weight of ~3.64 g were reared in a recirculating aquaculture system and hand fed twice a day until satiation for a period of 60 days. In the experiment, no difference in survival rate was found between the different groups. Relative growth rate (RGR), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and daily feed intake were not significantly affected by increasing protein and/or lipid treatments in this present study. However, the RGR, SGR and FCR values showed slightly better efficiency in the experimental group (35/15) fed with lower protein content (35 %) and higher lipid level (15 %) compared with those fed other diets. According to bioeconomic analyses results, the diet with the 35 % protein and 15 % lipid generated the best profit. The results suggest that two-banded seabream can be accepted as a promising alternative species for the aquaculture industry and optimum growth of two-banded seabream fingerlings can be obtained when they are fed a diet containing 35 % crude protein and 15 % crude lipid.     

The phytotoxicity potential of olive processing waste on selected weeds and crop plants

The effect of sun-dried OPW (olive processing waste) on weeds and crop plants, was investigated at the Adnan Menderes University Research and Application Farm between 2006 and 2007. Sun-dried OPW was placed in pots in doses of 9, 18, 27, 36, 45 and 54 grams per pot, which is equivalent to doses of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 kg m⁻²; pots with no OPW served as controls. In these experiments, ten seeds each of wild oat (Avena fatua), sterile oat (Avena sterilis), blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), faba bean (Vicia faba), pea (Pisum sativum), and sesame (Sesamum indicum) were sown in pots; for common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), seedlings were planted in pots. Seedlings of both weeds and crop plants were counted in order to assess the effects of sun-dried OPW on plant emergence. One plant was left per pot for observation of the effects of sun-dried OPW treatments on weed and crop plant growth. The results showed that OPW can be used to suppress the growth of all the weeds listed above, in pots containing V. faba, P. sativum and S.indicum plants and without any negative effects on crop growth.     

Effects of fish oil and partial fish meal substitution with oilseed oils and meals on growth performance, nutrient utilization and health of the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of the replacement of dietary fish meal and fish oil with oilseed meals (soybean or canola) and canola oil on growth, nutrient utilization, body composition, diet digestibility and hematological parameters of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Seven diets were used; the control diet (designated FM) contained fish meal and fish oil as the main protein and lipid sources. For the experimental diets, 40% of fish meal protein was substituted with soybean meal, canola meal or a soybean/canola meal mixture, and these diets (designated SM, CM and SCM, respectively) contained fish oil as the lipid source. Three additional diets (SM?+?CO, CM?+?CO and SCM?+?CO) were formulated with the same vegetable protein meals but with fish oil replaced by canola oil. Fish were fed twice daily to apparent satiation for 11?weeks. The growth of fish fed the CM?+?CO diet was significantly lower than that of fish fed the FM, SCM, SM?+?CO and SCM?+?CO diets. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly better in fish fed the FM and SCM?+?CO diets than in fish fed the CM and CM?+?CO diets. Furthermore, feed intake was significantly lower for fish fed the CM?+?CO diet than in fish fed the SCM diet, and lipid digestibility of the CM?+?CO diet was significantly lower than that of all other diets. No significant differences of body composition were observed. Circulating leukocyte levels, leukocyte ratios and serum lysozyme activity remained unaffected by dietary treatment. However, it was observed that fish fed the CM?+?CO diet displayed hematocrit levels significantly lower (P?<?0.05) than that of fish fed the other diets. The results indicate that when diets contain either fish oil or canola oil, canola meal and soybean meal can be incorporated into rainbow trout feeds at a combined 32% inclusion level (replacing 40% of fish meal protein) without inducing significant negative effects on growth, nutrient utilization or health.     

Artificial sex reversal of white grouper (Epinephelus aeneus) utilizing aromatase inhibitor (Fadrozole)

The white grouper is a desirable aquaculture species that adapts to captivity, grows well and commands a high market price. However, little is known about reproductive biology or control of sex reversal of this protogynous hermaphrodite. In this study, female white groupers were implanted with one dose of 17α‐methyltestosterone (10 mg/kg body weight [BW], MT) and two doses of aromatase inhibitor, fadrozole (1 and 3 mg/kg BW, FD1 and FD3) once a month for 4 months (April–July). At the start of the study, the fish had gonads full of oocytes compared to the end of the experiment when the control group mature oocytes compared to the experimental groups MT, FD1 and FD3 that exhibited different stages of testicular tissue. Plasma levels of testosterone were significantly highest in the FD3 group and the highest 11‐Ketotestosterone levels were observed in the MT group. Plasma levels of oestradiol (E₂) were significantly lower in the FD implanted groups, compared to initial individuals and control groups. The use of aromatase inhibitor, FD for sex reversal both gives further insight into the mechanisms controlling sex differentiation and provides an alternative to steroid treatment.