Effects of the prebiotic mannan‐oligosaccharide on feed deprived zebrafish: Growth and reproduction

This study was designed to investigate whether the prebiotic mannan‐oligosaccharides (MOS) can reduce the deleterious impacts of feed deprivation on growth and reproduction in zebrafish. In the growth performance experiment, juvenile fish were distributed in the following four treatments: normal‐control (NC), starved‐control (SC), normal‐prebiotic (NP) and starved‐prebiotic (SP). After 8 weeks, NP and SC fish showed the highest and lowest growth patterns, respectively among treatments. Standard length, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio did not differ significantly between NC and SP treatments. Autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were significantly higher in NP and SP than the NC and SP treatments. Feed restriction resulted in significantly lower concentrations of thyroxine. In the reproductive performance experiment, additional juveniles were fed as in the growth experiment. Crossing in the final week of the experiment resulted in successful spawning in only NP fish, which showed mature sperm and oocytes in histological examinations. The number of spermatozoa was significantly lower in the fish that experienced feed restriction; however, the oocytes of SP females were at the same maturation level to that observed in NC females. Sex‐steroids changed after both starvation and MOS supplementation where NC and SP showed no differences in the levels of testosterone and female's 17β‐estradiol. These results indicate that MOS supplemented diet reduced some side effects of feed deprivation (final weight and length, SGR, FCR and levels of LAB and T3), and suggest that supplementation of the diet with MOS may ameliorate some of the negative effects of feed deprivation in zebrafish.     

Fortification of Bread Wheat Using Synthesized Zn-Glycine and Zn-Alanine Chelates in Comparison with ZnSO4 in a Calcareous Soil

ABSTRACT

Calcareous soils typically suffer from zinc deficiency and zinc sulfate is incorporated in many cultivated soils. Utilization of ZnSO₄ has some kinds of interaction with soil particles and organic matter. In this study, the efficacy of two znic(Zn)-amino acid chelates (Zn-ACs) i.e., Zn-alanine (Zn-Ala) and Zn-glycine (Zn-Gly) on wheat (Triticum aestivum, cv. N91-8) growth characteristics and zinc concentration in wheat was examined under greenhouse conditions and compared to the a commercial ZnSO₄. Results showed that Zn-Ala and Zn-Gly significantly increased the dry weight and shoot length of wheat in comparison to ZnSO₄ treatment. Soil application of Zn-Amino acid chelates proved to be the most influential source of zinc in increasing wheat growth and yield indices. Number of fertile spikelet and grain yield increased significantly respectively compared to ZnSO₄ treatment. Zn concentration and protein content of wheat grain in Zn-ACs treatment was significantly higher than the ZnSO₄ treatment. Soil application of Zn-ACs caused a significant decrease in the grain phytic acid (PA) concentration and also phytic acid to zinc molar ratio in comparison with ZnSO₄ treatment. According to the results, Zn-ACs could be utilized as a zinc fertilizer source for improving the zinc bioavailability in wheat.     

Retracted: Study of testis histology and sperm morphology in the Bunnei,Barbus sharpeyi (Gunther, 1874) induced by luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone analogue and carp pituitary extract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of hormone treatment on testis structure in Barbus sharpeyi, as well as the morphology of sperm examined by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Male B. sharpeyi were divided into three groups (three fish per group) and injected with luteinizing hormone – releasing hormone analogue (LHRH–A₂) or carp pituitary extract (CPE). The first and second groups were treated with 10 μg kg^?1 LHRH–A₂ and metoclopramide (MET), and their testis were sampled pre‐ and Poststripping respectively. The third group received 2 mg kg^?1 CPE and were killed pre‐stripping. Based on the histological results obtained, the testicular connective tissue of the lumen was thicker, and seminal vesicles were of a lower volume, in fish injected with CPE in comparison to the other groups. After treatment with LHRH–A₂ and MET, not all spermatozoa within the testis were ejaculated, and only a small amount of sperm was obtained by abdominal stripping. The highest and lowest diameters of connective tissue within lobules were observed in fish receiving CPE and LHRH–A₂ treatments respectively. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in lobule space between the fish injected with the CPE and the fish injected with the LHRH–A₂ and MET. The SEM results revealed that the spermatozoa of B. sharpeyi were composed of a spherical to elliptical head, a cylindrical midpiece, and a lengthy flagellum. In conclusion, it was found that injection with LHRH–A₂ and MET improved the spermatogenic process in comparison to injection with CPE.     

Effect of Dietary Gamma‐irradiated and Fermented Soybean Meal on the Growth Performance,Body Composition,and Digestive Enzymes Activity of Caspian Brown Trout,Salmo trutta caspius,Juvenile

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of gamma‐irradiated soybean meal (SBM) as a dietary ingredient on the performance, body composition, and digestive enzyme activity of Caspian brown trout, Salmo trutta caspius, juveniles. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated, in which fish meal was replaced by untreated (untreated SBM), gamma‐ray irradiated at 15 (15ISBM) and 30 (30ISBM) kGy, fermented (FSBM), fermented 15 KGy irradiated soybean meal (FISBM), respectively. Juvenile fish (2.1 ± 0.3 g) were fed with the test diets for 6 wk. Final body weight was significantly affected by dietary SBM treatment with highest values in fish fed FISBM and FSBM (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in hepatosomatic and visceral indexes, condition factor, and survival among experimental groups (P > 0.05). The carcass proximate composition of lipid and protein in Caspian brown trout in FSBM and FISBM groups was higher than that of other groups. Levels of most whole‐body amino acids were not significantly different among Caspian brown trout fed the five diets. Results of this experiment showed that replacing SBM with FSBM and FISBM in the diet significantly increased the activities of proteolytic enzymes activities (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in both amylase and lipase activities among dietary treatments. Results of this study indicated that the level of gamma radiation used did not work but fermentation of SBM did increase some growth parameters of Caspian brown trout.     

Effects of Water Hardness and Calcium: Magnesium Ratios on Reproductive Performance and Offspring Quality of Macrobrachium rosenbergii

This study evaluated the effect of specific calcium and magnesium ratios at two hardness values on reproductive performance and offspring quality of Macrobrachium rosenbergii brood‐females. Hatchery water containing 110.5 mg/L CaCO3 hardness was considered baseline as it has been used successfully to hatch and rear larvae and was used as the control treatment. At each hardness value of 150 and 190 mg/L CaCO₃, four experimental water treatments were made in triplicate. Each treatment was adjusted using soluble salts (CaCl₂·H₂O, MgSO₄·7H₂O, and MgCl₂·6H₂O) to provide the hardness and calcium to magnesium ratios of 0:20, 20:80, 50:50, and 80:20 needed. Each of the experimental tanks (140 L) were stocked with six females and one male. The results indicated that both hardness and Ca:Mg ratios affect brood‐female reproductive qualitative parameters such as intermolt period, egg hatchability, egg dry weight, and egg‐clutch somatic index (ESI) parameters (P < 0.05) but not fecundity and eggs per spawn. The results revealed that brood‐females at 150 mg/L hardness showed greater reproductive performance than at 190 and 110.5 mg/L hardness. The findings also demonstrated that the treatment 50Ca50Mg at 150 mg/L hardness with 38.8 mg/L calcium and 12.9 mg/L magnesium had optimum reproductive performance and offspring quality for M. rosenbergii brood‐females.     

Current status and prospects of farming the giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) in Bangladesh

Giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) farming plays an important role in the economy of Bangladesh. Presently, it is cultured in around 50 000 ha area with total annual production of 23 240 t. Traditional extensive prawn farming has been expanding over the last three decades through the introduction and adoption of improved culture systems, such as culture of prawn‐carps, prawn‐shrimp‐fish and prawn‐fish‐rice as concurrent and rotational systems. Efforts for the development of improved techniques on broodstock management, seed production and rearing and grow‐out of prawn have been made over the last decade. The outcomes are low‐cost feed for broodstock, production of post‐larvae in net cages (hapa), all‐male prawn culture, periphyton based prawn‐tilapia culture, C/N based prawn culture, organic prawn farming, prawn‐mola culture and prawn‐carp‐mola polyculture. Despite the development of culture technologies, a number of challenges for sustainable development of prawn farming need to be overcome to realize the potentials of this promising sector. Good aquaculture practises at all levels and application of measures for quality control and food safety would ensure sustainable development of prawn farming in Bangladesh.     

Effect of exogenous putrescine on post-harvest life of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) fruit,cultivar Selva

Effect of different concentrations of putrescine on post-harvest life of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) fruit, cultivar Selva at 5 °C was studied. Fruits were immerged in 0.3, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM putrescine as well as distilled water (control) for 5 min, then transferred into the fridge (5 °C) together with untreated fruits (dry treatment). The rate of weight loss, ethylene production, flesh firmness, soluble solids content, titratable acidity and pH of fruits were determined 5, 9 and 13 days after the beginning of storage. Flesh firmness, appearance, color change and taste of fruits were also determined in the same intervals using a taste panel. Storage life of the strawberry fruits was significantly increased by the use of putrescine, so that the untreated and control fruits had 6 and 8 days storage life, respectively, while the immerged fruits in 1 and 2 mM putrescine were still suitable to be exposed in the market 12 and 14 days after the beginning of storage, respectively. No significant weight losses were observed in treated fruits compared to controls and dry treatment at all determination times. Ethylene production was decreased significantly by the use of putrescine. Untreated fruits (dry treatment) had the highest rate of ethylene production and the lowest rate was occurred in 2 mM putrescine treatment at all determination times (5, 9 and 13 days after the beginning of storage). The use of putrescine also prevented the softening of fruit flesh during the storage and kept their firmness, so that, the 2 mM putrescine treatment caused the highest fruit firmness at all determination times. Distilled water treatment (control) had the lowest fruit firmness 5 and 9 days after storage, while this occurred for the dry treatment 13 days after storage. Soluble solids content, pH and titratable acidity of the fruits were not significantly affected by the use of putrescine, but the highest and lowest rate of titratable acidity were related to the 2 mM putrescine and dry treatment, respectively, at the three determination times. Overall, the quality of fruits was improved by the use of 2 mM putrescine in terms of properties evaluated by the taste panel.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids from Senecio lorenthii.

The isolation and NMR spectra of otosenine (1) and seneciphylline (2) from Senecio lorenthii are reported.     

孟加拉涝原地区村林居住的宗教社团偏爱的乔木和灌木树种及使用的造林材料研究

2002年1月至6月对孟加拉涝原地区两个不同的宗教部落(印度教和穆斯林教)的传统家园森林进行了探索性研究，包括印度教和穆斯林教社团对树种(乔木和灌木)的偏爱度、类似性、造林材料及来源、植树地点和间距。研究发现Mangifera indica作为乔木树种，Ocimum sanctum作为灌木树种为印度教社团最喜爱的树种；Artocarpus heterophyllus和Lawsonia inermis分别为穆斯林社团最喜爱乔木树种和灌木树种。两中不同宗教社团选择乔木数种的相同性为86．57％，灌木树种为78．48％。两个宗教部落使用种子和苗木作为造林材料最多。乔木树种的造林材料主要来自家园(39％)灌木树种主要来自自然界(40％)。表3参27。