Chemical Composition,Antifeedant, Repellent,and Toxicity Activities of the Rhizomes of Galangal,Alpinia galanga Against Asian Subterranean Termites,Coptotermes gestroi and Coptotermes curvignathus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Dual choice bioassays were used to evaluate the antifeedant property of essential oil and methanolic extract of Alpinia galanga (L.) (locally known as lengkuas) against two species of termites, Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) and Coptotermes curvignathus (Holmgren) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). A 4-cm-diameter paper disc treated with A. galanga essential oil and another treated with either methanol or hexane as control were placed in a petri dish with 10 termites. Mean consumption of paper discs (miligram) treated with 2,000 ppm of essential oil by C. gestroi was 3.30 ± 0.24 mg and by C. curvignathus was 3.32 ± 0.24 mg. A. galanga essential oil showed significant difference in antifeedant effect, 2,000 ppm of A. galanga essential oil was considered to be the optimum concentration that gave maximum antifeedant effect. The essential oil composition was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major component of the essential oil was 1,8-cineol (61.9%). Antifeedant bioassay using 500 ppm of 1,8-cineol showed significant reduction in paper consumption by both termite species. Thus, the bioactive agent in A. galangal essential oil causing antifeeding activity was identified as 1,8-cineol. Repellent activity shows that 250 ppm of 1,8-cineol caused 50.00 ± 4.47% repellency for C. gestroi, whereas for C. curvignathus 750 ppm of 1,8-cineol was needed to cause similar repellent activity (56.67 ± 3.33%). C. curvignathus is more susceptible compare to C. gestroi in Contact Toxicity study, the lethal dose (LD₅₀) of C. curvignathus was 945 mg/kg, whereas LD₅₀ value for C. gestroi was 1,102 mg/kg. Hence 1,8-cineol may be developed as an alternative control against termite in sustainable agriculture practices.     

Effects of commonly used disinfectants on bacterial load,hatchability and survival of Bluefin Sea bream (Sparidentex hasta) eggs

The efficacy of four chemical reagents, iodophor, formalin, hydrogen peroxide and bronopol as fish egg surface disinfectants were evaluated in bluefin sea bream (Sparidentex hasta). Fertilized eggs were counted and subjected to a static bath dip treatment in different concentrations of the above chemicals for 4 min before being incubated at 20 ± 0.5°C for 40 h. Treatment efficacy of the different disinfectants was evaluated by assessing the bactericidal activity, egg hatch percentage and survival of larvae up to 3 days post hatch. Results showed that iodophor at medium concentrations (75 and 100 ppm) was the best of all tested disinfectants in bacterial killing ability (12% reduction in the bacterial counts), egg hatching per cent (99.8% and 99.6% respectively) and larval survival up to 3 days post hatch (50.8% and 54.8% respectively). Formalin was the second best disinfectant at levels of 100 and 150 ppm. Hydrogen peroxide gave good results compared with the control while, bronopol showed discouraging results. In conclusion, iodophor appeared to be suitable for bluefin sea bream eggs disinfection with a 4 min exposure to 75–100 ppm when applied 14–16 h after egg fertilization.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal association in Asteraceae plants growing in the arid lands of Saudi Arabia

The present research was undertaken to explor the possibility of arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM) association with Asteraceae plants in the arid lands of Saudi Arabia(Al-Ghat, Buraydah, Thumamah and Huraymila). AM fungal colonization in the roots, spore numbers in the rhizosphere soil, fungal species diversity and correlation between AM properties and soil properties were determined. The highest colonization was in Conyza bonariensis(65%) from Al-Ghat, Anthemis cotula(52%) from Buraydah and C. bonariensis(53%) from Thumamah. The lowest was in Vernonia schimperi(41%) from Al-Ghat, Pulicaria undulata(25%) from Buraydah, Acanthospermum hispidum(34%) from Thumamah, Asteriscus graveolens(22%) and V. schimperi(22%) from Huraymila. Vesicular and arbuscular colonization were also presented in all plant species examined. The number of spores were 112–207 in Al-Ghat, 113–133 in Buraydah, 87–148 in Thumamah and 107–158 in Huraymila. Funneliformis mosseae, Glomus etunicatum, G. fasciculatum and G. aggregatum were identified. Relative frequency of AM fungal species varied widely and was irrespective of location and plant species. Diversity index varied with the rhizosphere soils of different plant species at various locations. Soil properties varied with locations and no distinct correlations were observed among the soil properties, root colonization and the number of spores. The results of the present study specified the association of AM fungi in different plants of Asteraceae and its significance in the ecological functioning of annual plants in the punitive environments of the rangelands in Saudi Arabia.     

Effect of replacing fishmeal with canola meal on growth and nutrient utilization in kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus (Bate)

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the nutritional values of canola meal as a substitute for fishmeal in diets for kuruma shrimp using five isocaloric diets (190 kJ kg^?1) prepared by replacing 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of fishmeal protein with canola meal protein in CM0, CM10, CM20, CM30 and CM40 diets respectively. Triplicate groups of juveniles (0.19 g) were fed the respective diets for 60 days in tanks. At the end of trial, weight gain (%) and specific growth rate (% day^?1) were not significantly (P > 0.05) different among shrimp fed CM0, CM10 and CM20 diets. However, growth was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in shrimp fed CM30 and CM40 diets. As with growth performance, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio were also decreased (P < 0.05) in CM30 and CM40 groups. Whole body dry matter, methionine and proline were significantly decreased with canola meal substitution levels. In general, retention efficiency of protein and indispensible amino acids were decreased as canola meal increased in diets. It may be concluded that 20% fishmeal protein can be successfully replaced with canola meal, while supplementation of amino acids or blending with complementary proteins could facilitate higher fishmeal replacements in kuruma shrimp diets.     

Dispersal of conidia of Fusicladium eriobotryae and spatial patterns of scab in loquat orchards in Spain

Dispersal of conidia of Fusicladium eriobotryae, the causal agent of loquat scab, was investigated in two loquat orchards in Spain from 2010 to 2012. A volumetric spore sampler, horizontally and vertically orientated microscope slides, and rain collectors were placed in loquat fields to trap conidia of F. eriobotryae. No conidia were collected in the volumetric sampler, and highly variable numbers of conidia were collected in the rain gatherers. Large numbers of conidia were collected by microscope slides, particularly by those held in a horizontal orientation compared with those held in a vertical orientation. Approximately 90 % of the F. eriobotryae conidia were collected during rainy periods. Based on ROC and Bayesian analysis, using ≥ 0.2 mm rainfall as a cut-off value resulted in a high probability of correctly predicting actual conidial dispersal, and had a low probability of failing to predict actual conidial dispersal. Based on the index of dispersion and the binary power law, the incidence of loquat scab on fruit was highly aggregated in space between and within trees, and aggregation was influenced by disease incidence. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that F. eriobotryae is dispersed mainly in rain splash. The results will be integrated into a mechanistic, weather-driven, disease prediction model that should help growers to minimize fungicide application for the management of loquat scab.     

Jasmonic and salicylic acid-induced resistance in sorghum against the stem borer Chilo partellus

Induced resistance was studied in three sorghum genotypes (IS2205, ICSV1 and ICSV700) against Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae) infestation and jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) application. The activity of plant defensive enzymes [peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT)], and the amounts of total phenols, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), and proteins were recorded at 6 days after infestation. The induction of enzyme activities and the amounts of secondary metabolites varied among the genotypes and treatments. The genotype IS2205 showed a stronger effect than that of ICSV1 or ICSV 700. Treatment with JA followed by insect infestation induced greater levels of enzymes and secondary metabolites. The results suggest that JA induces greater levels of resistance components in sorghum plants against insect pests. Thus, pretreatment of plants with elicitors including JA and SA could provide a greater opportunity for plant defense against herbivores.     

Shrimp lectin–conjugated copper sulfide nanoparticles enhance immune response and gene expression in Etroplus suratensis infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

Aquaculture International - Lectins are hemagglutinating glycoproteins which act as pathogen recognition receptors that can bind to the pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Shrimp lectin...     

Determination of annual reproductive cycle in male sterlet,Acipenser ruthenus using histology and ultrasound imaging

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - The aim of this study was to evaluate seasonal testicular development in the cultured sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus. During annual sexual cycle of male sterlet,...     

Novel technique for definite blastomere inhibition and distribution of maternal RNA in sterlet Acipenser ruthenus embryo

Fisheries Science - The cleavage pattern of a vertebrate’s embryo is either holoblastic (complete) or meroblastic (partial). Sturgeon and other basal bony fishes represent a transition of the...     

耐高温陆地棉品种综合评价及优良品种选择

 在高温干旱条件下,通过大田试验测定20个陆地棉花品种的主要产量性状、纤维品质性状及农艺性状,并进行综合评价。应用主成分分析法对20个品种的皮棉产量、生育期、株高、始果节、果枝数、有效铃、铃重、衣分、纤维长度、整齐度、麦克隆值、伸长率和断裂比强度进行分析。确定了主要性状的5个主成分及其主成分的函数方程和主成分综合函数方程,主成分的方差累积贡献率达到84.087%。通过计算主成分值和综合主成分值,对供试的20个品种进行了比较,进而选择了湘YC₃F₁、晋棉38、豫宝8号3个综合性状优良的品种,其结果与实际相一致。