Female-biased mortality rate and sexual size dimorphism of migratory masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou

Abstract –  We examined whether mortality and growth during the migration phase (the lacustrine phase after smolting) differ between sexes in migratory (lake-run) masu salmon ( Oncorhynchus masou ) in a lacustrine population, northern Hokkaido, Japan. The sex ratio of 1+ smolts was more skewed to females than that of the returning adults in three annual cohorts examined, indicating that females have a higher mortality rate during the migration phase. Although there was no difference in smolt length between sexes, female adults were larger in body length than males of the same age: female-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) occurs. We suppose that breeding selection favouring a larger body size for females than for males in this population probably requires that females undertake more intensive foraging behaviour with its greater inherent risks but faster growth rates during the migration phase. It therefore seems to be likely that the selection is the ultimate cause of the female-biased mortality rate and SSD.     

金陵麻鸡选育及其配套模式杂种优势分析

以华青麻鸡、良凤花鸡和隐性白羽肉鸡作为育种素材,经过4～5个世代的连续选育形成3个专门化品系(M系、A系和R系).根据生产需要和品系特征设计不同的杂交组合,通过配合力测定和重要性状杂种优势率分析,筛选出最佳配套组合M♂×(A×R)♀.配套形成的金陵麻鸡商品代公、母鸡出栏日龄为56 d,体重分别为1 943 g和1 554 g,饲料转化率分别为2.26:1和2.24:1,成活率分别为98.3%和97.5%.     

2种丽细蛾触角感受器超微结构特征

茶丽细蛾和黑丽细蛾分别是山茶科和槭树科部分植物的潜叶害虫。旨在通过观察掌握2种丽细蛾触角感受器的类型、数量、分布及形态特征,探讨触角感受器特征在种内和种间的差异性。用扫描电镜观察触角感受器的类型及形态特征并测量特征值。2种丽细蛾的触角感受器共11种类型16种亚型,分别是毛形感受器（2种亚型）、刺形感受器（2种亚型）、腔锥形感受器（2种亚型）、栓锥形感受器（3种亚型）、耳形感受器（3种亚型）、锥形感受器、鳞形感受器（2种亚型）、节间感受器（2种亚型）、Böhm氏鬃毛、乳突感受器和片刺形感受器。茶丽细蛾雌性有11种（11种亚型）感受器,雄性有10种（13种亚型）。黑丽细蛾雌性和雄性均有10种感受器,13种亚型。雌性茶丽细蛾鞭节第1亚节有半融合现象。2种丽细蛾的触角感受器均有性二型现象,在种间也具有一定的差异性。节间感受器、乳突感受器和片刺形感受器在鳞翅目昆虫中首次报道。研究结果丰富了细蛾科乃至鳞翅目昆虫触角感受器的类型,可为深入研究细蛾科昆虫系统发育关系、行为特征、害虫防治等提供基本依据。     

Potential of sexual reproduction among host-adapted populations of Phytophthora infestans sensu lato in Ecuador

To determine the potential of sexual reproduction among host-adapted populations of Phytophthora infestans sensu lato in Ecuador, 13 A1 isolates belonging to clonal lineages US-1, EC-1 and EC-3, and 11 A2 isolates belonging to the clonal lineage EC-2, were paired on agar plates to induce crossing. In the first experiment, six A1 isolates (three US-1, two EC-1 and one EC-3) were each crossed with three A2 isolates (total = 18 crosses). Matings involving isolates of the EC-1 lineage produced more oospores of healthy appearance than did matings with isolates of US-1 or EC-3. In the second experiment, the oospores of 35 crosses (21 EC-1 × EC-2; 10 US-1 × EC-2; four EC-3 × EC-2) were dispersed on water agar to assess oospore germination. Overall, germination percentages were low. Only one cross produced enough progeny for evaluation. Twenty-three single-oospore offspring were isolated and evaluated for mating type; electrophoretic patterns of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase ( Gpi ) and peptidase ( Pep ) alloenzyme loci; mitochondrial DNA haplotype; and genomic DNA fingerprint. Multilocus genotype data indicated that all 23 isolates resulted from meiotic recombination. Four progeny with homothallic phenotype appeared to be unstable heterokaryons. Markers at several loci segregated according to simple Mendelian expectations for a diploid organism, but the ratios of three RFLP loci and the Pep locus were not consistent with Mendelian expectations. All progeny were nonpathogenic on hosts of the parental genotypes. Reduced mating success and reduced pathogenic fitness of progeny appear to be postmating mechanisms of reproductive isolation in populations of P. infestans sensu lato in Ecuador.     

Impact of heat stress,nutritional restriction and combined stresses (heat and nutritional) on growth and reproductive performance of Malpura rams under semi‐arid tropical environment

A study was conducted to assess the combined effect of heat stress and nutritional restriction on growth and reproductive performances in Malpura rams. Twenty‐eight adult Malpura rams (average body weight (BW) 66.0 kg) were used in this study. The rams were divided into four groups: CON (n = 7; control), HES (n = 7; heat stress), NUS (n = 7; nutritional stress) and COS (n = 7; combined stress). The study was conducted for a period of 2 months. CON and HES rams had ad libitum access to their feed while NUS and COS rams were under restricted feed (30% intake of CON rams) to induce nutritional stress. The HES and COS rams were kept in climatic chamber at 42 °C and 55% relative humidity for 6 h a day between 10 : 00 h and 16 : 00 h to induce heat stress. Body weight increased significantly (p < 0.05) in CON as compared to NUS and COS. When compared within groups, scrotal width morning, scrotal width afternoon, scrotal circumference morning and scrotal circumference afternoon were significantly (p < 0.05) larger in CON while smaller in COS rams. The higher testicular length was recorded both during morning (p < 0.05) and afternoon (p < 0.01) in COS rams while the lowest in NUS rams. The highest plasma testosterone concentration was recorded in CON and lowest in COS rams. Semen volume and mass motility also differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the groups. The highest semen volume and mass motility was recorded in CON and NUS while lowest in both HES and COS rams. It can be concluded from this study that when two stressors occur simultaneously, they may have severe impact on reproductive performance of rams.     

Maturity and reproduction of goneplacid crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carcinoplax vestita</Emphasis> (Decapoda,Brachyura) in Tokyo Bay

ABSTRACT:     Sexual maturity, morphological sexual dimorphism, and reproduction of the goneplacid crab Carcinoplax vestita were investigated in Tokyo Bay, Japan, from November 2002 to October 2003. The puberty molt in males was evidenced by changes in the relative size of the chelipeds and merus of the walking legs, and was estimated to occur at a size range of 13.20–18.85 mm carapace length. Post-pubertal females were identified by the relative size of the abdomen and puberty was estimated to occur at a size range of 12.81–15.46 mm carapace length. Sexual dimorphism in C. vestita was observed in all features that showed secondary sexual characteristics. Monthly changes of gonad index in males, and of seminal receptacle index and occurrence of sperm plugs in females were synchronized, and indicated that mating was intense in spring. Ovaries began developing in March. Ovigerous females were found in all months except December, but were clearly more abundant between August and October. Fecundity ranged from 7800 to 57 000 mature oocytes per female per batch and was highly correlated with body size. The results suggest that some females may spawn more than one batch per year.     

Introgression of in vitro regeneration capability of Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium Mill. into recalcitrant tomato cultivars

The goal of this research was to study the introgression of the high regeneration capacity of Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium Mill line WV-700, in recalcitrant tomato cultivars (L. esculentum Mill cvs. Petomech, Santa Rita and VFN-8) using backcrossing. Hypocotyl explants of in vitro germinated seeds were cultivated in half strength MS medium supplemented with 5mg/l 6-BA to assess their shoot regeneration capacity. The apical shoot of the in vitro germinated seeds were cultured on a separate medium. Apical shoots from genotypes showing high regeneration rates were acclimated in a glasshouse and used as pollen donors for the next backcrossing. After four backcrossings, the material showed a similar mean fruit weight for the cultivated tomato and a high regeneration capacity similar to the wild species. It is shown that L. pimpinellifolium can be used with success as donor parent to introgress in vitro regeneration capacity to recalcitrant tomato cultivars. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

栽野稻远缘杂交高光效后代及其亲本叶片的气孔特性

为分析远缘杂交后代材料的高光效生理基础, 测定了从热带地区筛选出的杂交高光效后代材料SHP1(F2)、 SHP1-1-6(F3)、 SHP1-2-8(F3)及其亲本Azucena(O.sativa)与普通野生稻(O.rufipogon), 以及3个对照品种(O.sativa)的光合速率和气孔特性, 分析了光合速率与气孔导度和气孔结构的关系. 结果表明3个高光效后代材料的光合速率和气