Effects of Lysine on Growth of Tilapia Fed Diets Rich in Corn Gluten Meal

Tilapia is a warmwater fish with mild flavor. Nearly 8.6 million kg are produced domestically, and ≈22.7 million kg are imported. Corn gluten meal (60% protein fraction) is a product obtained from wet-milling of corn. Diets (36% protein) containing 36–44% corn gluten meal with different levels of lysine and fish meal were formulated and fed to tilapia in aquaria for 12 weeks. Weight gain (WG) of tilapia fed diets containing the highest level of lysine (7.4% protein) with 4% fish meal was equal to that of fish fed a commercial control diet. Diets with lower lysine resulted in lower WG. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) of tilapia fed experimental diets containing adequate levels of essential amino acids and fish meal were the same as for fish fed the commercial control diet (also containing fish meal). Fish fed diets containing lower lysine levels had less favorable FCR and PER. This study shows that corn gluten meal is utilized at high levels in tilapia diets, particularly if essential amino acids are provided in adequate amounts.     

Chemical interactions with the herbicide propanil on propanil-resistant barnyardgrass

We are examining the interaction of compounds with the herbicide propanil to find synergistic or additive actions that can increase efficacy against propanil-resistant barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli] (R-BYG) without substantial injury to rice. Field tests (herbicidal injury) and laboratory tests (chlorophyll quantification in excised leaves; measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence to determine PSII inhibition) have been conducted on R-BYG and rice tissue exposed to various rates of propanil and additive. Important synergistic interactions on R-BYG in laboratory and field tests were found with propanil plus either the herbicides anilophos or piperophos, or the insecticide carbaryl. In laboratory tests, the insecticide methiocarb and PPG-124 (p-chlorophenyl N-methylcarbamate) were highly effective synergists with propanil on R-BYG. Other important interactions occurred with certain concentrations/application rates when propanil was combined with the herbicides quinclorac, thiobencarb, molinate, or pendimethalin (field tests). Combinations of these or other chemicals with propanil may provide additive or synergistic action useful to control R-BYG without increasing rice injury. Such mixtures might also prevent or delay the development of propanil resistance in this weed species.     

Characterization of the 1B‐Type ω‐Gliadins from Triticum aestivum Cultivar Butte

ω‐Gliadins were purified from wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ‘Butte’) flour and characterized. Although reversed‐phase HPLC (RP‐HPLC) separated the 1B‐encoded ω‐gliadins into two fractions, 1B1 and 1B2, these fractions had nearly identical amino acid compositions, three similar protein bands in SDS‐PAGE, 10 similar spots in two‐dimensional PAGE, and two similar N‐terminal amino acid sequences. The main components had a range in mass of 48,900–51,500 when estimated by mass spectrometry, significantly less than the mass estimated by SDS‐PAGE. The 1B fractions were digested with thermolysin, the peptides were separated by RP‐HPLC, the peptide mass was determined, and nine peptides from each fraction were sequenced with nearly identical results for the 1B1 and 1B2 digests. A possible consensus sequence of the 1B‐encoded ω‐gliadin internal repeat was QQQXP, where X was F, I, or L in descending order of occurrence. The 1D‐encoded ω‐gliadins were purified by RP‐HPLC as a single fraction that had one band in SDS‐PAGE, two spots in two‐dimensional PAGE, two components with mass of 41,923 and 42,770 detected by mass spectrometry, and two N‐terminal sequences. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra for the 1B and 1D ω‐gliadins were similar and were suggestive of mainly flexible random structure with a significant amount of the left‐handed polyproline II helical conformation in the 1D components.     

A genome‐wide association study for partial resistance to southern corn rust in tropical maize

Southern corn rust (SCR) is a fungal disease found on corn in several countries worldwide. In Brazil, the disease can result in productivity losses of 65%, especially in areas with a history of the disease. In this study, the genetic architecture and identification of genomic regions associated with SCR resistance was investigated by performing a genome‐wide association study. Genotyping‐by‐sequencing was performed to carry out the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and phenotypic data from two environments on a panel of 164 maize inbred lines. Eight SNPs were identified as significant for SCR resistance. These SNPs were colocalized with QTL regions, some of which underlie candidate resistance genes with functions that play an important role in the stress response during pathogen recognition. These candidate genes, involved in plant defense pathways, could be associated with partial resistance to SCR and provide a partial comprehensive insight into the genetic architecture of this trait. After validation of the SNPs, they will be useful for marker–assisted selection and for a better understanding of maize resistance to SCR.     

Spatial dynamics of coastal forest bird assemblages: the influence of landscape context,forest type,and structural connectivity

Context

Complex structural connectivity patterns can influence the distribution of animals in coastal landscapes, particularly those with relatively large home ranges, such as birds. To understand the nuanced nature of coastal forest avifauna, where there may be considerable overlap in assemblages of adjacent forest types, the concerted influence of regional landscape context and vegetative structural connectivity at multiple spatial scales warrants investigation.

Objectives

This study determined whether species compositions of coastal forest bird assemblages differ with regional landscape context or with forest type, and if this is influenced by structural connectivity patterns measured at multiple spatial scales.

Methods

Three replicate bird surveys were conducted in four coastal forest types at ten survey locations across two regional landscape contexts in northeast Australia. Structural connectivity patterns of 11 vegetation types were quantified at 3, 6, and 12 km spatial scales surrounding each survey location, and differences in bird species composition were evaluated using multivariate ordination analysis.

Results

Bird assemblages differed between regional landscape contexts and most coastal forest types, although Melaleuca woodland bird assemblages were similar to those of eucalypt woodlands and rainforests. Structural connectivity was primarily correlated with differences in bird species composition between regional landscape contexts, and correlation depended on vegetation type and spatial scale.

Conclusions

Spatial scale, landscape context, and structural connectivity have a combined influence on bird species composition. This suggests that effective management of coastal landscapes requires a holistic strategy that considers the size, shape, and configuration of all vegetative components at multiple spatial scales.

     

Advances in hatchery and grow-out technology of cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus)

This paper describes advances in hatchery and grow‐out technology of cobia (Rachycentron canadum, Linnaeus). In 2007, methods for capture, transport, acclimation, sampling, conditioned spawning, larval rearing, fingerling production, nursery, shipping and grow‐out have been perfected. Survival rates ranging from 17.5% to 35% were achieved from egg to shipping size fingerlings (1.0 g) in 2007 at the University of Miami Experimental Fish Hatchery, with production of approximately 20 000 fingerlings per 12 000 L tank. Wild and F1 broodstock cobia have been conditioned to spawn through temperature manipulation producing viable eggs for experimental and production level larval rearing trials in several hatcheries. Brood fish have also been induced to spawn using hormones. Cobia appear to be susceptible to infestations by parasitic protozoa such as Amyloodinium ocellatum and to infections caused by deleterious bacteria such as Photobacterium spp. and Vibrio spp. Prophylactic methods used to prevent and control epizootic diseases at the hatchery are summarized. Improved techniques for cage management were implemented, and both novel designs of submerged cages deployed in exposed areas and traditional gravity cages in protected areas have been used for commercial ongrowing of cobia in the Americas and the Caribbean region.     

Real‐time measurement of protein leaching from micro‐particulate larval fish feeds

The small size and high surface area to volume ratio of larval fish feed presents challenges for nutrient retention in micro‐particulate diets. A method for the accurate and rapid measurement of nutrient retention or loss from micro‐particulate feed in water is needed to help develop micro‐particulate feeds with good nutrient retention characteristics. The present study developed and validated an instrument method using fibre optic technology that measures protein leaching in real time. Larval fish feed particles of different sizes (100–500 μm) and formulations were measured. Under consistent experimental conditions, a feed could be assayed for the rate of mass loss and the half‐life or time of 50% total soluble mass loss. The results closely approximated natural decay models with coefficients of determination (r²) >0.95. The end result is a fast and accurate method to quantify and provide solid reference data for a feed formulation or particle size. Using this method allows different feeds to be compared and conclusions drawn for relative performance.     

MicroRNA expression in zebrafish embryonic development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs, about 21 nucleotides in length, that can regulate gene expression by base-pairing to partially complementary mRNAs. Regulation by miRNAs can play essential roles in embryonic development. We determined the temporal and spatial expression patterns of 115 conserved vertebrate miRNAs in zebrafish embryos by microarrays and by in situ hybridizations, using locked-nucleic acid-modified oligonucleotide probes. Most miRNAs were expressed in a highly tissue-specific manner during segmentation and later stages, but not early in development, which suggests that their role is not in tissue fate establishment but in differentiation or maintenance of tissue identity.     

NH3基因转化水稻的研究

NPR1(non-expresser of pathogenesis related genes 1)是水杨酸(salicilic acid,SA)介导的植物系统获得抗性(systemic aquired resistance,SAR)的关键调控因子,在水稻中过量表达拟南芥NPR1和水稻NH1/OsNPR1(NPR1homologue 1)(NPR1的同源物)可增强抗病性.水稻基因组中还有4个NPR1旁系同源物(paralog).为了研究水稻NPR1旁系同源物3,NH3(NPR1 homologue 3),本文利用其自身启动子驱动NH3基因的表达,构建载体将其转入水稻,获得了10个T0代转基因植株.PCR检测证明NK3基因已成功转入水稻中.     

Pharmacokinetics and plasma concentrations of acetylsalicylic acid after intravenous, rectal, and intragastric administration to horses

Six healthy adult horses (5 mares and 1 stallion) were given a single dose of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), 20 mg/kg of body weight, by intravenous (IV), rectal, and intragastric (IG) routes. Serial blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture over a 36-h period, and plasma ASA and salicylic acid (SA) concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. After IV administration, the mean elimination rate constant of ASA (± the standard error of the mean) was 1.32 ± 0.09 h⁻l, the mean elimination half-life was 0.53 ± 0.04 h, the area under the plasma concentration-versus-time curve (AUC) was 2555 ± 98 μg · min/mL, the plasma clearance was 472 ± 18.9 mL/h/kg, and the volume of distribution at steady state was 0.22 ± 0.01 L/kg. After rectal administration, the plasma concentration of ASA peaked at 5.05 ± 0.80 μg/mL at 0.33 h, then decreased to undetectable levels by 4 h; the plasma concentration of SA peaked at 17.39 ± 5.46 μg/mL at 2 h, then decreased to 1.92 ± 0.25 μg/mL by 36 h. After rectal administration, the AUC for ASA was 439.4 ± 94.55 μg · min/mL and the bioavailability was 0.17 ± 0.037. After IG administration, the plasma concentration of ASA peaked at 1.26 ± 0.10 μg/mL at 0.67 h, then declined to 0.37 ± 0.37 μg/mL by 36 h; the plasma concentration of SA peaked at 23.90 ± 4.94 μg/mL at 4 h and decreased to 0.85 ± 0.31 μg/mL by 36 h. After IG administration, the AUC for ASA was 146.70 ± 24.90 μg · min/mL and the bioavailability was 0.059 ± 0.013. Administration of a single rectal dose of ASA of 20 mg/kg to horses results in higher peak plasma ASA concentrations and greater bioavailability than the same dose given IG. Plasma ASA concentrations after rectal administration should be sufficient to inhibit platelet thromboxane production, and doses lower than those suggested for IG administration may be adequate.