Farmers' participatory selection of new rice varieties to boost production under temperate agro-ecosystems

In mountain agriculture, early maturity, high grain yield and high biomass are generally considered as farmer preferred traits in rice crop in addition to a multiple set of traits collectively responsible for variety adoption or rejection. The varieties tested only on station evaluation trials without taking the data from the farmers' fields by not including farmers as partners for variety evaluation are the reasons of low adoption of varieties. In this regard, a participatory methodology was followed by conducting a number of participatory trials in the farmers' fields during 2012–2014 in six districts of Kashmir Valley, India. The mother trials in the farmers' fields showed that the test variety SKUA-408 consistently and significantly out yielded Jhelum and farmers' variety followed by Shalimar rice 3(SR3). The other released varieties like SR1 and SR2 could not perform nicely in the farmers' fields because of late maturity. After making the t-test comparison of baby trials(paired plots), the mean yield superiority of test varieties SKUA-408, SR3, and SKUA-403 over farmers' variety during 2013 was around 23, 25, and 22%, respectively, whereas in 2014 the respective yield advantage was recorded as 16.3, 17.7, and 16.2%. In all districts, SKUA-408 and SR3 were significantly preferred by farmers(P0.05 or 0.01) in terms of pre-harvest traits namely, tillering ability and general phenotypic acceptability, early maturity and biomass and for post-harvest traits such as general cooking quality besides, the intention to grow the variety for next year. Adoption and dissemination of SKUA-408 began in 2014 from the farm-saved seed in the form of farmer to farmer seed exchange. Farmers are the end users of a variety so the decision by the farmers while judging the variety should be taken into consideration to make the varietal choice more effective for its widespread adoption.     

Impact of supplementing diets with propolis on productive performance,egg quality traits and some haematological variables of laying hens

One hundred and twenty eight, 28‐weeks‐old Lohmann LSL hybrid layers were used in this experiment, which lasted 12 weeks to investigate the effect of propolis supplementation on the productive performance, egg quality traits and haematological variables of laying hens. All hens were randomly classified into four equal experimental groups, eight replicates (4 birds/each). Hens in group 1 were fed on a commercial diet and considered as control group, while those in groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed on the same commercial diet and supplemented with 250, 500 and 1000 mg propolis/kg diet. The obtained results revealed that daily feed consumption/hen increased insignificantly with increasing propolis level than that of the control group. Regarding the means of egg mass and egg production rate, it was observed that the laying hens fed diets containing 250 and 1000 mg propolis/kg significantly (p < 0.05) produced more and heaver egg in comparison with control group. External egg quality traits have not affected with increasing the level of propolis, while eggshell weight was significantly (p < 0.05) increased. The internal egg quality traits except albumen and yolk percentages increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing propolis level for treated hens as compared to those in the control. Concerning the haematological parameters, the results showed that the levels of total protein and globulin increased significantly with increasing propolis level, while cholesterol and liver enzymes were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Heterophils count of hens in the treated groups significantly decreased, whereas the lymphocyte count significantly increased, resulting in a decreased H/L ratio than that of the control group. Thus, it could be concluded that the supplementation of 250 mg propolis/kg diet is highly recommended to improving egg production, blood constituent and haematological parameters of the commercial laying hens.     

Hatchery seed production of giant freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii using inland ground saline water in India

The suitability of inland saline water (ISW) from the Lahli‐Baniyani Fish Farm, Rohtak was investigated for the larval rearing of giant freshwater prawn (GFP), Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Six experiments were conducted. In Experiment‐I, 54% of the larvae metamorphosed to postlarvae (PL) in constituted seawater (CSW) whereas total mortality occurred at larval stages (LS)‐II and LS‐III in ISW with salinity of 12 g L^?1. Larvae survived to LS‐IV in Experiment‐II, when ISW was supplemented with K⁺~ SW. In Experiment‐III, total hardness in ISW was reduced serially, but K⁺ ~ SW was supplemented. The larvae did not survive beyond LS‐V. In Experiment‐IV, ISW was amended with different ratios of Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ and K⁺ ~ SW. The larvae successfully metamorphosed to postlarvae with highest survival of 51.6% in Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ ratio of 2.5. In Experiment‐V, eight larval cycles were run with water quality used in Experiment V, where all the cycles produced PL's with a survival rate of 20–67%. In Experiment VI, the larvae were reared in Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ ratio of 2.5 and different levels of K⁺ to optimize its requirement. The ISW amended with K⁺ 80% ~ SW and Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ ratio of 2.5 was found to be commercially suitable for the seed production of GFP.     

Immobilised Sarawak Malaysia yeast cells for production of bioethanol

Bioethanol production using yeast has become a popular topic due to worrying depleting worldwide fuel reserve. The aim of the study was to investigate the capability of Malaysia yeast strains isolated from starter culture used in traditional fermented food and alcoholic beverages in producing Bioethanol using alginate beads entrapment method. The starter yeast consists of groups of microbes, thus the yeasts were grown in Sabouraud agar to obtain single colony called ST1 (tuak) and ST3 (tapai). The growth in Yeast Potatoes Dextrose (YPD) resulted in specific growth of ST1 at micro = 0.396 h-1 and ST3 at micro = 0.38 h-1, with maximum ethanol production of 7.36 g L-1 observed using ST1 strain. The two strains were then immobilized using calcium alginate entrapment method producing average alginate beads size of 0.51 cm and were grown in different substrates; YPD medium and Local Brown Sugar (LBS) for 8 h in flask. The maximum ethanol concentration measured after 7 h were at 6.63 and 6.59 g L-1 in YPD media and 1.54 and 1.39 g L-1in LBS media for ST1 and ST3, respectively. The use of LBS as carbon source showed higher yield of product (Yp/s), 0.59 g g-1 compared to YPD, 0.25 g g-1 in ST1 and (Yp/s), 0.54 g g-1 compared to YPD, 0.24 g g-1 in ST3 . This study indicated the possibility of using local strains (STI and ST3) to produce bioethanol via immobilization technique with local materials as substrate.     

The interactive effects of paternal size and offspring feeding strategy on offspring fitness of an Indian major carp Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822)

Parental condition‐dependent offspring fitness is a well‐discussed issue in animal breeding research, while offspring environment and its interaction with parental condition are currently another very interesting topic to investigate the plasticity of phenotypic traits across an environmental gradient. The present study was, therefore, conducted following a half‐sib breeding design to test the effects of (a) paternal body size, (b) offspring feeding strategy (everyday and every other day) and (c) their interactions on fitness‐related traits (e.g., survival, total length and body area) of offspring of a commercially important aquaculture species, the Indian major carp (Labeo rohita). The analysis revealed that paternal body size had significant effects on offspring survival rate and total length, while no significant influence was found in body area. The study also showed that the offspring feeding strategy significantly affected all offspring traits. Interestingly, the study unveiled the significant interactive effects of paternal condition and offspring feeding for offspring survival rate and total length. These findings suggest that paternal size, offspring rearing environment and their interactions can influence offspring fitness‐related traits which are very essential information for the sustainable production of good quality larvae under variable dietary conditions.     

Nitrate Reduction and Nutrient Accumulation in Wheat Grown in Soil Salinized with Four Different Salts

ABSTRACT

The effect of salinization of soil with Na₂SO₄, CaCl₂, MgCl₂, and NaCl (70:35:10:23) on the biochemical characteristics of three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (‘LU-26S,’ ‘Sarsabaz’ and ‘Pasban-90’) was investigated under natural environmental conditions. Twenty-day-old seedlings of all three cultivars were subjected to three salinity treatments: 1.3 (control), 5.0, and 10 dSm^?1 for the entire life period of plants. After 120 d of seed sowing, plant biomass production decreased by 49% and 65%, respectively, in response to 5 and 10 dSm^?1 salinity levels. Addition of salts to growth medium also had a significant adverse effect on plant height. Increasing salinity treatments caused a great reduction in nitrate reductase activity (NRA) of the leaf. The inhibitory effect of salinity on nitrate reduction rate was more pronounced at the reproductive stage than at the vegetative stage of plant growth. Wheat cultivars ‘LU-26S’ and ‘Sarsabaz’ showed less reduction in NRA due to salinity compared with ‘Pasban-90.’ Ascending salinity levels significantly reduced potassium (K⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺) accumulation in shoots, while the concentration of sodium (Na⁺) was increased. Salts of growth medium increased the shoot nitrogen (N) concentration, whereas phosphorous (P) concentration of shoots was significantly reduced due to salinity. Wheat cultivars ‘LU-26S’ and ‘Sarsabaz’ proved to be the salt-tolerant ones, producing greater biomass, showing less reduction in NRA, maintaining low sodium (Na⁺), and accumulating more K⁺ and Ca²⁺ in response to salinity. These two cultivars also showed less reduction in shoot K⁺/Na⁺ and Ca⁺/Na⁺ ratios than in ‘Pasban-90,’ particularly at the 10 dSm^?1 salinity level.     

Phenotypic and genetic parameter estimates for reproductive traits in Zandi sheep

This study reports on the phenotypic and genetic (co)variance components for reproductive traits in Zandi sheep, using between 1,859 and 2,588 records obtained from 577 ewes. The data were collected from the Khojir Breeding Station of Zandi sheep in Tehran, Iran from 1994 to 2008. The basic traits were litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), litter mean weight per lamb born (LMWLB), and litter mean weight per lamb weaned (LMWLW), and the composite traits were total litter weight at birth (TLWB) and total litter weight at weaning (TLWW). Genetic analyses were carried out using the restricted maximum likelihood method that was explored by fitting the additive direct genetic effects and permanent environmental effects of the ewes as random effects and the ewe age at lambing and lambing year as fixed effects for all of the investigated traits. Akaike’s information criterion was used to choose the most appropriate model. LSB, LSW, LMWLB, LMWLW, TLWB, and TLWW direct heritability estimates were 0.07, 0.05, 0.12, 0.10, 0.08, and 0.14, respectively. The estimated fractions of variance due to the permanent environmental effects of the ewe ranged from 0.03 for LMWLB to 0.08 for LMWLW and TLWW. Corresponding repeatability estimates ranged from 0.10 for LSW to 0.22 for TLWW. Direct genetic correlations varied from ?0.61 for LSB–LMWLB to 0.88 for LSB–LSW and LSB–TLWB. Results indicate that genetic change depends not only on the heritability of traits, but also on the observed phenotypic variation; therefore, improvement of non-genetic factors should be included in the breeding programs.     

Effects of light and artificial fish shelter (PVC pipe) on some phenotypic traits of stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis Bloch, 1794)

Light and shelter are very important ecological factors that can affect many traits of fish. Therefore, a study was conducted to explore the effect of light and shelter on some phenotypic traits of stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis Bloch, 1794). During experiment, equal‐sized juveniles (mean ± SE: 9.04 ± 0.09 cm) were collected and reared in aquariums dividing into four treatment groups, such as T₁ (0L:24D without pipe), T₂ (0L:24D with pipe), T₃ (12L:12D without pipe) and T₄ (12L:12D with pipe). Each treatment had 36 fish, which were randomly distributed into three replications. The fish were kept up to 120 days, and then, the growth performance and skin colour were analysed. The results showed that both lighting and shelter conditions as well as their interactions had significant effects on some traits expression. The analyses revealed that lighting condition significantly influenced body area, head width and skin coloration, while shelter condition significantly affected total and standard length, body area, and their interaction showed significant effects on body area, head width and anal fin length. Thus, this study indicates that stinging catfish show better growth performance and colour patterns especially in dark and sheltered conditions which could be recommended for the successive production of this highly priced fish species.     

An in vitro comparative study of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and activin A effects on the maturation of preantral follicle-enclosed oocytes from immature Syrian mice

Objectives: It was aimed to investigate the effects of different doses of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and activin A on the growth and maturation of preantral mouse follicles during the in vitro culture. Methods: Preantral follicles (90-100 mum in diameter) were harvested from 6-8 week-old Syrian mice and cultured in TCM199 culture medium for 6 days to see the effect of FSH and Activin A. Activin A concentrations in the range of 10-200 ng/ml were used, while 10, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mIU/ml FSH were used in the experiment. Results: Activin A concentration of 100 ng/ml resulted in a significant increase in follicle diameter (170 mum) with the survival rate of 73% as compared to the control (100 mum and 25%, P<0.05). The number of oocytes matured and the percentage of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) was 61 and 70%, respectively as compared to the control (20 and 29%, P<0.05). Follicle diameter (190 mum) and survival rate (85%) increased significantly in the presence of 100 mIU/ml of FSH as compared to the control (P<0.05). But, the administration of activin A+FSH increased the effect of both factors on follicular diameter (205 mum as compared to 100 mum in control, P<0.01). Follicle survival, oocyte maturation and GVBD rates were 91, 81 and 89%, respectively (P<0.01). Conclusion: These results have suggested that exposure to FSH and activin A before the formation of antral cavity had positive effect on follicle survival and oocyte robustness.     

Gastric submucosal fat in cats

A previous study showed that a gastric intramural radiolucent band seen on radiographs and a gastric intramural hypoattenuating layer seen on computed tomography were due to the presence of gastric submucosal fat in a cat. There is no known prevalence and distribution pattern of this gastric submucosal fat in cats. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and distribution pattern of submucosal fat in cat stomachs. Histologic examination of 41 cat stomachs was performed after scheduled killing of cats, obtained from animal shelters. The results revealed that submucosal fat was present in all stomachs. However, thickness and distribution pattern of the submucosal fat varied.