Effects of replacing fish meal by soybean meal along with supplementing phosphorus and magnesium in diet on growth performance of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus

Looking for replacing fish meal by cheaper and more sustainable protein sources is essential for reducing the cost of fish feeds. Soybean meal is a suitable alternative protein sources for carnivorous fish such as Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus. However, it contains antinutritional factors that may affect bioavailability of minerals and lead in reduced growth. Achieving a cost-effective diet that does not have negative effects on growth is the goal of aquaculture programs. A 10-week experiment was conducted with Persian sturgeon (352.07 ± 5.51 g) to determine the combined effects of phosphorous (SP), magnesium and phosphorous (SPMg), phytase (SF), phytase and magnesium (SFMg), phosphorous and phytase (SPF), phosphorous, magnesium and phytase (SPMgF) on weight gain, feed efficiency, specific growth rate, and condition factor. A control diet was prepared with fish meal as a control group. Inclusion of P, Mg, and phytase contents within soybean diets did not improve feed efficiency, and still, the control diet containing fish meal showed better weight gain and feed efficiency. Among soybean meal groups, feed efficiency and specific growth rate were significantly improved for fish fed the diet containing just phytase (SF) and both phytase and phosphorus (P ≤ 0.05). It was true for specific growth rate and condition factor. Phytase significantly enhanced growth whether included with or without phosphorous. This study showed that fish meal is more sufficient for Persian sturgeon, and soybean meal could be partly an alternative protein source if phosphorous supplied for fish by incorporation with microbial phytase or phosphorous.     

Comparative effects of Shirazi thyme and vitamin E on some growth and plasma biochemical changes in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) during cadmium exposure

Phytobiotics include a large number of active components which potentially have a growth‐promoting effects and antioxidant properties. This study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of Shirazi thyme and vitamin E on growth and plasma biochemical parameters of common carp exposed to cadmium. Fish (34 ± 3 g) were divided into four groups and fed four distinct diets including commercial diet without any additive (for control and metal only group) and supplemented with either 1% ground Shirazi thyme or 100 mg kg^?1 vitamin E for 45 days. At the end of the feeding trial, all treatments except control group were exposed to sub‐lethal concentration of waterborne cadmium for 15 days and sampling was done on days 0, 7 and 15 after the metal exposure. According to the results, dietary inclusion of thyme prevented the harmful effects of cadmium and also improved fish growth and nutritional indices including weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate and condition factor. Results also revealed that Shirazi thyme was more effective than vitamin E. Similarly, no changes in the hepatosomatic, viscerosomatic and bile somatic indices were observed. Plasma enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and LDH) and metabolites were not altered due to thyme supplementation compared to the control. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 1% ground Shiraz thyme improved the growth and health status of fish and showed better hepatorenoprotective properties than vitamin E during waterborne cadmium exposure in common carp juveniles. It might be conceivable to consider Shirazi thyme as a potential phytobiotic for incorporation in fish diet.     

Effects of Different Dietary Lipid Sources on Growth Performance,Salinity Tolerance,Haematological and Biochemical Parameters of Caspian Roach (Rutilus rutilus caspicus) Juvenile

This study investigates the effects of replacing fish oil with two vegetable oils (Sunflower oil and Soybean oil) on growth performance, salinity tolerance, hematological and serum biochemical profile of Rutilus rutilus over 56 days. Five diets were supplemented with 8% of either fish oil (FO) (control), sunflower oil (SFO), and soybean oil (SO) or a combination of 4% FO with 4% SFO and 4% FO with 4% SO, respectively. Triplicate groups of fish (24 fish per tank with an average body weight, of 5.52 g) were assigned to each diet. Blood samples were taken from the caudal vein of 75 apparently healthy fish at the end of trial. Hematological values of the blood samples were determined using standard techniques. At the end of the experiment fish were exposed to salinity stress. The results showed that the best growth performance was in fish fed the control diet, but the differences were minor among treatments containing vegetable oils (P > 0.05). Serum cholesterol and glucose concentrations were significantly higher in fish fed dieta containing vegetable oils (P < 0.05). Red blood cell count (RBC), hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb) in groups fed diets containing SFO and SO were higher than other groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in survival after 48 h salinity stress (P > 0.05). These results indicate that in cases where fish oil is scarce or expensive, vegetable lipids can be used as replacements without any serious negative growth performance and health impacts.     

A Robertsonian translocation from Thinopyrum bessarabicum into bread wheat confers high iron and zinc contents

Development of wheat–alien translocation lines has facilitated practical utilization of alien species in wheat improvement. The production of a compensating Triticum aestivum–Thinopyrum bessarabicum whole‐arm Robertsonian translocation (RobT) involving chromosomes 6D of wheat and 6E^b of Th. bessarabicum (2n = 2x = 14, E^bE^b) through the mechanism of centric breakage–fusion is reported here. An F₂ population was derived from plants double‐monosomic for chromosome 6D and 6E^b from crosses between a DS6E^b(6D) substitution line and bread wheat cultivar ‘Roushan’ (2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD) as female parent. Eighty F₂ genotypes (L1–L80) were screened for chromosome composition. Three PCR‐based Landmark Unique Gene (PLUG) markers specific to chromosomes 6D and 6E^b were used for screening the F₂ plants. One plant with a T6E^bS.6DL centric fusion (RobT) was identified. A homozygous translocation line with full fertility was recovered among F₃ families and verified with genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Grain micronutrient analysis showed that the DS6E^b(6D) substitution line and T6E^bS.6DL stock have higher Fe and Zn contents than the recipient wheat cultivar ‘Roushan’.     

Flow over rectangular sharp-crested weirs

Sharp-crested weirs are the simplest form of over-flow spillway that commonly used to determine the flow rate in hydraulic laboratories, industry and irrigation systems, where highly accurate discharge measurements are needed. In this study, the experimental upper and lower nappe profiles in rectangular sharp-crested weirs are fitted by quadratic and cubic equations, respectively. In addition, free-vortex theory is used to simulate flow over this kind of weirs and determine discharge coefficient. Physical models of sharp-crested weirs with various widths and heights were considered. The proposed method agrees well with the experimental observations. Also, the experimental data indicate that the suggested equation presents reasonable results for the range of 0 < h/P < 9.     

Genetics of tolerance to high concentrations of soil boron in peas (Pisum sativum L.)

Summary The inheritance of tolerance to high concentrations of soil boron in pea (Pisum sativum L.) was studied in five cross combinations and their reciprocals. Segregation patterns for boron response in F₂ populations and F₃ derived families were established by visual assessment of leaf damage. The segregation ratios were explained in terms of two major gene loci interacting in an additive manner with incomplete dominance at each locus. Evaluation of selected tolerant and susceptible families indicated that tolerant families contained a significantly lower concentration of boron in shoots than susceptible families.     

机械运输对伊朗北部山林陡峭集材道土壤的干扰

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of skid trail slope and traffic levels on soil disturbances at two soil depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm). The treatments were set at four traffic levels (2, 7, 12 and 20), two slope classes (<20% and >20%) and two soil depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm). Results show that skidder traffic, longitudinal slope and soil depth have significant effect on soil bulk density in skid trail. Comparison of average soil bulk density in different traffic levels shows that there are significant differences in average bulk density between different traffic levels and control (p<0.05). The average bulk densities in different slopes and soil depths are significantly increased with increase in traffic levels, maximized at 12 passes (p<0.05), but there are no significant differences between 12 and 20 passes. The interaction effects between traffic and soil depth are significant (F _0.05,3=0.109, p<0.001). For all traffic treatments, there are significant differences in soil moisture content between the two slope classes and the two depths (p<0.001). However, the interaction effects between traffic levels and slope classes are not significant (p >0.05), although skidder traffic and slope affected soil moisture content.     

The true nature of Ganoderma in Iran: Taxonomy based on ITS and mtSSU rDNA

The genus Ganoderma Karst. has broad‐spectrum usage in biotechnology, medicine and the food industry. The complexity of the morphology within species has led to uncertain identification in the past, but recent advancements in molecular identification methods have provided scientists with the opportunity to better understand the taxonomy of the species. The present study attempts for the first time to elucidate the distinctiveness of the Ganoderma species growing in Iran concerning those elsewhere in the world based on mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal DNA (mtSSU rDNA) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data. The results disclosed that the G. lucidum Karst. samples collected in Iran are more similar to the European Ganoderma species than to the Asian (Chinese) one used in this study.     

Effects of salinity,drought, and priming treatments on seed germination and growth parameters of Lathyrus sativus L.

Germination of plants is one of the most important stages during their growth, which is often influenced by environmental stresses, especially drought and salinity. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of salinity and drought on seed germination and growth of Lathyrus sativus. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement in four replications. Salinity treatments were 0, 2, and 4 dS/m and drought treatments included 0, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 MPa. Salinity and drought treatments were prepared by using sodium chloride and polyethylene glycol 6000, respectively. The results showed that salinity and drought stresses decreased germination percentage, and root and radicle length.