Determination of growth,colour and other traits in F1 hybrid of Amphiprion percula (male) × A. ocellaris (female)

This study reported the traits values such as colour, feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR) and fluorescence capacity of F₁ hybrids of Amphiprion percula (male) and A. ocellaris (female). The hybrids exhibited significant variation in FCR (3.63 ± 0.56) and SGR (3.63% ± 0.44) compared with the pure breeds, A. percula (3.12 ± 0.42; 2.80% ± 0.42) and A. ocellaris (3.17 ± 0.43; 3.02% ± 0.19). An exponential relationship was found between FCR and SGR in both the breeds. Image analysis displayed a better colour performance of hybrid than the pure breeds. Individual body parts of the hybrid and pure breeds showed significant colour variation between each other. However, colour contrast of whole body of hybrid was found closer to A. ocellaris in hue cone and towards A. percula in saturation and brightness values. Hence, hybrid displays combination colour reflexion of both the parents. The total pigment content of hybrid (65.71 μg g^?1 ± 2.81) was found higher than A. ocellaris (62.01 μg g^?1 ± 2.29) and A. percula (56.71 μg g^?1 ± 2.56). Further, the spectroflurometric analysis revealed that the both hybrid and pure breeds having poor fluorescence on skin pigmentation. A direct positive heterosis was observed on the SGR, FCR, total pigment and spawning frequency, while negative effect was noted on total length of newly hatched larvae (TL), fertilization rate (FrR), hatching rate (HR), deformation rate (DFR) and survival rate (SR). Hence, multiple cross‐breeding programmes will help in developing high‐quality traits in successive generations.     

Inheritance of racing performance of trotter horses: An overview

Harness racing is a form of horseracing in which the horses race in a specified gait (trot or pace). In contrast to the Thoroughbred, the trotter is not an international breed. In this type, the horses are raced with trotting or pacing gait. Breeds specialized for racing at trot or pace are indigenous to many countries. Separate breeds of light harness horses, generally designated as trotters have evolved for racing purposes in several countries. The important horse breeds used for harness racing in different parts of the world are the Standardbred, French Trotter, Swedish Trotter, Orlov Trotter, Russian Trotter, Finnhorse, Icelandic Toelter, Dole horse and North-Swedish cold-blooded horses. The trotter ranks worldwide second to the Thoroughbred in popularity as a racehorse. Racing performance in trotters, in contrast to Thoroughbred is characterized by qualifying tests before entering the races, inclusion of more than one breed in international races only and greater duration of racing career. An intensive selection of stallions on the basis of phenotypic racing performance has been practised in many trotter populations for quite a long time. Unlike Thoroughbreds, improvements have been observed in different trotter populations and this is attributed to both genetic and environmental changes. Environmental changes include enhanced training methods, as well as improved tracks, harness and sulkies. As a result of selection, racing time of trotters has been reduced over the years. The estimated annual genetic progress in racing performance traits of Swedish Standardbred horses corresponds to 5% of the phenotypic standard deviation, 3.6% in French Trotters and 5% in Dutch Trotters. According to the recent selection for speed in trot, this trait remains heritable and genetic improvement is observed in most countries. Correlations between earnings and times are negative and high, and hence favourable. As a result, selection based on times and earnings are quite effective. A multiple trait approach avoids potential biases of one particular measure, even if the objective of all traits is much the same. Since racing performance may be evaluated in both males and females and repeated observations can be obtained on the same animal, mass selection based on performance tests would be the selection procedure of choice. In the future, interest in the possible use of marker-assisted selection (MAS) for enhanced genetic improvement in horses is likely to increase. MAS is likely to be a valuable complement to selection of horses based on estimated breeding values (EBVs) obtained by the Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) method, rather than as a replacement for EBVs.     

Colonization by Rhizobia of the seed and roots of legumes in relation to exudation of phenolics

A study of the colonization pattern of Rhizobium inoculated either in the soil or on to the seeds of green gram (Phaseolus aureus Roxb.), black gram (P. mungo L.) and sun hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) revealed a significant reduction of Rhizobium in the spermosphere of sun hemp which was attributed to excretion of phenolic compounds by the seed. As the plants aged, the quantity of phenolics exuded by the roots was reduced and there was a parallel increase in the Rhizobium population in the rhizospheres of the three plant species.     

Allelopathic Effect of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. on Cyperus rotundus L. and Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.

The allelopathic potential of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (gum tree) fresh and dried leaf leachates was studied using two perennial weeds, viz. purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) and bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers) as test weeds. Aqueous leachate of fresh leaves of eucalyptus significantly suppressed the establishment of vegetative propagules and early seedling growth of the weeds. Leachate of fresh leaf cuttings had growth inhibitory effect on bermuda grass but showed growth promotion effect on purple nutsedge. Similarly the leachate of dried leaves of eucalyptus had differential influence on the growth of the two weeds. There is a possibility to harness the allelochemicals of eucalyptus leaves as herbicides for the management of these perennial weeds.     

Extended Boltzmann kinetic equation for turbulent flows

Complex fluid physics can be modeled using an extended kinetic (Boltzmann) equation in a more efficient way than using the continuum Navier-Stokes equations. Here, we explain this method for modeling fluid turbulence and show its effectiveness with the use of a computationally efficient implementation in terms of a discrete or "lattice" Boltzmann equation.     

Milk Protein Polymorphism in Kangayam Cattle

This paper reports the milk protein polymorphism, the allele frequencies of variants and the possible linkages among various combinations of milk protein phenotypes in the Kangayam cattle of south India. Milk samples from 156 Kangayam cows were typed by starch gel and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for caseins and whey proteins, respectively. All the four milk protein components studied, _s1-casein, -casein, -lactoglobulin and -lactalbumin, exhibited polymorphism with high allele frequencies of 0.9231±0.0151 for _s1-casein C, 0.9263±0.0148 for -casein A, 0.9135±0.0159 for -lactoglobulin B and a relatively high frequency of 0.6218±0.0275 for -lactalbumin A. The mean heterozygosity estimated over all the four milk protein loci was 0.2420. Genetic equilibrium was observed among all the loci studied, except -lactalbumin. Linkage analysis confirmed the non-independence between _s1- and -caseins and between caseins and -lactalbumin phenotypes.     

Triggering the biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea by Trichoderma harzianum through inhibition of pathogenicity and virulence related proteins

This study reports a strain of Trichoderma harzianum CCTCC-SBW0162 with potential to enhance biocontrol activity against gray mold pathogen, Botrytis cinerea, and with a pivotal role in tomato (Solanum esculentum) plant growth enhancement. A total of 254 Trichoderma isolates were screened by in vitro antagonistic assay. Of these, 10 were selected for greenhouse experiments based on their greater inhibition of B. cinerea. The in vitro antagonistic assay and greenhouse experiments indicated that T. harzianum CCTCC-SBW0162 gave the highest inhibition rate (90.6%) and disease reduction (80.7%). Also, to study the possible mechanism associated with antifungal activity of CCTCC-SBW0162 against B. cinerea, molecular docking was used to assess the interactions between CCTCC-SBW0162-derived metabolites, and pathogencity and virulence related proteins of B. cinerea. The molecular docking results indicated that the combination of harzianopyridone, harzianolide and anthraquinone C derived from CCTCC-SBW0162 could synergistically improve antifungal activity against B. cinerea through the inhibition/modification of pathogenicity and virulence related proteins. However, this computerized modeling work emphasized the need for further study in the laboratory to confirm the effect T. harzianum-derived metabolites against the proteins of B. cinerea and their interactions.     

Larval and pupal toxicity effects of Plectranthus amboinicus, Bacillus sphaericus and predatory copepods for the control of the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti

The efficacy of copepod Mesocyclops aspericornis (Daday) combined with the larvicide Bacillus sphaericus (Bs) and a plant extract of Plectranthus amboinicus leaf abstract (PALE), used jointly and singly, was studied against Aedes aegypti in the laboratory. P. amboinicus leaf extract of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 ppm caused significant mortality against Ae. aegypti larvae. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values for I to IV instars larvae and pupae were 26.12, 35.36, 45.76, 52.32 and 63.82 ppm, respectively. The LC₉₀ values for I to IV instars larvae and pupae were 82.53, 92.65, 108.06, 119.47 and 131.71 ppm, respectively. Under laboratory conditions, copepods treatment produced 7.9% predatory efficiency against 1st instar larvae of Ae. aegypti, at a copepod:larvae ratio of 1:10. When copepod treatment was combined with PALE this was increased to 8.7. The treatment of copepods combined with Bs and PALE yielded a better and more sustainable result (9.6%) than the agents used individually. This predation efficiency may be caused by detrimental effects of the P. amboinicus active principle compound (carvacrol) on the mosquito larvae. Our results suggest that the combined application of microbial insecticide (Bs), copepods and P. amboinicus leaf extract may be used to control Aedes populations.     

Immunostimulatory effect of mangrove‐derived marine yeasts in Penaeus monodon

This study attempted to assess the efficacy of mangrove‐derived marine yeasts as a source of immuno‐stimulant in the tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. The shrimp was fed on the diets in supplementation with yeast biomass at 10% for a period of 15 days and then challenged with the pathogenic Vibrio cholerae. The animals were assessed for immune responses in terms of total haemocyte counts, phenol oxidase and endobiotics. Among the yeasts tested, Rhodotorula minuta was found to have high immunostimulatory effect in the shrimps especially after challenge with the pathogenic vibrio.     

Salt- and pH-induced functional changes in protein concentrate of edible green seaweed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enteromorpha</Emphasis> species

Protein concentrates (PCs) were extracted from three edible green seaweed species of Enteromorpha (E. compressa, E. linza, and E. tubulosa) and were studied for their functional properties with respect to salt and pH. The protein content in the PC was found to be 60.35 ± 2.0, 53.83 ± 0.70, and 33.36 ± 1.04% in E. compressa, E. tubulosa, and E. linza respectively. The minimum nitrogen solubility was observed at pH 4.0 in all three PCs. The water-holding and oil-holding capacities in the three PCs ranged from 1.22 ± 0.06 to 1.53 ± 0.07 ml H₂O/g PC and from 1.05 ± 0.07 to 1.34 ± 0.10 ml oil/g PC respectively. Foaming capacity and stability were found to be pH-specific. They varied significantly with pH and NaCl concentration (P < 0.05). The inexpensive source of protein concentrate from Enteromorpha species could be incorporated into value-added food products.