Validation of Xanthophyll Levels in Catfish Fillets Using Digital Photography

Catfish fillets with yellow coloration have become a prevalent problem for the catfish industry. This problem is due to the unacceptability in the market because the shift in fillet color is considered of lower quality by the consumers. To help the catfish industry better understand the yellow coloration of catfish fillet, a digital photography measurement method was developed to evaluate the yellowness. Sixty catfish fillets with a range of degrees of visible yellowness were taken directly from the processing line. The fillets were photographed in a light box with a digital camera. The photos were calibrated with the X-Rite ColorChecker standardized color target. CIELAB readings of the fillet photos were recorded, and the b* value was used to indicate the yellowness of catfish fillets. The xanthophyll levels of fillets were analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography. The actual xanthophyll level in catfish fillet was calculated as the sum of lutein, zeaxanthin, and alloxanthin. A linear correlation was found between the LAB b* values and xanthophyll levels of the 60 catfish fillets.     

饥饿和再投喂期间尼罗罗非鱼生长、血清生化指标和肝胰脏生长激素、类胰岛素生长因子-Ⅰ和胰岛素mRNA表达丰度的变化

在室内可控条件下,对尼罗罗非鱼[初始体质量(62.50±3.44)g]进行饥饿28d和随后再投喂21d的处理,于饥饿第0、7、14、21、28天和再投喂第14、21天进行采样分析,研究饥饿和再投喂期间尼罗罗非鱼生长、血清生化指标和肝胰脏生长激素(GH)、类胰岛素生长因子-Ⅰ(IGF-Ⅰ)和胰岛素(IN)mRNA表达丰度的变化。结果显示,与饥饿第0天相比,饥饿超过7d鱼体体质量显著降低(P<0.05),再投喂21d显著增加(P<0.05);肝体比随饥饿时间延长显著降低(P<0.05),恢复投喂后较饥饿时升高,但显著低于饥饿前水平(P<0.05)。在血清指标上,甘油三酯、血糖、碱性磷酸酶、谷草转氨酶和谷丙转氨酶均随饥饿时间延长而逐渐降低,恢复投喂后均有不同程度提高,但转氨酶活性显著低于饥饿前水平(P<0.05);饥饿和再投喂对血清总胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇无显著影响(P>0.05)。在激素方面,与饥饿第0天相比,饥饿使血清GH含量及其肝胰脏mRNA表达丰度显著升高,血清IGF-Ⅰ及其肝胰脏mRNA表达丰度降低,恢复投喂后两者均显著升高(P<0.05);INmRNA表达丰度在饥饿7~21d显著升高(P<0.05),饥饿第28天时无显著差异(P>0.05),再投喂后显著降低(P<0.05)。     

An artificial oyster‐shell reef for the culture and stock enhancement of sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus,in shallow seawater

Because of its high nutritional value and health benefits, aquaculture production of Apostichopus japonicus in China is the largest of any single species. Therefore, the development of new farming methods is of considerable significance. In this study, discarded oyster shells have been used to create an artificial reef for the culture of this species. The results have shown that from 6th March 2009 to 26th November 2009, the wet weight of sea cucumber increased from 49.57 ± 1.16 to 79.87 ± 1.46 g ind^?1. Between 16th July and 18th October, the specific growth rate and daily weight gain of A. japonicus differed significantly from other periods. Population density was higher within the reef compared with outside the reef area, and the difference was significant (P < 0.01). The maximum distance between A. japonicus individuals within the reef area on 3rd March and 16th July was 65.0 ± 3.3 and 62.9 ± 4.4 cm, respectively, but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). The diatom species attached to the oyster shells were similar to those found in the stomach content of A. japonicus. In conclusion, the oyster‐shell reef provides a suitable habitat and shelter for the culture of the sea cucumber, A. japonicus.     

Replacement of fish oil with soybean oil in diets for juvenile Chinese sucker (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Myxocyprinus asiaticus</Emphasis>): effects on liver lipid peroxidation and biochemical composition

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the replacement of fish oil (FO) by soybean oil (SO) on growth performance, liver lipid peroxidation, and biochemical composition in juvenile Chinese sucker, Myxocyprinus asiaticus. Fish (13.7 ± 0.2 g) in triplicate were fed five experimental diets in which 0% (FO as control), 40% (SO40), 60% (SO60), 80% (SO40), and 100% (SO100) FO were replaced by SO. The body weight gain of fish fed SO40, SO60, or SO80 diet was similar to FO group, but diets that have 100% soybean oil as dietary lipid significantly reduced fish growth (P < 0.05). Although the level of SO resulted in increasing crude lipid content of the liver, the level of SO did not significantly alter the hepatosomatic index (HSI). Indicators of peroxidation, such as vitamin E (V_E) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) contents, were changed as increasing dietary SO. It was shown that the inclusion of SO in the diets increased V_E concentrations, but reduced TBARS in the liver and total cholesterol (T-CHO) in the plasma. Linoleic acid (LA) and linolenic acid (LNA) significantly increased in fish liver fed diets that contained SO, but eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and the ratio n-3/n-6 were significantly reduced by the inclusion of dietary SO (P < 0.05). Our results indicated that the inclusion of SO increased the hepatic V_E content and reduced lipid peroxidation in fish. However, diet containing 100% SO as dietary lipid could reduce growth performance. Thus, we recommended that 40–80% SO can be used as dietary lipid to replace FO for juvenile Chinese sucker.     

Effect of LED light quality on the phototaxis and locomotion behaviour of Haliotis discus hannai

Abalones were reared in a laboratory to determine the percentage response rate, response time, average crawling speed and the time taken to recover an upright posture under nine light‐emitting diode light quality treatments (red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, white and grey) and a dark environment. Animals were placed in the centre of an experimental device, and the tropism of each animal was continuously monitored by video. The highest percentage response rate (80% in dark adapted abalones, 60% in light adapted abalones) was observed in the dark environment, followed by red and orange light (27% and 30% in dark adapted abalones, respectively, 22% and 24% in light adapted abalones). Two induction materials (substrate and brown algae Laminaria japonica) were used to assess the effect of light quality on the tropism of abalones, with the highest percentage response rate (76% in the L. japonica treatment, 22% in the substrate treatment) also observed in the dark environment, followed by red and orange light (both 25% in the L. japonica treatment, and 26% and 32%, respectively, in the substrate treatment). The tropism order of the abalones under dark, red, orange and yellow light was as follows: dark > orange > red, yellow, but fewer abalones chose to stay in blue, green, cyan and purple light. The response time (about 700 s) in the dark environment was significantly longer than for the other light quality treatments. Compared with the average crawling speed in the other light quality treatments, abalones were relatively slower (about 3.8 mm s^?1) in red and orange light, and the dark environment. The mean time required for the recovery of an upright posture in red light and the dark environment was longer than in the other light quality treatments, with the average recovery time reaching a maximum of 60 s in the dark environment. The results demonstrate the phototaxis and locomotion behaviour of abalones, as well as confirming the necessity of a dark, orange or red environment for their management and aquaculture.     

Genetic parameters for growth‐related traits and survival with age in the Kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus

Genetic parameters were estimated for growth‐related traits and survival of the Kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus based on 66 families, including 30 paternal half‐sib families, which were obtained using artificial insemination of two females by each male. The variance components for growth‐related trait and survival were estimated using a single‐trait animal model and a sir‐dam model, respectively, and genetic parameters were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method. The coefficients of variation for growth‐related traits such as body length (BL), abdominal length (AL), and body weight (BW) were 9.36%–22.44%, 10.61%–21.92%, and 26.47%–58.33%, respectively, at different ages (45, 75, 105, 135, and 165 days). The corresponding heritability estimates for each growth trait were 0.1545–0.1951, 0.1672–0.1905, and 0.1596–0.1934, respectively, all of which were found to be at moderate levels and increased with age. The heritability of survival on day 165 was low (0.003). The genetic correlations among growth traits were positive and high (0.7316–0.9896) at the different ages, suggesting that selection to improve any single growth trait will cause positive responses in other growth traits examined in M. japonicus. The genetic correlations between growth traits and survival were also positive but low (0.005–0.087), which indicated that only selecting for growth traits may not cause a positive correlated response in the survival of the core population. According to the above results, we suggested that growth and survival traits should be taken as improving targets of breeding in M. japonicus. These results provided reference data for selective breeding and multitrait selection of M. japonicus.     

Preliminary study to evaluate the effects of dietary bile acids on growth performance and lipid metabolism of juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed plant ingredient‐based diets

A 9‐week feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary bile acids (BAs) on juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) (Oreochromis niloticus) based on the evaluations of growth performance and parameters relevant to lipid metabolism. Each of five vegetable protein‐based diets containing BAs at a level of 0, 0.05, 0.15, 0.45 or 1.35 g/kg diet was fed to three replicates with 40 fish (8.2 g per fish). The results showed that weight gain (WG) increased significantly with the increase in BAs from 0 to 0.15 g/kg diet and then decreased significantly at a higher BA supplementation. Dietary BAs significantly reduced the crude lipid content in the whole body, muscle and liver tissue of GIFT. Fish fed diet with 1.35 g BAs/kg diet developed serious nuclear migration and vacuolization in hepatocytes. Gall bladder appeared to contain white solid and has fragile capsules. Dietary BA supplementation had significant effects on serum biochemical indices and activities of lipid metabolism enzymes in liver and intestine. In conclusion, dietary bile acid supplementation (0.15 g/kg) can facilitate the lipid metabolism and therefore promote the growth of tilapia. However, overdosed dietary BAs induced gallstone development, disrupted lipid metabolism and depressed the growth performances of GIFT.     

中草药联用对罗非鱼无乳链球菌作用的研究

本文利用BIOLOG自动微生物鉴定系统对所分离保存的罗非鱼致病菌株进行生化鉴定,确定为无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae),进而测定虎杖、五倍子、地榆、黄连、大黄、白头翁、黄芩等14种中草药单用及联用复方对该致病菌株的抑菌效果。结果表明,从14种中草药中筛选出6种中草药(中草药A、中草药B、中草药C、中草药D、中草药E、中草药F)对无乳链球菌有良好的抑制作用;随后考察此6种中草药组合成双联用、三联用及四联用复方的抑菌效果,其中双联用中的2种复方具有显著协同作用,4种复方具有协同作用;三联用中的8种复方具有显著协同作用,3种复方具有协同作用;四连用中的1种复方具有显著协同作用,1种复方具有协同作用。     

南美白对虾大棚六茬养殖试验

南美白对虾是重要的养殖虾类,目前国内养殖模式比较多是单茬养殖,主要是因为受到区域性气候的限制,所以养殖茬数较少。为了充分发挥南美白对虾养殖的优势,探索南美白对虾健康高效养殖模式,进一步提高单位产量,提高养殖设施的利用率和经济效益,我们在两茬养殖的基础上,采用三级池暂养的方法,进行了南美白对虾六茬养殖试验。     

Nitrate removal efficiency and bacterial community of polycaprolactone-packed bioreactors treating water from a recirculating aquaculture system

A denitrification reactor packed with polycaprolactone (PCL) as a carbon source and biofilm carrier was developed to remove nitrate nitrogen (\( {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}-\mathrm{N} \)) from the water of a recirculating aquaculture system for 115 days. The hydraulic retention time was set to 6 h, and the water flow rate was 0.95 L h^?1. The removal rates of \( {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}-\mathrm{N} \) ranged from 34.67 to 155.7 g \( {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}-\mathrm{N} \) m^?3 day^?1 when the effluent \( {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}-\mathrm{N} \) concentrations ranged between 1.62 and 72.25 mg L^?1. No obvious changes in the Fourier transform infrared spectra of the PCL before and after use were observed. Bacterial community structure in the biofilm of the PCL granules was analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were predominant in the biofilm, with relative abundances of 63.9 and 27.4%, respectively. Three genera, Acidovorax, Azospira, and Diaphorobacter, were capable of both denitrification and PCL degradation. This study indicates that PCL-packed reactors may be used and optimized for removing nitrate from aquaculture effluents.