Development of near-isogenic lines of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) for glaucousness inhibitor loci Iw1, Iw3 and Iw4 derived from wild relatives

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The majority of cultivated wheat varieties have glaucous spikes, leaves and leaf sheaths, and the non-glaucous phenotype is rare in modern varieties. The...     

Influence of overplanting paddy rice on irrigation water delivery performance: a case study in the Dakalt branch canal,Nile Delta of Egypt

In the North Nile Delta of Egypt, the impacts of overplanting paddy rice on water delivery performance have not been discussed quantitatively. Further, the amount of water that could have been saved if farmers would follow the planned area is unknown. In this study, water delivery performance was assessed by comparison of actual paddy rice planting and the government’s planned conditions. For both conditions, performance indicators relating to adequacy, equity, and dependability were analyzed across six locations in conjunction with the branch canal water level in 2013 and 2014. Based on the difference between the actual water supply and planned water demand, the amount of water that could have been saved for downstream uses was calculated. The average adequacy for the investigation period was good at one location, fair at 2 locations, and poor at 3 locations in both years. Further, adequacy under both actual and planned conditions was poor in late July at all locations. The planned adequacy and dependability downstream and equity among locations improved compared to the actual condition in both years. Under the condition that paddy rice area is the upper limit planned by the government, about 12.3% and 9.6% of water could be potentially saved in each year. The difference between actual and planned water delivery performance is caused by the branch canal’s low water level. Control of overplanting paddy rice and coordination of water distribution among water user associations would improve stable water level in the canal and, eventually, water delivery performance.

     

Ionomic Profiling of Rice Genotypes and Identification of Varieties with Elemental Covariation Effects

Ionomic profiles are primarily influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Identifying ionomic responses to varietal effects is necessary to understand the ionomic variations among species or subspecies and to potentially understand genetic effects on ionomic profiles. We cultivated 120 rice (Oryza sativa) varieties to seedling stage in identical hydroponic conditions and determined the concentrations of 26 elements (including 3 anions) in the shoots and roots of rice. Although the subspecies effects were limited by the genus Oryza pre-framework and its elemental chemical properties, we found significant differences in ionomic variations in most elements among the aus, indica and japonica subspecies. Principal component analysis of the correlations indicated that variations in the root-to-shoot ionomic transport mechanisms were the main causes of ionomic differences among the subspecies. Furthermore, the correlations were primarily associated with the screening of varieties for elemental covariation effects that can facilitate breeding biofortified rice varieties with safe concentrations of otherwise toxic elements. The japonica subspecies exhibited the strongest elemental correlations and elemental covariation effects, therefore, they showed greater advantages for biofortification than the indica and aus subspecies, whereas indica and aus subspecies were likely safer in metal(loid) polluted soils. We also found that geographical and historical distribution significantly defined the ionomic profiles. Overall, the results of this study provided a reference for further association studies to improve the nutritional status and minimize toxicity risks in rice production.     

Adventitious root formation of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) cuttings is stimulated by soaking basal portion of cuttings in warmed water while cooling their apical portion

To improve the propagation of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don), we investigated the effects of apical and basal temperatures during a water soaking treatment on the adventitious root formation of 70-mm long shoot tip cuttings which have an apical bud. The basal portion of the cuttings was soaked for 28 days in water with temperatures ranging from 10 to 35 °C, at an air temperature of 5 or 10 °C. Control cuttings were soaked in water at 25 °C, with an air temperature of 25 °C. Treated cuttings were then planted in vermiculite rooting medium and grown at an air temperature of 25 °C for 35 days. Adventitious roots initiated earlier and developed more in the cuttings treated with apical temperatures of 5 or 10 °C and basal temperatures of 20–30 °C than in the control cuttings. The rooting percentage was greatest (93 %) in the cuttings treated with a 10/25 °C apical/basal temperature, whereas few control cuttings rooted (13 %). This suggests that the temperature gradient created by warming the basal portion of the cuttings while cooling their apical end stimulates adventitious root formation. When we tested seasonal variation of rootability at 10/25 °C, the rooting percentage increased from early autumn to winter, and decreased from winter to summer. The soluble sugar contents did not directly affect the formation of adventitious roots in the present study.     

Effect of taurine supplemented practical diet on growth performance and taurine contents in whole body and tissues of juvenile Japanese flounder <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys olivaceus</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   The effect of dietary taurine on juvenile Japanese flounder was determined by feeding three taurine-supplemented experimental diets (TAU) and a commercial diet (CD) to evaluate a practical diet for juvenile Japanese flounder. Juvenile Japanese flounder were reared on the three experimental diets supplemented with taurine at 0, 0.5, 1.0% and CD. These diets were fed to juvenile Japanese flounder of an initial mean body weight of 0.2 g for 6 weeks at 20°C and the taurine contents of the whole body and tissues were analyzed. The final average body weight of juvenile Japanese flounder fed the 1.0% TAU was significantly higher than that of the other groups. Taurine contents in the whole body and tissues increased with the increase in dietary taurine level. These results indicate that juvenile Japanese flounder require at least 15 mg/g taurine in the diet, even though a combined mix of fish, krill and squid meal was the main protein source in the experimental diets.     

Dietary value of benthic diatoms for post-larval abalone <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haliotis diversicolor</Emphasis> associated with feeding transitions

ABSTRACT:   The feeding behavior and growth of post-larval Haliotis diversicolor with initial shell lengths (SL) of approximately 500 μm (Exp. 1-1 and 1-2), 800 μm (Exp. 2), and 1200 μm (Exp. 3) were studied in a laboratory setting while they fed on four species of benthic diatom Achnanthes longipes , Cocconeis sublittoralis , Cylindrotheca closterium , and Navicula ramosissima . Exp. 1-1 and 1-2 revealed no marked differences in post-larval growth rates (mean 24–39 μm SL/day) among the diatom species. However, marked differences in growth rates among the species were revealed in Exp. 2 and 3. Three species, A. longipes , Co. sublittoralis, and Cy. closterium , produced faster growth (Exp. 2 mean 29–51 μm/day, Exp. 3 mean 36–44 μm/day) than N. ramosissima (Exp. 2 mean 18 μm/day, Exp. 3 mean 23 μm/day). Post-larvae fed N. ramosissima had lower digestion efficiency (42.8%) than those fed other diatom species (90.7–100%). Diatom extracellular substances appeared to be principally used from post-settlement to 800 μm SL, and diatom cell contents were required to produce rapid growth of larger post-larvae (>800 μm SL). It is likely that the availability of each diatom for post-larvae was affected by diatom morphology, attachment strength, frustule strength, and post-larval size.     

Characterization of vitamin B12 compounds from commercially available fish roe products

Although fish roes (or the egg-laden ovary) are seafood products with high nutritional value and are considered abundant in vitamins including vitamin B₁₂, nevertheless, the detailed properties of vitamin B₁₂ have not been fully elucidated in fish roe products. Vitamin B₁₂ content was determined using C18-reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography after purification of samples from immunoaffinity columns. Salmon egg-laden ovary products (sujiko), salmon roe products (ikura), dried mullet roe products (bottarga), and white sturgeon roe products (caviar) were found to contain substantial levels of vitamin B₁₂ (more than approximately 15 µg/100 g wet weight). Interestingly, high levels of vitamin B₁₂ per 100 g wet weight have been measured in pollack roe products (tarako) and flying fish roe products (tobiko). Liquid chromatography–electrospray-ionization/tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed that vitamin B₁₂ was the predominant corrinoid in the evaluated fish roe products examined, while no inactive corrinoid compounds were identified. These results suggest that commercially available fish roe products could be an important source of vitamin B₁₂ for use as a dietary product for humans.

     

Volitional Spawning of Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata Induced with Pelleted Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone-Analogue

The black sea bass is a high‐value marine serranid and is a prime candidate for intensive cultivation. Reliable methods for controlled spawning are needed to accelerate the development of hatchery technologies that result in mass production of healthy juveniles. During 1998–2001, spawning studies were conducted at The University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) and at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Charleston, using pelleted luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue (LHRH‐a). From April through July 2001, 28 vitellogenic‐stage females, with mean oocyte diameters (MOD) ranging from 277–448 μm, were implanted with a 95% cholesterol‐5% cellulose pellet containing LHRH‐a (‐50 μg/kg body wt) at UNCW. In 10 individual spawning trials, females with MOD of 305–448 μm and maximum oocyte diameter × 475 μm spawned volitionally beginning 2–3 d post‐implantation (PI) and continued spawning over an average of 1.9 d (range = 1–4 d). Individual females released a mean total of 149,000 eggs (117,000 eggs/kg) with a mean buoyancy rate of 40.5% (floaters). Fertilization and hatching rates were 98% and 27.2% of floaters, respectively, yielding 14,600 yolksac larvae/female (12,600 yolksac larvae/kg body wt), and overall egg viability averaged 8.9%. In eight group spawning trials (2–3 females/group), average performance of females, including fecundity (103,800 eggs/female; 105,500 eggs/kg body wt), buoyancy rate (42.5%), fertilization and hatching rates (97.7% and 24.3% of floaters), numbers of yolksac larvae produced (10,900 yolksac larvae/female; 10,100 yolksac larvae/kg body wt), and overall egg viability (10.6%) was comparable to what was seen in individual spawning trials. From 1998–2000, a total of 58 vitellogenic stage (70% of oocytes 500 pm) females were implanted with pelleted LHRH‐a (‐50 μg/kg body wt) in nine group spawning trials (2–19 females/group) at SCDNR. Volitional spawning typically began 18–42 h PI and recurred every 1–3 d for an average duration of 9 d. Female groups released a mean of 560,000 eggs (84,000/female; 132,000/kg body wt) over the spawning period, with mean buoyancy rate of 25.7% floaters. Fertilization and hatching rates were 17.7% and 11.6 % of floaters, respectively, yielding 4,300 yolksac larvae/female (4,600 yolksac larvae/kg body wt). Overall egg viability was 2.9%. Captive wild‐caught black sea bass were induced to undergo repetitive volitional spawning by implantation of pelleted‐LHRH‐a, consistent with a multiple clutch group synchronous pattern of ovarian development. Group spawning appears to be a practical way to compensate for variable fecundity and egg viability of individual females. Research is needed to identify optimum hormone treatments and eligibility requirements.