Levels of domestication in fish: implications for the sustainable future of aquaculture

The agricultural world today is dominated by a few domesticated mammal species, that is, animals modified from their wild ancestors through selective breeding in captivity for traits beneficial to human usages. As a result, a clear dichotomy exists between wild (from hunting) and domesticated mammals (produced in farms) used for human consumption. Similar to agriculture, aquaculture is often viewed as the only solution that can provide more fish products given that harvesting wild stocks have reached an upper limit. Aquaculture is considerably younger than agriculture relying on natural sources to farm numerous species. To better describe the diverse strategies for fish production, we propose a new classification comprising five levels of ‘domestication’ with 1 being the least to 5 being the most domesticated. Our classification places 70% of the 250 farmed finfish species recorded in the 2009 FAO database into levels 1, 2 and 3 representing a transitory form of fish production dependent on the availability of the wild resource. In contrast, only a few species, or more accurately populations, can be considered truly domesticated, similar to cattle or sheep. Based on this classification, two scenarios for the future of aquaculture are discussed: either the industry focuses on few truly domesticated species, similar to the path taken by agriculture, but avoiding its negative impacts or aquaculture proceeds with inter‐specific diversification by focusing primarily on the domestication of native species.     

Quantitative trait loci for fruit size and flowering time-related traits under domestication and diversifying selection in cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

In cucumber, the genetic basis of traits under domestication and/or diversifying selection is not well understood. Here, we reported QTL mapping for flowering time and fruit size-related traits with segregating populations derived from a cultivated × wild cross. Phenotypic data of flowering time (FT), fruit size (FS), fruit number (FN) and fruit weight per plant (FW) were collected in multiple environments. QTL analysis identified 19 QTL for these traits. We found that the major-effect QTL FT1.1 played an important role in regulating flowering time in cultivated cucumber, whereas the minor-effect QTL FT6.3 contributed to photoperiod sensitive flowering time during domestication. Two novel consensus FS QTL, FS1.4 and FS2.3, seem to be the targets of selection during breeding for the US processing cucumber. All other FS QTL were co-localized with previously detected QTL using populations derived from cultivated cucumbers, suggesting that they were under selection during both initial domestication and subsequent improvement. Results from this study also suggested that the wild cucumber is a useful resource for capturing positive transgressive segregation and novel alleles that could be explored in cucumber breeding.     

白马鸡人工驯养初步研究

通过人工饲养的方式探索出白马鸡驯养的经验,即:在野生白马鸡适宜生境下建立饲养场,从育雏阶段开始进行人工投食饲养和本地土鸡带领相结合的驯养方式。目前已经完成从子一代到子二代的完整驯养、饲养流程,取得了云南省林业厅的驯养繁殖许可证。对育雏、亚成体、成体阶段的喂食量、存活情况等作了分析,认为接近原始生境的环境及本地带雏母鸡是成功的重要条件。     

水稻落粒性的研究进展

落粒性是野生稻适应自然环境和保持群体繁衍的重要性状,落粒性的丧失是水稻驯化过程中的一个关键事件。落粒程度既直接影响水稻的产量,也影响其对现代化机械收割方式的适应性。本文综述了近年来水稻落粒性的研究进展,包括水稻落粒的生理基础、落粒性基因的定位与克隆,以及调控落粒性的分子机理。     

盐化幅度、速度及方式对凡纳滨对虾仔虾生长和存活率的影响

本研究测定了盐化幅度(3/d、6/d、9/d、12/d和15/d)、盐化速度(1、3、6、12和18 h/次)和盐化方式(前期盐化、中期盐化、后期盐化和间隔盐化)与凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)仔虾生长发育、活力和存活率的关系。研究结果显示，不同盐化幅度、盐化速度和盐化方式均显著影响盐化标粗过程中仔虾的生长发育、活力和存活率(P<0.05)。综合考虑生长性能、苗种活力和存活率等因素，最适盐化幅度为3~6/d，在该盐化幅度范围内，仔虾存活率可达74.07%~78.83%；盐化幅度超过9/d时，仔虾存活率显著下降(P<0.05)，其中，盐化幅度达到15/d时，存活率仅为43.37%。过快的盐化速度导致存活率和活力显著下降，盐化速度>1 h/次时，仔虾死亡率接近50%；随着盐化速度的放缓，仔虾生长速度加快，盐化速度为6~18 h/次时，生长速度维持稳定，日增重量为1.48~1.51 mg。在盐化方式方面，后期盐化和间隔盐化时，苗种的质量和存活率优于前期盐化和中期盐化，仔虾活力表现为间隔盐化>后期盐化>中期盐化>前期盐化。综合考虑，仔虾的最适盐化幅度为3~6/d，最佳盐化速度为6~12 h/次，后期盐化和间隔盐化更有助于仔虾保持较好活力和较高存活率。本研究通过探讨凡纳滨对虾苗种盐化标粗的最适盐化幅度、盐化速度和盐化方式，丰富了凡纳滨对虾高盐环境抗逆性研究，为凡纳滨对虾苗种的盐化标粗生产实践提供了理论支持。     

基于高通量GBS-SNP标记的栽培燕麦六倍体起源研究

栽培六倍体燕麦是世界重要粮食作物,理清其起源对燕麦种质资源的高效利用和保护具有重要意义。本研究利用GBS (genotyping by sequencing)对27份来自中国的大粒裸燕麦材料测序,结合先前发表的包括6个六倍体燕麦种在内的66份燕麦材料的GBS数据进行SNP挖掘。UNEAK管道挖掘共计得到MAF大于0.5, call rate大于0.95的SNP标记8902个。进一步剔除缺失值大于0.15的4个燕麦材料后,对其余89份材料进行PCA分析、STRUCTURE分析以及UPGMA聚类分析。结果表明,在野生种中,除A. sterilis外,大多数来自同一物种的材料聚为一类,不同物种间能够较好地分开,表明这些物种之间存在较强的遗传分化。聚类分析将供试材料分为分别代表野生种和栽培种的2支,表明野生种和栽培种之间存在明显的遗传差异;在栽培种中, A. sativa与A. byzantina具有较高的遗传多样性,分散在不同的类群中,二者未出现明显的遗传分化,具有较高的遗传同质性, A. sativa ssp. nuda与A. sativa亲缘关系较近,但存在一定的遗传分化,因此形成独立的类群。值得注意的是,来自野生种A. sterilis的材料被分在2个类群中,其中来自西南亚地区(伊朗-伊拉克-土耳其地区)的居群与A. sativa和A. byzantina聚在一起,揭示此地区的A. sterilis居群可能是A. sativa和A. byzantina的祖先种。野生种A. hybrida显示出与A. fatua较高的遗传同质性,因此将其作为A. fatua的亚种较为合理。本研究为栽培六倍体燕麦起源提供了理论依据。     

高效降解有机磷农药真菌的分离鉴定及其特性研究

从有机磷农药严重污染的土壤中分离筛选出有机磷农药高效广谱降解真菌，并对其进行鉴定及降解特性研究。通过有机磷农药驯化培养、形态学和生理生化特性及其18S rDNA序列分析等试验对其进行初步鉴定，研究外界因素初始pH、培养温度、氧化乐果初始浓度等对降解菌的生长量和降解能力的影响。通过驯化分离筛选等过程从污染土壤中筛选到2株可以在高浓度氧化乐果环境下生长的真菌J4和J6，它们经生理生化和18 S rDNA序列测定初步鉴定均为黑曲霉（Aspergillus niger）。研究发现，J4和J6菌株在氧化乐果初始浓度1000 mg/L，pH值分别为6.5和6.0，温度分别为30℃和28℃，摇床转速160 r/min条件下，培养5天后降解菌可达到最佳生长量和降解能力，降解率可分别达77.83%和70.81%，耐受氧化乐果的最大浓度均为5000 mg/L，其生长量和降解能力具有正比例相关性变化趋势；并进一步研究发现，曲霉J4和J6还具有广谱降解有机磷农药的特性。     

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss,Walbaum ) develop a more robust body shape under organic rearing

Prolonged exposure to captive conditions has led to the development of a rainbow trout ‘farmed’ phenotype, which is different from that of wild trout. Selection for desirable productive traits in hatcheries has resulted in the development of some morphological traits that are maladaptive in nature. The recent development of organic aquaculture, guided by the well‐being of the fish, could potentially produce a new farmed phenotype that would be more adaptive in nature. In this study, rainbow trout reared in intensive and organic farms were compared by means of shape analysis, to detect patterns of shape variation associated with rearing environment. The results of this study highlight a significant effect of the rearing method on rainbow trout shape: organically reared trout showed a higher body profile, in particular in the head and trunk regions, shorter median fins and a deeper caudal peduncle. A combined effect of density and habitat complexity could have contributed to the observed shape differences: in organic rearing systems, lower densities and steady water could increase territoriality and aggressive interactions, promoting body designs more functional in rapid attacks and escapes.     

Seed Shattering of Cañahua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen)

Cañahua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen) is a semi‐domesticated relative of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) with high nutritious quality. It is tolerant to frost, drought, saline soils and pests. One seed yield limitation is seed loss during the maturity stages. Two greenhouse experiments in Denmark and field experiments in Bolivia were carried out to determine seed shattering in landraces and cultivars with different growth habits. 15–21 % of the seed shattering in the fields took place whilst the plants still were flowering and 25–35 % during physiological maturity. Seed shattering varied between locations on the Bolivian Altiplano. Cañahua types with the semi‐prostrate growth (‘lasta’) had the highest seed shattering rate in the greenhouse experiments. The Umacutama landrace had lower seed shattering (1 %) than the cultivar Kullaca (7.2 %) both of the ‘lasta’ type. Under field conditions, the cultivar Illimani with the erect growth (‘saihua’) had the highest seed shattering rate (6.4–33.7 %) at both locations and at four different sowing dates. The Umacutama had the lowest rate (0.5–1.5 %). There were no significant differences between plants of the ‘lasta’ and the ‘saihua’ types. The landrace had significantly less seed loss than the cultivars. However, in the greenhouse, the landrace yield was approximately 25 % lower than the yields of the cultivars. In general, cañahua cultivars had higher yield compared to landraces, but also a higher seed shattering rate. Landraces may be used in breeding programmes to develop high‐yielding cultivars with reduced seed shattering.     

Domestication of plants for sustainable agriculture in drylands: Experience from the Negev Desert

With globalization in the last century, introduction of exotic plant species for commercial use has become more accessible. Such attempts may involve extreme land changes. We stress that domestication of native species should be preferred to the introduction of exotic species. We took the initial steps in domesticating several species by examining commercial uses and studying aspects of plant physiology. The following desert plants were considered: Bassia indica, for salt phytoremediation and for livestock feed; Commiphora gileadensis, as an agent against cancer cells; Artemisia sieberi and A. judaica, as plants with allopathic traits; Ficus palmate, as a stand for fig plantation; Balanites aegyptiaca, as a medicinal plant and for other uses; Portulaca oleracea and Scorzonera judaica, as food crops with added values; and Pistacia atlantica, as rootstock for P. vera.