Development of plant‐based diets and the evaluation of dietary attractants for juvenile Florida pompano,Trachinotus carolinus L.

Sustainable and profitable commercial aquaculture production of marine fish species is dependent on the development of sustainable protein sources as substitutes for expensive animal meals such as fishmeal (FM). Previous Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus studies have indicated that poultry by‐product meal (PBM) and meat and bone meal can be used to produce a FM‐free diet if suitable levels of nutrients (such as taurine) are included in the diets. In this study, we attempted to develop an all‐plant protein diet by removing the animal proteins in practical diets for pompano by substituting back select ingredients. A series of eight FM‐free diets were formulated, four systematically replaced soybean meal (SBM) with soy protein concentrate (SPC) and four replaced PBM with SPC. Based on the results, there is no clear disadvantage to the use of SPC as a replacement for SBM. However, the complete removal of PBM resulted in reduced performance. Two additional growth trials were conducted to supplement additional amino acids including glycine, valine and histidine, a proprietary chemical attractant mix, fish protein concentrate and squid hydrolysate to improve the growth of pompano when fed all‐plant protein diets. The only improvement in performance occurred with the squid hydrolysate. These results demonstrate that using soybean meal, soy protein concentrate and corn gluten meal as the primary protein sources, a plant‐based feed formulation can be developed, but the removal of all animal proteins is not yet feasible.     

Selection of lactic acid bacteria as candidate probiotics for Vibrio parahaemolyticus depuration in pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas)

The application of probiotics in food is now widespread and is widely accepted by consumers. Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) were isolated from traditional salted fish and then characterized by its ability to inhibit Vibrio parahaemolyticus growth using minimal inhibitory concentration tests. Five out of these strains were identified as Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus casei and three Lactobacillus gasseri by PCR using 16S and 23S rRNA genes. Antibiofilm activity of Lactobacillus spp. extracts were also tested in 96 polystyrene plates. A potential antibiofilm effect was demonstrated as most LAB. Although most LAB extract were able to eradicate pre‐formed biofilm, results demonstrated that five Lactobacillus spp. exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect against V. parahaemolyticus in infected oysters. Vibrio parahaemolyticus viable cells number declined from 10⁶ UFC to 10⁴ UFC after 3 days of incubation with Lactobacillus spp. Probiotic applications, in biological control of seafood associated pathogens can be an alternative solution, providing consumer with a product of good quality owing to the use of non‐toxic compounds. Based on our results, LAB could be used as a bioprotective culture in oyster's depuration to prevent V. parahaemolyticus growth.     

Changes in fatty acids profile,monosaccharide profile and protein content during batch growth of Isochrysis galbana (T.iso)

To investigate the nutritional value of the marine micro‐alga Isochrysis galbana Tahitian Isochrysis strain (T.iso) as an alternative feed for aquaculture during culture age, its biochemical composition was studied under autotrophic and controlled culture conditions at different growth stages: exponential phase, early and late stationary phases and decay phase. Analysis showed that C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, C18:4 (n‐3) and C22:6 (n‐3) were the most abundant fatty acids in this alga at different growth stages. The highest values of monounsaturated fatty acids were recorded at the late stationary and the decay phases. However, the highest levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids were observed at the early stationary phase. At all growth stages, I. galbana (T.iso) contained arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose and glucose. Glucose represented the main sugar, and its content per dry alga biomass weight increased with increasing age of the culture and reached about fourfold in the decay phase. The maximum protein content was also observed during this last phase.     

Bread wheat cultivar PBW 343 carries residual additive resistance against virulent stripe rust pathotype

With continuous outbreaks of stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) epidemics and rapid breakdown of deployed resistance in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars in North West Plains Zone (NWPZ) in India warrant knowledge and deployment of new and durable sources of resistance to stripe rust. Bread wheat cultivar PBW 343, until recently the most widely cultivated wheat variety in India, is now highly susceptible to stripe rust (score 9 on a 1–9 scale), whereas PBW 621 (score 5.05–5.65) and HD 2967 (score 5.40–6.20) show low levels of resistance. We conducted an experiment, spanning three crop seasons (2013–2014 to 2015–2016), in which parental lines, F₁ and F₂ populations, F₃ and F₄ families from two bread wheat crosses, PBW 621/PBW 343 and HD 2967/PBW 343 were generated and evaluated for stripe rust resistance against a virulent pathotype. While the F₁ revealed partial dominance, the segregation pattern for stripe rust resistance in F₂ and F₃ showed transgressive segregation for resistance in both crosses. Chi-square analysis indicated that resistant segregants possessed two genes, one contributed by PBW 621 or HD 2967 (depending on the cross) and the other, unexpectedly but obviously, came from the most susceptible cultivar, PBW 343. Possible genetic mechanisms for this residual resistance and implications for breeding programs are discussed.     

Breeding for increased grain protein and micronutrient content in wheat: Ten years of the GPC-B1 gene

To provide food and nutrition security for a growing world population, continued improvements in the yield and nutritional quality of agricultural crops will be required. Wheat is an important source of calories, protein and micronutrients and is thus a priority to breed for improvements in these traits. The GRAIN PROTEIN CONTENT-B1 (GPC-B1) gene is a positive regulator of nutrient translocation which increases protein, iron and zinc concentration in the wheat grain. In the ten years since it was cloned, the impacts of GPC-B1 allelic variation on quality and yield traits have been extensively analyzed in diverse genetic backgrounds in field studies spanning forty environments and seven countries. In this review, we compile data from twenty-five studies to summarize the impact of GPC-B1 allelic variation on fifty different traits. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the functional copy of the GPC-B1 gene is associated with consistent positive effects on grain protein, Fe and Zn content with only marginally negative impacts on yield. We conclude that the GPC-B1 gene has the potential to increase nutritional and end use quality in a wide range of modern cultivars and environments and discuss the possibilities for its application in wheat breeding.     

In vitro and in vivo selection of probiotic purple nonsulphur bacteria with an ability to inhibit shrimp pathogens: acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease‐causing Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other vibrios

Shrimp cultivation has been faced with huge losses in productivity caused by infectious shrimp pathogenic vibrios, especially Vibrio parahaemolyticus that causes acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND). Hence, purple nonsulphur bacteria (PNSB) were isolated from shrimp ponds for investigating their abilities to control shrimp pathogenic Vibrio spp. and their use as probiotics for sustainable shrimp cultivation. Based on their probiotic properties, strains S3W10 and SS15 were selected because of their strong abilities to produce amylase, gelatinase and vitamin B12. However, only three PNSB strains (SS15, TKW17 and STW181) strongly inhibited V. harveyi_KSAAHRC and V. vulnificus_KSAAHRC including V. parahaemolyticusAHPND strains by secreting antivibrio compounds. Four selected PNSB also grew in the presence of pancreatic enzymes, and they were identified as Rhodobacter sphaeroides for strains S3W10, SS15 and TKW17 and Afifella marina for strain STW181. The effects of a mixed culture were also investigated as follows: T1 (S3W10 + SS15), T2 (S3W10 + TKW17) and T3 (S3W10 + STW181) on postlarval white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) for 60 days by comparison with a control. All three probiotic PNSB sets significantly improved the digestive enzyme activities and shrimp growth with their proliferation in shrimp gastrointestinal tract although the shrimp survival was not significantly different. They also significantly reduced the cumulative mortality of shrimp exposed to a virulent AHPND strain (V. parahaemolyticusSR2). This is the first to conclude that selected probiotic PNSB strains have great potential to be used for shrimp cultivation to control vibrios including AHPND strains.     

环境因子对太白山锐齿槲栎林林下草本植物组成和多样性的影响

【目的】探索太白山锐齿槲栎林林下草本植物组成和多样性与环境因子的关系,为该区域森林保护、经营管理提供理论指导。【方法】基于太白山锐齿槲栎林林下草本植物野外调查及室内试验数据,采用CCA和偏CCA排序法分析环境因子对太白山锐齿槲栎林林下草本植物组成的影响,采用相关分析和多元逐步回归分析探索环境因子对其草本植物多样性的影响。【结果】环境因子能显著解释太白山锐齿槲栎林林下草本植物组成变异,海拔、坡向、坡度、pH、枯落物厚度和有机质、碱解N、有效P、有效K含量及郁闭度、灌木盖度11个环境因子共解释了物种组成变异的39.05%。其中,郁闭度、土壤有效P含量、pH值和海拔是影响林下草本植物组成的主要环境因子。海拔、郁闭度、有效P和有效K含量能够显著影响太白山锐齿槲栎林林下草本植物的多样性,海拔较高、郁闭度较大、土壤有效P和有效K含量较高的生境具有较好的草本植物多样性。【结论】在太白山锐齿槲栎林经营管理中,可通过适量施用P肥和K肥来促进林下草本植物发育,提高物种多样性。     

间伐对秦岭南坡锐齿栎林土壤腐殖质及微生物的影响

【目的】以秦岭南坡锐齿栎林为研究对象,探讨间伐对锐齿栎林地土壤腐殖质及土壤微生物的影响,为秦岭林区锐齿栎林抚育经营提供理论依据。【方法】2012年3月,在秦岭南坡陕西省宁东林业局沙沟林场林地阳坡的中下部选择生长状况接近、林分密度基本一致的锐齿栎天然次生林,设置锐齿栎天然次生林样地12块,间伐强度分别为林分蓄积量的0(CK)、5%(T1)、10%(T2)、15%(T3)、20%(T4)和25%(T5),2018年7月采集0～30 cm土层土样,测定土壤腐殖质及其组分(胡敏酸、富啡酸和胡敏素)含量以及土壤微生物(细菌、真菌、放线菌)数量,并分析土壤胡敏酸、富啡酸和胡敏素含量与细菌、真菌、放线菌数量的相关性。【结果】(1)间伐6年后,在0～30 cm土层,各间伐强度处理土壤腐殖质含量平均值均大于CK,且T1处理的土壤腐殖质含量最高,为(60.78±10.53) g/kg。各间伐强度下土壤胡敏酸含量平均值较CK均有明显减少,不同处理土壤胡敏酸含量平均值由大到小依次为CKT4T3T5T2T1。除T3处理外,其余间伐强度处理土壤富啡酸含量平均值均高于CK,富啡酸含量平均值由大到小依次为T2T1T5T4CKT3。与CK相比,除T1处理外,其余各间伐强度处理土壤胡敏素含量平均值均增加,各间伐强度处理土壤胡敏素含量平均值由大到小依次为T2T3T4T5CKT1。(2)不同间伐强度下土壤胡敏酸/腐殖酸含量比值(PQ)由大到小依次为CK15%20%25%10%5%。(3)间伐6年后,在0～30 cm土层,土壤微生物总量随着间伐强度的增加呈先增加后减少的趋势,微生物总量在间伐强度为10%时达到最高;土壤细菌、放线菌数量在间伐强度为5%～10%时较高,真菌数量在间伐强度为15%～20%时较高。(4)土壤细菌、真菌和放线菌数量均与土壤胡敏酸、胡敏素含量呈极显著正相关,土壤真菌数量与富啡酸含量呈显著正相关。【结论】土壤微生物各种群数量可以显著影响土壤腐殖质的积累,合理的抚育间伐可以显著增加土壤腐殖质含量及微生物数量,选择10%～15%的间伐强度作为提高林地土壤腐殖质的参考指标较为合理。     

不同叶位黄精叶片的光合日变化及其影响因子

【目的】研究不同叶位黄精叶片的光合生理指标日变化规律及环境因子的影响,揭示叶片光合能力的影响因素及其与叶位之间的关系,为黄精光合生产潜力的挖掘提供理论参考。【方法】以黄精为研究对象,采用LI-6400光合仪测定不同叶位叶片的光合日变化,采用相关分析、偏相关分析、逐步回归分析及通径分析,研究影响不同叶位叶片光合作用的主要环境因子。【结果】①黄精不同叶位间的净光合速率差异显著,表现为中位叶上位叶下位叶,即随叶位升高表现出"低-高-低"的规律。②黄精不同叶位叶片净光合速率日变化均呈"双峰型"曲线,且有较明显的光合"午休"现象。③气孔因素为影响不同时段光合作用的主要限制因素,非气孔因素为影响不同叶位叶片光合作用的主要限制因子。④由相关分析与偏相关分析可知,黄精Pn、Tr、Gs与不同环境因子(RH、VPD、Tl、PAR、Ca)之间均存在相关性。⑤由逐步多元回归分析和通径分析可知,影响黄精Pn、Gs、Tr的主要环境因子为RH和PAR,其中RH为Pn、Gs、Tr变化的主要决策因子,且环境因子对不同叶位叶片的影响有异。【结论】测定黄精植株光合指标时应选第10节位左右的中位叶。黄精栽培过程中应及时去顶,在炎热的正午,可适当提高大气相对湿度以提高净光合效率。     

Dietary vitamin E requirement of sub‐adult genetically improved farmed tilapia strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in freshwater

A two‐factor orthogonal test was conducted to determine the dietary vitamin E (VE, dl ‐α‐tocopheryl acetate) requirement for sub‐adult GIFT strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) at two lipid levels, and evaluate its effect on antioxidant responses. A basal diet containing 60 or 130 g/kg of soybean oil was supplemented with 0, 20, 40, 60, 120 and 240 mg VE/kg, respectively. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of tilapia with initial weight (80.3 ± 0.7) g for 10 weeks. Results showed that the weight gain, feed efficiency and hepatic VE retention of fish were significantly increased by the increased VE in diets. In groups with 60 and 130 g/kg lipid, fish fed diets supplemented with VE had higher serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity, and lower malondialdehyde content than fish fed the VE un‐supplemented diet (p < .05). The proximate composition of fish had no significant difference in the group with 130 g/kg lipid, whereas crude lipid and ash content were significantly affected by dietary VE in the group with 60 g/kg lipid. Based on broken‐line regression analysis, dietary VE requirement to support the maximum weight gain and serum SOD were 43.2–45.8 and 66.0–76.1 mg/kg in diets with 60 and 130 g/kg lipid, respectively.