Mineral content of three olive cultivars irrigated with treated industrial wastewater

The reuse of saline treated industrial wastewater generated by textile firms mixed with municipal domestic effluent for irrigation was used to asses its effect on the mineral content of three olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars under greenhouse and field conditions during two complete vegetative cycles. Chemical analysis of the treated wastewater indicated that the element concentrations fall within the permissible range of irrigation water used for plants. However, little impermissible accumulation of Na and Mg higher than the recommended maximum concentration was observed. Irrigation water with six electrical conductivities (EC = 0.78, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 dS m⁻¹ in treatments T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄, T₅, respectively) were compared in the greenhouse experiment. The olive trees in the field experiment were trickle irrigated with potable water and treated wastewater (average EC = 4.2 dS m⁻¹). The results of the greenhouse experiment showed that leaf N, Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, and Na contents increased with increasing salinity of the treated wastewater. This increase was accompanied with a decrease in K and Mg contents. Leaf Ca and Cl concentrations were not considerably affected. Ion analysis in roots indicated that the contents of P, Na, Cl, Mn, and Pb increased while K decreased as treated wastewater salinity increased. Consequently, in most cases T₄ and T₅ gave a highly significant increase or decrease in accumulation of the previously mentioned minerals. A considerable variation in the studied cultivars was noticed. ‘Nabali’ was considered the most tolerant cultivar for the high salinity levels of the treated wastewater; its transporting selectivity of Na from root to leaf was higher and more Na was retained in the roots. Tissue analysis of leaves indicated that the element concentrations were within the adequate levels except those of Fe in ‘Nabali’ and ‘Manzanillo’, Na in ‘Improved Nabali’ and Cu in ‘Nabali’ and ‘Manzanillo’. In view of these findings, the negligible accumulation of minerals in leaves and roots indicated that this kind of textile effluent can be used as a valid alternative for irrigation of olive orchards with continuous monitoring of mineral levels.     

An assessment of the variation in the prevalence of renal myxosporidiosis and hepatitis in wild brown trout, Salmo trutta L., within and between rivers in South-West England

The prevalence of renal myxosporidiosis in wild brown trout, Salmo trutta, in seven river catchments in South-West England was investigated. Three hundred and twenty-seven fish were sampled from 16 sites, of which 54 (16.5%) were found, by histological examination of the kidney, to be infected with Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, the causative agent of proliferative kidney disease. No T. bryosalmonae infected fish were found in one river catchment, in other catchments the prevalence ranged from 2.5% to 36%. Hepatitis was strongly associated with the presence of T. bryosalmonae (odds ratio = 20.2, P < 0.001). Chloromyxum schurovi was found in 25% of fish and in six of seven river catchments, where the prevalence ranged from 2.4% to 63%. There was a strong negative association between the presence of T. bryosalmonae and C. schurovi (odds ratio = 0.10, P < 0.001). A hierarchical binomal model of the variance indicated that for T. bryosalmonae most of the variance existed at the site level, whereas for C. schurovi most variance existed at the river catchment level, suggesting that prevalence of T. bryosalmonae infection is determined largely by site level factors (e.g. presence of alternate host). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were 0.2 and 0.4 for T. bryosalmonae and C. schurovi, respectively, indicating the latter has higher effective transmission because of a higher level of infectiousness and/or abundance of alternate oligochaete hosts. These values can be used in future studies to estimate the sample sizes required to generate prevalence estimates with the required precision.     

Evaluation of codends with sorting grids, exit windows, and diamond meshes: Size selection and fish behaviour

This paper presents the results of an experiment aimed at improving the size selection of cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in the Nordic bottom trawl fishery. Three systems simulating commercial conditions were tested: a 135 mm diamond-mesh codend fitted with a 55 mm sorting grid (Sort-V); a 135 mm diamond-mesh codend fitted with two lateral exit windows; and a codend built entirely of 155 mm diamond mesh. The selectivity curves showed similar selection ranges (SR) for the three systems. For cod, the mean SRs were around 8 cm, while for haddock, they were around 6 cm. All the estimated l₅₀ values were far above the minimum landing sizes (MLS). For cod, the mean l₅₀s were 56.1, 53.9, and 60.7 cm for the sorting grid, exit windows, and diamond-mesh configurations, respectively, while for haddock, they were 50.2, 50.6, and 49.9 cm, respectively. Underwater observations revealed that most of the fish escaped from the grid and exit-window codends as soon as they reached the vicinity of the sorting device. In contrast, fish remained inside the diamond-mesh codend for a longer time, and consequently were more exposed to physical damage before escape. In addition, many fish escaped from this codend during haul back and these fish were not likely to survive due to the rapid changes in pressure. Thus, the selectivity results obtained with this type of codend should be interpreted carefully.     

Evaluation of fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved rainbow trout sperm

ABSTRACT:   Experimental insemination was performed using artificially produced low-motility sperm. A mathematical model was applied to the results of the insemination in order to clarify the relationship between sperm motility, the density of sperm and the fertilization rate of eggs. In the model, the probability of fertilization by individual spermatozoa was a function of sperm density in the insemination solution. The results showed that the probability of fertilization clearly decreased with increased sperm density, and the maximum possible fertilizing rate by increasing the sperm density was constrained by the proportion of motile sperm (% motility). The model was also applied to the results of insemination tests of cryopreserved sperm in order to evaluate the fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved sperm. It was proven that cryopreserved sperm needed a higher density to obtain the maximum fertilization rate compared with fresh sperm, and it was anticipated that the ratio of the motile inseminated cryopreserved sperm should be more than 5.0% to achieve an egg fertilization rate greater than 90%.     

Interactions between fishing strategies of Nephrops trawlers in the Bay of Biscay and Norway lobster diel activity patterns

Abstract  Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (L.), in the Bay of Biscay exhibited diel activity patterns with more individuals outside their burrows at dawn and dusk, increasing catchability at these times. Data from an on board observer programme on Nephrops trawlers between 2002 and 2005 were used to assess variability in catchability in commercial catches. Catch numbers per haul varied spatially and between months, but no signal for diel variations was found. Fishing strategies developed by the Nephrops trawlers had several components. On a seasonal level, they started around sunrise. On a haul level, haul duration decreased from haul to haul, with the longest hauls taking place at the time of the highest catchability. By-catch of hake, Merluccius merluccius (L.), increased more than proportionally with haul duration.     

Use of two PGPR strains in the integrated management of blast disease in rice (Oryza sativa) in Southern Spain

Biocontrol capacity of two plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains, against blast disease in rice paddy fields in Southern Spain was studied in three cropping seasons. Both strains (Pseudomonas fluorescens Aur 6 and Chryseobacterium balustinum Aur 9) had already shown biocontrol capacity against pathogens, ability to induce systemic resistance against leaf pathogens and against salt stress in different plant species. Bacterial treatments were carried out on seeds and/or on leaves. Strains were inoculated individually and in combination. Protection against natural disease incidence was evaluated, and rice production and quality measured in 2005 and 2006 trials. In 2004, natural disease incidence was low (between 0.1% and 0.35% of damaged leaf surface) due to environmental conditions; under these conditions, both strains significantly protected plants against rice blast. In 2005, disease incidence was higher than in 2004, reaching higher values of affected leaf surface in controls. In these conditions, each strain individually protected rice against rice blast, although the combination of both strains was the most effective treatment. All three treatments (Aur 6, Aur 9 and Aur 6 + Aur 9) reached 50% protection in panicles, with Aur 9 being the most effective. In 2006, the most effective treatment was the combination of both strains on leaves in three physiological stages, suggesting a biocontrol mediated protection. On the other hand, when bacteria were applied to seeds, disease incidence decreased up to 50%, suggesting induction of systemic resistance. Finally, a direct relation between protection mediated by the PGPR and the increase in rice productivity (mT/ha) and quality (weight of 1000 seeds and number of intact grains after milling) was found.