Rhizobacteria as bioenhancer and biofertilizer for growth and yield of banana (Musa spp. cv. ‘Berangan’)

Banana, an important fruit crop, requires high amounts of fertilizers for commercial cultivation, which is costly and can be hazardous to the environment when used excessively. Inoculations of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been shown to produce beneficial effects through growth stimulation in legumes and cereals, and an attempt has been made to use rhizobacteria in bananas. Three experiments were conducted to observe the effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) inoculation on root stimulation and colonization, nutrient absorption, growth and yield of bananas (Musa spp. cv. ‘Berangan’, AA type). The results showed that inoculation together with 33% N improved the bioenhancing activity by increasing root and shoot growth, and photosynthetic rate. The PGPR inoculation with 33% N-fertilizer also increased the Ca uptake capacity resulting in higher Ca concentration in root, corm and pulp but increased the Mg concentration in the root only. In addition, the total accumulation of nutrients was heavily influenced by PGPR inoculation due to enhanced root proliferation. The PGPR inoculation greatly increased the bunch yield (35–51%). The strains Sp7 and UPMB10 were evaluated for their N₂ fixing capacities in association with banana roots by ¹⁵N isotopic dilution technique and acetylene reduction assay (ARA). The results conclusively showed that roots of PGPR-inoculated plants fixed N₂ and produced higher ARA values and inoculated plants together with the least N-fertilizer supply showed the highest amount of nitrogen derived from atmosphere (Ndfa). The findings from the above studies demonstrated that PGPR strains (Sp7 and UPMB 10) inoculation with minimal N-fertilizer supply are effective as a bioenhancer for increasing plant growth, nutrient uptake and yield of bananas.     

Growth performance and feeding utilization of alternative feed for adult horseshoe crabs Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda kept in captivity

The aquafeed development has been initiated for horseshoe crabs in captivity. However, much of the attentions were to the juveniles for their widely used in research. Until recently, the research had incorporated the adult horseshoe crabs. This study aims to 1) determine the best alternative feeds for adult males of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, 2) measure the acceptance rate of feed, and 3) feeding utilization. Three semi‐moist pellets were either developed or purchased: fish (Decapterus russeli) and cockle (Anadara granosa) pellets (A), fish pellets (B) and keropok pellets (C). Natural feeds act as control: cockle, Anadara granosa (D) and fish, D. russeli (E). The horseshoe crabs were fed daily for 5 weeks and were analysed on their feed percentage consumption, body weight changes, feeding rate (FR), absorption efficiency (AE), feeding conversion ratio (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR). Feed A was consumed the most (56.21%) with the highest FR (1.88%). It was influenced by the pellet's hardness, where horseshoe crabs favoured softer pellets. Body weight changes, FCR and SGR also showed a similar trend of favouring alternative feed over natural feed. Alternative feeds served a better feed than the natural feed and can be an option for future natural feed replacement for adult horseshoe crabs in captivity. Alternative feed served a better diet than the natural feed and Feed B served the best feed among the three alternative feeds with good C. rotundicauda growth performance and the feed itself is cost‐wise.     

Effect of Feeding and Body Condition Score on Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Production in Zebu Cows

The aim of this study was to standardize the feeding regimen and the body condition score (BCS) for maximum superovulatory responses in indigenous zebu cows. Ten regularly cycling 5–8‐year‐old dry cows, weighing 176–260 kg with BCS 2.5–4.5 were divided into two equal groups at random. The groups were maintained on either a good‐nutrition or a high‐nutrition diet. The feedstuffs were analysed by proximate feed analysis and the metabolizable energy content was estimated. After 3 months feeding, individual cows were injected (i.m) with 1500 IU pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) at day 10 or day 11 of the oestrous cycle (day of oestrus = day 0). Alfaprostol (6 mg) was injected (i.m) 48 h after the injection of PMSG to induce oestrus. At day 6 or day 7 (day of insemination = day 1), the contents of individual uterine horns were flushed with 150–200 ml of phosphate‐buffered saline + 0.2% bovine serum albumin using a two‐way Foley catheter. The embryos were identified, evaluated and graded as excellent, good, fair or poor under a stereomicroscope. For the good‐ and high‐nutrition diets, the daily intake of green grass, straw, concentrate, dry matter, crude protein and estimated metabolizable energy by individual cows were 5 and 6 kg, 3 and 3 kg, 1.5 and 3.5 kg, 4.87 and 6.82 kg, 0.39 and 0.74 kg, and 39.60 and 59.12 MJ, respectively. The protein content was 8 and 11% in the good‐ and high‐nutrition diets, respectively. The two groups of cows on different nutritional diets differed significantly with regard to body weight, body condition score and number of palpated corpora lutea (p < 0.01). For cows on the good‐nutrition diet, the median number of recovered embryos and transferable quality embryos were three and two, respectively. The recovery rate of embryos was 79.30% of palpated corpora lutea. Cows on the high‐nutrition diet did not yield any embryos. The indigenous zebu cows fed on the good‐nutrition diet with BCS 2.5–3 were considered suitable for the induction of superovulation, the cows on the high‐nutrition diet with BCS 4–4.5 were unsatisfactory and were more prone to cyst formation in the ovaries.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes are significantly associated with resistance to Haemonchus contortus infection in goats

Background: Haemonchosis is a major economic problem in goat production in humid, tropical and subtropical regions. The disease is caused by an abomasal nematode, Haemonchus contortus, which is highly pathogenic in small ruminants. The aim of this study was to identifying single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) that were associated with fecal egg counts(FEC) and could be used as markers to identify resistance to H. contortus in goats.Results: Ten novel variants in the CI TA, ATP2 A3, HSPA8, STAT5 B, ESYT1, and SERPING1 genes were associated with FEC in goats with a nominal significance level of P 0.05. Two missense mutation in the exon region of the caprine CI TA gene resulted in replacement of arginine with cysteine at position 9473550(R9473550 C) and aspartic acid with glutamic acid at position 9473870(D9473870 E). Chinese goat breeds had significantly higher FEC than Bangladeshi goat breeds within their respective genotypes. Polymorphism information content(PIC), effective al ele number(Ne), and heterozygosity(He)were greatest for the STAT5 B_197_A G SNP locus in al goat breeds. Pairwise coefficients of linkage disequilibrium(D′, r~2)revealed complete LD(r~2= 1) between significant SNP polymorphisms in CI TA and SERPING1 and strong LD(r~2= 0.93 and0.98) between polymorphisms in HSPA8 and ATP2 A3, respectively. Correlation coefficient(r) between FEC and body weight(BW) was significantly positive(r = 0.56***, P 0.001) but that between FEC and packed cel volume(PCV) was negatively significant(r =-0.47**, P 0.01) in the total population of goats. On the other hand, correlation coefficient(r)between BW and PCV was not significant in total population of goats. Association analysis revealed that haplotypes within ATP2 A3, HSPA8, and SERPING1 were significantly associated with FEC. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the relative expression of m RNA was higher(P 0.001) for resistant, compared to susceptible, groups of goats for al candidate genes except CI TA.Conclusions: This study identified SNP markers that can potential y be used in marker-assisted selection programs to develop goat breeds that are resistant to H. contortus.     

Radioimmunoassay of milk progesterone as a tool for fertility control in smallholder dairy farms

This study focused on the use of radioimmunoassay of progesterone in milk for the diagnosis of post-partum ovarian cyclicity and accurate detection of oestrus and non-pregnancy in cows in the artificial insemination (AI) programme in Bangladesh. In Investigation 1, milk samples were collected on day 0 (day of AI), day 9–13 and day 21–24 from 444 milking cows of various breeds presented for the first post-partum insemination by 413 farmers living at 182 villages/regions in Mymensingh District from 6 AI centres and sub-centres. Each cow was then examined three times after each AI until it stopped returning to oestrus. Sixty to 90 days after the last AI, the cows were examined per rectum to confirm the pregnancy. Milk progesterone data on day 21–24 contributed to a clear diagnosis with respect to non-pregnancy in 100% cows, indicating a possible use of this progesterone assay for identifying non-pregnant cows in AI programmes. In Investigation 2, milk progesterone was monitored two times in a month with a 10-day interval in 88 cows. The samples were taken between 10 days after calving and the first detected oestrus, followed by two more samples 10 days apart. The proportion of cows accurately detected in oestrus was 30%. Another 30% were stated to be in oestrus when they were not (false positive) and 40% were not detected when they were in oestrus (false negative). The mean intervals between calving and oestrus and between calving luteal activity were 40 to 362 days (median = 120, n = 82) and 34 to 398 (median = 111, n = 64) days, respectively. The body condition scores at calving and at the initiation of luteal activity influenced the interval between calving and luteal activity (p < 0.05). Cows suckled twice daily initiated luteal activity earlier than their counterparts suckled several times daily (p < 0.05). Determination of progesterone in milk on day 21–24 is a good means for detecting non-pregnant cows.     

A method to study the effects of chemical and biological reduction of molybdate to molybdenum blue in bacteria

In this research, we modify a previously developed assay for the quantification molybdenum blue to determine whether inhibitors to molybdate reduction in bacteria inhibits cellular reduction or inhibit the chemical formation of one of the intermediate of molybdenum blue; phosphomolybdate. We manage to prove that inhibition of molybdate reduction by phosphate and arsenate is at the level of phosphomolybdate and not cellular. We also prove that mercury is a physiological inhibitor to molybdate reduction. We suggest the use of this method to assess the effect of inhibitors and activators to molybdate reduction in bacteria.     

A respirometer system to measure critical and recovery oxygen tensions of fish under simulated diurnal fluctuations in dissolved oxygen

We describe a computer-operated recirculating respirometer system (ca. 140 L water) with six respirometer chambers and a reference chamber (L × W × H: 26 cm × 12 cm × 20 cm; volume 6.24 L) that simulates diurnal dissolved oxygen (DO) fluctuations normally occur in aquaculture ponds. A gas-mixing device, “Digamat” proportionately dissolves gaseous nitrogen and oxygen (and if desired, carbon dioxide) in water to achieve DO levels from 1.0 to 40.0 kPa (0.3–14.0 mg L^?1) at different temperatures. A series of computer-operated valves sequentially allow water from respirometer chambers to a single oxygen probe to measure DO concentration. Oxygen consumptions of fish as the differences in DO concentrations between respirometer and reference chamber are used to calculate different metabolic rates (standard, routine, and active), and critical (P _c) and recovery (P _r) oxygen tensions of individually reared unfed and fed fish. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the ability of the system to measure metabolic parameters for individually reared Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) at three temperatures (low: 22.5, optimum: 27.5 and high: 33.5 °C). The fed fish had significantly higher P _c and P _r values at optimum and high temperatures than unfed fish. At low and high temperatures, both fed and unfed fish had higher P _c and P _r than at optimum temperature. The standard metabolic rate was significantly higher at higher temperatures (44.9, 51.7, and 77.7 mg O₂ kg^?0.8 h^?1 at 22.5, 27.5, and 33.5 °C, respectively).     

Characterization of plant and animal based natural fibers reinforced polypropylene composites and their comparative study

Natural fibers are largely divided into two categories depending on their origin: plant based and animal based. Plant based natural jute fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) matrix composites (20 wt% fiber) were fabricated by compression molding. Bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM), tensile strength (TS), Young’s modulus (YM), and impact strength (IS) of the composites were found 44.2 MPa, 2200 MPa, 41.3 MPa, 750 MPa and 12 kJ/m², respectively. Animal based natural B. mori silk fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) matrix composites (20 wt% fiber) were fabricated in the same way and the mechanical properties were compared over the silk based composites. TS, YM, BS, BM, IS of silk fiber reinforced polypropylene composites were found 55.6 MPa, 760 MPa, 57.1 MPa, 3320 MPa and 17 kJ/m² respectively. Degradation of composites in soil was measured upto twelve weeks. It was found that plant based jute fiber/PP composite losses its strength more than animal based silk fiber/PP composite for the same period of time. The comparative study makes it clear that mechanical properties of silk/PP composites are greater than those values of jute/PP composites. But jute/PP composites are more degradable than silk/PP composites i.e., silk/PP composites retain their strength for a longer period than jute/PP composites.     

Comparative digestion efficiencies in conventional, genetically improved and genetically male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

Apparent digestibility of dry matter, protein, lipid and energy of a fishmeal‐based feed (41% crude protein, 9% crude lipid and 19 kJ g⁻¹ gross energy) was compared in genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT), genetically male Nile tilapia (GMNT) and conventional Nile tilapia (CNT) (Oreochromis niloticus). The experimental fish were reared individually under standardized conditions in a recirculation system at 27±0.1°C for 10 weeks. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was used as a marker. Faeces of individual fish were collected daily by siphoning and stored at −18°C before analysis. No significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in the digestibility coefficients of feed dry matter (78.2±3.4%, 77.7±4.4% and 76.4±3.7%), protein (87.9±3.0%, 88.4±2.8% and 88.0±3.3%), lipid (90.0±2.5%, 91.0±2.1% and 89.4±3.0%) and energy (90.4±1.9%, 90.7±2.0% and 89.4±2.3%) in GIFT, GMNT and CNT respectively. At the end of the experiment, there were no significant differences (P<0.05) in average percentage growth (82.2±7.2, 87.3±7.7 and 74.7±4.1 respectively for GIFT, GMNT and CNT), growth rates or feed utilization efficiencies between the three tilapia groups. We conclude that the higher growth claimed for improved GIFT and GMNT as compared with CNT, if ever existing, cannot be attributed to higher nutrients or energy digestibility.