Essential amino acids supplementation to practical diets affects growth,feed utilization and glucose metabolism‐related signalling molecules of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

Six diets were formulated to investigate the success of fish meal (FM) replacement by plant proteins; diet 1 reflected a commercial feed (8% FM), diet 3 contained 4% FM, and diet 5 was devoid of FM. Whereas, diet 2, diet 4, and diet 6 reflected diet 1, diet 3, diet 5, respectively, and supplemented with essential amino acid (EAA). At the end of 8‐week trial, there was no significant difference in survival rate. Significantly higher final weight, weight gain rate, and specific growth rate were recorded in the group fed diet 2 compared with the other treatments (except diet 4) (p < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio of fish fed diet 2 was significantly lower than those fed diets 1, 3, and 5 (p < 0.05). The lowest feed intake and highest protein efficiency rate were found in fish fed diet 2 (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in whole body compositions between treatments. Plasma aspartate transaminases, alanine aminotransferase, and glucose were significantly affected by dietary treatments (p < 0.05), while plasma protein and albumin contents were not influenced by the treatments. The relative expression of target of rapamycin (TOR) and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase, regulatory subunit 1 (alpha) (PIK3R1) in fish fed diet 3 (4% FM) were significantly down‐regulated compared with those fed diet 6 for TOR and diets 4 and 6 for PIK3R1 (p < 0.05). Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS‐1) and janus kinase 3 (JAK3) expressions were fluctuated, with the higher levels in fish fed diets 4 and 6. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that plant protein mixture supplemented with EAA could be used to substitute FM in practical diet for Megalobrama amblycephala.     

Effects of natural feeding stimulants and glutamic acid supplementation on the feed intake,growth performance and digestive enzyme activities of red sea bream (Pagrus major) fed fish meal‐free soy protein concentrate (SPC)‐based diet

Two experiments were conducted for red sea bream (Pagrus major). In experiment 1, the optimum level of glutamic acid and natural feeding stimulants to enhance feed intake were determined and found that glutamic acid level of 0.5% and fish meat hydrolysate (FMH) were effective. In experiment 2, fish were fed with soy protein concentrate (SPC)‐based diet with synthetic feeding stimulants (Basal diet), the Basal diet with FMH (FMH diet), the FMH diet with glutamic acid (FMHG diet) and with fish meal diet (FM diet) as a control until satiation for 8 weeks. Feed intake of FMHG‐fed fish was significantly higher than others (p < 0.05). Specific growth rate and the feed conversion ratio of FMHG were comparable to those of FM‐fed fish (p > 0.05). Relative visceral fat ratio and crude lipid content of any SPC‐based diet‐fed fish tended to be lower than those of FM diet‐fed fish. There were no significant differences in trypsin and lipase activities hepatopancreas among treatments. SPC can be utilized as a sole protein source in a diet for red sea bream. The lower growth performance in SPC‐based diet‐ fed fish was not due to poor digestive enzyme secretion but could be associated with lipid utilization disorder.     

An evaluation of the nutritional value of alternative lipid sources to juvenile southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii

Experimental lobster feeds are currently based on fish meal and fish oil formulations, and although survival and growth similar to that of lobsters fed fresh blue mussels has been achieved, varying the protein level in previous experimental feeds has not increased growth beyond that of lobsters fed natural food. This experiment assessed the growth performance of lobsters fed pelleted feeds containing constant amounts of protein, lipid and energy where the lipid was provided by a range of oil-rich ingredients (fish oil, FO; fish oil with added soybean lecithin, FOL; canola oil, CO; tuna oil, TO; mussel meal, MM; and squid meal, SQM). Feed performance was assessed by lobster growth rate, survival, final biochemical composition, nutrient retention and nutrient efficiency. Twenty tanks containing 15 post-larval lobsters each (1.5 ± 0.04 g) were randomly allocated one of six test feeds in triplicate, and the two remaining tanks were fed freshly opened blue mussels (FRM) as a reference feed. Lobsters were fed daily to excess for 10 weeks. Final individual weights of whole body and digestive gland were measured, and tissue chemical composition analysed. There were no significant differences in survival (88.4 ± 3.3%), or specific growth rate (1.3 ± 0.1%.day^− 1) among the formulated feed fed lobsters, which were significantly lower than the survival (100 ± 0.0%) and SGR (2.2 ± 0.1%.day^− 1) of FRM fed lobsters. The SQM fed lobsters had a significantly lower lipid efficiency ratio and lipid productivity value than lobsters fed TO, FOL and MM feeds. The digestive gland lipid content (g.100 g wet tissue^− 1) of lobsters fed the feeds TO (3.7 ± 0.4), FO (3.5 ± 0.3) and SQM (2.2 ± 0.2) were significantly lower than lobsters fed feeds MM (9.9 ± 1.1), FOL (9.0 ± 2.3) and FRM fed lobsters contained most digestive gland lipid (12.3 ± 1.5).     

Unravelling transcriptome changes between two distinct maize inbred lines using RNA-seq

Seed size play a significant role in maize yield production. Two maize inbred lines with distinct seed size and weight, V671 (a large-seed inbred line) and Mc (a small-seed inbred line), were investigated by RNA-seq at 14 days after pollination (DAP), when maize endosperm undergoes an active transition from mitosis to storage accumulation. RNA-seq expression data showed that the small-seed line Mc had a higher storage accumulation activity, whereas the large-seed kernel line V671 possessed a higher DNA synthesis activity. An investigation of the pattern of increasing kernel width at serial DAPs showed that V671 experienced an increased kernel width later than did Mc, but the rate and duration of increase were longer in V671. SDS-PAGE of the storage proteins and quantitative RT-PCR of cell cycle-related genes and indole-3-acetic (IAA) synthesis genes certified that the transition from mitosis to storage accumulation starts earlier in Mc. We hypothesized that the difference in the mitosis-to-storage accumulation transition accounts for the larger seed size in V671 vs. Mc.     

品种演替和土壤肥力对小麦产量和磷生理效率的影响

以25年来长期定位施肥试验构建不同土壤肥力梯度为平台,研究品种演替过程中籽粒产量和磷效率对土壤肥力的响应。结果表明,各施肥处理,随品种演替小麦籽粒产量呈显著增加趋势,其中郑麦0856的产量最高(8 157. 3kg·hm-2),郑麦7698次之,豫麦13的产量最低(5 915. 39 kg·hm-2);不施肥处理(CK)则下降。无论施肥或不施肥处理,100 kg小麦籽粒对磷素的需求量均随品种的演替呈上升趋势。此外,随品种演替,磷的生理效率呈先增加后降低的趋势,郑麦941 (172. 48 kg·kg-1)的磷生理效率最高,郑麦9023 (145. 79 kg·kg-1)、郑麦7698 (130. 51kg·kg-1)和郑麦0856 (147. 65 kg·kg-1)次之,三者之间差异不明显,豫麦13 (66. 71 kg·kg-1)的磷生理效率最低;同一品种,单施化肥处理(NPK)小麦磷生理效率显著高于其他施肥处理(MNPK、1. 5MNPK和SNPK)(豫麦13除外)。同时,品种演变明显提高了磷农学效率;但在施肥条件下,继续增施肥料和养分投入使豫麦13、郑麦941、郑麦7698和郑麦9023的磷农学效率降低;而郑麦0856的农学效率随着土壤肥力的增加而增加,与籽粒产量协同提升。因此,黄淮海地区小麦品种演替在土壤肥力养分充足时籽粒产量显著提高,磷效率也呈增加的趋势。     

Performance of a photo‐heterotrophic,hypersaline system for intensive cultivation of white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) with minimal water replacement in lined ponds using a stochastic approach

The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of Litopenaeus vannamei in an intensive photo‐heterotrophic hypersaline system with minimal seawater replacement, and establish relationships between parameters of a stochastic production model and relevant water quality variables. Six experimental 1000 m² lined ponds were stocked at a density of 120 shrimp m^?2 for a 105‐day trial. Salinity increased from 37 to 45 ± 2 g/L, and the water level was maintained with the weekly addition of filtered seawater, equivalent to 1.6% per day. The stochastic model predicted that, at harvest, there is 95% confidence that the system produces between 12.1 and 14.7 t/ha with a mean final individual weight of 13.1 g and a mean survival of 84.2%. Sensitivity analyses showed that dissolved oxygen and individual final weight of shrimp were the main variables influencing yield variance. Nitrogenous compounds were maintained between optimal cultivation levels (NH₃–NH₄⁺ = 0.73 ± 0.43 mg/L, N–NO₂^? = 0.09 ± 0.05 mg/L, N–NO₃^? = 3.22 ± 0.11 mg/L). Heterotrophic bacteria (6.6 ± 3.4 × 10⁵ CFU/ml) and chlorophyll‐α concentration (108.5 ± 80.2 μg/L) showed a similar development pattern, indicating a strong relationship between bacteria and microalgae during cultivation. Vibrio spp. concentrations were low (1.24 ± 1.42 × 10³ CFU/ml). It was shown that the photo‐heterotrophic system could be used in hypersaline conditions, typical of semi‐arid regions, to consistently produce between 12.1 and 14.7 t/ha in 15 weeks.     

Effects of guanidinoacetic acid supplementation in all‐plant protein diets on growth,antioxidant capacity and muscle energy metabolism of bullfrog Rana (Lithobates) catesbeiana

Effects of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation in all‐plant protein diets were evaluated on growth, antioxidant capacity and muscle energy metabolism of Rana (Lithobates) catesbeiana. Six diets were prepared: a basal fish meal diet (FM), an all soybean meal diet (SM) and four GAA‐supplemented diets by adding 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 g GAA/kg to the SM diet (GAA2, GAA4, GAA6 and GAA8 diets). Triplicate groups of bullfrog (45 ± 0.2 g) were fed the diets to apparent satiation for 8 weeks. Total substitution of FM with SM led to significantly (p < .05) reduced growth and feed utilization. Adding 0.4 g GAA/kg to the SM diet significantly improved growth performance, and the values were comparable to those of FM group. SM and GAA2 groups showed drastically lower serum total antioxidant capacity than FM, GAA4 and GAA6 groups. Also, SM and GAA2 groups showed significantly lower catalase activity than FM and GAA8 groups. A remarkable increase in serum malondialdehyde concentration was detected in SM and GAA2 groups. FM and GAA6 groups exhibited significantly higher serum creatinine concentration than other groups. Muscle creatine kinase activity and glycogen content were significantly decreased in SM group and application of 0.4–0.6 g GAA/kg significantly improved their values. GAA4 group showed significantly lower pyruvate kinase activity than FM and GAA6 groups. Also, GAA2 and GAA4 groups had significantly lower succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity than other treatments. These findings show that supplementing 0.4 g/kg GAA to SM‐based diets improves growth, antioxidant capacity and muscle energy metabolism.     

Relationships among the chalkiness,kernel size and endosperm cell morphology of rice kernels at different spikelet positions within a panicle

The occurrence of chalky kernels in rice is causally related to kernel size and endosperm morphology. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of chalky kernels by analyzing kernel size, and the number and area of endosperm cells. Spikelets were sampled from upper and middle primary branches and lower secondary branches in a panicle, and divided into four categories: upper, middle, and lower perfect (PF) kernels and lower milky-white (MW) kernels. On the lower secondary branches, there was a higher percentage of chalky kernels, with smaller kernel lengths, widths and thicknesses, than the kernels on the upper and middle primary branches. MW kernels were smaller in size than PF kernels even on the same lower secondary branches. Regardless of grain appearance quality traits, the total areas of endosperm cross sections in lower kernels were significantly smaller than in upper kernels owing to the decreased cell area, and there was a significant negative correlation between the number of cells and average cell area. When the numbers and the areas of cells were analyzed using angular 30° intervals from the line connecting the center point and the dorsal vascular bundle, the MW kernels had significantly less cells than PF kernels near the ventral side at 120–180°. Thus, the decrease in the number of cells near the ventral side was a main causal factor in the decrease in MW kernel widths compared with PF kernel widths, and this suggested that cell division in MW kernels was inhibited at the early grain-filling stage.     

浙江省稻田系统秸秆还田问题及对策

秸秆还田是实施肥药减施及有机养分替代的主要技术。稻-麦轮作是浙江北部和中部稻区的主要栽培模式,稻-油和稻-稻模式则主要分布在浙江中部和南部稻区。调查表明,浙江稻区不同栽培模式的秸秆还田与耕作方式主要有:双季稻田秸秆翻耕还田,稻-麦(油)轮作水稻秸秆覆盖还田,以及稻-麦(油)轮作水稻季的4种秸秆还田耕作方式——麦(油)秸秆覆盖还田免耕水稻直播方式、麦(油)秸秆还田浅耕水稻直播方式、麦(油)秸秆还田深耕水稻插秧方式、麦(油)秸秆还田深耕水稻直播方式。不同耕作及还田方式各有利弊,但同时存在秸秆量大、还田困难,肥料配施没有定量计算方法,病虫害加剧,土壤水分需要科学管理,农机需要合理选择与操作等问题。通过调查研究,参考已有的研究技术资料,针对秸秆还田存在的问题进行分析与总结,提出以下对策。1)采取方式轮换措施调和不同耕作类型及不同秸秆还田方式产生的不足。2)中等肥力农田以单季秸秆还田量5~6 t·hm^-2、全年秸秆还田量10~12 t·hm^-2比较适宜,超过的秸秆量建议通过综合利用方式加以解决。3)肥料配施采取以氮肥全季调施、前期适当增施,钾肥适当减施为主的秸秆还田施肥策略。4)病虫害防治采取提前翻耕、秸秆深埋、淹水闷田的措施。5)水分管理以易于机械耕作和秸秆还田后保持土壤湿度促进秸秆腐解为原则,晚稻提倡干湿交替的灌溉管理方式。6)机械类型应选择带有秸秆切碎装置的收割机,耕作机械要保证翻埋深度,以实现稳定与均匀的还田作业。     

香稻胚乳的垩白性状研究及扫描电镜观察

【目的】研究不同香稻品种垩白性状与胚乳细胞和淀粉粒的形状结构、排列方式及发育情况的关系,为进一步研究香稻垩白性状的形成机理及培育优良品质的香稻新品种打下基础。【方法】通过田间试验,调查11个香稻品种的垩白粒率、垩白面积和垩白度,并对香稻品种胚乳细胞及淀粉粒进行电镜观察。【结果】供试11个香稻品种间差异最明显的垩白性状为垩白粒率,其次是垩白面积,最小的是垩白度,垩白粒率和垩白度成正比,垩白粒率越高则垩白度越高。不同香稻品种稻米胚乳细胞的排列方式、形态及其横断面淀粉粒的分布存在明显差异,其与垩白性状的形成存在一定关联,根据稻米胚乳中垩白形成的位置不同,可将垩白性状分为腹白、心白和背白3种垩白亚类。同一香稻品种,垩白米与无垩白米在淀粉粒形状结构及排列方式等方面也存在明显差异,但垩白米的透明部位和无垩白米的淀粉粒间无明显差异,且垩白度低的部位淀粉粒发育良好。【结论】香稻稻米的垩白性状与胚乳细胞和淀粉粒的形状结构、排列方式及发育情况密切相关,可用于香稻稻米品质鉴定。