Effects of temperature and lipid droplet adherence on mortality of hatchery-reared southern hake Merluccius australis larvae

Effects of exogenous (water temperature) and endogenous (lipid droplet adherence) factors were experimentally tested on early survival of southern hake Merluccius australis reared under controlled conditions. Experiments to determine the effect of temperature (10, 12 and 14 °C) on larval growth rates and yolk-sac absorption rates of unfed southern hake were carried out under laboratory conditions. There was no significant differences in growth rates at the temperature range tested (ANCOVA, F = 0.164, p > 0.25), but yolk-sac absorption rates and mortality increased with temperature (ANCOVA, F = 53.84, p < 0.001). A high percentage (between 31 and 81%) of hake eggs showed a lipid droplet not adhered (i.e., freely moving in the yolk, and not located in the posteriormost portion of the yolk-sac). In a second experiment, fed southern hake larvae with the lipid droplet not adhered during embryonic development did not survive after yolk-sac absorption. This study provides the first data on the influence of the lipid droplet absorption on larval survival of cultured hake, and can be used as an early indication of the quality of the batch.     

Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) post-larval survival related to age, temperature, pH and ammonium concentration

Transport of post‐larvae shrimp used in aquaculture is an important element of successful cultivation because of the potential for stress during stocking procedures. To find optimum transport conditions, several bioassays were performed in the laboratory to evaluate survival of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei 5–30‐day‐old postlarvae under conditions similar to those encountered during transport from the hatchery to nursery and shrimp ponds. Postlarvae were exposed for 4 h to different temperatures and pH levels ammonia concentrations. Survival was significantly reduced after a 4 h exposure to pH 9 and was inversely related to temperature with or without 7 mg L^?1 of ammonia. The 15‐ and 20‐day‐old postlarvae had higher survival rates than other ages. The lowest survival occurred in alkali conditions (pH 9), with 7 mg L^?1ammonia at 30 and 32°C. To assure optimal survival of postlarvae during transfer from the hatchery to the nursery and shrimp ponds, we recommend temperatures below 28°C, pH no higher than 8, no ammonia and post‐larval age at least 15 days.     

Comparative study on dietary protein requirements for juvenile and pre‐adult gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III)

Two 8‐week growth trials were conducted in indoor recirculation system to evaluate the protein requirements for juvenile (3.70 ± 0.20 g) and pre‐adult (85.2 ± 0.70 g) gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III. Six isoenergetic diets were formulated for each trial using fish meal and casein as protein sources, and protein level was 250–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 and 200–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 2. With the increasing dietary protein, feeding rate (FR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Weight gain (WG) increased first and then reached a plateau in 330–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 (P > 0.05), while decreased after the maximum value in 350 g kg^?1 in Trial 2 (P < 0.05). Productive protein values (PPVs) were lower in 370–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 and 400–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 2 (P < 0.05). Increasing dietary protein level increased protein content and decreased lipid content in whole fish body and white muscle (P < 0.05). Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matters (ADC_d) decreased, while apparent digestibility coefficient of protein (ADC_p) increased in 370–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 and 250–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 2 (P < 0.05). Trypsin activity significantly increased in 370–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 (P < 0.05) and was not affected in Trial 2 (P > 0.05). Hepatic alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in both trials increased when dietary protein was above 400 g kg^?1 (P < 0.05). Based on quadratic regression of WG, it was estimated that dietary protein requirement for maximum growth was 414 g kg^?1 (digestible protein of 376 g kg^?1) and 365 g kg^?1 (digestible protein of 324 g kg^?1) for juvenile (3.70 g) and pre‐adult gibel carp (85.2 g).     

Apparent digestibility coefficients of selected feed ingredients for juvenile snakehead,Ophiocephalus argus

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter, crude protein, crude lipid, gross energy, phosphorus and amino acids in Peruvian fish meal, poultry by‐product meal, meat and bone meal, spray‐dried blood meal, hydrolysed feather meal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, peanut meal, cottonseed meal and rapeseed meal were determined for juvenile snakehead (Ophiocephalus argus) with initial mean body weight of 78.1 g. A reference diet and test diets that consisted of a 70 : 30 mixture of the reference diet to test ingredient were used with 5 g kg^?1 Cr₂O₃ as an external indicator. Fish meal, poultry by‐product meal and corn gluten meal had higher ADCs of dry matter, crude protein, and gross energy among ingredients tested. Dry matter ADCs ranged 61.9–81.5% for animal ingredients and corn gluten meal and ranged 52.2–68.0% for soybean meal, peanut meal, cottonseed meal and rapeseed meal. Energy ADCs of ingredients followed similar trends to differences in dry matter digestibility. Protein ADCs of animal and plant ingredients ranged 73.6–92.8% and 75.3–85.6%, respectively. Amino acid ADCs generally reflected protein digestibility. Lipid ADCs were relatively high for the ingredients tested. Phosphorus ADCs of animal and plant ingredients ranged 39.5–65.2% and 38.7–57.1%, respectively.     

Competition of infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) for binding to shrimp cellular membrane

Infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) are two widespread shrimp viruses. The interference of IHHNV on WSSV was the first reported case of viral interference that involved crustacean viruses and has been subsequently confirmed. However, the mechanisms underlying the induction of WSSV resistance through IHHNV infection are practically unknown. In this study, the interference mechanisms between IHHNV and WSSV were studied using a competitive ELISA. The binding of WSSV and IHHNV to cellular membrane of Litopenaeus vannamei was examined. The results suggested that there existed a mutual competition between IHHNV and WSSV for binding to receptors present on cellular membrane of L. vannamei and that the inhibitory effects of WSSV towards IHHNV were more distinct than those of IHHNV towards WSSV.     

Dietary α‐linolenic acid affects lipid metabolism and tissue fatty acid profile and induces apoptosis in intraperitoneal adipose tissue of juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

A 56‐day feeding trial was conducted to elucidate the effects and mechanism action of dietary α‐linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n‐3) on lipid accumulation and fatty acid profile of muscle, hepatopancreas and intraperitoneal fat (IPF) in juvenile grass carp using three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic semi‐purified diets containing 0.0% (control group), 1.0% and 2.0% ALA, respectively. The lowest intraperitoneal fat (IPF) ratio was found in 2.0% group. In the muscle, hepatopancreas and IPF, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n‐3) contents increased with the increase in dietary ALA. In the IPF, caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 showed the highest activities in 2.0% group, while the value of Bcl‐2/Bax (B‐cell leukaemia 2/Bcl‐2‐associated X protein) reached the lowest. Meanwhile, swelling of the IPF mitochondria was observed in 2.0% group. The gene expressions of fatty acid desaturase (FAD) and fatty acid elongase (ELO) in the hepatopancreas and muscle showed significantly higher levels in the treatment groups, whereas an opposite trend was existed in the IPF. Fatty acid synthase (FAS), sterol regulatory element binding protein‐1c (SREBP‐1c) in the IPF and hepatopancreas reached the lowest in 2.0% group. Overall, dietary ALA could promote n‐3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) synthesis and suppress the accumulation of lipid by decreasing the expression of related genes and promoting the apoptosis in IPF.     

Effects of different arginine/lysine level on growth performance,body composition and digestive enzyme activity of Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Given the universal presence of antagonism between arginine and lysine, determining the optimal dietary arginine/lysine level is of great importance. In this study, eight diets were formulated to contain different arginine/lysine level, followed by a 9‐week feeding trial with shrimps of 2.10 ± 0.01 cm in length and 0.38 ± 0.02 g in weight to determine the effect of dietary arginine/lysine level on growth performance, body composition and enzyme activity. The results showed that the Diet 6 (arginine/lysine level of 29.4/21.0 g/kg) group had significantly higher weight gain rate, and specific growth rate than the control group and most of the other groups (p < .05) did. Similarly, the retention efficiency of arginine and lysine in the Diet 6 group was significantly higher than the control group and most of the other groups (p < .05). Moreover, most digestive enzymes had higher activity levels in the Diet 6 group, and evident antagonism between dietary arginine and lysine was detected. In summary, dietary arginine/lysine level of 29.4/21.0 g/kg produced the best growth performance, suggesting that a better growth performance in Macrobrachium rosenbergii culture can be obtained by adjusting the dietary arginine/lysine level.     

Sap flow in ‘Hass’ avocado trees on two clonal rootstocks in relation to xylem anatomy

The rates of sap flow and xylem vessel features were studied in two-year-old nongrafted and grafted avocado (Persea americana Mill.) trees. Daily sap flow rates were measured with heat and balance stem gauges in clonal Duke 7 (D7) and Toro Canyon (TC) trees and ‘Hass’ clonal scions grafted onto clonal D7 (H/D7) and TC (H/TC) rootstocks. Vessel features as size, number and total vessel area were determined histologically in the stem of the scion and rootstock and the roots of the grafted trees. Significant differences in the sap flow rate were found among the rootstocks, where D7 had a 29% higher sap flow rate than did TC (grafted and nongrafted trees). There were no differences among xylem vessel features in the stems of any of the varieties. However in the roots, D7 had wider and fewer vessels then TC do. Also, D7 had a 19% higher total vessel area than TC. These results suggest that the differences in water consumption of ‘Hass’ on different rootstocks may be associated with differences in the efficiency of the roots to absorb water across conductive tissue which may be linked to differences in the area of xylem vessels in the root.     

A SCAR marker linked to the N gene for resistance to root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

The root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are important nematode pests and cause serious diseases in pepper in the world. No molecular markers linked to the nematodes resistance N gene have been reported. In this paper, ‘Carolina Wonder’ (Capsicum annuum L.), a sweet pepper line resistant to root-knot nematode with N gene, ‘20080-5-29’ (C. annuum L.), an inbred line susceptible to root-knot nematode with good horticultural characteristics, and their F₂ progeny with 320 individuals were used as materials. Evaluation of resistance and susceptibility of parental lines, F₁ and F₂ progeny inoculated with root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) were carried out. ‘Bulked segregant analysis’ method was used to search for polymorphic markers from 512 pairs of AFLP primers. Based on the assessment of resistance and susceptibility and polymorphism of the AFLP marker in F₂ population, the genetic linkage distance between the AFLP marker and the N gene was estimated. One AFLP marker E39/M41-339 was obtained and transferred to a SCAR marker amplifying a 315 bp DNA fragment linked to the N resistant allele and a 331 bp fragment linked to the N⁺ susceptible allele. The distance between the molecular marker and the nematodes resistance N gene is 6.3 cM. This research delivered a valuable tool for the marker assisted selection of nematodes resistance in pepper.     

Immune responses and enhanced disease resistance in Chinese drum, Miichthys miiuy (Basilewsky), after oral administration of live or dead cells of Clostridium butyrium CB2

Clostridium butyrium CB2 isolated from chickens was tested as a potential fish probiotic in the Chinese drum, Miichthys miiuy . Fish were fed live (CB), dead CB2 (D-CB) cells (10⁸ cells g⁻¹) or spent culture supernatant (SCS), for 30 days and challenged with Vibrio anguillarum or Aeromonas hydrophila . Survival was higher in both the CB and the CB-D fed groups, but the SCS group was not significantly different from the control. After feeding live or dead CB2 cells, there was increase in phagocytic activity of the head kidney macrophages, the lysozyme activity of serum and gut mucosa and immunoglobulin (Ig) level. The SCS group showed no obvious change in immune parameters. The results suggest that live or dead Clostridium butyrium CB2 has an immunomodulatory effect on fish.