Reproductive performance and the growth of pre-stunted and normal Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodfish at varying feeding rates

A 119-day experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding rate and reproductive performance of stunted (S) and non-stunted or normal (N) Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Both the groups were reared in tanks re-circulated with bio-filtered water and fed with floating pellets (30% crude protein) twice daily. Seed were harvested weekly from the mouths of incubating females. The study showed that early stunting with subsequent high feeding rate can improve both growth and reproductive output in female Nile tilapia. Broodfish type and feeding rate showed significant (P < 0.05) effects on both the frequency of spawning and the seed output. In general, seed output from normal broodfish increased linearly over the experimental period at all the feeding rates. However, seed output from stunted broodfish showed a linear increment for 3% feeding rate, exponential increment for 2% but quadratic for 1% showing decline after 10th week of the trial period. Results also showed that trends of seed output from stunted broodfish increased linearly with the increase in feeding rate showing that optimum rate could be higher than 3%. While from normal group the relationship was quadratic; increasing from 1%, peaked at 2% and declined at 3% feeding rate. Final GSI of the stunted females was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of normal females. The GSI of stunted fish showed a decreasing trend with the increased feeding rate. Both the broodstock groups fed at 1% biomass grew linearly whereas at 2 and 3%, they grew exponentially. As compared to the normal, stunted broodfish had significantly (P < 0.05) higher fat content in viscera although similar levels were in carcass and ovary. Carcass fat content was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in fish fed at 1% biomass but significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the ovary and viscera of fish fed at 3% biomass. This study shows that tilapia hatchery operators could manipulate the seed production according to the seasonal demand by using appropriate broodstock stunting and feeding strategies.     

Heritability estimates and response to selection for growth of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in low-input earthen ponds

This study presents results of two generations of selection (G₁ and G₂) for growth of Nile tilapia. The selection environment consisted of earthen ponds which were fertilized daily with 50 kg dry matter (dm)/ha chicken manure. No supplementary feeds were provided. In total, 6429 fully pedigreed experimental fish were included in the analysis. Survival till harvest was highly variable ranging from 35% to 77% and was affected by initial weight, pond, and age effects. Body weight at harvest (BW) increased from a mean of 67.4 g in the grandparental (unselected) population (G₀) to 129.5 g in G₂ was affected by initial weight, pond, sex and age effects. Generations were discrete and therefore genetic parameters were estimated separately for each year. Heritability estimates for BW ranged from 0.38 to 0.60, and the heritability for survival ranged from 0.03 to 0.14. The estimated selection response was 23.4 g (34.7%) between G₀ and G₁ and 13.0 g (14.9%) between G₁ and G₂. These results demonstrate the feasibility of selection for growth of Nile tilapia in low-input environments.     

吉富罗非鱼sIgM基因多克隆抗体的制备及组织定位分析

为研究sIgM在吉富罗非鱼体内的组织分布及其在亚细胞水平上的定位,本实验利用纯化的SIGM融合蛋白,按照常规方法免疫新西兰大白兔,制备了兔抗吉富罗非鱼SIGM多克隆抗体;并对吉富罗非鱼肠、脾脏及鳃组织进行了免疫组织化学分析以及胶体金免疫电镜分析。结果显示,ELISA检测所获得的抗血清效价为1∶256 000,该血清能与SIGM融合蛋白发生特异性免疫反应。在肠和鳃组织中,阳性信号存在于富含黏液细胞的上皮细胞层表面,在杯状细胞和黏液细胞中则不存在;在脾脏组织中,阳性信号存在于特定的细胞中。免疫电镜结果显示SIGM主要存在于肠上皮细胞膜附近,并且在肠组织上皮细胞膜表面的微绒毛处含量较多;在鳃上皮组织中,SIGM主要存在于包围鳃丝和鳃小片的上皮细胞及部分红细胞内;而在脾脏组织淋巴细胞内部高尔基体的分泌小泡处存在大量的胶体金颗粒。研究表明,sIgM在鱼体黏膜免疫中具有重要作用,这为探讨鱼类sIgM的特性及功能奠定了基础,并丰富了鱼类黏膜免疫的研究内容。     

Exponential growth model of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) strains considering heteroscedastic variance

The objective of this research was to evaluate the initial growth of Nile tilapia of Thai and commercial strains, being the latter derived from GIFT program (Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia). A set of weight/time data to an exponential model had been fitted. The fish were cultivated in cages of 2.7 m³, arranged on a dam of Parque Ecológico Cidade da Criança in Presidente Prudente — SP, Brazil. Each cage received 250 fingerlings of a single strain. With the fish growth, five random samples of 20 fish from each strain were taken, weighed and the model to the adjustment was weighted by inverse weight variances in each sample. The values of the initial weights were overestimated in the unweighted model in relation to the initial means values observed. Although the Thai strain had presented higher estimate of the initial weight than the Commercial strain, it obtained lower growth rate. In the weighted model, this difference in the growth rate was 32.27%, 10.85% bigger than in the unweighted model. In this experiment, this model described adequately the growth of the Thai and Commercial strains. However, it should be applied only with the intention of comparing the species or strains and not as a generalized growth model. The weighted model by the inverse weight variances had the best adjustment, estimates and confidence parameters. In this cultivation form, the Commercial strain can be the most indicated to farmers and resellers that deal with fish up to 200 g.     

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) seed production in irrigated rice-fields in Northwest Bangladesh—an approach appropriate for poorer farmers?

Participatory research was conducted with poorer farmers in two communities, Girai (G) and Bahagili (B) in NW Bangladesh to assess the production of Nile tilapia seed in irrigated spring rice-fields. All the selected households (G = 15; B = 4) had previous experience producing common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the rice-fields allocated a separate plot in which a deeper area had been excavated for this trial. Mature GIFT strain Nile tilapia (12 female and 6 male; 121 ± 34 g and 158 ± 54 g size, respectively) were supplied to each household irrespective of the size of their trial plot (mean < 0.15 ha). The trial started in the spring rice season (boro) in February and ended at the end of main season (amon) in December 1999. Management practices, production and sales of fish were monitored weekly.The majority of farmers succeeded in producing fingerlings in their plots; 11% failed totally but around 70% produced more than 2000 fingerlings from a single plot. Production during boro and fallow period was much higher (> 90% total) than during the subsequent amon crop (< 10% total). Total production was highly variable among households but not different between the two study areas (G = 4092 ± 3277; B = 3730 ± 4232 fingerlings household^− 1). Daily production of fingerlings per unit area was relatively low (< 1 fish m^− 2 day^− 1) but efficiency of production was high, averaging 17.3 fingerlings. kg^− 1 female day^− 1. Mean individual harvest weight was 21 g.Most fingerlings were sold (43%) and/or stocked for further culture in their own grow-out system (39%), but some were used directly for household consumption (17%).     

Effects of Cu-exchanged montmorillonite on growth performance, microbial ecology and intestinal morphology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

A total of 360 Nile tilapia at an average initial body weight of 3.9 g were randomly allocated to 4 treatments, each of which had three replicates of 30 fish/tank and used to investigate the effects of Cu²⁺-exchanged montmorillonite (Cu-MMT) on growth performance, microbial ecology of the skin, gill and intestine, and intestinal morphology. The dietary treatments were: 1) basal diet, 2) basal diet + 1.5 g/kg MMT, 3) basal diet + 30 mg/kg copper as CuSO₄ (equivalent to the copper in the Cu-MMT treatment group), or 4) basal diet + 1.5 g/kg Cu-MMT. The results showed that supplementation with Cu-MMT significantly improved growth performance as compared to control and fish fed with Cu-MMT had higher growth performance than those fed with MMT or CuSO₄. Supplementation with Cu-MMT reduced (P < 0.05) the total intestinal aerobic bacterial counts and affected the composition of intestinal microflora with a tendency of Aeromonas, Vibrio, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Acinetobacter, Alcaligence, Enterobacteriaceae decreasing as compared with control. Measurements of villus and microvillus heights at different sites of the intestinal mucosa indicated that dietary addition of MMT or Cu-MMT improved intestinal mucosal morphology. However, the microbial ecology of the skin and gill was not affected by the addition of CuSO₄, MMT or Cu-MMT. Supplementation with CuSO₄ had no (P > 0.05) effect on the growth performance, microbial ecology and intestinal morphology. The results showed that Cu-MMT exhibited antibacterial activity in vivo and protected intestinal mucosa from invasion of pathogenic bacterium and toxins, resulting in a positive effect on the growth performance.     

Effects of dietary protein and energy levels on spawning performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodstock in a recycling system

The effects of dietary protein and energy level on spawning performance of Nile tilapia broodstock and hatchability of their eggs were studied. Nine diets containing three protein (30, 35 and 40%) and three energy (14.6, 16.7 and 18.8 MJ GE/kg) levels were prepared. The diets were fed to duplicate groups of broodfish (average weight of 60.5 ± 4.6 g for males and 39.4 ± 3.1 g for females) at 2–3% of their body weight, twice a day, for 150 days. At low protein level (30%), time to first spawning was significantly longer than at 35 and 40% protein levels, and increased with increasing dietary energy (decreasing protein-to-energy (P/E) ratio). At 35 and 40% protein levels, time to first spawning was not affected by dietary energy. Inter-spawning intervals (ISI) showed irregular patterns in relation to dietary protein and energy, however, at 40% protein the females tended to spawn at shorter intervals, regardless of dietary energy. Spawning performances, including total number of spawnings per tank, number of spawnings per female, absolute fecundity and average number of eggs per spawn, were all significantly lower (P < 0.05) at 30% CP than at higher protein levels. At all protein levels, increasing dietary energy from 14.6 to 18.8 MJ GE/kg (and decreasing P:E ratio) resulted in a significant decrease in fish fecundity. Egg size was not significantly affected by dietary protein and energy. At all energy levels, egg hatchability increased with increasing dietary protein levels (P < 0.05). Eggs produced from broodstock fed 30 and 35% CP, exhibited significantly lower hatchability (P < 0.05) and needed less time for hatching and yolk-sac absorption, and resulted in lower larval length than those fed a 40% protein diet. However, increasing energy level at each dietary protein level did not significantly affect these parameters. These results revealed that the best spawning performance of Nile tilapia broodstock reared in a recycling system was achieved at 40% dietary protein and 16.7 MJ GE/kg, with a P/E ratio of 23.6 g/MJ.     

Response of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to diet acidification: Effect on growth performance and feed utilization

A 12-week feeding trial was undertaken to assess growth, nutrient utilization, some hematological parameters, and proximate composition of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed diets supplemented with graded levels (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) of two blends of organic acids or organic salts. Seven isonitrogenous (300 g CP kg^?1) and isocaloric (19.0 MJ gross energy kg^?1) diets were formulated. The control diet (D1) contained neither added blend of organic acids nor organic salts. Three diets (D2, D3, and D4) were supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% of malic acid + oxalic acid blend (OAB), respectively. The other three diets (D5, D6, and D7) were supplemented with 0.5%, 1.5%, and 1.5% of calcium lactate + sodium acetate blend (OSB), respectively. Fingerlings (7.05 ± 0.02 g) were randomly distributed into 21 glass aquaria (160 liter), with each aquarium holding 15 fish. At the end of the feeding trial, O. niloticus offered the control diet showed lower growth and feed utilization than all those fed the organic acids or organic salts blends supplemented diets. Fish fed the diet D3 showed the highest body weight (BW), body length (BL), weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake (FI), and the best feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER). Fish fed diet supplemented by 1.5% OAB (D4) showed the highest serum protein content, while control group (D1) showed the lower level of total lipids compared with the other treatments. Fish group fed the diet supplemented with 0.5% of OSB (D5) showed the highest protein and ash contents and the lowest lipid content of the whole fish body, while the control group showed the lowest protein and the highest fat content. The present observations suggest that the growth, feed utilization, and health status of juvenile O. niloticus can be enhanced with a supplementation of 1% of OAB or OSB in the diet.     

饲料中有效磷对吉富罗非鱼生长、体组成及生化指标的影响

为探讨饲料中不同有效磷水平对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼生长、体组成及生化指标的影响,以磷酸二氢钙(MCP)为磷源,配制含有效磷(AP)水平分别为0.52%(对照组)、0.61%、0.70%、0.78%、0.87%、0.96%和1.05%的7种等氮等能实用饲料,饲喂初始均重为(29.40±0.15)g的实验鱼。每种饲料设置3个重复,每个重复放25尾鱼,进行56 d的养殖实验。结果表明:饲料AP水平对罗非鱼的增重率(WGR)、特定生长率(SGR)、饲料系数(FCR)和脏体比(VSI)均有显著影响(P<0.05)。以WGR为评价指标,通过二次回归分析得出,罗非鱼饲料的适宜AP水平为0.80%。随饲料AP水平的增加,罗非鱼全鱼总磷和灰分含量显著增加并达到稳定(P<0.05),而全鱼水分含量差异不显著(P>0.05),全鱼和肠系膜、肝脏组织脂肪含量均显著下降(P<0.05)。用折线模型分析全鱼磷和灰分含量,得出罗非鱼幼鱼对饲料AP的需求量分别为0.81%和0.80%。随饲料AP水平的增加,肝脏苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)、丙酮酸激酶(PK)、脂蛋白脂酶(LPL)和肝酯酶(HL)活性均显著增加(P<0.05)。血清谷丙转氨酶(GPT)活性显著下降(P<0.05),而碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性显著上升(P<0.05),血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性呈先升后降趋势,在0.78%水平组达到最大值,而肝脏丙二醛(MDA)含量正好相反,在0.78%水平组最低。综上所述,研究结果表明:吉富罗非鱼(30~150 g)实用饲料的最适有效磷水平为0.80%。     

吉富罗非鱼对饲料中泛酸的需要量

选用初始体质量为(79.4±1.6)g吉富罗非鱼270尾,随机分成6组(每组3重复,每重复15尾),养殖于500 L养殖桶中,分别饲喂泛酸含量为0.5、4.8、9.5、18.2、36.3和74.4 mg/kg纯化饲料12周,研究确定其对泛酸的需要量。结果表明,随着饲料泛酸含量增加,吉富罗非鱼增重率、肝脏和肌肉泛酸含量均呈先线性增加后稳定的趋势;肥满度和肝体比呈先增加后降低的趋势,均以4.8 mg/kg组最高。全鱼水分含量先降低后增加,全鱼脂肪含量呈现与水分含量相反的趋势。肝总脂含量显著降低,添加组显著低于未添加组(P0.05)。血清高密度脂蛋白含量随着饲料泛酸含量的增加而显著增加(P0.05)。折线回归分析结果表明,吉富罗非鱼(80~350 g)获得最佳生长时对饲料泛酸需要量为10.5 mg/kg,饲料中12.6和13.5mg/kg泛酸可以分别使肝脏和肌肉泛酸累积量达到最大。     

Effects of dietary protein level on spawning performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodstock reared at different water salinities

Effects of dietary protein level and water salinity on spawning performance of Nile tilapia broodstock and growth of their larvae were studied. Four isocaloric (400 kcal/100 g) diets containing 25%, 30%, 35% and 40% crude protein were prepared. The diets were fed to broodfish (25.7 g) reared at three water salinities (0‰, 7‰ and 14‰) at a female/male ratio of 3:1, to satiation twice a day for 195 days. The size at first maturation increased with increasing dietary protein at all salinities. At 25% and 30% protein levels, broodstock reared at 0‰ reached their sexual maturity at bigger sizes than those reared at 7‰ and 14‰. At 0‰, spawning intervals were not significantly affected by dietary protein levels. At 7‰ and 14‰, spawning intervals significantly decreased with increasing dietary protein level. Spawning frequency and number of eggs per spawn were increased with increasing dietary protein level. The total number of spawnings per female and absolute fecundity were better in fish fed 40% protein in freshwater than at 7‰ and 14‰ salinity. The relationship of dietary protein and water salinity on egg size was significant, but showed irregular patterns. The chemical composition of broodstock muscles, eggs and fry were not significantly affected by dietary protein and water salinity, except for body water and crude protein of broodstock which were significantly affected; but showed irregular trends. At each water salinity, egg hatchability was linearly increased with increasing dietary protein level. Eggs produced from broodstock fed 25% protein at 7‰ and 14‰ needed more time for hatching and yolk-sac absorption and resulted in poorer larval weight than those reared in freshwater. Fry growth was improved with increasing protein level at all salinities. This result revealed that 40% dietary protein is required for optimum spawning performance of Nile tilapia reared at 0‰, 7‰ and 14‰ salinity. It also indicated that spawning performance and larval growth were better in freshwater than at 7‰ and 14‰.     

Digesta characteristics in relation to nutrient digestibility and mineral absorption in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) fed cereal grains of increasing viscosity

Soluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) present in cereal grains may affect performance of Nile tilapia through changes in digesta characteristics. The objective of this study was to investigate whether dietary cereal grains of increasing viscosity induce changes in digesta viscosity, dry matter and volatile fatty acids (VFA) and if these changes explain differences in nutrient digestibility and mineral absorption. Four experimental diets were formulated by adding 40% grains to a basal diet to obtain a range of dietary viscosities, increasing in the order of maize, barley, wheat and rye. The diets were assigned to 16 tanks with 40 fish (mean weight 70 g) each. Digesta viscosity increased with increasing grain viscosity (P < 0.001), whereas digesta dry matter decreased with increasing grain viscosity (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found among diets in total concentration and type of VFA. Nutrient digestibility was not significantly correlated with digesta viscosity. Of all nutrients, only starch digestibility was significantly negatively correlated with digesta dry matter in the middle intestine (r = − 0.57; P = 0.03). Absorption of sodium was significantly negatively correlated with digesta viscosity in all intestinal segments (r = − 0.76 to − 0.82; P < 0.001) and positively correlated with digesta dry matter in all intestinal segments (r = + 0.60 to + 0.67; P < 0.05), except for the proximal intestine (P = 0.18). Of the other minerals, potassium and magnesium absorption were positively correlated with digesta dry matter in the distal (r = + 0.56; P = 0.03) and proximal (r = + 0.54; P = 0.04) intestine, respectively. Phosphorus absorption was significantly negatively correlated with dry matter in the stomach (r = − 0.55; P = 0.03), middle (r = − 0.58; P = 0.02) and distal (r = − 0.54; P = 0.04) intestine. In conclusion, viscous cereal grains induce increases in digesta viscosity and decreases in digesta dry matter in Nile tilapia. These changes do not explain differences in nutrient digestibility among diets, but seem more related to differences in mineral absorption. The strong negative correlations between digesta viscosity and sodium absorption suggest negative effects of dietary viscous grains on intestinal water balance.     

Growth, immune function, and disease and stress resistance of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed graded levels of bovine lactoferrin

Juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were fed nutritionally complete, practical basal diets supplemented with bovine lactoferrin (Lf) at 0, 200, 400, 800, or 1600 mg/kg diet to apparent satiation twice daily for 8 weeks. After the feeding trial, the effect of dietary Lf on growth performance, immune function, and resistance to Streptococcus iniae challenge and low-water stress was determined. Dietary Lf did not affect growth performance (weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency ratio, or survival) or haematological parameters (haemoglobin, white and red blood cell counts, or haematocrit) (P > 0.05). Crowding stress produced significant increases in plasma cortisol, glucose, lactate, and osmolality from baseline values (P ≤ 0.001), but dietary Lf did not affect plasma glucose, osmolality, or cortisol concentrations (P > 0.05). The level of Lf in diet had a significant impact on survival following S. iniae challenge with fish fed the 800 mg/kg Lf diet having significantly higher survival than control fish (P ≤ 0.05). There was not a corresponding increase in activity of non-specific or specific immune parameters (plasma lysozyme and spontaneous haemolytic complement activities or agglutination antibody titer against S. iniae) with addition of Lf to diets (P > 0.05), but plasma iron decreased and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) increased significantly with increasing concentration of Lf in diet (P ≤ 0.05). The ability of Lf to sequester iron, an essential nutrient required for the growth of bacteria, is regarded as one of its key antibacterial properties. The increased survival with increasing dietary concentration of Lf seemed to correspond with a decrease in plasma iron concentration and not enhancement of non-specific or specific immune functions.     

尼罗罗非鱼无乳链球菌病的病理学研究

为了解尼罗罗非鱼感染无乳链球菌后各组织的病理变化,运用革兰氏染色和电镜负染技术对一株从自然发病的尼罗罗非鱼上分离的无乳链球菌进行形态观察,采用组织切片和超薄切片电镜技术对患病尼罗罗非鱼的肝脏、脾脏、肾脏、脑、心肌、骨骼肌、肠、鳃等8种组织进行病理学研究,探讨该病的致病机理。结果显示,革兰氏染色呈阳性,负染后透射电镜观察多数细菌呈链状排列;组织病理学变化主要是各内脏器官的广泛充血、水肿、变性和炎性细胞浸润,严重的细胞坏死;超微病理显示,大量球菌侵染脾脏等内脏组织,破坏细胞结构和各种细胞器;细胞界限模糊,细胞核畸形,线粒体肿大,嵴断裂,溶解;粗面内质网肿大、核糖体脱落;细胞质空泡化严重;心肌和骨骼肌纤维断裂、紊乱、肌节长短不一;肠微绒毛排列不整齐、长短不一;眼中有纤维性沉积。研究表明,无乳链球菌能造成尼罗罗非鱼全身性组织器官损害和炎症反应,尤其是肝脏、脾脏、肾脏和脑等重要器官功能障碍和衰竭,最后导致鱼体死亡。     

Phenotypic and genetic parameters for body measurements, reproductive traits and gut length of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) selected for growth in low-input earthen ponds

In this study we present estimates of phenotypic and genetic parameters for body size measurements, reproductive traits, and gut length for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) selected for growth in fertilized earthen ponds for two generations. Throughout the experiment, ponds were fertilized daily with 50 kg dry matter, (dm)/ha chicken manure. No supplementary feeds were added. For the analysis, 6429 fully pedigreed experimental fish from G0, G1 and G2 were used. Generations were discrete and therefore parameters were estimated separately for each year. Heritability estimates for body measurements ranged from 0.4-0.6 for standard length to 0.69-0.79 for head length. Phenotypic correlations between body weight and body measurements ranged from 0.64 to 0.89. Genetic correlations were close to unity. The heritability estimate for maturity at harvest (corrected for sex) was 0.13. Heritabilities for carcass traits were estimated from G₁ only and were 0.16 for gutted weight and 0.06 for dressing percentage. Phenotypic correlation between body weight and gutted weight was 0.84 and the genetic correlation was 0.20. Heritability estimate for gut length was 0.22. We also estimated a high genetic correlation between gut length index and standard length (0.78) but a low genetic correlation between gut length index and body weight (0.22 ± 0.28). These results suggest that selection for growth on an herbivorous diet could result in a correlated response in gut length.     

Effect of gelatinization degree and inclusion level of dietary starch on the characteristics of digesta and faeces in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus (L.))

Higher faeces removal efficiency can help and reduce the negative impact of faecal waste on water quality and on the environment. Physicochemical properties of feed ingredients/nutrients may change the faeces characteristics and the ratio of removed to non-removed solids. The aim of this study was to assess what physicochemical properties of the diet (viscosity, fermentation and dry matter) influence faeces characteristics and faeces removal using Oreochromis niloticus (L.) as the test animal. Four experimental diets were formulated by the addition of two types of starch differing in gelatinization degree (gelatinized and native) and two levels (high and low) of starch to a basal diet according to a 2 × 2 factorial design. The diets were assigned to 16 tanks with 40 fish each, with four replicates for each diet. Replacement of native starch by gelatinized starch improved faeces removal rate, growth and digestibility (P < 0.01), but reduced fermentation (P < 0.05) at the end of the intestine. Addition of gelatinized starch did not change viscosity and dry matter of the digesta at the end of the intestine. A high level of starch in the diet also increased digestibility, growth and faeces removal percentage (P < 0.05). Fermentation and dry matter content at the end of the intestine were not influenced by a high starch diet, but viscosity was higher at the high level of starch inclusion. Volatile fatty acid levels in the stomach of Nile tilapia were high in the treatments with gelatinized starch. In conclusion, intestinal fermentation induced by native starch had a negative impact on faeces removal efficiency. A higher inclusion level of starch resulted in a higher viscosity of the digesta, leading to higher faeces removal efficiency.     

高温诱导对尼罗罗非鱼性别分化及生长的影响

采用自雌鱼口腔中取出受精卵人工孵化的方法建立了尼罗罗非鱼家系20个。受精后9d,将各家系鱼苗分成两份,分别在28℃(对照组)和36℃(高温诱导组)下养殖,诱导处理12d后,统计高温诱导期成活率并将实验鱼转入自然水温下培育,养殖60～120d后对各实验组的雄性率及生长情况进行测定。结果表明,高温处理对仔鱼的成活率没有影响,但能显著提高某些家系的雄性率,如F27(诱导组88%,对照组49%)、F37(诱导组90%,对照组53%)和F41(诱导组91%,对照组53%);高温处理后多数家系的雄性率略有升高,但不显著;有两个家系高温诱导组雄性率低于对照组,分别是F8(诱导组43%,对照组46%)和F35(诱导组29%,对照组38%),这显示了尼罗罗非鱼性别分化受遗传和环境因子共同作用。生长情况测定结果表明,高温诱导对发育初期罗非鱼的生长没有显著影响。本研究结果说明,高温处理能显著提高某些家系的雄性率,高温诱导和家系选择有望成为高雄性率尼罗罗非鱼新品种培育的新的技术手段。     

不同循环饥饿投喂模式对尼罗罗非鱼补偿生长的影响

为了探讨尼罗罗非鱼对不同循环饥饿投喂模式的补偿生长效应,本实验分别采用每天投喂(S0)及饥饿1 d+投喂3 d(S1F3)、饥饿1 d+投喂5 d(S1F5)、饥饿1 d+投喂7 d(S1F7)、饥饿2 d+投喂3 d(S2F3)、饥饿2 d+投喂5 d(S2F5)和饥饿2 d+投喂7 d(S2F7)6种不同的循环投喂模式,用含33%蛋白质和8%脂肪的饲料饲养尼罗罗非鱼(均重13.50 g),饲喂期为43 d。结果显示,S0组的增重率(806.74%)最高,与S1F3、S1F5和S1F7组差异不显著,但分别比S2F3、S2F5和S2F7组显著提高40.3%、33.6%和10.4%;S0组的特定生长率最低(5.36%),显著低于其他各组;与对照组相比,采用循环投喂模式没有改善饲料转化率和蛋白质效率,但却能明显提高日摄食率;各实验处理组肝体比、脏体比、肥满度、鱼体灰分含量、肌肉RNA/DNA比值及血清总胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇和尿素氮含量与对照组差异不显著;S1F3、S1F5和S1F7组鱼体蛋白质和脂肪含量、血清甘油三酯含量及血清谷丙转氨酶和谷草转氨酶活性与S0组差异不显著,但S2F3、S2F5和S2F7组鱼体蛋白质和脂肪含量及血清甘油三酯含量显著低于S0组,血清谷丙转氨酶和谷草转氨酶活性显著高于S0组。研究表明,尼罗罗非鱼在S1F3、S1F5和S1F7模式下获得了完全补偿生长,而在S2F3、S2F5和S2F7模式下仅获得了部分补偿生长,且均是通过提高恢复投喂期间的摄食量来实现补偿生长。在获得完全补偿生长的3组中,S1F3组的实际投喂天数最短,仅为33 d,比每天投喂模式缩短了23.3%,因此在本实验条件下,饥饿1 d+投喂3 d是最佳的循环饥饿投喂模式。     

低温对罗非鱼基因组DNA甲基化的影响

以经过连续多代抗寒选育获得的尼罗罗非鱼耐寒品系为实验材料,采用DNA甲基化敏感扩增多态性(methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism,MSAP)分析方法从全基因组水平上探讨了低温适应对罗非鱼DNA序列中CCGG位点的甲基化水平的影响。结果显示,选用的18对选择性扩增引物共检测到849个位点。耐寒品系检测到的位点数为411个,对照组为438个,其中发生甲基化的位点数分别为72和104个,总甲基化率分别为17.52%和23.74%;全甲基化位点分别为37个和65个,全甲基化率分别为9.00%和14.84%;半甲基化位点分别为35个和39个,半甲基化率分别为8.52%和8.90%。结果分析表明,尼罗罗非鱼耐寒品系的总甲基化水平、全甲基化水平和半甲基化水平较对照组均有一定程度的下降。与对照组相比,尼罗罗非鱼耐寒品系基因组DNA甲基化总体水平下降了6.22%,其中以全甲基化位点变异为主,其下降幅度比例明显,为5.84%。由此可见,经过连续多代的低温胁迫可导致尼罗罗非鱼DNA甲基化水平发生改变,发生了去甲基化反应,表现为基因组甲基化程度降低的特征,说明了DNA甲基化与罗非鱼抗寒性反应密切相关。     

不同种类碳水化合物对吉富罗非鱼生长性能、体组成和血清生化指标的影响

为了解罗非鱼对不同种类碳水化合物(CBH)的利用效果,研究了6种碳水化合物对罗非鱼生长性能、体组成和血清生化指标的影响。实验选用720尾初重为(3.0±0.3)g的健康吉富罗非鱼,随机分为6组,每组4个重复,每个重复30尾,分别投喂设计含30%南方糙米、次粉、玉米淀粉、马铃薯淀粉、甘薯淀粉和木薯淀粉的6种不同CBH的等氮、等能饲料,实验周期为8周。结果显示,南方糙米、玉米淀粉组的终末均重、增重率、特定生长率和蛋白效率显著高于其他组,而饲料系数明显最低(P0.05)。CBH种类明显影响全鱼、肌肉的组成(P0.05)。玉米淀粉组肝糖原含量明显高于马铃薯淀粉、甘薯淀粉和木薯淀粉组(P0.05),而马铃薯淀粉和甘薯淀粉组的血糖明显低于木薯淀粉、玉米淀粉和次粉组(P0.05)。CBH种类对血清CHO、TG影响明显(P0.05),但对TP、SOD、T-AOC和MDA的影响不明显(P0.05)。研究表明,不同种类CBH对罗非鱼生长性能的影响明显(P0.05),以特定生长率为指标,罗非鱼对南方糙米和玉米淀粉的利用效果较好。