Growth, reproductive performance, muscle and egg composition in grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes), fed hydrilla or formulated diets with varying protein levels

Growth, reproductive performance, muscle and egg composition were investigated in grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennnes), fed hydrilla or formulated diets with varying protein levels. Five experimental diets, with varying levels (20%, 25%, 30%, 35% and 40%) of crude protein (CP), were used. One of the fish groups was fed hydrilla. Fish (44.1±0.3 cm; 913±9 g) were stocked (20 tank^?1) in outdoor concrete tanks (20 × 10 × 1.5 m) in duplicate, and fed to satiation, twice daily, at 09:00 and 17:00 hours for the experimental duration of 360 days. High (P<0.05) weight gain was recorded in fish fed 30% and 35% CP diets. However, values for gonadosomatic index (GSI), egg diameter, relative fecundity (eggs kg^?1 body weight), fertilizability and hatchability (%) were comparable (P>0.05) in fish at ≥25% of dietary protein intake. Hydrilla‐fed fish exhibited lower (P<0.05) values for the measured parameters. Crude protein content in muscle increased with dietary protein level. Highest (P<0.05) muscle protein was obtained in fish fed 35% CP diet. Muscle fat was comparable (P>0.05) among fish receiving formulated diets. Ash content was not significantly (P>0.05) different among fish of different dietary groups. Moisture content in fish fed formulated diets, with the exception of 20% CP diet, did not vary significantly (P>0.05). Eggs of fish fed formulated diets contained higher CP and fat contents than those of hydrilla‐fed fish. High (P<0.05) moisture content was noted in the eggs of hydrilla‐fed fish. Ctenopharyngodon idella fed formulated diet, with a minimum of 25% CP, showed better reproductive performance than those fed hydrilla.     

Treatment of wheat straw using tannase and white-rot fungus to improve feed utilization by ruminants

Background

Current research to enrich cattle feed has primarily focused on treatment using white rot fungi, while there are scarce reports using the enzyme tannase, which is discussed only in reviews or in the form of a hypothesis. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of tannase on wheat straw (WS) and also the effect of lyophilized tannase at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% (w/w) on WS followed by fermentation with Ganoderma sp. for 10 d and compared in relation to biochemical parameters, crude protein (CP) content, and nutritional value by calculating the C/N ratio in order to improve the nutritional value of cattle feed.

Results

Penicillium charlesii, a tannase-producing microorganism, produced 61.4 IU/mL of tannase in 54 h when 2% (w/v) tannic acid (TA) was initially used as a substrate in medium containing (% w/v) sucrose (1.0), NaNO₃ (1.0), and MgSO₄ (0.08 pH, 5.0) in a 300-L fermentor (working volume 220 L), and concomitantly fed with 1.0% (w/v) TA after 24 h. The yield of partially purified and lyophilized tannase was 5.8 IU/mg. The tannin-free myco-straw at 0.1% (w/w) tannase showed 37.8% (w/w) lignin degradation with only a 20.4% (w/w) decrease in cellulose content and the in vitro feed digestibility was 32.2%. An increase in CP content (up to 1.28-fold) along with a lower C/N ratio of 25.0%, as compared to myco-straw, was obtained.

Conclusions

The use of tannin-free myco-straw has potential to improve the nutritional content of cattle feed. This biological treatment process was safe, eco-friendly, easy to perform, and was less expensive as compared to other treatment methods.     

Effect of sub-lethal nitrite on selected haematological parameters in fingerling Catla catla (Hamilton)

A sub‐lethal nitrite toxicity trial was conducted using static conditions for a period of 96 h with fingerlings of Catla catla (21.4±3.6 g). Fingerlings were exposed to five concentrations of nitrite, that is, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 10.4 mg L^?1 and a nitrite‐free control to study changes in haematological parameters. Nitrite caused an increase in immature erythrocyte population (7–24%) in lower concentrations (0–4 mg L^?1) at 6 h while they were absent in higher concentrations. The total erythrocyte count was reduced at 6 h followed by an increase at 12 h with further reduction up to 96 h in all concentrations of nitrite. The 96‐h exposure resulted in 21.2–31.8% reduction in erythrocyte population in 1–10.4 mg L^?1 nitrite. The haemoglobin content decreased progressively with increasing nitrite concentrations as well as exposure periods. Total leukocyte count decreased initially at 6 h in all treatments followed by an increase after 12 h, signifying development of a protective response of the body to nitrite stress. Blood glucose decreased initially up to 24 h followed by an increase through 96 h. Serum protein level decreased continuously with increasing exposure period. The study revealed that exposure to nitrite caused changes in almost all the haematological parameters in the fingerlings depending on the concentration as well as exposure period. Nitrite being one of the important inorganic nutrients often recorded at higher levels in intensively cultured ponds, the present study highlights its adverse impact on fish and stressed the need for the management of this nutrient in culture ponds.     

Morpho-physio and anatomical characterization of the indigenous Himalayan crabapple: Malus baccata (L.) Borkh. (Rohru) and exotic Malus pumila Mill. for dwarfing traits

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The wild Malus germplasm is considered as a gene reservoir for various biotic and abiotic stresses tolerance/resistance genes, including important novel...     

Understanding genetic diversity in blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] collections of Indian National Genebank

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] is a protein rich pulse crop of Indian origin. The crop is cultivated in diverse range of agro-ecological regions,...     

Process Optimization for the Development of Nutritionally Enhanced Nuggets using Ficus geniculata: A Nutritional Approach

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Ficus geniculata (FG) is one of the underutilized fig species in India and throughout the world. However, the different parts of the plant have numerous...     

Variability in meteorological droughts as pivotal mechanism for rice production over the middle gangetic plains

The meteorological drought dynamics and its impacts on rice productivity has been evaluated for the Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) season using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) over the middle Gangetic plains (MGP) of Bihar. The meteorological drought over the ISMR period was found to be a recurring phenomenon coinciding with the rice growing season over Bihar. The rice crop has an intensive water requirement; therefore, it is significantly impacted by the meteorological droughts. In the present study, spatiotemporal characteristics viz. intensity, frequency, and probability of meteorological drought has been assessed along with an investigation for significant trends and detection of regime shift points to identify the impact of drought on rice production. For the purpose, SPI-4 derived from high resolution gridded daily rainfall data (0.25^°?×?0.25^°) from India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been considered to analyse the meteorological drought episodes over agro-climatic zones of Bihar from 1961 to 2019. The regime shifts were determined using the Rodionov test for the drought dynamics and production of rice in Bihar. A moderate to severe drought-prone zone was found over the zone BRZ3B; while zone BRZ2 and BRZ3A showed comparatively a greater number of mild drought events persisting with more than 70% probability of occurrence. An inkling of increasing dependency on groundwater is found, which is in turn governing the rice production regime. The present study shows there is a substantial need for climate resilience and food security policies incorporating the subtle linkage between SPI variability and crop production, especially over rice producing regions of the globe.

     

Sex change in coral reef fish

Gonadal differentiation can take many forms in fish, ranging from gonochorism, where individuals directly develop as male or female and finally possess only testis or ovaries at sexual maturation, to hermaphroditism where the same individuals can produce mature male and female gametes at some time in their lives. Hermaphrodite fish are, thus, an excellent model for studying the plasticity of sex determination and differentiation in vertebrates. We have shown that sex steroids play a principal role in sex differentiation and sex change in fish. Our laboratory implements several fish models that undergo sex change from female to male or male to female or in both directions. In this review, we will briefly discuss recent advances in our understanding of the mechanism of sex change in coral reef fish.