Pigment deficiency correction in shrimp broodstock using Spirulina as a carotenoid source

In this study, an effort was made to cure the pigment deficiency syndrome (PDS) exhibited by pond‐reared Fenneropenaeus indicus (H.Milne Edwards) broodstock, using the blue‐green algae Spirulina as a carotenoid source in diet. The PDS symptoms included bleaching of ovary and reduced early larval performance. Biochemical analysis indicated reduced quantity of total carotenoids in egg and nauplii from the females with PDS. When PDS females were fed 30 g kg^?1Spirulina‐supplemented diet immediately after the appearance of symptoms, the egg and nauplii carotenoid values improved gradually and attained the pre‐PDS values after a minimum of 4 week period. Spirulina supplementation also improved significantly (P < 0.05) the spawn quality (hatch per spawn, nauplii per spawn, nauplii viability) and larval quality indices (P < 0.05). The egg and nauplii protein values exhibited a trend similar to carotenoids, confirming the influence of latter on protein stability previously reported by researchers. The study confirms the bioavailability of carotenoids from Spirulina to shrimp broodstock and recommends its regular inclusion in diet to preclude carotenoid deficiency‐related problems in shrimp hatcheries.     

首乌蜜对家蚕幼虫寿命的影响

用５％、１０％、２０％复方“蜂产品制品首乌蜜浸泡桑叶４小时，对家蚕（ＢｏｍｂｙｘｍｏｒｉＬ．）进行添食试验。结果表明，添食５％、１０％、２０％首乌蜜溶液分别能使家蚕幼虫寿命较对照组（以蒸馏水代替首乌蜜）延长７．７２、７．６８、４．８２小时，统计学上差异极显著（新复极差检验法；Ｐ＜０．０１）。由此证实，首乌蜜具有抗衰老作用。同时，没有发现家蚕因添食首乌蜜而死亡，说明首乌蜜没有毒性。     

沙栖新对虾繁殖和幼体发育的初步研究

沙栖新对虾Ｍｅｔａｐｅｎａｅｕｓ ｍａｏｙｅｂｉ ｋｉｓｈｉｎｏｕｙｅ广泛分布于印度－西太平洋地区，我国分布于福建、台湾、广东、海南和广西沿海，为我国东南沿海常见虾类之一，一般体长５５－９０毫米，其中雄性以６０－６５毫米、雌性以７０－８５毫米的体长出现频率最高，该虾群体中性成熟比例随体长增加而增大，在繁殖季节内体长在８０毫米以上的个体性腺多已成熟。沙栖新个体虽小，但生长发育很快，对环境的适应，尤其     

取食不同食物对日本通草蛉生长发育、繁殖和飞行能力的影响

本文研究了日本通草蛉Chrysoperla nipponensis幼虫取食棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera、小地老虎Agrotisipsilon、甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua、斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura 4种鳞翅目害虫卵和棉蚜Aphis gossypii共5种食物时的生长发育、繁殖和飞行能力。结果表明：幼虫取食棉铃虫卵时发育历期最长（12.95 d）、蛹期最短（9.69 d）,取食棉蚜时发育历期最短（10.28 d）、蛹期最长（10.39 d）;幼虫食物对蛹重、成虫羽化率、产卵前期、产卵量和寿命均无显著影响（P〉0.05）。飞行能力测试中,幼虫食物显著影响成虫的累计飞行时间和平均飞行速度,而对成虫累计飞行距离则无显著影响;幼虫取食棉铃虫卵时成虫累计飞行时间最长（13.58 h）、飞行超过10 h的个体占60%,平均飞行速度最小（0.49 km h 1）、所有个体飞行速度均小于1.0 km h 1;取食棉蚜时成虫累计飞行时间最短（9.38 h）、飞行超过10 h的个体仅占36.85%,平均飞行速度最大（0.75 km h 1）、21.05%个体飞行速度大于1.0 km h 1。结果说明,幼虫食物是影响日本通草蛉个体发育和种群动态的重要因素之一。     

Ribavirin, a nucleoside with potential insecticidal activity

BACKGROUND: The triazole-based antiviral nucleoside ribavirin exhibited significant in vitro insecticidal effects against Spodoptera litura, a finding that has prompted further investigations into its in vivo insecticidal properties and mode of action against this insect pest. RESULTS: Ribavirin showed delayed insecticidal effects on third-instar larvae of S. litura at a concentration of 1 mg mL⁻¹. When incorporated into an artificial diet, ribavirin caused various effects, depending on the concentration used. Compared with controls, food intake was lower, larval growth was reduced and larval development prolonged. Pupae weight was reduced, and adult morphology was also affected. Relative to the untreated group, treated groups showed higher mortality at larval and pupal stages, which was generally caused by moult disruption. Results of this study with ribavirin resemble those found in treatment with insect growth regulators. CONCLUSION: This work shows that ribavirin merits further study as a lead compound in a novel class of potential insect control agents or for managing field populations of Lepidoptera pests on cruciferous crops. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

细胞周期素家族基因在家蚕4龄幼虫蜕皮过程中的转录特征

细胞周期蛋白(cyclin)是真核生物细胞有丝分裂的重要调节蛋白,家蚕具有5种类型细胞周期蛋白基因。以4龄将眠蚕、4龄眠蚕和5龄起蚕为材料,采用定量PCR方法分析5种细胞周期蛋白基因在4龄幼虫蜕皮过程的组织表达特征为:5种类型cyclin基因在生殖腺中都高表达,其中cyclinE在眠中表达量最高,其它4种类型cyclin基因在将眠时表达量最高,证实4龄眠期是家蚕生殖腺细胞发生有丝分裂的重要时期;5种类型cyclin基因在马氏管中都有表达,其中cyclinA和cyclinB3在4龄将眠蚕的马氏管中存在表达高峰,推测和马氏管内表皮更新相关;除cyclinL1在眠蚕丝腺的表达量很低外,cyclinA、cyclinB、cyclinB3和cyclinE在眠蚕丝腺中都存在表达高峰,可能和丝腺的内表皮更新相关;cyclinA、cyclinB、cyclinB3在脂肪体中的表达量较高,且在将眠时或眠中存在表达高峰,推测和脂肪体中能量物质的积累相关;5种类型cyclin基因在脑、血液和中肠的表达量都很低,且蜕皮前后的变化规律不明显。研究结果提示:在家蚕4龄幼虫蜕皮过程中,cyclin基因的转录特征不仅和来源于外胚层组织的表皮更新相关,还和生殖腺的发育及脂肪体中能量物质的积累存在相关性。     

Lepidoptera larvae as food for capercaillie chick (tetrao urogallus): A field experiment

Lepidoptera larvae are important prey for capercaillie chicks {Tetrao urogallus), but utilization varies among habitats. This field experiment investigates the effects of larval feeding behaviour, abundance and the density of bilberry (Vacciniwn myrtillus) on utilization of larvae by a group of four capercaille chicks and also tests whether chick utilization differs between wet and dry coniferous forest. In fenced plots, four hand‐raised chicks were released for a 15 min feeding period. Reduction of geometrid larvae was correlated positively with their abundance but correlated negatively with bilberry density. Geometrids had a much higher predation risk than pyralids and tortricids, probably because they are exposed while feeding, in contrast to pyralids and tortricids. Total reduction of lepidoptera was higher in wet than dry forest, probably due to a higher proportion of geometrid larvae, and lower density of bilberry in the wet forest. The manner of insect feeding and habitat type (e.g. wet and dry forest), which influence bilberry density, therefore may be important factors to consider when assessing or managing habitat quality for capercaillie chicks.     

Thyroid Hormone-disrupting Effects and the Amphibian Metamorphosis Assay

There are continued concerns about endocrine-disrupting chemical effects, and appropriate vertebrate models for assessment of risk are a high priority. Frog tadpoles are very sensitive to environmental substances because of their habitat and the complex processes of metamorphosis regulated by the endocrine system, mainly thyroid hormones. During metamorphosis, marked alteration in hormonal factors occurs, as well as dramatic structural and functional changes in larval tissues. There are a variety of mechanisms determining thyroid hormone balance or disruption directly or indirectly. Direct-acting agents can cause changes in thyroxine synthesis and/or secretion in thyroid through effects on peroxidases, thyroidal iodide uptake, deiodinase, and proteolysis. At the same time, indirect action may result from biochemical processes such as sulfation, deiodination and glucuronidation. Because their potential to disrupt thyroid hormones has been identified as an important consideration for the regulation of chemicals, the OECD and the EPA have each established guidelines that make use of larval African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) and frog metamorphosis for screening and testing of potential endocrine disrupters. The guidelines are based on evaluation of alteration in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. One of the primary endpoints is thyroid gland histopathology. Others are mortality, developmental stage, hind limb length, snout-vent length and wet body weight. Regarding histopathological features, the guidelines include core criteria and additional qualitative parameters along with grading. Taking into account the difficulties in evaluating amphibian thyroid glands, which change continuously throughout metamorphosis, histopathological examination has been shown to be a very sensitive approach.     

印楝素乳油对蜀柏毒蛾的防治效果研究

采用室内浸渍和室外喷雾的方法研究了不同浓度0.25%印楝素乳油对蜀柏毒蛾的防治效果。结果表明:室内药效测定600倍和900倍浓度处理36h之后幼虫的死亡率均达到100%,1 100倍溶液在48h后死亡率达到100%;林间喷药试验中,600倍液、900倍液、1 100倍液在72h后的幼虫死亡率分别为100%、90%和85%。因此,采用0.25%印楝素乳油防治蜀柏毒蛾,其浓度以900～1 100倍液为宜。     

Adverse Effect of Antifouling Compounds on the Reproductive Mechanisms of the Ascidian Ciona intestinalis

Fertilization and embryo development that occur in sea water are sensitive to xenobiotics from anthropogenic sources. In this work, we evaluated the influence of two antifouling biocides, tributyltin (TBT) and diuron, on the reproductive mechanisms of the marine invertebrate Ciona intestinalis. By using electrophysiological techniques, we examined the impact of these compounds on the electrical properties of the mature oocytes and of events occurring at fertilization. With different toxicity assays, we studied the effect of the two biocides on the gametes by evaluating fertilization rate and embryo development. Results show that sodium (Na⁺) currents were significantly reduced by either of the two biocides, whereas conductance was significantly increased. The fertilization current frequency and amplitude, fertilization rate and larval development were affected only by TBT. This study suggests that: (i) the two biocides affect either the electrical properties of the oocyte plasma membrane and the reproductive success representing a risk factor for the survival of the species exposed to environmental pollution; (ii) the ascidian Ciona intestinalis may represent a good model organism to test toxicity of marine pollutants. Possible mechanisms of action of the two biocides are discussed.