Effect of dietary starch source (normal versus waxy) and protein levels on the performance of white sea bream Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus) juveniles

An experiment was performed to evaluate the growth performance and feed utilization of white sea bream juveniles (initial weight, 14 g) fed diets of cornstarch of different origins (normal and waxy). Four experimental diets were formulated to be isolipidic and to contain normal and waxy starch (26% or 42%) at two protein (36% and 48%) levels. The growth trial lasted 15 weeks and, at the end of the trial, there were no differences in the growth rate among groups. At the highest dietary starch level – but not at the lowest level – the feed efficiency ratio and PER were significantly lower in fish fed the waxy starch diet. Protein efficiency ratio and N retention (% N intake) were not affected by starch source but were significantly higher in the diets with a lower protein content. No differences in energy retention (% energy intake) were observed among groups. Except for the protein content, which was significantly higher in fish fed diets with a high protein level, no other differences were observed among groups in whole‐body composition. Hepatosomatic Index (HSI) was significantly higher in fish fed high‐starch diets, but there were no differences in visceral indices among groups. The apparent digestibility coefficients of protein and energy were not affected by the dietary starch level, but were significantly lower in diets including waxy starch. Glutamate dehydrogenase activity was higher in fish fed high‐protein diets, but it was not affected by dietary starch source. Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities were not different among groups. Glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme and fatty acid synthetase activities were not affected by the dietary starch level, but were significantly lower in fish fed waxy starch. The results of this study indicate that diets for white sea bream juveniles may include up to 42% starch without negative effects on fish performance. Moreover, normal starch appears to be more efficiently used as an energy source than waxy starch.     

Effect of level and source of nutrients in late gestation on subsequent milk yield and composition and fertility of dairy cows

The effect of level and source of nutrients in late gestation on food intake, milk yield, milk composition and fertility in the subsequent lactation were evaluated in a randomized block design experiment involving 76 cows. Four experimental diets, based on grass silage, were offered to provide two levels of metabolizable energy (ME) intake (80 and 125 MJ/cow/day) either from 100:0 or 40:60 forage:concentrate (F:C) ratios for the last 28 days of gestation. Post-calving all cows were offered the same grass silage supplemented with 7 kg/day concentrates. For treatments 80 ME, 125 ME and 100:0 F:C, 40:60 F:C total dry matter (DM) intakes were 6.8, 10.5, 9.0 and 8.4 kg DM/day and ME intakes were 80, 126, 102 and 104 MJ/day, respectively, during the last 4 weeks of gestation. For weeks 1-16 of the subsequent lactation, treatment 125 ME increased milk fat content and yield but had no effect on food intake, milk protein content or onset of cyclicity. Treatment 125 ME increased condition score and live weight at calving. Altering the F:C ratio of the diets in late gestation had no effect on food intake, milk yield, milk composition or on the onset of cyclicity in the subsequent lactation. Cow parity and level of nutrient intake in late gestation provided the best fit relationships for the yields of fat and fat plus protein (R² relationships=0.49 and 0.52, respectively) during weeks 1-16 of lactation. It is concluded that increasing nutrient intake in late gestation increased milk fat content and yield but had no effect on milk protein concentration. The improved milk fat content and yield observed in a previous study was due to increased nutrient intake rather than altering the F:C ratio. Furthermore there was no measurable benefit in food intake or animal performance in the subsequent lactation through feeding concentrates in late gestation.     

Fermentability of carbohydrates in an in vitro batch culture method using inocula from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

This study investigated in vitro fermentability of wheat‐derived carbohydrates using inocula of Nile tilapia and European sea bass. Distal intestinal contents were incubated in bottles containing one of four fermentable substrates, i.e. glucose (GL), native wheat starch (WS), arabinoxylan (ABX) and whole wheat (WHT). Cumulative gas production was measured for 168 h. At the end of incubation, fermentation end‐products were measured. A monophasic model was fitted to the gas production profiles of each bottle, thereby allowing calculation of gas kinetic parameters. Total gas production (mL g^?1 organic matter) differed significantly between substrates for tilapia (GL: 268.9; WS: 388.0; ABX: 411.9; WHT: 413.2) and sea bass (GL: 338.6; WS: 189.3; ABX: 296.3; WHT: 264.0). Fermentation rates were highest for GL and lowest for WS, both for tilapia and sea bass. Fermentation of ABX and WHT yielded predominantly acetic and butyric acid, whereas GL and WS yielded also significant amounts of lactic acid. Ammonia (mL g^?1 organic matter) was highest for WHT (tilapia: 80.36; sea bass: 70.39) and lowest for GL (tilapia: 46.01; sea bass: 32.83). In conclusion, intestinal microbes from Nile tilapia and European sea bass have the potential to ferment carbohydrates. Large differences exist in fermentability and composition of fermentation end‐products between carbohydrates.     

线虫内寄生真菌明尼苏达被毛孢(Hirsutella minnesotensis)的营养研究

 明尼苏达被毛孢(Hirsutella minnesotensis)是中国大豆胞囊线虫重要的内寄生菌,本研究采取固体和液体2种培养方法测定了6种天然培养基、20种碳源、19种氮源和9种维生素对其生长、产孢和孢子萌发的影响。结果表明:H. minnesotensis在酵母葡萄糖琼脂(Yeast dextrose agar,YDA)培养基上生长最快,在麦芽浸膏琼脂(Malt extract agar,MEA)培养基上产孢最好,胰化大豆琼脂(Tryptic soy agar,TSA)培养基既不适合生长,也不适合产孢。在碳氮源研究中,Melibiose在固体培养基上显著促进H. minnesotensis气生菌丝生长,Glycogen是液体培养和孢子萌发最好的碳源。H. minnesotensis在以Casein为氮源的培养基上气生菌丝最多,Peptone是H. minnesotensis液体培养最好的氮源,大多数的氮源可以促进H. minnesotensis孢子萌发,但L-Cystine抑制孢子萌发,且在固体培养中不能被H. minnesotensis利用。维生素对H. minnesotensis的生长、产孢和孢子萌发有一定的促进作用。     

Effects of pregelatinized vs. native potato starch on intestinal weight and stomach lesions of pigs housed in barren pens or on straw bedding

In a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, 16 groups of 12 pigs (approximately 25 kg) were assigned to either barren or straw housing and to native or pregelatinized potato starch included in the diet (35%) to investigate effects on intestinal weight and gastric lesions. Pigs were fed restrictedly (2.5 × MEm) for 5 weeks. At slaughter, weights of empty small intestine and stomach were determined. Stomachs were inspected for incidence of lesions in the pars oesophagea. No starch type × housing interactions were found. In pigs fed pregelatinized starch, weight of the small intestine (26.8 ± 0.4 g/kg BW) and stomach (7.6 ± 0.1 g/kg BW) were higher than in pigs fed native starch (24.9 ± 0.4; 7.1 ± 0.1 g/kg BW, respectively; P < 0.01). Straw bedding increased empty stomach weight (7.9 ± 0.1 vs. 6.8 ± 0.1 g/kg BW; P < 0.001), but not small intestine weight. Starch type did not affect stomach scores, but straw bedding reduced the incidence of gastric lesions to a very low level (scores 0.5 and 3.0 for straw and barren housing, P < 0.001). In conclusion, straw bedding reduced gastric lesions, reflecting either reduced environmental stress or a positive effect of physical stimulation. Pregelatinization of starch increased the empty weight of the proximal GI tract, possibly reflecting increased nutrient uptake.     

大豆胶中各组分对其黏度和湿强度的影响

用大豆分离蛋白(SPI)作为蛋白质基体,分别添加2种糖类物质和1种小分子氨基酸,用来模拟豆粉,探索豆粉中各个组分对胶黏剂黏度和湿强度的影响。结果表明:可溶性大豆多糖、甘氨酸均对SPI的黏度没有影响,但会使湿强度降低;而不溶性大豆纤维使SPI的黏度增大,但对湿强度没有影响。利用光学显微镜观察及DSC热分析讨论了蛋白质形态及变性对胶黏剂湿强度的影响。     

太行山水柿果实成熟过程中主要成分含量的动态变化

对太行山水柿转色期后果实成熟过程中总糖、蛋白质、单宁等主要成分的变化规律进行研究,以确定最佳采收期.结果表明,在果实成熟过程中,可溶固形物和总糖的含量呈上升趋势,可溶固形物和总糖含量分别为180 g.kg-1,150 g.kg-1左右达到峰值,然后趋于平稳;单宁和蛋白质含量呈逐渐减少趋势,其含量分别在12 g.kg-1,6 g.kg-1左右时相对平稳;原果胶含量逐渐降低,可溶性果胶含量逐渐上升;总酸含量较低,整个过程变化不大.因此采收期的确定应以含糖量为准,当表皮呈现品种特有的橙黄色,含糖量达150~170 g.kg-1时采收,此时水柿可维持较高的硬度,有助于运输中的稳定性和完整性.     

Causes of Sterility in Seed Set of Rice under Salinity Stress

The effects of salinity at 50 mM NaCl on floral characteristics, yield components, and biochemical and physiological attributes of the sensitive rice variety IR‐28 were studied under controlled conditions to determine the causes of sterility in seed set under salinity stress. The results showed significant decreases in panicle weight, panicle length, primary branches/panicle, filled seeds/panicle, unfilled seeds/panicle, filled seeds/plant, unfilled seeds/plant, total seeds/panicle, total seed weight/panicle, 1000‐seed weight and total seed weight/plant. The sodium content in different leaves and floral parts increased significantly. In contrast, the potassium content was decreased significantly in leaves and floral parts. A reduction in chlorophyll a and b was also noted in different parts of the leaves. Inhibition of transpiration and photosynthesis was observed in flag leaves at the grain‐filling stage. Soluble carbohydrates in different leaves were reduced significantly in salinized plants but their content in different floral parts was increased, with the exception of primary and secondary branch spikelets. Under salinity stress, total protein concentration in flag, second and third leaves were higher than in control plants. The viability of rice pollen was reduced significantly in salinized plants. It was further observed that starch synthetase activity (α1–4‐glucan glucosyle transferases) in developing rice grains was inhibited very significantly under salinity stress. From these results, it is inferred that sterility and significant reductions in seed set in rice were not merely due to reduction or inhibition of different biochemical constituents and physiological functions, but were mainly due to limitation of soluble carbohydrate translocation in primary and secondary spikelets, accumulation of more sodium and less potassium in all the floral parts, and highly significant inhibition of specific activity of starch synthetase in developing rice grains, thus resulting in failure of seed set.     

Energy reserves and reproductive investment in male three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus

Abstract – In a 6-month study of male sticklebacks from a single cohort of an annual population, energy reserves (carbohydrate, lipid and protein) in the carcass and gonad were found to increase from December to May. Energy reserves in the liver increased from December to March before declining between March and April, a period of marked gonadal growth in this population. Examination at the individual level of the interrelationships among the various components of the energy store (corrected for differences in body size) identified overall body condition as a major component of variation and highlighted a negative relationship between energetic investment in gonadal tissue and energy reserves in various somatic compartments. Early in the season, relative gonadal weight was largely unrelated to somatic energy reserves, but from March onwards there was a negative correlation between these two variables. These data suggest that a significant flux of glycogen and lipid from the somatic to the gonadal tissue occurs in male sticklebacks in the period just prior to the breeding season, with the extent of gonadal growth varying between individuals and occurring at the expense of overall nutritional status. ^Note