Growth and Biochmical Studies of Mrigal Fish (Cirrhinus mrigala) Fed Graded Levels of Oil

A 45-day experiment was carried out to evaluate the growth performance,digestive enzymes activity and biochemical response of Cirrhinus mrigala fed graded levels of oil.Three isonitrogenous purified diets(6%,8%and 10%of oil)were formulated.A total of 108 juveniles of Cirrhinus mrigala(5.95±0.25)g were equally distributed in triplicate groups in nine plastic tanks of 100 L capacity and fed under natural light cycle.Growth performance of the fish significantly reflected the effect of inclusion levels of oil tested but the diet with 8%lipid had the best significant growth performance[%weight gain,Feed Conversion Ratio(FCR)and Specific Growth Rate(SGR)],across different experimental groups.Levels of secretion of digestive enzymes in the fish fed different experimental diets resulted in significant values of(p0.05)amylase and lipase,while Aspartate transaminase(AST),Alanine transaminase(ALT),Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and Malate dehydrogenase(MDH)values in the muscle and liver decreased significantly(p0.05)as the levels of oil in the diet increased.However,serum biochemical parameters did not record any significant difference(p0.05)with the exception of the total lipid across diets.The study confirmed the inclusion effect of graded levels of oil in juvenile Mrigal diet,but the inclusion should not be more than 8%to avert growth depression.     

半胱胺的动物营养研究进展

半胱胺(cysteamine,CS)作为一种新型的饲料添加剂,通过调节机体激素的变化,从而达到促进畜禽生长的目的,作者系统地综述了半胱胺的生理作用及其作用机理,并强调了其在动物生产中的应用以及在应用过程中应注意的问题。     

胡杨种子萌发和胚根生长对环境因子变化的响应

通过温度、水分、PEG和NaCl溶液对荒漠河岸树种胡杨（Populus euphratica Olivier.）种子萌发和胚根生长的影响研究,结果表明：胡杨种子在10～40℃时萌发率均超过50％;其种子能够在完全水分浸泡情况下萌发生长;在NaCl和PEG-6000溶液胁迫下,萌发率与水势呈显著线性负相关（R^2〉0．89）,并受到温度的微弱影响;水势对种子萌发和胚根生长的抑制作用,在高水势时,NaCl比PEG-6000溶液明显,而在低水势时后者超过了前者;在各种胁迫下,胚根生长都比种子萌发受到的抑制明显。实验结果显示,早期的低盐和充分的水分条件是胡杨幼苗存活的关键。     

Comparison of foliar and soil formulations of neonicotinoid insecticides for control of potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), in wine grapes

BACKGROUND: The potential of systemic neonicotinoid insecticides to control potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), a damaging pest of wine grapes in the eastern United States, was investigated. Soil or foliar applications were made to potted or field‐grown vines, and the response of leafhoppers was determined in clip cages over the following month on young or mature leaves. RESULTS: Foliar application of imidacloprid caused immediate and long‐lasting reductions in E. fabae survival on both leaf ages, whereas the activity of soil‐applied imidacloprid was delayed. Clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam all provided long‐lasting reduction in leafhopper survival on young and mature foliage when applied through either delivery route. However, the percentage of moribund nymphs was significantly greater on foliar‐treated vines and increased over time in mature and immature leaves compared with soil‐treated vines. Residue analysis of foliar‐applied imidacloprid showed an 89% decline in mature leaves from day 1 to day 27, and a 98% decline in immature leaves over the same time period. Comparison of soil‐applied clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam in field‐grown vines showed significant reduction in E. fabae only on mature leaves of vines treated with thiamethoxam. CONCLUSIONS: Neonicotinoids can control E. fabae in small vines, even in rapidly expanding foliage where this pest causes greatest injury. Soil application provides superior long‐term vine protection because declining residues on foliar‐treated vines lead to suboptimal activity within 2–3 weeks. Vineyard managers of susceptible cultivars may take advantage of this approach to E. fabae management by using foliar applications of the three neonicotinoids tested here, or by using soil‐applied thiamethoxam. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Insecticide-tolerant and plant-growth-promoting Rhizobium improves the growth of lentil (Lens esculentus) in insecticide-stressed soils

BACKGROUND: Application of insecticides in modern agriculture in order to enhance legume production has led to their accumulation in soils to levels that adversely affect soil microflora such as rhizobia and exert a negative impact on the physiological activities associated with them. This study was therefore designed to identify rhizobial strains expressing higher tolerance to insecticides fipronil and pyriproxyfen and synthesising plant growth regulators even amid insecticide stress. RESULTS: The fipronil‐ and pyriproxyfen‐tolerant Rhizobium sp. strain MRL3 produced plant‐growth‐promoting substances in substantial amounts, both in the presence and in the absence of the insecticides. In general, both insecticides at recommended and higher rates reduced plant dry biomass, symbiotic properties, nutrient uptake and seed yield of lentil plants. Interestingly, when applied with any concentration of the two insecticides, Rhizobium sp. strain MRL3 significantly increased the measured parameters compared with plants grown in soils treated solely with the same concentration of each insecticide but without inoculant. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Rhizobium strain MRL3 may be exploited as a bioinoculant to augment the efficiency of lentil exposed to insecticide‐stressed soils. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Potential environmental consequences of administration of ectoparasiticides to sheep

Sheep ectoparasiticides, which include the synthetic pyrethroids, the organophosphates, the 'insect'-growth regulators, the formamidines and the spinocyns, enter into the environment primarily through disposal of dip or fleece scours, as well as with contaminated faeces and urine. Due to the large quantities of spent dip, risks associated with environmental contamination are high. Synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates pose risks to dung, soil and aquatic fauna; concerns over potential ecotoxicity to vertebrates and invertebrates have resulted in the cessation of their use in many countries. There is very little information regarding the ecotoxicity of 'insect'-growth regulators, formamidines or spinocyns, with no studies focussing on sheep. Here, the impact of sheep ectoparasiticides is discussed in terms of their potential to enter into the environment, their toxicity and their impact on ecosystem functioning. Where there are no data for excretion or toxicity of the ectoparasiticides used in sheep production, examples to demonstrate potential impacts are taken from laboratory ecotoxicity tests and the cattle literature, as well on work with foliar insecticides. Future research priorities are suggested to allow assessment of the environmental consequences of sheep ectoparasiticide treatments, which are essential for future sustainable sheep production.     

Phosphorus availability of sewage sludge‐based fertilizers determined by the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique

The plant‐availability of phosphorus (P) in fertilizers and soil can strongly influence the yield of agricultural crops. However, there are no methods to efficiently and satisfactorily analyze the plant‐availability of P in sewage sludge‐based P fertilizers except by undertaking time‐consuming and complex pot or field experiments. We employed the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique to quantify the plant P availability of various types of P fertilizers with a novel focus on sewage sludge‐based P fertilizers. Mixtures of fertilizer and soil were incubated for 3 weeks at 60% water holding capacity. DGT devices were deployed at the beginning of the incubation and again after 1, 2, and 3 weeks. Two weeks of incubation were sufficient for the formation of plant‐available P in the fertilizer/soil mixtures. In a pot experiment, the DGT technique predicted maize (Zea mays L.) biomass yield and P uptake significantly more accurately than standard chemical extraction tests for P fertilizers (e.g ., water, citric acid, and neutral ammonium citrate). Therefore, the DGT technique can be recommended as a reliable and robust method to screen the performance of different types of sewage sludge‐based P fertilizers for maize cultivation minimizing the need for time‐consuming and costly pot or field experiments.     

害草薇甘菊生防因子——安婀珍蝶的自然种群生命表研究

室外设立隔离网笼，在自然气候条件下，饲养、释放薇甘菊重要生防因子——安婀珍蝶，研究了安婀珍蝶野外释放后对广东地区环境的适应能力；利用庞雄飞作用因子组配的生命表方法，组建安婀珍蝶自然种群生命表，量化分析评价各因子对安婀珍蝶的影响。结果表明：释放安婀珍蝶两代的自然种群趋势指数分别为0．0872和0．0939，都非常低，安婀珍蝶野外增殖能力较差。第一代和第二代中“捕食与其他”的控制作用指数分别为190．0191和84．8973，均高于其他因子的控制作用，“捕食与其他”为影响安婀珍蝶生长发育的重要因子。综合上述结果认为，需通过大量饲养人工释放、补充幼虫数量的方法，逐步提高安婀珍蝶在野外建立自然种群的能力。     

Direct and indirect efficacy of truck-mounted applications of s-methoprene against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is a globally significant vector that complexifies management programs already contending with Aedes aegypti (L.). The Ae. albopictus mosquito is a daytime biting, container breeding, anthropophilic mosquito that is generally considered unresponsive to operational larviciding that does not also incorporate source reduction. S-methoprene is a readily available juvenile hormone mimic common to pest management. This 14-week study examines direct and indirect treatment efficacy using s-methoprene as an ultra-low volume (ULV) truck spray in area-wide operations against Ae. albopictus in the southeastern United States. An overall 63.3% reduction of Ae. albopictus adults and 47.8% reduction of deposited eggs in treatment areas were observed compared with control. Indirect plots saw reduction in Ae. albopictus adults by 32.7% and eggs by 32.3%. Using insect growth regulator bioassays, truck-mounted ULV application of s-methoprene was effective to an inhibition of emergence (IE) of ≥92% within directly treated (sprayed) areas and >65% IE among containers placed up to 90 m away. S-methoprene could still benefit urban vector management programs when applied at an operational scale.     

品种、培养基质和接种量对马铃薯脱毒基础苗生长的影响

以马铃薯早熟品种大西洋、中熟品种克新1号、晚熟品种青薯168脱毒基础苗为试验材料,研究品种、培养基质和接种量对马铃薯脱毒基础苗苗鲜重、根鲜重、苗干重、根干重、叶片数、株高、茎粗、根长和根条数等性状指标的影响,培养14 d时,测定各性状指标。结果表明:三个品种的主要农艺性状均在液体培养基上表现为最佳,其平均单株鲜重、干重、株高、茎粗、节长和根条数分别为:159.4 mg、9.1 mg、7.3 cm、1.16 mm、1.4 cm、5.6条。在液体培养基上,降低了马铃薯工厂化生产成本,同时还可缩短马铃薯脱毒基础苗培养时间7~9 d。接种量对马铃薯单株根鲜重、苗干重、叶片数、株高、茎粗、根长有显著性影响(P<0.05);不同成熟期品种苗鲜重、根鲜重、根干重、叶片数、株高、茎粗、根长和根条数受品种影响显著(P<0.05);不同成熟期品种、不同接种密度处理对马铃薯单株根鲜重、苗干重、根干重、叶片数、株高、茎粗、根长影响有显著性交互作用(P<0.05);早熟品种大西洋,接种密度为0.67株/cm2时,中熟品种克新1号和晚熟品种青薯168接种密度为0.80株/cm2时,综合农艺性状表现最好。