Seasonal timing of floral initiation in strawberry: Effects of cultivar and geographic location

It was previously shown that nitrogen fertilization immediately after commencement of SD exposure enhanced the floral induction effect of SD in June-bearing strawberries (Sønsteby et al., 2009). In order to optimize the timing of such fertilization under field conditions, seasonal timing of floral initiation in the strawberry cultivars ‘Frida’, ‘Polka’, ‘Korona’ and Florence’ was studied in the field at five contrasting latitudinal and altitudinal geographic locations in Norway and, for comparison, under controlled environment conditions with 12 h photoperiod and temperatures ranging from 9 to 18 °C. Serial collections and dissections of crowns from the various locations revealed that floral initiation was successively delayed with increasing latitude and altitude of the location, and with decreasing temperature under controlled environment conditions. Both in the field and in the phytotron, floral initiation was earliest in ‘Frida’ closely followed by ‘Polka’ and in due course by ‘Korona’ and finally ‘Florence’ which was particularly slow to respond. Floral initiation in the phytotron was progressively advanced with increasing temperature and was optimal at 15–18 °C. Flowering time in the field was mainly determined by thermal relations in the spring and early summer, and accordingly, it was strongly delayed with increasing latitude and altitude of the location. In addition, late floral initiation in autumn also delayed flowering in the spring. Based on these observations, optimal timing of autumn fertilization for the various locations and cultivars are suggested.     

A comparison of retinol, retinal and retinyl ester concentrations in larvae of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) fed Artemia or zooplankton

Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) larvae were fed enriched Artemia or zooplankton in duplicate tanks from 0 to 60 days after first‐feeding. Both diets and the larvae were analysed for vitamin A (VA) in order to confirm earlier findings, in which Artemia fed larvae had lower levels of VA compared with larvae fed zooplankton. Furthermore, we wanted to investigate the composition of the retinoids in the larvae. The results showed that Artemia and zooplankton contains low levels of VA, probably too low to sustain the assumed requirement. Nevertheless, larvae fed Artemia had the same level of retinal and retinol as larvae fed zooplankton. We found a significant lower level of retinyl esters in larvae fed Artemia. The total VA level was lower in larvae fed Artemia only at the end of the feeding trial after the onset of metamorphosis. Our conclusion is that feeding Artemia to Atlantic halibut larvae is not likely to cause VA deficiency.     

Large-scale rearing of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus L., yolk sac larvae: effects of flow rate on growth, survival and accumulation of bacteria

The role of flow rate in large-volume production units (2800 L silos) for Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus L., larvae was studied. Correlations between flow rate, bacterial numbers (a measure of water quality), the larval growth and development rates, and mortality were assessed. The experiment included a total of six silos, two each at three different flow rates. Flow rate and mortality were positively correlated: the number of dead larvae on day 30 was highest (i.e. 2200 and 2000) in the silos with highest flow rate (8L min^?1) and lowest (i.e. 1300 and 1200) in the silos with the lowest flow rate (2L min^?l). Larval weight was negatively correlated with flow rate: on day 30, the mean dry weight was 968 μg in the silo with the lowest flow rate and 820 μg in the silo with highest flow rate. Yolk sac utilization efficiency was 92% in the silo with the lowest flow rate and 72% in the silo with the highest flow rate. The number of bacteria were highest (2.7-10⁶mL^?1) in the incubators with the lowest flow rate.     

The impact of nutrition on metamorphosis in Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.)

Fatty acids, vitamin A and thyroid hormone have all been shown to affect development of flatfish larvae and they are ligands to nuclear receptors that participate in the control of development. Our hypothesis was that one of these factors or an interaction between them may be the cause of abnormal development of flatfish larvae. Atlantic halibut larvae were fed either DHA-selco-enriched Artemia or copepods from first feeding. In fish that had been fed Artemia, only 7% had normal pigmentation and 10% normal eye migration. The numbers for fish fed copepods were 68% and 88%, respectively. Malpigmented fish fed Artemia were depigmented, while those fed copepods had ambicoloration. The differences in development were probably nutrient dependent, since all other conditions were similar for the two groups. Larvae fed copepods had markedly higher body levels of docosahexanoic acid (DHA, 22:6n−3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n−3) and lower levels of arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4 n−6) than larvae fed Artemia. The DHA/EPA ratio was similar in the two groups, but the EPA/ARA ratio was more than four times higher in larvae fed copepods than in larvae fed Artemia. Larvae fed copepods had higher body levels of total retinol than larvae fed Artemia, but the difference was due to higher levels of the storage forms, retinyl esters, whereas the levels of free retinol and retinal were similar in the two groups. The level of iodine was 700 times higher in copepods than in Artemia and 3–4 times higher in larvae fed copepods than in larvae fed Artemia. There was a significantly higher level of T₄ in larvae fed copepods during the “window of opportunity”, 15–30 days after first feeding. In an experiment where Atlantic halibut larvae were fed Artemia enriched in iodine up to the levels found in copepods, there was a significant effect on the body level of iodine and a non-significant tendency of higher levels of thyroid hormone, but no effect on pigmentation or eye migration. It is concluded that Artemia probably offers a sufficient access to vitamin A precursors to meet the larval requirement. More research should be done to elucidate possible effects of iodine on development of Atlantic halibut larvae. Fatty acid composition is still the most likely candidate for causing abnormal development in Atlantic halibut larvae.     

Physiological responses and effects on meat quality in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) transported on lorries

Reindeer transported on lorries to the slaughterhouse showed strongly elevated plasma noradrenaline, adrenaline and Cortisol values. Plasma creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase activity measurements gave no evidence of muscle damage, but by cooking ammonia-like and another taint were observed in the meat from about 25 % of the transported reindeer. A control group consisting of reindeer slaughtered from the gathering corral also showed a high prevalence of these meat taints. Plasma and meat urea values were elevated in the transported reindeer, but there was no correlation between the meat urea values and the intensities of ammonia-like taint. The character of the other observed taint was not defined.     

Fishmeal quality and ethoxyquin effects on the weaning performance of ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) larvae

Fishmeal diets are shown to be unfavourable for successful weaning of ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) larvae. Variable fishmeal quality, and/or a possible negative effect of ethoxyquin (EQ) and/or palatability could be the reason for the reduced growth and increased mortality observed. This study weaned wrasse larvae on either a control diet of freeze–dried shrimp and cod fillet, or fishmeal‐based diets with 0, 11 or 44 ppm EQ, for 1 month. Lower final body weight and higher mortality were related to increased inclusion of EQ. Furthermore, fishmeal diets had increased lipid oxidation values with decreased EQ content, whereas the control diet had the lowest lipid oxidation levels. A combined negative effect of oxidation and EQ supplementation could have lowered the palatability of the feeds and be the reason for the unsuccessful larval weaning. Use of EQ is inevitable in large‐scale production of feed ingredients; however, the use of high‐quality ingredients with low EQ inclusion, or its replacement with other antioxidants, may be necessary for successful intensive culture of some marine fishes.     

Marine raw material choice,quality and weaning performance of Ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) larvae

Previous results show that weaning success of Ballan wrasse larvae greatly depends on the quality of the dietary marine raw materials. In the present study, six moist or agglomerated experimental weaning diets containing different combinations of high‐quality marine raw materials, being fish meal (FM), cod muscle meal (CMM), shrimp meal (SM) and krill hydrolysate (KH), were tested in a 2‐month weaning trial with Ballan wrasse larvae of 34.5 mg initial body weight. Larvae performance was good in all dietary treatments except those fed diet D1 containing only FM. The Ballan wrasse larvae fed weaning diets D4 and D5 containing FM and either SM or KH, respectively, had the highest final body weight (0.7 g) but also the highest mortality (50%). Best weaning survival (77%) was obtained using the dry agglomerated diet D3 containing CMM and SM. During the first month, fish survival correlated positively with dietary free amino acid and soluble protein levels and negatively with the combined levels of dietary lipid oxidation metabolites and ethoxyquin. During the second month, mortality rates were lower in all treatments. Fish larvae final body weight correlated negatively with total dietary fatty acids and positively with dietary cholesterol, phosphorous and DHA/EPA ratio.     

Interaction of short day and timing of nitrogen fertilization on growth and flowering of ‘Korona’ strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)

The effects of timing of nitrogen (N) fertilization relative to the beginning of a 4-week floral-inducing short-day (SD) period have been studied in ‘Korona’ strawberry plants under controlled environment conditions. Groups of low fertility plants were fertilized with 100 ml of calcium nitrate solution for 3 days a week for a period of 3 weeks starting at various times before and at the beginning of the SD period, as well as at different times during the SD period. All plants, including SD and long day (LD) control plants, received a weekly fertilization with a low concentration complete fertilizer solution throughout the experiment. Leaf area, fresh and dry matter increments of leaves, crowns and roots, as well as leaf chlorophyll concentration (SPAD values) were monitored during the experimental period. A general enhancement of growth took place at all times of N fertilization. This was paralleled by an increase in leaf chlorophyll concentration, indicating that the control plants were in a mild state of N deficiency. When N fertilization was started 2 weeks before beginning of the SD period, flowering was delayed by 7 days, and this was gradually changed to an advancement of 8 days when the same treatment was started 3 weeks after the first SD. The amount of flowering was generally increased by N fertilization although the effect varied greatly with the time of N application. The greatest flowering enhancement occurred when N fertilization started 1 week after the first SD when the number of flowering crowns and the number of inflorescences per plant were more than doubled compared with the SD control, while fertilization 2 weeks before SD had no significant effect on these parameters. Importantly, the total number of crowns per plant was not affected by N fertilization at any time, indicating that enhancement of flowering was not due to an increase in potential inflorescence sites. No flowering took place in the control plants in LD. Possible physiological mechanisms involved and practical applications of the findings are discussed.     

Effect of recovery salinity on survival of acutely stressed halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L) larvae

First‐feeding halibut larvae (245‐day degrees; 40 days post hatch), reared at 34 g L^?1 salinity and 7°C, were subjected to handling and allowed to recover in a range of salinities (0–34 g L^?1) and at 10°C. Survival of the unfed larvae was determined daily for 18 days. Mortality rates approached 0 after 4 days in all treatments and presumed starvation‐induced mortality started at about 11 days post handling. By 20 days post treatments, all larvae had died. Salinities in the range of 10–20 g L^?1 produced significantly (anova , P<0.01) higher initial survival (71–95%) than salinities above 20 g L^?1 (24–48%) or below 10 g L^?1 (0–19%) and this survival pattern changed little in unfed larvae for the first 10 days following the stressor. For example, 24 hour post handling, survival of halibut was improved from 28.7±16.5% (mean±standard error, n=3) at 34.0 g L^?1 to 95.2±4.8% at 13 g L^?1. A second‐order polynomial regression of 4‐day post‐handling survival data (y=?0.002x ²+0.0603x+0.0699, r²=0.3936) predicted a maximum survival at 15.1 g L^?1 salinity. These results have important implications for halibut aquaculture and research when handling of larvae is unavoidable. For practical applications, we recommend reducing salinity of receiving waters to 15–20 g L^?1 with a slow (3–4 days) reacclimation to ambient conditions.