Prevalence,geographic distribution and phenotypic differences of Piscirickettsia salmonis EM‐90‐like isolates

Early reports accounted for two main genotypes of Piscirickettsia salmonis, a fish pathogen and causative agent of piscirickettsiosis, placing the single isolate EM‐90 apart from the prototypic LF‐89 and related isolates. In this study, we provide evidence that, contrary to what has been supposed, the EM‐90‐like isolates are highly prevalent and disseminated across Chilean marine farms. Molecular analysis of 507 P. salmonis field isolates derived from main rearing areas, diverse hosts and collected over 6 years, revealed that nearly 50% of the entire collection were indeed typed as EM‐90‐like. Interestingly, these isolates showed a marked host preference, being recovered exclusively from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) samples. Although both strains produce undistinguishable pathological outcomes, differences regarding growth kinetics and susceptibility to the antibiotics and bactericidal action of serum could be identified. In sum, our results allow to conclude that the EM‐90‐like isolates represent an epidemiologically relevant group in the current situation of piscirickettsiosis. Based on the consistency between genotype and phenotype exhibited by this strain, we point out the need for genotypic studies that may be as important for the Chilean salmon industry as the continuous surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.     

Impact of sublethal di‐n‐butyl phthalate on the aquaculture fish species Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): histopathology and oxidative stress assessment

Phthalates such as di‐n‐butyl phthalate (DBP) and their esters are widely used plasticizers, their ubiquitous presence in daily life, inevitably leads to their restricted use due to important environmental pollution and health impacts and endocrine disruption potential. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a sublethal concentration of 10 mg L^?1 DBP on haematocrit (HCT) values, gills and liver histology, malondialdehyde (MDA, 2‐thiobarbituric acid‐TBA reactivity) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in gills and liver tissue as oxidative stress biomarkers in the aquaculture fish species Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) after 24 (DBP‐24) and 96 (DBP‐96) h exposure. No differences were found between per cent HCT values in the 24 h exposure groups (P > 0.05). Response of antioxidant defence systems in liver and gill tissues of the fish were dependent on exposure duration and changed to a higher extent during 96 h. MDA levels in liver tissue increased in DBP treated fish in comparison to the control fish. However, the differences between the exposure and control groups were not significant (P > 0.05). A statistically significant decrease (P > 0.05) was recorded in gill MDA levels in the DBP‐96 group when compared to the control and DBP‐24 groups. The liver GSH levels were unchanged in the DBP treated fish. However, GSH levels were significantly lower in the gill tissue of the DBP‐96 group. Exposure to DBP caused several degenerative changes in the histology of gill and liver tissue. Gills displayed hyperaemia, epithelial lifting, oedema, talengiectasia, epithelial hyperplasia and fusion of secondary lamellae, whereas in liver several circulatory anomalies (hyperaemia, blood congestion and sinosoid dilatation) and vacuolization of hepatocytes were observed. Histopathological results demonstrated that the gills were more affected than the liver perhaps due to their direct contact with DBP.     

水流作用下一种养殖金属网衣水阻力特性的数值模拟研究

为保障深远海金属网箱养殖系统的结构安全,进行网箱结构的水动力学研究是一项重要的工作。构成金属网箱主要组成部分的金属网衣是一种小直径多孔的网状结构,在波浪和水流作用下的水动力学特性与一般的海洋工程结构物有显著不同。本文基于有限元基本原理,采用梁单元模拟金属网线结构,采用连接单元模拟网线接触部位的相互作用,并运用ABAQUS软件进行数值计算,在试验验证的基础上,分析了在水流作用下一种金属菱形链网衣在不同网目尺寸、不同网线直径情况下的水阻力变化情况。数值模拟结果表明在各种工况下,当网目尺寸由25 mm增加到35 mm、45 mm时,网衣受力增加幅度的平均值分别为14.71%和38.07%;当网线直径由2.5 mm增加到3.2 mm、4.0 mm时,各工况下网衣受力增加幅度的平均值分别为25.05%和45.06%。研究结果可以为进一步开展深海养殖金属网箱水动力特性研究提供积极的基础。     

Effects of Panax ginseng extract in practical diets for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) on growth performance,immune response and resistance to Yersinia ruckeri

In a preliminary in vitro study, a Panax ginseng extract exhibited an evident antibacterial activity against Yersinia ruckeri and Lactococcus garvieae and affected the respiratory burst and proliferation of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss leukocytes. Subsequently, the effects of a dietary ginseng extract supplementation on growth, blood biochemical profile, innate immune response and resistance against Y. ruckeri infection were investigated in vivo in rainbow trout juveniles. Four experimental diets were obtained by adding 0.0%, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03% of ginseng ethanolic extract to a commercial feed. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish (mean body weight 30.5 ± 0.15 g) at 1% of body weight day^?1 for 10 weeks. The dietary supplementation with ginseng extract did not affect growth performance, feed utilization, biometric traits and fish whole body composition (P > 0.05). No major changes due to graded levels of ginseng extract in the diet were observed in blood biochemical parameters except for increasing plasma triglycerides and non‐esterified fatty acids in fish fed diets including 0.01% and 0.02% of extract (P < 0.05). The innate immune response was barely modulated by the dietary addition of ginseng extract. Serum lysozyme and leukocytes respiratory burst activities were just slightly increased in fish fed all the ginseng extract‐supplemented diets compared with controls, whereas serum antiproteases and leukocyte MPO were not affected (P > 0.05). The dietary administration of ginseng extract induced a reduction in mortality of rainbow trout infected with Y. ruckeri, although no significant differences between treated and control groups were observed (P > 0.05).     

Polymerisation of gluten proteins in developing wheat grain as affected by desiccation

The breadmaking quality of wheat is affected by the composition of gluten proteins and the polymerisation of subunits that are synthesised and accumulated in developing wheat grain. The biological mechanisms and time course of these events during grain development are documented, but not widely confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the accumulation of gluten protein subunits and the size distribution of protein aggregates during grain development. The effect of desiccation on the polymerisation of gluten proteins and the functional properties of gluten were also studied. The results showed that the size of glutenin polymers remained consistently low until yellow ripeness (YR), while it increased during grain desiccation after YR. Hence, this polymerisation process was presumed to be initiated by desiccation. A similar polymerisation event was also observed when premature grains were dried artificially. The composition of gluten proteins, the ratios of glutenin to gliadin and high molecular weight-glutenin subunits to low molecular weight-glutenin subunits, in premature grain after artificial desiccation showed close association with the size of glutenin polymers in artificially dried grain. Functional properties of gluten in these samples were also associated with polymer size after artificial desiccation.     

A rapid extensigraph protocol for measuring dough viscoelasticity and mixing requirement

The extensigraph is particularly useful in characterizing dough viscoelastic properties; however, testing throughput for standard method is low due to the prerequisite for farinograph water absorption, long dough resting and milling to prepare large amounts of flour. Therefore, a rapid extensigraph method was developed that reduced sample size (165 g wheat) for milling and more than tripled throughput. Wheat is milled in Quadrumat Junior mill with a modified sieving system. The resulting flour (100 g) was mixed with a pin mixer at constant water absorption to allow the evaluation of wheat genotypes at the absorption level they are expected to perform. Dough was subsequently stretched by an extensigraph after 15 min of floor time and 30 min resting. Strong correlations for extensigram R_max (r > 0.93), extensibility (r > 0.64) and area (r > 0.88) were found for the proposed method compared to the standard method. Mixing parameters (time and energy) obtained during dough preparation provided further information about dough strength and mixing requirement. By significantly reducing sample size requirement and increasing testing throughput, this rapid extensigraph method can be widely adopted in milling and baking industry and meets the need for a fast evaluation of dough strength in breeding trials.     

A behavioural sensor for fish stress

Due to water turbidity, fish stress might be difficult to observe. Evaluation of fish stress by blood sampling requires removing a fish from the water, which is in itself a stressful event. Therefore, we designed and built a sensor to detect fish behaviour that reflects stress. The electronic sensor detected early signs of fish stress by scoring the fish's inactivity. LEDs and detectors are embedded on a steel wand that is held underwater by an operator. In this preliminary (feasibility) study, the new sensor was validated for Tilapia (Cichlidae) and Hybrid Striped Bass (Morone). We induced stressful situations in the fish tanks by manipulating oxygen and temperature levels.ResultsLowering the temperature and oxygen levels both significantly increased the average number of signals identified by the sensor, which indicate stress. The effect of reducing water temperature from 24 °C to 15 °C was three times stronger than was the effect of lowering the oxygen saturation level from 85% to 50%. The difference in the number of signals between the good and stressful conditions was statistically significant, amounting to approximately eight sensor signals, 10.57 compared to 2.49 respectively. Lowering the temperature increased the mean number of signals by 5.85 and 6.06 at 85% and 50% oxygen saturation respectively, whereas lowering oxygen levels increased the mean number of signals by 2.02 and 2.23 at 24 °C and 15 °C, respectively. The results indicate that the stress status of cultured fish can be evaluated using the proposed behavioural sensor. The new sensor may provide an earlier indication of a problem in a fish tank or pond than was heretofore possible. This early warning can enable the fish farmer to take action before many fish are harmed.     

超声波处理对粤晶丝苗生理特性及产量、品质的影响

以粤晶丝苗为材料,通过大田试验,研究了超声波和种子包衣处理对水稻生理特性及产量、品质的影响。结果表明,超声波处理可以提高水稻产量,以"超声波+种子包衣"处理的产量最高,主要是由于超声波处理增加了水稻的有效穗数、每穗粒数和结实率;超声波处理可以提高水稻叶片的SOD、POD活性,增加游离脯氨酸含量,降低MDA含量,提高水稻抗性;超声波处理还可改善稻米的加工品质和外观品质。     

土培条件下不同盐分梯度对水稻产量及其生理特性的影响

以南粳9108和甬优2640为材料,设置6个土壤含盐量(0%、0.07%、0.14%、0.21%、0.28%、0.35%),研究不同盐分梯度对水稻产量和生理特性的影响。结果表明:(1)盐胁迫影响水稻的生长和发育进程。株高、叶面积、干物质量等形态指标均随盐浓度的上升而下降;稻谷产量亦随盐浓度增加而下降,在0.14%、0.21%、0.28%、0.35%盐浓度处理时产量显著下降,南粳9108分别减产14.14%、43.65%、58.91%、65.68%,甬优2640分别减产20.25%、31.97%、40.41%、49.82%。(2)随着盐浓度的增加,2个参试品种抽穗期叶片抗氧化酶活性均呈先升后降趋势,在0.07%处理下达最高值。(3)抽穗期叶片中游离脯氨酸含量随盐浓度的上升而增加,盐浓度大于0.14%,游离脯氨酸含量较对照显著增加。(4)盐胁迫下,水稻植株吸收Na~+并置换出K~+,除叶片中K~+变化无规律之外,随着盐浓度上升,各部位K~+含量均下降,Na~+含量均上升,K~+/Na~+均呈下降趋势。茎鞘与叶运输的SK、Na随盐浓度的上升而上升,茎选择性运输K~+而抑制Na~+进入叶片;根与茎的SK、Na随盐浓度的上升而下降,茎吸收Na~+并输出K~+到根系。总体而言,低盐浓度对高产水稻品种产量和生理特性无显著影响,盐浓度大于0.07%时影响显著。     

木薯叶片厚度、蜡质含量和气孔密度与抗朱砂叶螨的关系

为明确不同木薯品种的叶片组织结构与抗朱砂叶螨的关系,通过对木薯田间螨害情况的调查,计算出感、抗性稳定的感螨品种华南101、华南124和抗螨品种华南7号、华南13号的螨害指数,同时对叶片的相关物理性状进行测定,分析了叶片厚度、蜡质含量和气孔密度与木薯抗朱砂叶螨的关系。结果表明:4份木薯种质华南101、华南124、华南7号和华南13号的螨害指数依次为89.2%、65.8%、38.3%和0.8%;木薯叶片厚度与螨害指数呈显著负相关;气孔密度与螨害指数呈显著正相关;蜡质含量与螨害指数无显著相关性。上述结果为深入探究木薯抗螨机制提供了初步的理论基础。