Survival and behavioural responses of cool and warm water fish sedated with AQUI‐S®20E (10% eugenol) at high loading densities

This study evaluated the effects of AQUI‐S^®20E (10% eugenol) sedation on the survival and behaviour of yellow perch Perca flavescens (Mitchill) and Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. held in high loading densities. Fish were held in 0–300 mg L^?1 AQUI‐S^®20E (0–30 mg L^?1 eugenol) for up to 10 h in static tanks. At 17°C, yellow perch held in 200 and 300 mg L^?1 AQUI‐S^®20E were lightly sedated for up to 7 h. Yellow perch at 200 and 300 mg L^?1 AQUI‐S^®20E also had >95% mean survival 7‐days post exposure using loading densities up to 360 g L^?1. Nile tilapia were only sedated for ≤3 h in concentrations up to 300 mg L^?1 at 22°C and had >90% mean survival at loading densities ≤480 g L^?1. Ammonia in tanks increased significantly as loading density increased, but treatment with AQUI–S^®20E did not reduce ammonia accumulation. Results suggest that AQUI–S^®20E was effective to sedate yellow perch and Nile tilapia at high loading densities, but sedation varied with loading density and species.     

Effect of fish meal replacement with Carinata Brassica carinata in low animal protein diets of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) on trypsin activity,protein and amino acid digestibility and bioavailability

Replacement of >25% of fish meal (FM) with aerobically converted carinata meal (ACCM) in low (200g/kg) animal protein (reference = 200g/kg FM) diets of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss resulted in reduced growth, partly due to reduced feed consumption and protein utilization. In this study, we determined the effect of FM replacement with ACCM on trypsin activity, apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of protein, and essential amino acid (EAA) or conditionally essential amino acid (CEAA) ADCs and bioavailability. Replacement of FM did not alter protein ADCs or trypsin activity. Replacement of >25% FM reduced all EAA and CEAA ADCs except for arginine and leucine which were only reduced by 75% FM replacement. Only serum free lysine and muscle free histidine were reduced by >25% FM replacement. Muscle free lysine was only reduced by 75% FM replacement. Replacement of FM reduced EAA peak concentrations and resulted in slower release of EAAs in serum. Cumulative total EAAs in serum and muscle decreased with FM replacement. Ratios of EAAs to lysine showed that tryptophan was the most limiting EAA. However, isoleucine, leucine, methionine and phenylalanine were also inadequate for muscle synthesis for the first 9–12 hr following force‐feeding. Optimal time for protein synthesis was ≥36 hr. Although any level of FM replacement did not reduce protein ADCs and trypsin activity, replacement of ≥25% FM reduced EAA ADCs and bioavailability of lysine and histidine, which partly contributed to the observed differences in growth.     

Assessment of cross‐protection to heterologous strains of Flavobacterium psychrophilum following vaccination with a live‐attenuated coldwater disease immersion vaccine

Bacterial coldwater disease, caused by Flavobacterium psychrophilum, remains one of the most significant bacterial diseases of salmonids worldwide. A previously developed and reported live‐attenuated immersion vaccine (F. psychrophilum; B.17‐ILM) has been shown to confer significant protection to salmonids. To further characterize this vaccine, a series of experiments were carried out to determine the cross‐protective efficacy of this B.17‐ILM vaccine against 9 F. psychrophilum isolates (representing seven sequence types/three clonal complexes as determined by multilocus sequence typing) in comparison with a wild‐type virulent strain, CSF‐259‐93. To assess protection, 28‐day experimental challenges of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fry were conducted following immersion vaccinations with the B.17‐ILM vaccine. F. psychrophilum strains used in challenge trials were isolated from several fish species across the globe; however, all were found to be virulent in rainbow trout. The B.17‐ILM vaccine provided significant protection against all strains, with relative percent survival values ranging from 51% to 72%. All vaccinated fish developed an adaptive immune response (as measured by F. psychrophilum‐specific antibodies) that increased out to the time of challenge (8 weeks postimmunization). Previous studies have confirmed that antibody plays an important role in protection against F. psychrophilum challenge; therefore, specific antibodies to the B.17‐ILM vaccine strain appear to contribute to the cross‐protection observed to heterologous strain. The ability of such antibodies to bind to similar antigenic regions for all strains was confirmed by western blot analyses. Results presented here support the practical application of this live‐attenuated vaccine, and suggest that it will be efficacious even in aquaculture operations affected by diverse strains of F. psychrophilum.     

Presence and genetic variability of Piscine orthoreovirus genotype 1 (PRV‐1) in wild salmonids in Northern Europe and North Atlantic Ocean

Piscine orthoreovirus genotype 1 (PRV‐1) is widespread in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) populations in northern Europe, Canada and Chile. PRV‐1 occurs in wild fish in Norway and Canada; however, little information of its geographical distribution in wild populations is currently available, and the effect of PRV‐1 infection in wild populations is currently unknown. In this study, we present the findings of a survey conducted on 1,130 wild salmonids sampled in Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, Faroe Islands, France, Belgium and Greenland between 2008 and 2017. PRV‐1 is reported for the first time in wild salmonids in Denmark, Sweden, Faroe Island and Ireland. The annual PRV‐1 prevalence ranged from 0% in France, Belgium and Greenland to 43% in Faroe Islands. In total, 66 samples tested positive for PRV‐1, including Atlantic salmon broodfish returning to spawn and Atlantic salmon collected at the feeding ground north of Faroe Islands. The phylogenetic analysis of S1 sequences of the PRV‐1 isolates obtained in this survey did not show systematic geographical distribution. This study sheds light on the spread and genetic diversity of the virus identified in populations of free‐living fish and provides rationale for screening wild broodfish used in restocking programmes.     

The origin of polyploids via 2n gametes in Vaccinium section Cyanococcus

Summary The production of 2n pollen (pollen with the sporophytic chromosome number) was evaluated in 4x and 6x taxa of Vaccinium section Cyanococcus. Mean frequencies of 2n pollen producers were 17.1% and 8.3% in natural 4x and 6x populations, respectively. The frequency of 2n pollen producers in the 4x species ranged from 8.6% (V. angustifolium) to 23.8% (V. pallidum). Level of 2n pollen production was genotypically variable (1% to 37.4%). The widespread occurrence of 2n pollen in 2x, 4x and 6x taxa suggests that sexual polyploidization was widespread and responsible for the origin of the polyploid species found in this genus. The frequency of 2n pollen producers was not significantly different between the 4x species and their putative 2x ancestors. These results support the origin of 4x and 6x taxa as a consequence of sexual polyploidization. Polyploids derived from sexual polyploidization would be expected to have increased fitness and flexibility due to the mode of 2n pollen formation. In blueberry species the predominant mode of 2n pollen formation is genetically equivalent to a first division restitution mechanism (FDR). FDR 2n pollen transmits a high percentage of the heterozygosity and a large fraction of the epistasis from the 2x parent to the 4x offspring.     

Seasonal carbohydrate storage and mobilization in bearing and non-bearing pistachio (Pistacia vera) trees

We analyzed annual carbohydrate storage and mobilization of bearing ("on") and non-bearing ("off") 'Kerman' pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) trees growing on three different rootstocks. On all rootstocks, carbohydrate storage in shoots and branches of "on" and "off" trees was lowest following the spring growth flush. In "off" trees, stored carbohydrates increased and remained high after the initial growth flush. In "on" trees, stem carbohydrates increased temporarily in early summer, but were mobilized in mid-season during kernel fill, and then increased again after nut harvest. During the dormant season, the only substantial differences in carbohydrate storage between previously "on" and "off" trees were found in the roots of the weakest rootstock. The annual carbohydrate storage and mobilization pattern in canopy branches of heavily cropped pistachio trees appeared to be driven by carbohydrate demands related to nut development and untempered by tree vigor. Mobilization of carbohydrates from current-season and 1- and 2-year-old stem wood of "on" trees during the primary period of kernel fill corresponded with the period of inflorescence bud abscission. Thus, the alternate bearing pattern associated with inflorescence bud abscission in 'Kerman' pistachio may be a function of mid-season mobilization of stored carbohydrates in current-season stems resulting in stimulation of inflorescence bud abscission.     

Variations in relative stomatal and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis in a young blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) plantation subjected to different weed control regimes

Foliar gas exchange and carbon (delta(13)C) and oxygen (delta(18)O) isotope ratios were measured in a young blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis Sm.) plantation subjected to four weed control treatments defined by the width of the weed-free strip maintained for the first 12 months after planting. Treatments were: 2-m-wide weed-free strip (50% of plot area, 2.0MWC), 1.5-m-wide weed-free strip (37.5% of plot area, 1.5MWC), 1-m-wide weed-free strip (25% of plot area, 1.0MWC) and no weed control (NWC). Our objectives were to determine (1) if decreasing the width of the weed control strip (decreasing herbicide use) affected growth and leaf photosynthesis of the plantation, and (2) the effects of the weed control regimes on variations in relative stomatal and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis. Trees in the 1.0MWC treatment had lower foliar light-saturated photosynthetic rate (A(sat)) than trees in the 2.0MWC treatment. An increase in metabolic limitation was responsible for the decrease in A(sat) in the 1.0MWC trees, which was also partly confirmed by the isotopic data. Compared with trees in the 1.0MWC, 1.5MWC and 2.0MWC treatments, A(sat) of NWC trees was significantly lower, a difference that was attributable mainly to stomatal limitation and to a lesser extent to biochemical limitation. The results support the conclusion that different weed control regimes cause differences in relative stomatal and biochemical limitations to plantation photosynthesis. This report contributes to a growing body of literature on competition for soil resources between trees and weeds. Our results highlight the usefulness of the stable isotopic method in supporting analysis of the response of net photosynthesis to varying intercellular CO(2) concentration for determining the relative stomatal and non-stomatal limitations to photosynthesis under experimental conditions in the field.