Karyotype analysis of Oreochromis mortimeri (Trewavas) and Sarotherodon melanotheron (Rüppell)

The karyotypes of both Oreochromis mortimeri (Trewavas) and Sarotherodon melanotheron (Rüppell) are shown to consist of 22 pairs of chromosomes (2n = 44). In O. mortimeri, the karyotype is composed of 9 sm/st and 13 t chromosomes. In the case of S. melanotheron, the karyotype is composed of 15 sm/st, 2 m and 5 t chromosomes. The karyotypes of these species are therefore similar to those of the majority of other tilapia species, with that of S. melanotheron being considerably different from that previously reported for this species.     

Reduced total hardness of fresh water enhances the efficacy of bathing as a treatment for amoebic gill disease in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L

The current treatment for amoebic gill disease (AGD)-affected Atlantic salmon involves bathing sea-caged fish in fresh water, often sourced from local dams, for 3-4 h. In both a small-scale laboratory and an on-farm field experiment, the effects of water hardness on the efficacy of freshwater bathing were assessed. Results showed that soft fresh water (19.3-37.4 mg L(-1) CaCO3), whether it be naturally soft city mains water or artificially softened dam water, was more efficacious at alleviating AGD in affected fish than hard fresh water (173-236.3 mg L(-1) CaCO3). Soft freshwater bathing significantly reduced viable gill amoebae numbers (from 73.9 to 40.9% of total count) and significantly alleviated gill pathology, both gross and histological. Following bathing, gross gill pathological scores of soft freshwater bathed fish lagged 2 weeks behind hard freshwater bathed fish. Significant gill lesion fragmentation, and shedding of lesion-associated hyperplastic tissue, was accompanied by a significant reduction in AGD-affected gill filaments in soft freshwater bathed fish. Furthermore, soft freshwater bathing alleviated the blood plasma electrolyte imbalance seen in control (sea water) and hard freshwater bathed fish. This study showed that the use of soft fresh water for bathing AGD-affected Atlantic salmon could be an improvement to the current method of treatment. Not only does it reduce gill amoeba numbers, but also, it is of a therapeutic advantage with the potential to reduce bathing frequency.     

Artificial insemination in tench, Tinca tinca L.

Abstract. The sperm of tench, Tinca tinca L., is characterized by a milky colour and consistency, and is of very low density. After collecting the sperm, motion of spermatozoa was recorded even without water activation. A better motility value (value 4·36 on average) was observed in spermatozoa collected in immobilizing solution (collecting medium) and stored for 3h, when compared with spermatozoa without collecting medium. Average total and relative numbers of spermatozoa were 12·16 × 10⁹ per male and 18·50 × 10⁹ per kg of body weight, respectively. When testing the effect of activating solution in artificial propagation of tench, the highest fertilization rates (81·3 and 85% in two cases) were found for NaCl solution with an osmotic concentration of 34 or 69 mOsmol and for fresh water, respectively. The fertility rate was reduced significantly ( P < 0·01) by any increase above 105 mOsmol in NaCl concentration in the activating solution. In the tests of optimal method of artificial fertilization, the highest hatching rate of sac fry (71·35%) was found in sperm collected into immobilizing solution. The application of immobilizing solution significantly increased the number of sac fry at the levels P < 0·1 and P < 0·01, if compared with intact sperm stored for 3 h and fresh sperm, respectively.     

Use of advanced recombinant lines to study the impact and potential of mutations affecting starch synthesis in barley

The effects on barley starch and grain properties of four starch synthesis mutations were studied during the introgression of the mutations from diverse backgrounds into an elite variety. The lys5f (ADPglucose transporter), wax (granule-bound starch synthase), isa1 (debranching enzyme isoamylase 1) and sex6 (starch synthase IIa) mutations were introgressed into NFC Tipple to give mutant and wild-type BC₂F₄ families with different genomic contributions of the donor parent. Comparison of starch and grain properties between the donor parents, the BC₂F₄ families and NFC Tipple allowed the effects of the mutations to be distinguished from genetic background effects. The wax and sex6 mutations had marked effects on starch properties regardless of genetic background. The sex6 mutation conditioned low grain weight and starch content, but the wax mutation did not. The lys5 mutation conditioned low grain weight and starch content, but exceptionally high β-glucan contents. The isa1 mutation promotes synthesis of soluble α-glucan (phytoglycogen). Its introgression into NFC Tipple increased grain weight and total α-glucan content relative to the donor parent, but reduced the ratio of phytoglycogen to starch. This study shows that introgression of mutations into a common, commercial background provides new insights that could not be gained from the donor parent.     

Comparison of Spring Barley Lines Produced by Single Seed Descent, Pedigree Inbreeding and Doubled Haploidy

Samples of inbred lines of Hordeum vulgare produced by pedigree inbreeding, doubled haploidy and single seed descent have been compared for a range of agronomic characters. Differences between the means of the in bred s produced by single seed descent and pedigree breeding were due to differing levels of inbreeding. The present study confirmed chat recombinant inbred families which out-perform the higher scoring parent may be produced by either method. Caution should, however, be exercised when simply inherited characters controlled by major genes are fixed in early generations. Differences between the doubled haploid and single seed descent samples for the character thousand grain weight were attributable to coupling linkages involving epistatic genes. The production and evaluation of random inbred lines should be considered as an alternative to pedigree methods of barley breeding.     

Interfering with regular meiotic behaviour in Avena sativa as a method of incorporating the gene for mildew resistance from A. barbata

Summary The regular meiotic behaviour of the cultivated oat Avena sativa (2n=6x=42) is genetically controlled. The factors which control the diploid-like meiotic behaviour also restrict the amount of pairing that occurs between alien chromosomes and their homoeologues in A.sativa, and hence increases the difficulties of introducing desirable variation from wild species into the cultivated oat. A genotype of the diploid species A.longiglumis which interferes with the regular meiotic behaviour of A. sativa can be used to induce pairing between alien chromosomes and their corresponding chromosomes in A. sativa. Using this procedure the dominant gene conferring mildew resistance has been transferred from the tetraploid weed species A. barbata into the cultivated oat.     

Studying genetic relationships among coconut varieties/populations using microsatellite markers

The extent of genetic diversity and the genetic relationships among 94 coconut varieties/populations (51 Talls and 43 Dwarfs) representing the entire geographic range of cultivation/distribution of the coconut was assessed using 12 pairs of coconut micro satellite primers. A high level of genetic diversity was observed in the collection with the mean gene diversity of 0.647±0.139, with that of the mean gene diversity of Talls 0.703±0.125 and 0.374±0.204 of Dwarfs. A phenetic tree based on D_AD genetic distances clustered all the 94 varieties/populations into two main groups, with one group composed of all the Talls from southeast Asia, the Pacific, west coast of Panama, and all Dwarfs and the other of all Talls from south Asia, Africa, and the Indian Ocean coast of Thailand. The allele distribution of Dwarfs highlighted a unique position of Dwarf palms from the Philippines exhibiting as much variation as that in the Tall group. The grouping of all Dwarfs representing the entire geographic distribution of the crop with Talls from southeast Asia and the Pacific and the allele distribution between the Tall and Dwarf suggest that the Dwarfs originated from the Tall forms and that too from the Talls of southeast Asia and the Pacific. Talls from Pacific Islands recorded the highest level of genetic diversity (0.6±0.26) with the highest number of alleles (51) among all the regions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.