Evaluation of Salinity Effects on Ionic Balance and Compatible Solute Contents in Nine Grape (Vitis L.) Genotypes

The salinity tolerance of nine grape genotypes was studied. Salinity was applied as nutrient solutions containing 0, 25, 50, and 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) for two weeks. Growth was significantly reduced by salinity, whereas chloride (Cl^?) and sodium (Na⁺) contents increased. Sodium ion accumulation exceeded that of Cl^? in all treatments. Shirazi and H₆ had higher and lower Cl^? concentrations in their lamina than others. There were significant positive correlations (P < 0.01) between Cl^? and Na⁺ and negative correlation between Na⁺ and potassium (K⁺) in roots and laminas of all genotypes. Soluble sugars, proline, and glycine betaine contents increased in laminas of all of the genotypes with moderate salinity. There were positive correlations (P < 0.01) between lamina and root Na⁺ and Cl^? contents and compatible solutes in all genotypes. Overall results revealed that unlike Shirazi with higher Na⁺ and Cl^? accumulation in shoot, H₆ showed a higher capacity to restrict Na⁺ and Cl^? transport to shoot.     

Soil Immobilization of Heavy Metal Using Soil Amendments in a Greenhouse Study

ABSTRACT

The application of soil amendments to immobilize heavy metals is a promising technology to meet the requirements for environmentally sound and cost-effective remediation. The present work was carried out to evaluate the effect of phosphogypsum (PG) used alone and in combination with compost (CP) at a mix ratio of 1:1 wet weight ratio (PG+CP) at 10 and 20 g dry weight kg^?1 dry soil, on heavy metal immobilization in contaminated soil, and on canola growth (Brassica napus). The results were then compared with untreated soil (control). The results revealed that the Pb, Cd, and Zn uptake of canola plants was reduced by the application of PG alone and when it was mixed with CP. At an application rate of 10 g dry weight kg^?1 dry soil of (PG+CP), the dry weight of canola plants increased by 66.8%, which was increased in comparison on its weight in the untreated soil (control). The addition of PG alone resulted in more pronounced immobilization of heavy metals as compared to PG mixed with CP. Plant growth was improved with CP addition but heavy metals immobilization was greatest in PG alone treatments. Results suggest that PG may be useful for the immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soils.     

Clinical evaluation of intranasal benzodiazepines, alpha-agonists and their antagonists in canaries

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of intranasal benzodiazepines (midazolam and diazepam), alpha(2)-agonists (xylazine and detomidine) and their antagonists (flumazenil and yohimbine) in canaries. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. ANIMALS: Twenty-six healthy adult domesticated canaries of both sexes, weighing 18.3 +/- 1.0 g. METHODS: In Study 1 an attempt was made to determine the dose of each drug that allowed treated canaries to be laid in dorsal recumbency for at least 5 minutes, i.e. its effective dose. This involved the evaluation of various doses, during which equal volumes of the tested drug were administered slowly into each nostril. In study 2 the onset of action, duration and quality of sedation induced by each drug at its effective dose were evaluated. The efficacy of flumazenil and yohimbine in antagonizing the effects of the sedative drugs was also studied. RESULTS: In study 1 administration of 25 microL per nostril diazepam (5 mg mL(-1) solution) or midazolam (5 mg mL(-1) solution) to each bird caused adequate sedation within 1-2 minutes; birds did not move when placed in dorsal recumbency. After administration of 12 microL per nostril of either xylazine (20 mg mL(-1)) or detomidine (10 mg mL(-1)), birds seemed heavily sedated and assumed sternal recumbency but could not be placed in dorsal recumbency. Higher doses of xylazine (0.5 mg per nostril) or detomidine (0.25 mg per nostril) prolonged sedation but did not produce dorsal recumbency. In study 2 in all treatment groups, onset of action was rapid. Duration of dorsal recumbency was significantly longer (p < 0.05) with diazepam (38.4 +/- 10.5 minutes) than midazolam (17.1 +/- 2.2 minutes). Intranasal flumazenil (2.5 microg per nostril) significantly reduced recumbency time. Duration of sedation was longer with alpha(2)-agonists compared with benzodiazepines. Detomidine had the longest duration of effect (257.5 +/- 1.5 minutes) and midazolam the shortest (36.9 +/- 2.4 minutes). Nasally administered flumazenil significantly reduced the duration of sedation with diazepam and midazolam while yohimbine (120 microg per nostril) effectively antagonized the effects of xylazine and detomidine. CONCLUSION: Intranasal benzodiazepines produce rapid and effective sedation in canaries. Intranasal alpha(2) agonists produce sedation but not sustained recumbency. Specific antagonists are also effective when used by this route. Clinical relevance Intranasal sedative drug administration is an acceptable alternative method of drug delivery in canaries.     

Using restaurant food waste as feed for Nile tilapia production

More than 40% of human food produced is wasted and much of it in restaurants. Two 8‐week feeding experiments were performed to evaluate the suitability of using restaurant food waste to supplement commercial feed (CF) in the aquaculture of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. In the first experiment, five feeding regimens in which CF was substituted by waste‐based feed at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of daily offering were evaluated. Results show that 25% of the CF can be replaced with waste‐based feed without any significant effect on survival, growth, feed conversion, hepatosomatic, viscerosomatic (VSI) indices, haemoglobin, haematocrit and total plasma protein (TPP). In the second experiment, seven feeding treatments were evaluated in which daily offerings of CF were alternated with waste‐based feed in 6‐day cycles. Results suggest that replacement between 25% and 33% is feasible without significantly affecting survival or growth. Again, no significant differences were observed in growth, feed conversion ratio, VSI, haemoglobin, haematocrit and TPP. Findings suggest that around 25% replacement of CF with Lebanese restaurant waste‐based feed can be utilized in the culture of O. niloticus thus improving financial returns of farmers while reducing the environmental impact of food waste.     

In Vitro assessment of the nutritive value of expanded soybean meal for dairy cattle

ABSTRACT: Little information is available about the nutritive value of expanded soybean meal, which is produced by expansion of soybeans prior to solvent extraction of the oil. During processing, expanded soybean meal is subjected to additional heat, which might increase the concentration of ruminally undegraded protein. Processing of soybeans with heat during oil extraction could affect lysine availability by increasing ruminally undegraded protein or by impairing intestinal digestion. Our objective was to compare solvent and expanded soybeans with regard to chemical composition and nutritive value for dairy cattle. Samples of expanded soybean meal (n = 14) and solvent-extracted soybean meal (n = 5) were obtained from People's Republic of China to study effects of the expansion process on nutritive value for dairy cattle. Solvent-extracted soybean meal (n = 2) and mechanically extracted (heated) soybean meal (n = 2) from the United States served as references for comparison. Samples were analyzed for crude fat, long-chain fatty acids, crude protein, amino acids, chemically available lysine, in situ ruminal protein degradation, and in vitro intestinal digestibility. No differences were found between solvent-extracted soybean meals from China and expanded soybean meals from China for crude fat, crude protein, amino acids, or chemically available lysine. In situ disappearance of nitrogen, ruminally undegraded protein content, and in vitro intestinal digestion of the ruminally undegraded protein were generally similar between solvent-extracted soybean meals made in China and expanded soybean meals made in China; variation among soybean meals was small. Results indicate that the additional heat from the expansion process was not great enough to affect the nutritive value of soybean meal protein for ruminants. Although expansion may improve the oil extraction process, the impact on the resulting soybean meal is minimal and does not require consideration when formulating ruminant diets.     

In Vitro assessment of the nutritive value of expanded soybean meal for dairy cattle

Little information is available about the nutritive value of expanded soybean meal, which is produced by expansion of soybeans prior to solvent extraction of the oil. During processing, expanded soybean meal is subjected to additional heat, which might increase the concentration of ruminally undegraded protein. Processing of soybeans with heat during oil extraction could affect lysine availability by increasing ruminally undegraded protein or by impairing intestinal digestion. Our objective was to compare solvent and expanded soybeans with regard to chemical composition and nutritive value for dairy cattle. Samples of expanded soybean meal (n = 14) and solvent- extracted soybean meal (n = 5) were obtained from People’s Republic of China to study effects of the expansion process on nutritive value for dairy cattle. Solvent-extracted soybean meal (n = 2) and mechanically extracted (heated) soybean meal (n = 2) from the United States served as references for comparison. Samples were analyzed for crude fat, long-chain fatty acids, crude protein, amino acids, chemically available lysine, in situ ruminal protein degradation, and in vitro intestinal digestibility. No differences were found between solvent-extracted soybean meals from China and expanded soybean meals from China for crude fat, crude protein, amino acids, or chemically available lysine. In situ disappearance of nitrogen, ruminally undegraded protein content, and in vitro intestinal digestion of the ruminally undegraded protein were generally similar between solvent-extracted soybean meals made in China and expanded soybean meals made in China; variation among soybean meals was small. Results indicate that the additional heat from the expansion process was not great enough to affect the nutritive value of soybean meal protein for ruminants. Although expansion may improve the oil extraction process, the impact on the resulting soybean meal is minimal and does not require consideration when formulating ruminant diets.     

Parentage analysis of tropical spiny lobster (Panulirus homarus) by microsatellite markers

Parentage analysis is of vital importance for hatchery production and breeding programmes. Two multiplex PCR protocols including seven tropical spiny lobster (Panulirus homarus) microsatellites (Pho‐G06, Pho‐G25, Pho‐G53, Pho‐G62, Pho‐G74, Pho‐G89 and Pho‐G100) were introduced for parentage assignment. All loci were polymorphic with allele sizes from 113 to 337 base pairs (bp), observed alleles (k) from two to seven and polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.25 to 0.73. Twenty‐four stage‐3 phyllosoma larvae (39 days posthatching) were collected for paternity exclusion study using selected microsatellites. Exclusion‐based parentage analysis unambiguously assigned 83% of fry (20 of 24) to a single female parent. Of ten putative female parents, five have contributed to the 20 allocated offspring, with one being true parent of 11. Four others were assigned to two or more potential female parents, probably due to genotyping error or the presence of null allele. The exclusion power (EP) for the seven loci varied between 13% and 54% with known genotypes of one parent (P1) and 19% and 71% for given the genotypes of both parents (P2). The theoretical combined parentage exclusion (cEP) power for all seven microsatellites was P1 = 95% and P2 = 99%. The power of discrimination for each locus varied between 0.18 and 0.86. This report presents the first study to utilize microsatellite markers for successful parentage assignment of P. homarus. The selected microsatellites provide a practical tool for parentage analysis in hatchery production of juveniles as well as in future commercial breeding programme of tropical spiny lobsters.     

Toxicity of Four Chemotherapeutic Agents to Rabbitfish Siganus rivulatus

As aquaculture evolves from extensive pond culture to intensive tank and cage systems, chemical dips and baths are increasingly being used to treat a concomitant increase in ectoparasitic and bacterial infestations. Some of the main disease‐causing agents are ectoparasites on the skin and gills of fish. Consequently, application of chemotherapeutics is increasing in aquaculture industries in order to control outbreaks of parasitic infestations. However, the toxic effect of commonly used chemotherapeutic agents on specific aquacultured fish species is often unknown. The present work was performed to test the effect of four commonly used chemical treatments on rabbitfish, Siganus rivulatus. The lethal concentrations for 50% of population (LC₅₀) of formalin, copper sulfate, potassium permanganate, and hydrogen peroxide for S. rivulatus juveniles treated for 1 h were assessed. Formalin and potassium permanganate tolerance values were determined by calculating 72‐h LC₅₀ values through probit analysis. The 72‐h LC₅₀ values for the formalin toxicity tests were 551.0 and 1.68 mg/L, respectively. LC₅₀ of copper sulfate and hydrogen peroxide could not be determined from the concentrations tested but were found to be >3 and >700 mg/L, respectively. Accordingly, treatment concentrations of formalin and potassium permanganate used for other fish species could be lethal to S. rivulatus, but the species appears to be quite tolerant to copper sulfate and hydrogen peroxide.