Effects of embryonic exposure to α‐lipoic acid or ascorbic acid on hatching rate and development of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study investigates the effects of embryonic exposure to two different antioxidants on growth and development in fish. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos (100 per group) were exposed to lipoic acid (LA, 6–12 μM) or ascorbic acid (AA, 100–200 μM) and the hatching rate, standard lengths (SL) at hatching, development and growth post‐hatching monitored. The SLs at hatching were increased (P<0.05) in both antioxidant‐exposed groups relative to the controls, with no effect on yolk reserves. This enhanced development persisted up to 15 days post hatching. At hatching, cell proliferation rates (P<0.0005) and basic fibroblast growth factor (P<0.001), were greater in the antioxidant‐exposed fish than in the controls (0 μM antioxidant); no oxidative DNA damage was detected (P>0.05). Activity of the endogenous antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase was greater (P<0.001) in LA‐treated fish than in the controls. The results suggest that embryonic treatment of zebrafish with LA or AA during embryogenesis enhanced cell proliferation, leading to increased somatic growth in the larval stages, persisting into the juvenile stage. The findings support the treatment of embryonic fish with antioxidants for enhanced results in aquaculture.     

Compensatory growth and body composition of juvenile black rockfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sebastes schlegeli</Emphasis> following feed deprivation

ABSTRACT:   Compensatory growth, feeding rate, feed efficiency and chemical composition of juvenile black rockfish (mean weight 1.43 g) were investigated for 35 days after a 14-day feed deprivation treatment under four feeding conditions: one group continuously fed (control) and the other three groups fasted for 5 days (F5), 10 days (F10) and 14 days (F14). All fasted fish were re-fed from day 15. Only F5 achieved the same body weight as the control, indicating that complete compensation occurred in F5. The specific growth rate (SGR) of F5 was the highest at day 21 and then decreased thereafter, showing higher values than the control at days 21, 28 and 42. In contrast, although SGRs of F10 and F14 were higher than that of the control during the whole refeeding period except day 21, they did not catch up the control in body mass, indicating that only partial compensation occurred in F10 and F14. The feeding rate (FR) of all groups except F14 changed in a pattern similar to SGR (Spearman's rank correlation, r _s > 0.9), suggesting that SGR varied depending on FR. Similar feeding efficiencies (FEs) were found in the four groups and they did not vary significantly during the whole refeeding period, suggesting that FE was not the factor affecting SGR. At day 14, the ratios of lipid to lean body mass in F10 and F14 were lower than those in the control and F5, and there was no difference between the control and F5. At day 49, however, only F14 showed a lower value than the other three groups, and there was no difference among the three groups. These results indicate that juvenile black rockfish fasted for 5–14 days can exhibit compensatory growth after refeeding, but timing and degree vary depending on the duration of feed deprivation.     

Isolation and characteristics of eight novel polymorphic microsatellite loci from the genome of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Here we characterized eight novel polymorphic SSR markers, developed from an enriched genomic library of garlic (Allium sativum L.). These SSRs produced a total of 64 alleles across 90 garlic accessions, with an average of 8 alleles per locus. Values for observed (H_O) and expected (H_E) heterozygosity ranged from 0.16 to 0.77 (mean = 0.44) and from 0.22 to 0.86 (mean = 0.65), respectively. Six loci deviated significantly (P < 0.05) from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The averages of gene diversity and PIC values were 0.65 and 0.62, respectively. The mean genetic similarity coefficient was 0.4380, indicating that among garlic accessions existed wide genetic variation. Based on 64 alleles obtained by 8 SSRs, a phenogram was constructed to understand the relationships among the 90 accessions. These newly developed SSRs should prove very useful tools for genotypes identification, assessment of genetic diversity and population structure in garlic.     

Varietal differences in phenolic content and astringency in skin and flesh of hardy kiwifruit resources in Japan

Varietal differences in the total phenolic content and astringency in the skin and flesh were determined among the cultivars and local collections of hardy kiwifruit with a ploidy variance found in Japan. The average values of the total phenolic content in the skin and flesh were 2.66 and 0.18 g 100 g⁻¹ FW, respectively. There were large varietal differences in the total phenolic content in the skin in the range of 1.3–5.0 g 100 g⁻¹ FW. Kochi (tetraploid), while Gassan and ‘Mitsuko’ (hexaploid) contained a larger amount of total phenolics. High astringency was found in Gassan, ‘Mitsuko’ and ‘Hoko’ (hexaploids) and Kochi. HPLC analysis showed that the major components of phenolics in the flesh were (+)-catechin, chlorogenic acid, rutin, (−)-epicatechin and quercetin.     

Effects of AMF inoculation on growth of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer seedlings and on soil structures in mycorrhizosphere

We aimed to investigate the effects of inoculating Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer seedlings with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) by examining the root colonization, plant nutrition uptake, growth characteristics, and soil aggregation of P. ginseng seedlings inoculated at the time of transplantation. At 16 weeks, the AMF spore density per 30 g of fresh mycorrhizosphere in seedlings inoculated with AMF (AMF+ seedlings) was 256.8 and that in seedlings not inoculated with AMF (AMF− seedlings) was 186.3, respectively. The colonization rate of AMF in the lateral roots of AMF+ seedlings was approximately 19% higher than that in the lateral roots of AMF− seedlings. The patterns of AMF colonization in ginseng roots were similar to those of the Paris-type mycorrhizal association. Plant growth characteristics, such as plant height, root length, leaf area, number of lateral roots, fresh weight of shoots and roots, and chlorophyll content, were significantly enhanced in AMF+ seedlings compared to AMF− seedlings. The macronutrient content (P, K, and Ca) and micronutrient content (Cu, Fe, and Zn) of both shoots and roots were also significantly higher in AMF+ seedlings compared to AMF− seedlings. Furthermore, glomalin content and soil aggregation were significantly enhanced in AMF inoculated areas. Our results indicate that AMF inoculation may enhance the growth of ginseng seedlings by improving the uptake of mineral nutrients and the soil structure in mycorrhizosphere.     

Effects of post-harvest foliar boron and calcium applications on subsequent season's pollen germination and pollen tube growth of pear (Pyrus pyrifolia)

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of foliar boron and calcium application after harvest on the quantity and activity of pollen in the ‘Housui’ and ‘Wonwhang’ pears on a subsequent year. Pollen grains of the ‘Housui’ pear were cultured on germination medium, to which had been added boric acid (0, 25, 75, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg L⁻¹) and calcium nitrate (0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, and 500 mg L⁻¹). Boric acid, which was added to the germination media, exerted a significant stimulatory effect on both pollen germination and pollen tube growth, although pollen tube growth was inhibited at higher concentrations than 300 mg L⁻¹. Calcium nitrate addition stimulated pollen germination, except at concentration of 500 mg L⁻¹. However, pollen tube growth was significantly inhibited with increasing concentrations of calcium nitrate. In the orchard experiment, boron and calcium were sprayed at concentrations of 0, 100, 200, 500 or 1000 mg L⁻¹ onto leaves after harvest, respectively. Boron and calcium content in the tissues as well as pollen production and growth were determined after these treatments. The foliar application of boron mainly resulted in an increase of boron concentration in buds. It also induced an increase in the weight of the anther and pollen in the following year. On the other hand, the foliar application of calcium resulted in an increase of calcium concentration mainly in the leaves, but pollen weight was decreased at high concentration treatment in the following year. The germination rate and tube growth of collected pollen were highest in the trees which had received boron treatment at a concentration of 200 mg L⁻¹. In contrast, the germination rate and tube growth of collected pollen were decreased by calcium application at concentrations of 500 and 1000 mg L⁻¹ without significant increase at lower concentrations. Consequently, the accumulation of boron in the developed buds of pear trees subjected to post-harvest foliar boron application generated positive effects on both the quantity and quality of pollen in the following year.     

Relating tradable credits for biodiversity to sustainability criteria in a dynamic landscape

Tradable biodiversity credit systems provide flexible means to resolve conflicts between development and conservation land-use options for habitats occupied by threatened or endangered species. We describe an approach to incorporate the influence of habitat fragmentation into the conservation value of tradable credits. Habitat fragmentation decreases gene flow, increases rates of genetic drift and inbreeding, and increases probabilities of patch extinction. Importantly, tradable credit systems will change the level of fragmentation over time for small and/or declining populations. We apply landscape equivalency analysis (LEA), a generalizable, landscape-scale accounting system that assigns conservation value to habitat patches based on patch contributions to abundance and genetic variance at landscape scales. By evaluating habitat trades using two models that vary the relationship between dispersal behaviors and landscape patterns, we show that LEA provides a novel method for limiting access to habitat at the landscape-scale, recognizing that the appropriate amount of migration needed to supplement patch recruitment and to offset drift and inbreeding will vary as landscape pattern changes over time. We also found that decisions based on probabilities of persistence alone would ignore changes in migration, genetic drift, and patch extinction that result from habitat trades. The general principle of LEA is that habitat patches traded should make at least equivalent contributions to rates of recruitment and migration estimated at a landscape scale. Traditional approaches for assessing the “take” and “jeopardy” standards under the Endangered Species Act based on changes in abundance and probability of persistence may be inadequate to prevent trades that increase fragmentation.     

Estimation of irrigation return flow from paddy fields considering the soil moisture

The objective of this study was to estimate irrigation return flow in irrigated paddy fields considering the soil moisture. The proposed model was applied to examine its feasibility with regard to the growing period of rice. Simulation results showed a good agreement between the observed and simulated values: root mean square error (RMSE) of 6.05-7.27 mm day⁻¹, coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.72-0.73, and coefficient of efficiency (E) of 0.54-0.55. The estimated average annual irrigation return flow during the period from 1998 to 2001 was 306.2 mm, which was approximately 25.7% of the annual irrigation amounts. Of this annual irrigation return flow, 14.1% was attributable to quick and 11.6% to delayed return flow. These results indicate that considerable amounts of irrigation water in the paddy fields were returned to streams and canals by surface runoff and groundwater discharge. The modeling assessment method proposed in this study can be used to manage agriculture water and estimate irrigation return flow under different hydrological and water management conditions.