Tracking leaf area index and coefficient of light extinction over the harvesting cycle of black wattle

The amount of photosynthetic radiation intercepted by a crop is a function of the incident solar radiation on the plants, the leaf area index (L _AI), and the light extinction coefficient (k). We quantified L _AI and k in stands of black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) over a 7-year growth cycle at two locations in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Our study was conducted in commercial stands in agroecological regions with high densities of black wattle plantations. L _AI was calculated as the ratio between the leaf area of a tree and its planting space, and k was derived from Beer’s law. L _AI depends on the planting site and stand age. Between the two sites, the L _AI was similar over time, the amount of variation differed. Values of k depended only on stand age, with the highest average observed for stands up to 5 years old. The trend of k during the plantation cycle was inversely proportional to L _AI and was correlated with L _AI, leaf area, leaf dry mass, canopy volume, height, branches dry mass, total dry mass, and crown diameter.     

Morphological sex change upon treatment by endocrine modulators in meiogynogenetic tench (Tinca tinca L.)

Exogenous steroids alter sex differentiation in fish substantially. In the present study we have evaluated the effects of 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) and oestrogen receptor antagonist Tamoxifen (TA) on gonadal development and skewness of the sex ratio in all-female tench juveniles. In the first two experiments, sexually undifferentiated juveniles were orally treated with three doses of MT and TA (50, 100 and 150 mg kg⁻¹). Both the treatments resulted in a moderate dose-dependent masculinization, with neomale production ranging from 17% (50 mg kg⁻¹) to 26% (150 mg kg⁻¹) for the MT only treatment, and from 0% (50 mg kg⁻¹) to 27% (100 mg kg⁻¹) only for the TA treatment respectively. In the third experiment treatment of sexually differentiated tench females with single steroid treatments or combinations of the two resulted in populations composed of females and intersex individuals. The significantly highest occurrence of intersex individuals (45.5%) was found in the group subjected to combine treatment of MT+TA (150+200 mg kg⁻¹). No masculinization effect of the single or the combined treatment occurred. It can be concluded that oral treatment with MT or TA only slightly modifies the normal process of sex differentiation in gynogenetic tench juvenile, but treatment with the above-mentioned combinations has a highly significant potential to skew the sex ratio in sexually differentiated tench females. However, from an applied point of view, the treatment procedure will need optimization before use at a commercial level.     

Spermatozoa Concentration,Seminal Plasma Composition and Their Physiological Relationship in the Endangered Stellate Sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) and Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii )

Comparative studies of ionic composition, osmolality, protein concentration and pH of seminal plasma along with spermatozoa concentrations were carried out in stellate sturgeon, Acipenser stellatus, and Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii. Analysis of A. gueldenstaedtii sperm showed significantly higher concentrations of Na⁺ (34.58 ± 4.61 mm ), Ca²⁺ (0.35 ± 0.12 mm ), Mg²⁺ (0.70 ± 0.25 mm ), Cl^? (13.50 ± 4.04 mm ) and proteins (0.60 ± 0.29 mg/ml) in the seminal plasma than did seminal plasma of A. stellatus: Na⁺ (20.08 ± 10.75 mm ), Ca²⁺ (0.28 ± 0.06 mm ), Mg²⁺ (0.29 ± 0.05 mm ), Cl^? (7.50 ± 3.00 mm ) and 0.30 ± 0.11 mg/ml proteins. Significantly higher concentration of K⁺ (5.42 ± 1.06 mm ) was observed in A. stellatus compared to A. gueldenstaedtii K⁺ (2.29 ± 0.50 mm ). Concentration of Na⁺ was positively correlated with osmolality (r = 0.819), levels of Cl^? (r = 0.922) and Mg²⁺ (r = 0.727) and pH (r = 0.848). The concentration of Mg²⁺ was positively correlated with protein concentration (r = 0.774), Na⁺ (r = 0.727), Cl^? (r = 0.872) and Ca²⁺ (r = 0.801). A positive relationship was also found between concentration of K⁺ and spermatozoa concentration (r = 0.709). Results revealed strong inter‐species differences in several parameters. The data should be useful for artificial fertilization and for cryopreservation of sturgeon sperm.     

Sperm quality in male <Emphasis Type="Italic">Barbus barbus</Emphasis> L. fed different diets during the spawning season

Sperm quality of Barbus barbus L. was compared among the three following dietary regimes: Group A, fed 100% commercial diet (Karpico™ containing 33% crude protein and 6% fat), Group B, fed 78% commercial diet and 22% frozen chironomid (Chironomus plumosus) larvae, and Group C, fed 56% commercial diet and 44% frozen chironomid larvae. Concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in Group A, B, and C were 39.1, 42.0, and 44.6, respectively, as a percentage of total fatty acids. Sperm morphology, volume, concentration and motility, total number of spermatozoa, and osmolality of the seminal plasma were compared during the spawning season. Dietary regime did not influence sperm volume, concentration, or total number of spermatozoa, osmolality of seminal plasma, or the percentage of motile sperm, but significantly affected sperm morphology (except for anterior and posterior parts of the midpiece) and sperm velocity (P < 0.05). Groups B and C showed similar sperm characteristics during the spawning season compared to Group A. Almost all parameters changed either among or within groups during the spawning season, suggesting differences in terms of the optimal time for sperm collection. The best time for sperm collection was March for Group A, but April for Groups B and C, when the osmolality of the seminal plasma measured 289 mOsmol kg⁻¹ and sperm motility was maximal. Spermatogenesis, hydration, and cell decomposition were confirmed as the three major parameters controlling sperm characteristics during the spawning season. The possible correlation between sperm morphology and motility requires further study.     

Induced Meiotic Gynogenesis of Paddlefish Polyodon spathula

Viable, diploid gynogenetic (gynogenotes) paddlefish Polyodon spathula were produced by activating eggs with ultraviolet-irradiated shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus spermatozoa and heat shocking. Without irradiation treatment, sturgeon spermatozoa appeared to activate the eggs (up to gastrulation), but did not result in any viable hybrids. Experiment 1 determined that heat-shock treatment of 35 C for a 2-min duration within the interval of 2–22 min post-activation resulted in highest yield of gynogenotes (12–19%) from eggs incubated at 18 C. Experiment 2 applied the heat shock treatment at 35 C from 14.0 to 28.0 min in 2-min intervals after activation at 18 C for a larger scale of gynogenetic production. Both experiments showed that the best yields of gynogenotes were obtained when the heat shock treatment occurred at 16, 18, and 20 min after activation. When these times were expressed in terms of τ₀. units (duration of one mitotic cycle of synchronous cell division related to water temperatures), optimal activations were 0.26, 0.29, and 0.32τ₀ (τ₀@ 18 C = 63.5 min). Experiment 3 tested the utility of τ₀. at two different pre-shock incubation water temperatures of 18 C and 16 C, and determined that there was no significant interaction in percentage of viable gynogenotes between two different incubation temperatures and the mitotic intervals (0.21, 0.26, 0.31, 0.36, 0.41τ₀) tested. Best survival of gynogenotes occurred when eggs held at either pre-shock incubation water temperatures were shocked at 0.26τ₀ All gynogenotes examined were histologically confirmed to have ovarian tissue and were determined to have similar oocyte development to that of normal female (control) paddlefish.     

Kurokura Solution as Immobilizing Medium for Spermatozoa of Tench (Tinca tinca L.)

This study tested KUROKURA solution (Kurokura et al., 1984, Aquaculture 37, 267–274) and its modifications (by increasing NaCl content to 160, 180 and 200 mM) on immobilizing properties for sampling and short-term preservation of potential motility of tench spermatozoa. The immobilizing solution is used because, when collected, the sperm of most samples is contaminated by urine, causing spermatozoa to be of poor quality, with low motilities and velocities (almost 0), thus resulting in a worsened fertilization and hatching rate. Sperm was sampled with a syringe containing an immobilizing solution (IS), allowing an IS:sperm ratio of 2:1, under aerobic conditions at 0–4°C. This sperm solution was stored for 10 h and untreated sperm was collected prior to fertilization as a control. Spermatozoa quality was evaluated for the cell motility and velocity parameters and also for fertilization ability and hatching rate. Results obtained for tench sperm motility, velocity, fertilization and hatching rate showed that only sperm collected in the various immobilizing solutions can be successfully used for artificial insemination and preservation after 10 h at 0–4°C. The best immobilizing solution was found to be KUROKURA 180 (180 mM NaCl, 2.68 mM KCl, 1.36 mM CaCl₂· 2H₂O and 2.38 mM NaHCO₃), giving a fertility and hatching rate of 41%, with no change in rates after 10 h storage of sperm. Control sperm without immobilizing solution showed a fertilization and hatching rate of only 6–7%.     

Ionic composition and osmolality of paddlefish (Polyodon spathula, Acipenseriformes) seminal fluid

Changes in ionic composition as Na⁺,K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, osmolality inseminal fluid, percentage of motile spermatozoaand velocity were investigated in response toCPP and different dosage of LHRHa. The lowestvelocity of sperm was observed after use CPPtreatment. The velocity of spermatozoa,significant main effect of the treatment(P < 0.0001) and the time of sperm collection(P < 0.0104) were evaluated. The osmolality ofseminal fluid was different betweenexperimental groups of LHRHa (48.0–62.7mOsmol.kg^–1) and CPP (33.0–46.3mOsmol.kg^–1) treatments. The osmolalitywas significantly higher on the first day andone-half, then declined on day three, rangingfrom 33.0 to 62.7 mOsmol.kg^–1. Analysisof variance showed significant main effects ofthe treatment (P < 0.0001) and the time ofsperm collection (P < 0.0002) on the osmolalityof seminal fluid. The level of Na⁺ andK⁺ ion was different between experimentalgroups of LHRHa and CPP treatment. The highestconcentration of 11.11 mmol.l^–1 wasobserved at Na⁺ ion. Then theconcentrations declined on the level 1.56, 0.52and 0.36 mmol.l^–1 for K⁺, Ca²⁺and Mg²⁺ ions, respectively. There werehighly positive correlations between osmolalityof seminal fluid and dosage of LHRHa treatment(r = 0.84), velocity of spermatozoa andosmolality of seminal fluid (r = 0.57) andosmolality of seminal fluid and Na⁺concentration at seminal fluid (r = 0.70).Injection with LHRHa increased quality of spermas velocity of sperm, level of Na⁺,K⁺ and osmolality at seminal fluidcompared to CPP treatments.     

Enzyme treatment for elimination of egg stickiness in tench (Tinca Tinca L.), European catfish (Silurus Glanis L.) and common carp (Cyprinus Carpio L.)

Enzyme treatment to eliminate egg stickiness in tench, European catfish and common carp was compared with standard methodology in an attempt to decrease time consuming under hatchery conditions. Eggs of tench and E. catfish were exposed to an alcalase enzyme MERCK EC 3.4.21.14 (0.6 AU g^?1) solution 3 min after egg fertilization for 2 min. The best enzyme concentration in tench and E. catfish was 10 and 20 ml l^?1 of enzyme, respectively. The eggs of c. carp were successfully destickiness with ALCALASE DX (2.5 AU g^?1) using two concentration of enzyme (2 ml l^?1 and 20 ml l^?1) from 8 to 20 min after fertilization.     

Fish anesthesia: effects of the essential oils of Hesperozygis ringens and Lippia alba on the biochemistry and physiology of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen)

The anesthetic activities of the essential oils (EOs) of Hesperozygis ringens (EOHR) and Lippia alba (EOLA) and their effects in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) after anesthesia and recovery were investigated. Fish (32.19 ± 1.24 g) were submitted to one of the following treatments for each EO: basal group, control, or anesthesia (150, 300, or 450 μL L^?1 EO). After that the anesthesia was induced or simulated and the biometric measurements were completed, fish were transferred to anesthetic-free aquaria to allow for recovery. Fish were sampled at 0, 15, 30, 60, and 240 min after recovery. At time 0 of recovery, the ventilatory rate was lower in the groups anesthetized with either EO. In comparison with the basal group, control fish showed an increase in plasma glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Na⁺ levels and a reduction in Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity at 0 min of recovery. Plasma levels of ammonia and Na⁺ were lower in the fish anesthetized with EOLA (450 μL L^?1) and EOHR (all concentrations), respectively, than in the control fish. Additionally, lactate, AST, alanine aminotransferase, K⁺ plasma levels, and gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and H⁺-ATPase activities were higher in the fish anesthetized with either EOHR or EOLA than in the control fish. The EOs promoted slight changes in silver catfish that enabled both an adaptive response and the recovery of most of the measured parameters after 240 min regardless of concentration or EO that was used. These findings support the use of EOHR and EOLA as anesthetics for fish.