Effects of dietary arachidonic acid on final maturation,spawning and composition of gonad of black sea urchin Diadema setosum (Leske, 1778)

This study investigated the effect of dietary arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n‐6) on final maturation, spawning performance and composition of the gonad of black sea urchin (Diadema setosum). Four different dietary ARA levels of 0.3 g/kg (Control diet), 1.4 g/kg (ARA 1.4), 2.5 g/kg (ARA 2.5) and 3.7 g/kg (ARA 3.7) were prepared and tested in this feeding trial for 90 days. The result showed that growth in terms of weight was not relatively affected by dietary ARA. Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) of animals were gradually increased in all the diets throughout the trial. The highest GSI level (25.7 ± 3.16%) was observed in animals fed with the diet ARA 1.4. ARA content in the gonad proportionally increased with dietary ARA levels. The highest larval survival rate (85.5 ± 5.67%) was found in diet ARA 2.5. The results of this study indicate that ARA plays an important role in the reproduction functions of black sea urchin and supplementing an appropriate level of ARA in the broodstock diet could induce the final maturation and improve reproduction of black sea urchin, but a higher level of ARA (3.7 g/kg) seems to have a negative effect on both growth rate and GSI.     

An artificial neural network model for estimating Mentha crop biomass yield using Landsat 8 OLI

Yield forecasting is essential for management of the food and agriculture economic growth of a country. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based models have been used widely to make precise and realistic forecasts, especially for the nonlinear and complicated problems like crop yield prediction, biomass change detection and crop evapo-transpiration examination. In the present study, various parameters viz. spectral bands of Landsat 8 OLI (Operational Land Imager) satellite data and derived spectral indices along with field inventory data were evaluated for Mentha crop biomass estimation using ANN technique of Multilayer Perceptron. The estimated biomass showed a good relationship (R²?=?0.762 and root mean square error (RMSE)?=?2.74 t/ha) with field-measured biomass.

     

Discovery and detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in coding and genomic sequences in chickpea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer arietinum</Emphasis> L.)

Chickpea genetic mapping has been hampered by insufficient amplicon length polymorphism for sequence based markers. To develop an alternative source of polymorphic markers, we determined naturally abundant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in coding and genomic regions between FLIP 84-92C (C. arietinum) and PI 599072 (C. reticulatum) and identified an inexpensive method to detect SNP for mapping. In coding sequences, 110 single base changes or substitutions (47% transitions and 53% transversions) and 18 indels were found; while 50 single base changes (68% transitions and 33% transversions) and eight indels were observed in genomic sequences. SNP frequency in coding and genomic regions was 1 in 66 bp and 1 in 71 bp, respectively. In order to effectively use this high frequency of polymorphism, we used Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Site (CAPS) and derived CAPS (dCAPS) marker systems to identify a restriction site at SNP loci. In this study, we developed six CAPS and dCAPS markers and fine mapped QTL1, a region previously identified as important for ascochyta blight resistance. One of the CAPS markers from a BAC end was identified to account for 56% of the variation for ascochyta blight resistance in chickpea. Conversion of naturally abundant SNPs to CAPS and dCAPS for chickpea mapping, where absence of amplicon length polymorphism is a constraint, has potential to generate high-density maps necessary for map-based cloning and integration of physical and genetic maps.     

Transgene integration - an analysis in autotransgenic Labeo rohita Hamilton (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

Transgenic Labeo rohita founder population was analyzed for the presence of autotransgene having histone 3 promoter and growth hormone (GH) cDNA (LRH3-GHcDNA) or total GH gene (LRH3-GH2.8) by PCR with transgene specific primers. Transgene specific amplification was seen with LRH3-GHcDNA in five out of seven individuals and all three fishes with LRH3-GH2.8, indicating their transgenic nature. Transgene integration was also studied by Southern hybridization of DNA isolated from blood of the transgenic fishes with two different probes (histone 3 promoter and cDNA of L. rohita). Autotransgene integration was confirmed in all PCR positive transgenic individuals. The site of integration of the transgene in the genome of the four transgenic fish could be determined by inverse PCR. Two individuals showed integration at the same site whereas in the remaining two individuals the integration sites were different.     

Evaluation of Bacillus subtilis as a probiotic to Indian major carp Labeo rohita (Ham.)

Bacillus subtilis, a Gram‐positive, aerobic, endospore‐forming bacterium, was evaluated for its probiotic potential in Indian major carp, Labeo rohita. Labeo rohita (15±2 g) were fed a feed containing B. subtilis in three concentrations for 2 weeks, e.g., 0.5 (T₂), 1.0 (T₃) and 1.5 (T₄) × 10⁷ CFU g^?1 feed. The control group (T₁) was fed feed without B. subtilis for the same period. Haematological and serum parameters were monitored at weekly intervals. The response variables were total erythrocyte count, total leucocyte count (TLC), haemoglobin, total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin–globulin ratio, alkaline phosphatase activity, alanine aminotransferase activity and aspartate aminotransferase activity. Fish were challenged intraperitoneally with a virulent strain of Aeromonas hydrophila after 2 weeks of feeding to the treatment groups and positive control group, while the negative control group was challenged with phosphate‐buffered saline only. Clinical signs and symptoms, and mortality/survival percentage were noted in each group. The haematological and serum parameters were monitored each week and during post challenge on the third and tenth day. The B. subtilis‐treated fish (T₄, 1.5 × 10⁷ CFU g^?1 feed) showed maximum per cent survival (87.50%), weight gain (35.5%), TLCs (3.23 × 10⁴ cells mm^?3), haemoglobin content (7.4 g%), total protein (2.37 gdL^?1) and globulin content (1.28 g dL^?1) during the pre‐challenge. Enzymes showed higher activities during post challenge (P<0.05). The result suggests that B. subtilis can be used effectively as a commercial product for use in aquaculture.     

Effects of supplemental xylanase and xylooligosaccharides on production performance and gut health variables of broiler chickensOA

Background: This study evaluated the effects of supplemental xylanase and xylooligosaccharides(XOS) in a cornsoybean meal(SBM)-based diet on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers. A total of 288 day-old chicks(Cobb 500) were allocated to 36 floor pens(8 birds/pen) equally in 9 dietary treatments in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement. The treatments were combinations of 3 levels of xylanase(0, 0.005% and 0.01% Econase XT) and 3 levels of prebiotics(0, 0.005% and 0.01% XOS) added to basa...     

Dietary supplementation of dried plum: a novel strategy to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens

Background: Heat stress is a significant problem in the poultry industry, causing a severe economic loss due to its detrimental effects on chickens' health and performance. Dried plum(DP) is a good source of minerals, vitamins,antioxidants, and phenolic compounds. Studies have suggested that DP has several health benefits, such as maintaining the body's redox system, immune status, and calcium hemostasis. Based on the health benefits of DP,we hypothesized that the dietary supplementation of DP would alleviate the detrimental effects of heat stress on broiler chickens.Results: To test the hypothesis, day-old broiler chicks(n = 72) were randomly allocated to three treatment groups(n = 24/group): no heat stress(NHS), heat stress(HS), and heat stress with dried plum(HS + DP), and reared under standard conditions. The inclusion of 2.5% DP in the feed of the HS + DP group was made during the treatment period, while birds in other groups were provided with a standard finisher diet. After 21 days, birds in the HS and HS + DP groups were exposed to cyclic heat stress conditions(33 °C for 8 h during daytime) for 3 weeks, while those in the NHS group were reared under normal conditions(22–24 °C). Weekly body weight and feed intake were recorded to calculate the average daily gain(ADG), average daily feed intake(ADFI), and feed conversion ratio(FCR). Heat stress significantly decreased the final body weight, ADG, ADFI, and increased FCR compared to the NHS group, whereas dietary supplementation of DP significantly improved these growth performance parameters compared to the HS group. Furthermore, supplementation of DP significantly increased the expression of heat shock protein-related genes(HSF1, HSF3, HSP70, and HSP90), antioxidant-related genes(SOD1, SOD2, GPX1, GPX3,PRDX1, and TXN), tight junction-related genes(CLDN1, and OCLN), and immune-related genes(IL4, MUC2) in the ileum as compared to the HS group. The microbiota analysis showed significant enrichment of Bacillales,Christensenellaceae, Bacillaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, and Anaerotruncus in heat-stressed birds supplemented with DP as compared to the HS group. Further, DP supplementation also significantly increased the concentration of acetate, propionate, and total VFA in the cecal digesta of the HS + DP group as compared to the HS group.Conclusion: These findings suggest that DP supplementation effectively improved the growth performances and gut health parameters in the heat-stressed birds. Thus, dried plum can be a potential feed supplement to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens.     

Responses of maize × teosinte derived backcross inbred lines (BILs) to maydis leaf blight (MLB) disease

Euphytica - Rice growth and productivity are greatly affected by cold stress, which is likely to become more of a hindrance for high and stable rice yields. To identify cold tolerance at the...     

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSES RESULTING FROM CADMIUM AND ZINC ACCUMULATION IN CARROT PLANTS

The interactive effect of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) bioaccumulation on physiological and biochemical characteristics of carrot (Daucus carota L. var Pusa Kesar) plants grown with different levels of Cd and Zn was examined. The combined application of Cd and Zn (Cd+Zn) had synergistic and antagonistic effects at low and high concentrations, respectively, on Cd accumulations in plants, chlorophyll b, and photosynthesis and transpiration rates. Whereas both low and high Cd+Zn concentrations had synergistic effects on Zn accumulation, ascorbic acid, protein content, total phenols, peroxidase activity, chlorophyll a, total, carotenoids and stomatal conductance. Bioaccumulation of Cd had strong and negative relationships with measured physiological and biochemical parameters. The study further showed that Cd and Zn in combination have more toxic effects on carrot plants as compared to their individual treatments. This study concludes that interactive effects of Cd and Zn on test plant depend on their ratios present in plants.