Replacing Soybean Meal with Alternative Protein Sources in Diets for Pond‐raised Hybrid Catfish, ♀ Ictalurus punctatus × ♂ Ictalurus furcatus

The present study investigated the replacement of soybean meal with combinations of two or three alternative protein sources in diets for pond‐raised hybrid catfish, ♀ Ictalurus punctatus × ♂ Ictalurus furcatus. Alternative protein sources evaluated included cottonseed meal, distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), peanut meal, and porcine meat and bone meal (PMBM). Hybrid catfish fingerlings with a mean initial weight of 35 g/fish were stocked into 25 earthen ponds (0.04 ha) at a density of 14,826 fish/ha. Fish were fed once daily to apparent satiation for 166 d. No significant differences were observed for total diet fed, net yield, weight gain, survival, carcass yield, fillet yield, or fillet proximate composition among dietary treatments. Results show soybean meal may be completely replaced by combinations of cottonseed meal and one or two other alternative protein sources including DDGS, peanut meal, and PMBM in the diet without markedly affecting production and processing characteristics and fillet proximate composition of pond‐raised hybrid catfish. These alternative diets may be used during foodfish production when prices are favorable.     

Effects of elevated CO2 concentration on bulbil germination and early seedling growth in Chinese yam under different air temperatures

The present study investigated the effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) and air temperature on the germination of seed bulbils and the seedling vigour of two Chinese yam lines. Plants were grown under two [CO₂] levels, ambient and elevated (ambient + 200 μmol mol^?1), and two mean air temperature regimes, 22.2 °C (ambient + 1.4 °C) and 25.6 °C (ambient + 5.2 °C). Elevated [CO₂] did not affect bulbil germination under both air temperature regimes. During the early growth stage, the dry weight (DW) of leaves, vines, shoots, roots, belowground parts (roots + tubers) and whole plants were higher under elevated [CO₂] than ambient [CO₂] for both lines under the low- and high-temperature regimes. The values of vigour indexes (index I = germination % × seedling length and index II = germination % × seedling DW) were also higher under elevated [CO₂] than ambient [CO₂] for both lines. These results indicated that Chinese yam seedlings respond positively to elevated [CO₂] during the early growth stage. The above:belowground DW ratios were lower under elevated [CO₂] than ambient [CO₂] in seedlings with very small new tubers for both yam lines, indicating that elevated [CO₂] strongly affected the root growth in the early growth stage. The DWs of post-treatment seed bulbils were higher in the elevated [CO₂] under both air temperature regimes. The results showed that Chinese yam used a smaller amount of the reserves in seed bulbils under elevated [CO₂] than under ambient [CO₂].     

Is behaviour in a novel environment associated with bodily state in brown trout Salmo trutta fry?

Energetic status and body size are inconstant bodily states often considered to have feedback effects on behaviour. Feedbacks can be negative, like starvation‐threshold feedbacks (lower state values = increased risk taking due to higher energy need, and vice versa), or positive, like state‐dependent safety feedbacks (higher state values = lower vulnerability when expressing risky behaviours, and vice versa). Few studies have investigated feedback effects during the early‐life survival bottleneck of territorial species, when rapid growth is particularly important to maintain competitive ability. We investigated effects of body size and energetic status on the emergence latency into an unknown environment in highly territorial brown trout fry. We manipulated energetic status using high and low food rations in different combinations over two consecutive periods. In contrast to results from other small‐sized fishes, no general behavioural effects of energetic state were detected, but larger fish had on average shorter emergence latency. Starvation‐threshold feedbacks were not supported, but the size effect favours the presence of a state‐dependent safety feedback. When individuals were split into clusters characterised by long (>34 s) and short (<34 s) emergence latency, a state‐dependent safety feedback, based on energetic status, was found in the short‐latency cluster. Positive state‐dependent feedbacks may reflect the high level of competition among wild trout fry during the first summer, particularly among the more active individuals (i.e., from the short latency cluster). High state levels could be utilised to gain advantages over lesser competitors (e.g., to establish territories), particularly if the overall risk of starvation is higher than the risk of predation.     

海水浇灌对不同品种火龙果扦插苗生长和若干生理指标的影响

为明确海水胁迫对火龙果生长生理的影响,以不同品种火龙果(‘帝龙’、‘红龙’、‘紫蜜龙’和‘白龙’)为研究对象,研究了海水(浓度为0、10%、20%和30%)浇灌下不同品种火龙果生长指标和生理特征的变化。结果表明:(1)海水浇灌下4个品种火龙果地上部鲜重均表现为减小趋势,但10%海水浇灌可显著增加‘帝龙’的株高增加量。(2)与淡水相比,海水浇灌下4个品种火龙果地上部和根部K+/Na+均呈不同程度下降趋势,当海水浓度为30%时,与其他3个品种相比,‘帝龙’地上部和根部K+/Na+下降幅度最小。(3)4个品种火龙果地上部可溶性糖含量、脯氨酸含量、CAT活性和SOD活性随海水浓度增加均呈先上升后下降趋势。其中,20%海水处理下,‘帝龙’可溶性糖含量、脯氨酸含量和CAT活性上升幅度均高于其他品种。可见,低浓度海水胁迫下,火龙果表现出一定耐盐性,且‘帝龙’耐盐性相对较好。     

Phenological and physiological evaluation of first and second cropping periods of sorghum and maize crops

Environmental conditions influence phenology and physiological processes of plants. It is common for maize and sorghum to be sown at two different periods: the first cropping (spring/summer) and the second cropping (autumn/winter). The phenological cycle of these crops varies greatly according to the planting season, and it is necessary to characterize the growth and development to facilitate the selection of the species best adapted to the environment. The aim of this study was to characterize phenological phases and physiological parameters in sorghum and maize plants as a function of environmental conditions from the first cropping and second cropping periods. Two parallel experiments were conducted with both crops. The phenological characterization was based on growth analyses (plant height, leaf area and photoassimilate partitioning) and gas exchange evaluations (net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration and water-use efficiency). It was found that the vegetative stage (VS) for sorghum and maize plants was 7 and 21 days, respectively, longer when cultivated during the second cropping. In the first cropping, the plants were taller than in the second cropping, regardless of the crop. The stomatal conductance of sorghum plants fluctuated in the second cropping during the development period, while maize plants showed decreasing linear behaviour. Water-use efficiency in sorghum plants was higher during the second cropping compared with the first cropping. In maize plants, in the second cropping, the water-use efficiency showed a slight variation in relation to the first cropping. It was concluded that the environmental conditions as degree-days, temperature, photoperiod and pluvial precipitation influence the phenology and physiology of both crops during the first and the second cropping periods, specifically cycle duration, plant height, leaf area, net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency, indicating that both crops respond differentially to environmental changes during the growing season.     

春大棚基质化栽培辣椒品种比较试验

为了提高甜辣椒规模化、产业化生产的竞争力,进一步提高产量、效益和品质,加快甜辣椒栽培管理技术的推广和应用,特引进7个辣椒新品种并采用基质化栽培管理模式进行对比研究。通过对辣椒生长势、品质和产量的比较分析,结果表明:夏驰、国福908、海迈604表现突出,具有个大、肉厚、口感好、品质优、连续坐果性好等特点,而且产量、效益较高,抗病性强,适合设施基质化栽培生产,有很好的推广价值。     

闽南山地卷荚相思家系造林试验

为了筛选出适合闽南北部山地栽培的优良卷荚相思家系,华安金山国有林场优选9个卷荚相思家系进行造林试验,对不同家系林分的生长性状、适应性和抗逆性进行对比分析。结果表明,参试家系均表现出较强的抗风性和抗寒性,可以适应闽南北部区域环境。但不同家系的树高、胸径、材积和枝下高差异显著或极显著,其中Z5和Z7家系的生长表现优于其他家系,其树高、胸径、材积、枝下高比群体均值分别提高10.80%～11.59%、11.85%～15.05%、35.62%～41.78%和10.98%～13.41%。Z5和Z7家系初步评价为优良家系,可作为卷荚相思在闽南北部推广造林的推荐材料。     

栽植密度对不同种源芡实生长的影响

对不同栽植密度条件下,不同种源地芡实的生长情况进行了调查研究,结果表明:不同栽植密度间芡实的叶均直径、叶最大直径、果径、果长、果质量、粒数、粒质量均无明显差异,不同栽植密度间产量存在差异;不同种源地间8项物理性状指标均无明显差异;除果长与栽植密度的交互作用对产量无影响外,其余6种性状与栽植密度的交互作用均存在差异,表明交互作用对产量有影响。7种性状与种源地的交互作用下,种源地与产量间的关联不大。     

铅(Pb2+)和镉(Cd2+)对火炬树种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

【目的】研究不同浓度重金属铅(Pb^2+)和镉(Cd^2+)对火炬树Rhus typhina种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响,探索火炬树对重金属铅、镉胁迫的耐受程度及机理。【方法】采用培养皿滤纸发芽法,分别用不同浓度Pb^2+(300、600、900、1200、1500 mmol/L)、Cd^2+(140、280、420、560、700 mmol/L)溶液处理火炬树种子,测定种子发芽率、发芽指数、幼苗胚根长和茎长、硫代巴比妥酸(TBARS)含量、可溶性蛋白含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性及过氧化物酶(POD)活性。【结果】与对照相比,不同浓度Pb^2+、Cd^2+均对火炬树种子的发芽率、发芽指数和幼苗生长有抑制作用,但低浓度Pb^2+可促进根长和芽长的伸长。随着Pb^2+和Cd^2+溶液浓度的增加,幼苗叶片中SOD活性和可溶性蛋白含量表现为先增加后降低,POD活性和TBARS含量均逐渐升高。其中,Cd^2+浓度为700 mmol/L时,发芽率、发芽指数、芽长和SOD活性达到最低值,而TBARS含量最高;Pb^2+浓度为1500 mmol/L时,根长达到最低值,POD活性达到最高值;Pb^2+浓度为600 mmol/L时,可溶性蛋白含量最高。【结论】Pb^2+浓度为300 mmol/L时会抑制火炬树种子萌发,但会促进幼苗生长,其余浓度Pb^2+、Cd^2+胁迫下,火炬树种子与幼苗受到一定影响,但是均较好完成了萌发与幼苗生长,并表现出多种积极的适应性特征,未出现无根苗现象,火炬树较其他木本植物对铅、镉2种重金属表现出更强的耐性。本试验结果可为今后选用火炬树作为重金属污染土壤的植物修复材料提供理论参考。     

Growth and survival of juvenile red drum,Sciaenops ocellatus,acclimated to freshwater at three different stocking densities in a partial recirculation system

Preliminary technical baseline information for the inland culture of juvenile red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, in a freshwater fish hatchery is presented. Three initial stocking densities (d₁ = 83, d₂ = 167, and d₃ = 250 fish/m³) were tested in a semirecirculation system for 575 days using a commercially available feed (48.1% protein, 25% lipids, and 0.13% fiber). Initial and final mean fish weight were 7.11 ± 0.02 g and 287.6 ± 27 g. As carrying capacity appeared to have been reached, only data from Days 1–333 were analyzed. One‐way ANOVA analyses indicated that the survival rate of the smaller density (d₁ =40 ± 3.7%) was significantly different from the other two densities (d₃ = 21 ± 1.1% and d₂ = 23 ± 1.0%), which did not differ between them. Absolute growth rate (0.87 ± 0.02 g/day) was not significantly different between densities (F = 0.23. p = .801). Neither was weight significantly different between treatments. There were significant differences in the feed conversion rate (FCR) between densities (F = 8.54; p = .02). FCR for d₁ was significantly lower than for the two other densities, which did not differ from each other. A von Bertalanffy growth model was adjusted (R² = 0.95), and weight–length relationship presented negative allometric values (b = 2.85, R² = 0.98).