Evaluation of an experimental Aeromonas salmonicida epidemic in chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum)

To determine the dynamics of the transmission of Aeromonas salmonicida ssp. salmonicida infection, chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, were exposed to bacteria by cohabitation. The latent period (time between exposure and infectivity) was determined by exposing a group of chinook salmonid fingerlings to A. salmonicida by bath, then, at daily intervals, by holding five exposed (donor) fish with approximately 50 naive fish for 24 h. The latent period was 3 days post-infection and the time period between the initial exposure to bacteria and the beginning of bacterial shedding was 4.5 days for the same animals. The prevalence and intensity of infection in the donor fish, to which recipient fish were exposed, i.e. the level of exposure, was highly correlated with the development of disease in recipient (susceptible) chinook salmon (r2 = 0.57). An experiment was conducted to determine the daily progress of infection and development of a furunculosis epidemic among recipient fish by cohabiting a single exposed fish with 43 unexposed salmon. At daily intervals, all fish (in seven treatment tanks and one control tank daily) were sacrificed and tested for the presence of A. salmonicida in the kidney (n = 3520). Over 10 days, mean prevalence among recipient fish reached 75% and disease related mortality exceeded 50%. Bacterial concentrations in the water continued to increase over the duration of the experiment in concert with the number of infected animals present in the population.     

Reproductive biology of the commercial sea cucumber <Emphasis Type="Italic">Holothuria spinifera</Emphasis> (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from Tuticorin,Tamil Nadu,India

The annual reproductive cycle of the commercial sea cucumber Holothuria spinifera was studied in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India, from September 2000 to October 2001, by macroscopic and microscopic examination of gonad tubule, gonad index and histology of gametogenic stages, to determine the spawning pattern. The gonad consists of long tubules with uniform development. It does not confirm the progressive tubule recruitment model described for other holothurians. The maximum percentage of mature animals, gonad and fecundity indices, tubule length and diameter, with the observations on gonad histology, ascertained that H. spinifera had the peak gametogenic activity during September and October 2001 followed by a prolonged spawning period from November 2000–March 2001.     

The effect of photoperiod on growth, survival, colour and activity of juvenile southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii

Juvenile (1–10 g) southern rock lobsters, Jasus edwardsii, were subjected to five photoperiods [0L(light):24D(dark); 6L:18D; 12L:12D; 18L:6D; 24L:0D] during a 112‐day trial, and growth, survival, colour, food consumption and activity were examined. Lobsters grown under the 6L:18D and 24L:0D photoperiods had significantly lower (P < 0.05) final mean weight and specific growth rate than any other treatments. Photoperiod had no effect on survival or colour of lobsters. Food consumption differed significantly during the first week of the trial; after 5 weeks, food consumption was similar in all treatments. Major peaks in activity occurred during dark periods for lobsters exposed to photoperiods that had a light:dark regime. Activity of lobsters exposed to continuous light or dark regimes remained constant and at low levels during the 24‐h period. Food consumption or activity does not appear to determine the rate of growth of lobsters in the different photoregimes. One over‐riding outcome of this and other studies on photoperiod is that the growth and survival response of juvenile J. edwardsii was not significantly better than those of the standard 12L:12D cycle.     

Estimation of the spawning grounds of chub mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber japonicus</Emphasis> and spotted mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber australasicus</Emphasis> in the East China Sea based on catch statistics and biometric data

The spawning grounds of the chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and spotted mackerel (Scomber australasicus) in the East China Sea were estimated based on catch statistics of the Japanese large- and medium-type purse seine fishery from 1992 to 2006. Biometric data were obtained from specimens caught by purse seiners in the East China Sea from 1998 to 2006. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) at 50% sexual maturity of chub mackerel and spotted mackerel females was 2.5 and 2.6, respectively. Using this criterion for GSI, chub mackerel larger than 275 mm and spotted mackerel larger than 310 mm in fork length were considered to be mature. Mature chub mackerel was observed in the area of 15–22°C sea surface temperature (SST), and mature spotted mackerel was observed in the area of 17–25°C SST. The spawning period of chub mackerel ranged from February to June, and that of spotted mackerel ranged from February to May in the East China Sea. The spawning grounds were estimated from the distributions of catch per unit effort (CPUE) of spawners and SST. As a result, the spawning ground of chub mackerel was estimated to be in the central and southern part of the East China Sea and the area west of Kyushu in February, March, and April, and in the central part of the East China Sea, the area west of Kyushu and Tsushima Straight in May, and in Tsushima Straight and western part of the Sea of Japan in June. The spawning ground of spotted mackerel was estimated to be in the central and southern part of the East China Sea and southern coastal area of Kyushu in February, March, and April, and the central and southern part of the East China Sea and the area west of Kyushu in May.     

Effects of Gradual Water Deficit Stress on Phenological and Morphological Traits in Chickpea （Cicer arietinum L.）

The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of gradual water deficit stress on some phonological and morphological traits and grain yield of desi and kabuli chickpea cultivars. This study was carried out in 2007 and 2008, to evaluate responses of three chickpea cultivars （Hashem and Arman from kabuli and Pirooz from desi type） under well watering （I1： 70mm evaporation from class A pan）, gradual water deficit （12 and 13： 70→90→ 110→130 and 70→100→130mm evaporation from class A pan, respectively） and severe water stress （14： 130mm evaporation from class A pan）. Result showed that days to flowering and plant height were decreased, as water limitation increased. This reduction was significant under gradual water stress （I2 and I3） and Severe water deficit （I4）, compared with control （I1）. There were no significant differences in grain filling period and grain yield among I~, I2 and I3 irrigation treatments. No significant differences in days to physiologic maturity and number of sub branches were recorded among irrigation treatments. Interactions of year×cultivar for days to physiologic maturity, grain filling period and grain yield （P≤0.01） and for days to flowering and plant height （P≤0.05） were significant. The superiority of Arman in producing comparatively greater grain yield could be attributed to higher grain filling period of this cultivar in both years.     

育成期雄性幼貉日粮适宜蛋白质和能量水平的研究

选用健康乌苏里幼公貉63只,随机分为7组(每组9只)。1～4组用以探讨适宜蛋白质水平,其蛋白质水平分别为31.54%、36.39%,40.37%和43.53%;5-7组用以探讨适宜能量水平,其能量水平分别为19589.78,21860.94和22600.04k J/kg。试验分育成前期和冬毛生长期两个阶段进行,饲喂同一营养水平的日粮。结果表明,育成前期饲喂蛋白质水平为36.39%的日粮,可获得理想的体重、体长及经济效益。 冬毛生长期,日粮蛋白质水平在31.54%～43.53%范围内,对幼貉的体重和体长无显著影响。育成期以饲喂能量水平为21860.94～22600.04 k J/kg的日粮为宜。育成前期适宜的蛋能比为16.1～16.6,冬毛生长期为14.0～14.4。     

固原地区百合日光温室栽培研究

通过对引进的6个百合栽培品种发育过程、主要性状的观测分析,综合比较各品种的生长情况和特性,结果表明：“木门”、“罗宾娜”、“索邦”、“西伯利亚”4个品种在长势、株型、花型、花期、抗冻性等方面比较优良,适合在固原地区日光温室栽培.     

泉州平原作物生长季和夏旱期降水量叠加预测模式及其应用

采用时间序列分析方法,对最能代表整个泉州平原降水情况的晋江气象站１９６０～１９９６ 年共３７ ａ 中３～１１ 月（作物生长季）和７～９ 月（夏旱期）２ 段时间的降水量资料进行统计,同时分析了该地区的降水量变化规律,获得了该地区上述２ 段时间的降水量模式,进而提出了防御干旱的措施,     

不同栽培条件下枣树幼果期光合作用日变化规律的研究

笔者以10年生壶瓶枣为试材,研究了枣树在灌溉、未灌溉、遮阴、雾化栽培和喷施亚硒酸钠5个处理下光合作用的日变化规律。结果表明:干旱条件降低了树体的光合作用,通过遮阴、雾化栽培和喷施亚硒酸钠可以提高树体的气孔导度,调节叶片的蒸腾,提高树体的光合速率,保证光合作用的进行。亚硒酸钠处理显著提高了叶片上午的净光合速率,气孔导度和蒸腾速率都比其他处理高。