Dietary protein:lipid ratio changes growth,digestive enzyme activity,metabolic profile and haematological parameters in hybrid surubim (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum × Leiarius marmoratus)

Studies investigating improved protein:lipid ratios based on their effects on growth, nutrient utilization, digestive enzyme activities, blood metabolites and erythogram in tropical carnivorous fish are very scarce. This study evaluated the effect of different protein:lipid ratios on these parameters in the hybrid surubim Pseudoplatystoma corruscans × Leiarius marmoratus. Juvenile fish (8.90 ± 0.94 g initial weight) were fed 3% of total biomass for 60 days using four isoenergetic experimental diets with different protein:lipid ratios (9.00, 4.60, 3.54 and 1.78). Higher growth performance parameters were observed at higher protein:lipid ratios. The activities of intestine total alkaline protease, trypsin and lipase (U/mg protein) were not affected by dietary treatments. Chymotrypsin (U/mg protein) was higher in the 4.60 protein:lipid ratio group. Amylase (U/mg protein) was higher in intermediate groups. Blood glucose, total plasma protein, triglycerides, cholesterol and free amino acids decreased as the protein:lipid ratio decreased. Haematocrit was higher at the 9.00 and 4.60 protein:lipid ratios. Hybrid surubim showed metabolic adaptation to the different protein:lipid ratios tested. These results suggest that the 4.60 protein:lipid ratio showed the best protein‐sparing effect of lipids.     

Evaluation of dietary taurine concentrations in microparticulate diets provided to larval California yellowtail (Seriola dorsalis) postlarvae

Taurine is an important amino acid derivative for marine and freshwater fish, especially during early development. We investigated the range of taurine concentrations that influence the growth and survival rates of California yellowtail (CYT; Seriola dorsalis) during transition from live feeds to microparticulate diets, as well as the extent to which nutrient leaching from the microparticulate diets affects these ranges. We tested particle‐assisted rotationally agglomerated (PARA) particles with four levels of taurine: 4 (low taurine; LT), 45 (medium taurine; MT), 93 (high taurine; HT) and 122 g/kg (very high taurine; VHT). Our results showed that CYT postlarvae had no significant differences in growth, survival and feed consumption rates between the MT, HT and VHT treatments. However, it should be noted that the PARA particles containing 122 g/kg (VHT) taurine were especially prone to leaching and may have had taurine concentrations as low as 34.9 g/kg before they settled on the bottom of the tank. Therefore, the actual dietary taurine concentrations experienced by the larvae were likely lower than the initial dietary concentrations. More research is needed to evaluate the potential nutrient toxicity of elevated dietary taurine concentrations for marine fish larvae and juveniles.     

Evaluation of three non‐genetically modified soybean cultivars as ingredients and a yeast‐based additive as a supplement in practical diets for Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Two growth trials and a physiology assessment were conducted to evaluate three non‐genetically modified (GM) soybean cultivars as ingredients in practical diets for Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. In addition, a commercially available fermented yeast product was evaluated as dietary supplement. For the growth trials (46 and 35 days, respectively, for trials 1 and 2), the basal diet was primarily composed of soybean meal (SBM), fishmeal (FM), whole wheat, corn protein concentrate, poultry meal (PM, pet food grade) and corn starch. Non‐GM cultivars were processed with novel methodologies to produce Navita? ingredients (N1, N2 and N3) which were incorporated at low (L) or high (H) levels into the experimental diets, in partial replacement of FM and full replacement of conventional SBM. The last two formulations incorporated the fermented yeast for a total of nine experimental diets (Table 1 ). Results from the growth trials indicate that shrimp fed diet 5 (HN2) exhibited significantly lower (p < .05) weight gain as compared to shrimp fed diets 1 and 2 (basal and LN1, respectively) in trial 1, as well as compared to animals fed diets 1, 2, 3 and 8 (basal, LN1, HN1 and basal + yeast) in trial 2. The feed conversion ratio significantly increased for shrimp fed diet 5, in contrast with shrimp fed diets 1, 2, 3 and 8 in trials 1 and 2, as well as compared to shrimp fed diets diet 6 (LN3) in trial 2. For the physiological assessment (stress and immune responses), only the effects of diets 1, 3, 8 and 9 (basal, HN1, basal + yeast and HN1 + yeast, respectively) were investigated. Granular cell counts were significantly higher for shrimp fed the yeast‐containing diets. Haemolymph glucose and haemolymph packed cell volume were significantly reduced for shrimp fed diets 3, 8 and 9. No significant differences were observed in total haemocyte counts, hyaline cells counts, semi‐granular cells counts, haemolymph protein, haemocyte phagocytic capacity and haemocyte respiratory burst activity. Results of this work indicate that selective soy breeding technology coupled with novel processing options has the potential to increase the nutritional value of conventional SBM for shrimp feeds. Trends on immune responses were more difficult to elucidate possibly due to the limited length of the feeding trial.     

水肥供应对南疆沙区滴灌红枣生理、生长及产量的影响

为了了解南疆沙区水肥供应对滴灌红枣生理、生长指标与产量的影响,以当地8 a成龄骏枣树为供试材料,结合大田试验,在滴灌条件下进行水肥二因素三水平完全处理小区试验。结果表明:灌水因素对红枣叶片光合特性(净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)、细胞间隙CO_2浓度(Ci)、水分利用效率(WUE))、红枣梢径和梢长增加量及灌溉水分利用效率(iWUE)达到显著(P0.05)或极显著水平(P0.01),水肥交互作用对红枣光合特性、梢径和梢长增加量、产量及灌溉水分利用效率(iWUE)达到显著(P0.05)或极显著水平(P0.01),施肥对红枣以上指标未达到显著性水平(P0.05);过高或过低的灌水量均不利于红枣光合作用、生长发育及增产效果,较低的施肥量可以促进红枣生理生长、达到红枣增产的目的;W2F1处理下红枣叶片Pn(8.94μmol·m~(-2)·s~(-1))、Tr(3.86 mmol·m~(-2)·s~(-1))、Gs(0.49μmol·m~(-2)·s~(-1))和Ci(707.41μmol·m~(-2)·s~(-1))值最大,比最小值分别提高23.00%、22.54%、58.06%和58.08%;W3F3处理下WUE值(2.56μmol·mmol-1)最大;梢径增加量和梢长增加量最大值分别在W2F2处理(6.31 mm)、W3F2处理(64 cm),比最小值分别提高51.32%、33.33%;W2F1处理下产量(7 256 kg·hm~(-2))最大,比最小值处理增产55.67%,增产效应(33.14%)最大;iWUE最大值在W1F3处理(8.17 kg·m~(-3)),与W2F1处理无显著性差异(P0.05)。红枣净光合速率与蒸腾速率、气孔导度之间密切相关,红枣产量与红枣梢径增加量有较好的相关关系,梢径增加量在一定程度上能反应红枣产量。灌水量820 mm、施肥量N-P_2O_5-K_2O:200-100-150 kg·hm~(-2)(W2F1处理)为南疆沙区节水、节肥的最佳水肥供应模式。     

4种非生物胁迫下小麦幼苗表型及可溶性蛋白含量的变化

对小麦幼苗分别进行低温(4℃)、高温(42℃)、高盐(800 mM NaCl)及干旱(20%PEG)4种非生物胁迫,从麦苗生长表型及其根、茎、叶片总可溶性蛋白含量的变化方面分析不同胁迫对小麦幼苗生长及生理变化的影响。结果表明:经过4种胁迫处理后,小麦幼苗生长均处于不同程度的抑制状态,高温、高盐和干旱胁迫下植株干枯明显,低温下植株明显较对照矮小;高温胁迫后幼苗根长仅5 cm左右,比正常植株短8~9 cm,高盐、干旱及低温条件下植株根长比正常植株短4.83 cm;4种胁迫下叶片长度也明显小于正常植株。胁迫直接导致了小麦根、茎和叶中可溶性蛋白含量不同程度的增加,根中总蛋白含量较茎和叶中低,根对胁迫也最为敏感,高温胁迫12 h后,根中总蛋白含量达到最大3.92μg·mg~(-1),高温胁迫24 h后,茎中总蛋白含量接近15μg·mg-1,而叶片中总蛋白的含量却保持72 h持续增长的状态。     

High-temperature-tolerant mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) lines produce better yields when exposed to higher CO2 levels

Increasing global air temperatures, along with rising CO₂ levels, are causing concerns about reducing available freshwater resources and altering cropping patterns. They may influence overall growth and production pattern of crop plants. These likely changes would become major limiting factors for future sustainable food production largely in the tropics and subtropics. Thus, understanding physiological responses hold the key to determining the functional relationship between the environment and crop performance. We explore here the impact of rising CO₂ on the growth and yield traits of a few selected high-temperature (HT)-tolerant mungbean lines, which we earlier screened for HT tolerance using a physiological assay under managed growth conditions. The HT-tolerant lines grown under elevated CO₂ levels (550 and 700 μL L^?1) showed a considerable improvement in growth rates (13.5%, 67.8%, and 46.5% in plant height, leaf area, and total dry matter, respectively) and pod and seed yield (48.7% and 31.7%, respectively), compared to local checks under the same environments. Interestingly, the symptoms of accelerated pod maturity were also observed in most of these lines. The outcome of the study would undoubtedly open up opportunities for increased yield potentials of legumes under the conditions of the warming climate and elevated levels of carbon dioxide.     

Effects of 17β-estradiol injection on the reproductive efficiency of freshwater crayfish,Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823)

The effects of 17β-estradiol injection (10^?7mol/crayfish) in adult female Astacus leptodactylus on the reproductive efficiency (i.e., pleopodal egg and stage 1 juvenile numbers) were investigated. In addition, hepatosomatic index, gonodosomatic index, and 17β-estradiol (E2) levels of crayfish ovary, hepatopancreas, and heamolymph before and after injections were also determined. Results showed that E2 injection to females enhances the reproductive efficiency of A.leptodctylus. E2 injection significantly increased pleopodal egg and stage 1 juvenile numbers, GSI, HSI, and concentrations of E2 in heamolymph, ovary, and hepatopancreas. However, E2 injection did not accelerate time of mating and proportion of pleopodal egg-berried females at the first week of reproduction season in this species. This study highlights that to improve the reproductive efficiency of A.leptodctylus by using hormones to regulate the ovarian cycle, E2 should be used at least 1.5 months before the commencement of the breeding season.     

盐胁迫下3种海滨植物形态和生理响应特征及耐盐性差异

[目的] 研究盐胁迫条件下3种海滨植物的生理生态动态响应特征及其耐盐性差异,为盐碱地绿化树种筛选提供科学依据。[方法] 以2年生中山杉、小叶榕和海滨木槿幼苗为材料进行为期56 d的盆栽试验,设置3个盐分梯度对其生长和形态、抗氧化酶系统以及渗透调节系统等指标的动态变化特征进行比较,并通过主成分分析来明确3种植物在耐盐性上的差异。[结果] 短期盐胁迫（14 d）对3种植物存活率、叶形和叶色影响较小,但长期盐胁迫（56 d）对小叶榕产生较大影响,盐胁迫下3种植物固定枝条相对生长率动态特征差异明显。3种植物叶片超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性随着盐处理时间增加而呈现降低趋势,过氧化物酶（POD）和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）活性先增加后降低,丙二醛（MDA）含量呈现总体降低趋势。盐胁迫下3种植物叶片可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量均呈现先减少后增加的趋势,叶片相对电导率则随着盐浓度增加而显著提高。盐处理时间和物种的交互作用对SOD和POD活性以及MDA含量有显著影响,3种植物耐盐性主成分有明显差异,表明它们不同的耐盐响应特征。[结论] 3种植物的生态生理响应特征表明盐处理对小叶榕影响最大,中山杉次之,对海滨木槿影响最小,因此海滨木槿和中山杉有优先作为我国东部沿海地区盐碱地绿化树种的潜力。     

热应激对绵羊行为及生理的影响

绵羊属恒温动物,为保证健康、生存及繁殖需要,其体温通常保持在一个较窄的生理范围。一般条件下绵羊会通过自身的散热和产热两种途径来缓冲热应激并维持自身热平衡。这种热平衡调节机制受下丘脑调控,同时,热应激会增加机体内热并影响热交换的调控,进而影响家畜的行为及生理机能,并导致体重、平均日增重降低,严重时可影响到家畜健康与繁殖。但这种影响会因品种、饲养方式及个体的不同而有所不同。     

关于加强山西省作物栽培生理研究的思考

通过对山西省作物科学研究现状和存在的问题进行分析,提出了山西省作物栽培生理研究的发展建议:突出区域优势,进行针对性、实用性、高效性的作物栽培生理研究;培养栽培生理研究后备军,加强人才队伍建设;明确研究方向,创新改进研究方法;积极争取栽培生理研究课题;扩展作物栽培生理学科的研究和应用领域,多方向发展作物生产的边缘学科;建立作物栽培生理重点实验室,打开山西省对外农业科技合作窗口。