Techno-economic evaluation of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) nursery rearing in small net cages (hapas) under different coastal salinities

Nursery rearing is the critical interim phase in farming of Asian seabass fish (Lates calcarifer), which produce fish fingerlings as an input for grow-out farming. The present study evaluated the techno-economic performance of seabass nursery rearing in low and high saline coastal waters. The results indicated that seabass nursery rearing is technically efficient with a mean technical efficiency of 99.83% and 92.45%, respectively under low and high saline conditions. The mean survival of young fishes was 63.50% and 42.50% with a mean daily weight gain of 0.08 g and 0.15 g, respectively in low and high saline waters. While the benefit cost ratio (BCR) was 2.76 and 1.9, the internal rate of return (IRR) was calculated to be 300% and 130%, respectively, indicating the economic viability of nursery rearing under different salinity regimes. Furthermore, it was observed that nursery rearing in low saline waters was more efficient and highly remunerative. In the Indian socio-economic scenario, a mean monthly income per person spending 2 h per day was found to be 129 USD and 317 USD respectively in high and low saline nursery systems which is a considerable earning. The results explicitly stated that nursery rearing itself is an exclusively livelihood development activity for the coastal fisher families with an active participation of fisher women. Establishment of finfish hatcheries to ensure continued supply of seabass seeds is the key factor in facilitating wider adoption of nursery rearing as a sustainable farming activity.

     

Insights into the divergent evolution of the oceanic squid Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) from the Indian Ocean

Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis is known for its complex population structure with three major transoceanic forms (viz. middle-sized, dwarf, and giant forms) whose taxonomic status has been disputed for decades. This integrated taxonomic study examines these prevenient morphotypes gathered on cruises in the Indian Ocean to ascertain their status in the evolutionary history of the species. Molecular analyses employing mitochondrial (COI, ND2) and nuclear (H3) markers revealed four genetically distinct and novel lineages of the species in the Indian Ocean, representing three morphotypes from the Arabian Sea and one from the Southern Indian Ocean. The mitochondrial-based phylograms revealed two distinct clades in the species: “dwarf forms + giant form” and “middle-sized forms,” which further branch into geographically structured evolutionary units. Species delimitation analyses recovered five distinct clades, namely, the Arabian Sea giant and dwarf forms, Equatorial, Eastern Typical, and Other Middle-sized forms, representing the consensus molecular operational taxonomic units. H3 being heterozygous could not resolve the phylogeny. Haplotype network and AMOVA analysis of mtDNA genes indicated explicit phylogeographic structuring of haplotypes, whereas these outputs and PCA results were incongruent with the morphological grouping. Phenetic features distinguishing the morphotypes were sometimes plastic and mismatched with the genotypes. The giant form was genetically close to the dwarf forms, contradicting the earlier notion that it descended from the middle-sized form. It may be assumed that the dwarf form evolved following sympatric speciation and adaptation to warm equatorial waters, while the focal features of the Western Arabian Sea guide toward allopatric speciation of the giant form.     

Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of Boswellia ovalifoliolata essential oils from leaf and bark

We isolated the essential oils from Boswellia ovalifoliolata N.P.Balakr and A.N.Henry using hydrodistillation,identified the obtained compounds using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC–MS) and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),and studied the photophysical and electrochemical properties using UV–visible and fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.On the basis of GC–MS spectra,38 compounds were identified in the essential oil from leaves and 26 in the oil from bark.The bark oil contained 13.44% b-Farnesene(sesquiterpene),10.45% caryophyllene oxide(sesquiterpene) and 6.6% spathulenol,(2 Z,6 E)-(sesquiterpene alcohol); the leaf oil contained 11.1% spathulenol(sesquiterpene alcohol),9.0% caryophyllene oxide(sesquiterpenoids) and 6.3% decyl acetate(ester).FT-IR spectra confirmed the presence of aliphatic aldehydes and ketones,carboxylic acid,alcohols,esters and ethers in both oil types.UV–visible absorption spectra showed maximum absorbance at 245,290 and 402 nm for bark oil,and 250,285 and 325 nm for leaf.Bark oil showed strong emission with maximum emission wavelength at 456 nm was higher than that of leaf oil at 414 nm.The essential oil had significant anti-inflammatory activity,and the reduction potential of the leaf oil was-0.44 and-0.56 e V for bark.     

Nitric oxide is involved in chitosan‐induced systemic resistance in pearl millet against downy mildew disease

BACKGROUND: The nature and durability of resistance offered by chitosan and the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in chitosan‐induced defence reactions in pearl millet against downy mildew disease were investigated. RESULTS: It had previously been reported that chitosan seed priming protected pearl millet plants against downy mildew disease. Further elucidation of the mechanism of resistance showed that chitosan seed priming protects the plants systemically. A minimum 4 day time gap is required between the chitosan treatment and pathogen inoculation for maximum resistance development, and it was found to be durable. Chitosan seed priming elevated NO accumulation in pearl millet seedlings, beginning from 2 h post‐inoculation, and it was found to be involved in the activation of early defence reactions such as hypersensitive reaction, callose deposition and PR‐1 protein expression. Pretreatment with NO scavenger C‐PTIO and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L‐NAME before pathogen inoculation reduced the disease‐protecting ability of chitosan, and defence reactions were also downregulated, which indicated a possible role for NO in chitosan‐induced resistance. CONCLUSION: Protection offered by chitosan against pearl millet downy mildew disease is systemic in nature and durable. Chitosan‐induced resistance is activated via NO signalling, as defence reactions induced by chitosan were downregulated under NO deficient conditions. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of the expression of Escherichia coli fhuA gene in Rhizobium sp. IC3123 and ST1 in planta: Its role in increased nodule occupancy and function in pigeon pea

The inability to utilize a fungal siderophore as source of iron nutrition by most of the rhizobial cultures isolated from pigeon pea, could be considered a negative fitness factor since hydroxamate siderophores are found in significant amounts in natural soils. Thus these cultures were engineered to use ferrichrome a prototype of hydroxamate type siderophore. Pigeon pea Rhizobium spp. IC3123 and ST1 harboring Escherichia coli fhuA gene, responsible for uptake of Fe³⁺-ferrichrome, were obtained by transformation with pGR1, a broad host range plasmid carrying the fhuA gene under the control of the lac promoter of E. coli. Expression of fhuA in transformed rhizobial strains IC3123::pGR1 and ST1::pGR1 was confirmed by the ability of the plasmid-bearing strains to utilize iron bound to ferrichrome. Inoculation of pigeon pea plants with fhuA expressing rhizobial strains in pot experiments showed a significant increase in plant growth as well as nodule density as compared to those inoculated with the parent as well as the empty vector-bearing strain. Inoculation of pigeon pea seedlings with IC3123::pGR1 and ST1::pGR1 led to marked increase in shoot fresh weight, nodule number per plant, chlorophyll content of leaves and effective nodule symbiosis when compared with plants inoculated with the parent strains IC3123 and ST1. The positive effect of IC3123::pGR1 and ST1::pGR1 treatment on plant growth was more significantly observed when ferrichrome producing Ustilago maydis, known to secrete ferrichrome, was co-inoculated along with the transformed rhizobia. The presence of fhuA gene in rhizobial strains also led to an increased survival and root colonization.     

Evaluation of ELISA based on the conserved and functional middle region of nucleocapsid protein to detect distemper infection in dogs

A 287 bp fragment from the middle region of the nucleocapsid protein of canine distemper virus (CDV) was amplified from the conjunctival samples of distemper-infected dogs and was cloned into pRSET B vector. The recombinant protein was expressed as a 16-kDa-fusion protein with histidine tag in E. coli. Sera of distemper-infected and vaccinated dogs contained IgG antibodies against the purified recombinant protein as observed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and showed a strong correlation (r = 0.882, p < 0.0001 at 95% CI) and good agreement (kappa = 0.718) with the conventional tissue culture viral antigen based ELISA. Further, the results of recombinant protein based ELISA and Western blotting with the sera from the infected and vaccinated dogs correlated well (kappa = 0.8226). These findings recommend the use of the recombinant protein in the serodiagnosis of canine distemper virus infection in dogs.     

Ultrasonic studies on lamivudine: beta-cyclodextrin and polymer inclusion complexes

The aim of the present study is to enhance the solubility and stability of drugs in addition of water-soluble polymer and carbohydrate complexes. The data show that the polymer polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) interacts with the free Lamivudine and with the Lamivudine; beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) inclusion complex, in both cases with particular intermolecular interaction was studied using ultrasonic technique under different concentrations at a temperature 303 K. Consequently, the reason of this study was to improve the biological performance of the drug through enhancing its solubility and stability. The binary and ternary mixtures prepared inclusion complexes of Lamivudine in beta-CD and PVA. The presence of PVA, changes the drug: beta-CD interaction, a Lamivudine: beta-CD: PVA complex was formed. In addition, the presence of PVA produces a strong increase in the binding constant at a particular concentration (1.25%). In the ternary complex, the Lamivudine is wrapped at both ends for the beta-CD. In this complex, the polymer seems to act as a bridge between both beta-CD molecules that bind the Lamivudine.     

Hypersensitive reaction and P/HRGP accumulation is modulated by nitric oxide through hydrogen peroxide in pearl millet during Sclerospora graminicola infection

Priming of pearl millet seedlings with nitric oxide (NO) donors sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S-nitrosoglutathione (SNOG) induced hypersensitive reactions (HR) and accumulation of Proline/Hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (P/HRGP) during infection by downy mildew pathogen Sclerospora graminicola. Such defense responses were specifically altered by concentration of NO donors resulting in the modulation of endogenous NO in seedling tissues. The stoichiometric interactions of NO and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) when followed in relation to HR and P/HRGP accumulation, the degree of defense response varied with H₂O₂ level, the latter being largely influenced by NO concentration. Therefore, balancing NO and H₂O₂ is vital for optimum expression of defense responses for imparting disease resistance.     

Direct shoot organogenesis from leaf explants of Embelia ribes Burm. f.: a vulnerable medicinal plant

An efficient system was developed for direct plant regeneration from in vitro-derived leaf explants of Embelia ribes Burm. f., a vulnerable medicinal woody climber of the Western Ghats of India. The in vitro procedure involved three steps that included induction of shoot initials from leaf tissue, regeneration and elongation of shoots from the shoot initials, and rooting of shoots. The induction of shoot initials was achieved on Murashige and Skoog (MS) solid medium supplemented with different concentrations of thidiazuron (TDZ). The best medium for shoot induction was MS with 0.272 μM TDZ. Numerous shoot primordia developed within 2–3 weeks on the leaf margin as well as on the midrib region, without any callus phase. In the second step, the shoot clumps separated from the leaf explant on transfer to MS basal medium, resulting in the differentiation of 90% of the shoot initials into well-developed shoots. The 2- to 3-cm-long shoots rooted on half-strength MS basal medium supplemented with 4.90 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 3% (w/v) sucrose in the third stage. The rooted plants could be established in soil with 70% success. This protocol could be utilized for in vitro propagation and conservation of this important threatened medicinal plant.     

Mosquito adulticidal activity of a biosurfactant produced by Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis

BACKGROUND: A biosurfactant, surfactin, produced by a strain of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis (VCRC B471), was effective in killing mosquito larval and pupal stages. As it was lethal to the non‐feeding pupal stage, it was presumed that it could kill the adult mosquitoes also. In this study, the adulticidal effect of the biosurfactant was assessed in the laboratory against a malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi. RESULTS: The biosurfactant surfactin, separated from the culture supernatant of the production strain, showed mosquito adulticidal activity when tested as ultralow‐volume (ULV) spray in a Peet‐Grady chamber. Knockdown activity and mortality were found to increase with increasing surfactin dosage. Knockdown dosage (KD) and lethal dosage (LD) were calculated by statistical analysis. The KD₅₀ and KD₉₀ dosages were 10.73 and 26.39 mg m^?3 respectively. The LD₅₀ and LD₉₀ dosages were 16.13 and 39.21 mg m^?3. The average droplet size of B. subtilis surfactin was 17.5 ± 1.07 µm. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that the biosurfactant surfactin, produced by B. subtilis subsp. subtilis (VCRC B471), is a potential bioadulticide for ULV spray against malaria‐transmitting Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. This is the first report of a mosquito adulticide from a microbial source. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry