羊衣对我国西部羊毛品质和产量的影响

甘肃高山细毛羊常年生活在海拔3000米高的我国西北地区,其自然环境相当恶劣,夏天温度很高,春天风沙很大,紫外线很强烈.羊毛的产量和质量严重受这些因素影响.羊衣可解决这些不良因素的影响,当绵羊穿上这种衣服时,平均试验羊个体净毛量提高0.44Kg,毛束长度提高0.33cm,净毛率提高30.57%.所以绵羊穿上这种衣服可控制风沙、灰尘、紫外线的侵害,达到提高羊毛品质的目的.     

Heritability and genetic correlation estimates of semen production traits with litter traits and pork production traits in purebred Duroc pigs

We estimated heritabilities of semen production traits and their genetic correlations with litter traits and pork production traits in purebred Duroc pigs. Semen production traits were semen volume, sperm concentration, proportion of morphologically normal sperms, total number of sperm, and total number of morphologically normal sperm. Litter traits at farrowing were total number born, number born alive, number stillborn, total litter weight at birth, mean litter weight at birth, and piglet survival rate at birth. Litter traits at weaning were litter size at weaning, total litter weight at weaning, mean litter weight at weaning, and piglet survival rate from birth to weaning. Pork production traits were average daily gain, backfat thickness, and loin muscle area. We analyzed 45,913 semen collection records of 896 boars, 6,950 farrowing performance records of 1,400 sows, 2,237 weaning performance records of 586 sows, and individual growth performance records of 9,550 animals measured at approximately 5 mo of age. Heritabilities were estimated using a single-trait animal model. Genetic correlations were estimated using a 2-trait animal model. Estimated heritabilities of semen production traits ranged from 0.20 for sperm concentration to 0.29 for semen volume and were equal to or higher than those of litter traits, ranging from 0.06 for number stillborn and piglet survival rate at birth to 0.25 for mean litter weight at birth, but lower than those of pork production traits, ranging from 0.50 for average daily gain to 0.63 for backfat thickness. In many cases, the absolute values of estimated genetic correlations between semen production traits and other traits were smaller than 0.3. These estimated genetic parameters provide useful information for establishing a comprehensive pig breeding scheme.     

Automated image analysis as a tool to quantify the colour and composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss W.) cutlets

The goal of this paper is to propose and evaluate automated image analysis methods for describing muscle cutlets in rainbow trout. The proposed automated image analysis methods were tested on a total of 983 scanned images of trout cutlets, and included quality traits such as fat percentage, flesh colour and the size of morphologically distinguishable subparts of the cutlet. A sub-sample of 50 images was randomly selected for manual segmentation of the cutlet, the dorsal fat depot and the red muscle and regions. The identification of these regions by manual and automatic image analysis correlated strongly (r = 0.97, r = 0.95 and r = 0.91, respectively). The estimated fat percentage obtained from image analysis, based on the area of visible fat and the colour of the cutlet flesh, correlated well with chemical fat percentage measured by mid-infrared transmission spectroscopy (MIT) (r = 0.78). The automated image analysis methods are therefore a reliable means of predicting the fat percentage of trout cutlets. Principal component analysis (PCA) loading plots were used to identify subsets of variables from the image analysis of special significance for further studies; cutlet area, dorsal fat depot area, red muscle area, back height, cutlet width, and width of left and right abdomen wall were among the variables selected. PCA loading plots of different colour variables indicated that simple statistical coefficients such as percentiles and mean values can be used to quantify different aspects of flesh colour. In conclusion, the methods presented here provide a powerful toolbox for describing important morphological structures and quality traits of trout cutlets.     

Freshwater nucleated pearl quality is influenced by host mussel growth traits in Hyriopsis cumingii

Hyriopsis cumingii is one of the most important freshwater pearl mussels in China. Recently, this species can produce freshwater nucleated pearls of high quality. Here, we investigated whether nucleated pearl quality is influenced by the growth traits of the host mussel or other factors like cultivation period. We implanted host mussels with a spherical nucleus consisting of a small piece of mantle tissue from donor mussels. After 24 and 36 months of culture, host mussel growth traits including body weight and shell length, height, width and weight were recorded. These factors were then correlated with the quality traits of the pearls they produced, such as nacre thickness, size, weight, lustre and colour. Results indicated pearls obtained at 36 months after seeding were significantly larger in terms of nacre thickness, size and weight compared to those harvested at 24 months. In particular, nacre thickness (r = 0.33–0.48, P = 0.00), pearl size (r = 0.39–0.43, P = 0.00) and pearl weight (r = 0.35–0.47, P = 0.00) were showed to be significantly correlated with host mussels shell length, body weight and shell weight at 24 or 36 months. Larger and heavier host mussels tended to produce bigger pearls. In contrast, host mussels did not affect pearl colour. Cumulatively, our results suggest that longer culturing times and a larger host mussel may help produce better quality nucleated pearl. This information can help guide selective breeding programs designed to improve pearl quality produced by H. cumingii.     

虾夷扇贝体形性状对软体重和闭壳肌重的影响效果分析

利用虾夷扇贝表型性状资料,分析性状间的相关关系及其相关程度,建立相应的回归方程,为扇贝的选择育种奠定基础。试验随机抽取126只体形规则的3龄大连獐子岛海区底播增殖的虾夷扇贝,其中雌雄各63只,测定其壳长(X1)、壳高(X2)、壳宽(X3)、活体重(Y)、软体重(Z)和闭壳肌重(W),分别计算相关系数,采用通径分析方法计算了以体形性状为自变量对软体重和闭壳肌重作依变量的通径系数、决定系数及相关指数,定量的分析了体形性状对虾夷扇贝解剖性状的影响。结果表明虾夷扇贝壳长、壳宽、壳高与活体重、软体重和闭壳肌重的相关系数均达到极显著水平(P<0.01);壳高、壳宽是影响雌性软体重的主要因素,壳长、壳宽是影响雄性软体重的主要因素,而混合组受3个壳尺性状的共同影响;影响虾夷扇贝闭壳肌重的主要因素是壳宽,壳长、壳高的作用不显著;决定系数分析结果与通径分析结果有一致的变化趋势;多元回归分析,剔除不显著因子,建立了壳长、壳高、壳宽对软体重、闭壳肌重的回归方程：1). 雌性 Z= -128.573 +1.355X2 +1.407 X3;W= -8.216 +0.869X3;2). 雄性 Z =138.493+1.082 X1+2.524 X3;W= -11.855 + 0.955 X3;3). 混合 Z = -133.939 +0.606 X1+0.679X2 + 1.709X3;W= -9.525+ 0.896 X3。通过性状间的相关分析对两性状间的关系进行明确的定量,有利于制定合理的多性状选择方案,为虾夷扇贝选育提供理想的测度指标。     

大黄鱼22个微卫星标记在F1家系中的分离方式及与生长性状的相关分析

研究了1个大黄鱼F1家系150个个体22个微卫星位点的基因型分布,并分析了标记位点与生长性状的相关性。结果显示,22个位点共检测到60个等位基因,平均等位基因数为2.73,平均有效等位基因数为2.37;平均观测杂合度与期望杂合度分别为0.75和0.73,部分位点基因型分布严重偏离孟德尔定律,暗示其可能与适应性基因相连锁,其中LYC0446位点附近可能存在隐性纯合致死基因。LYC0077位点与体质量、体长和体高均呈显著相关(P<0.05),其中等位基因A(165 bp)对应的生长性状表型值最大,可以作为选育快长性状的有效分子标记;LYC0015和LYC0243与体高呈显著相关(P<0.05),与体长、体质量的相关不显著(P>0.05),LYC0015位点的等位基因C(110 bp)和LYC0243位点的等位基因A(160 bp)为有利的等位基因。对LYC0015、LYC0077和LYC0243进行不同基因型个体表型值的多重比较,找到3种对生长性状有利的基因型,分别为BC、AA和AB。同时,以体质量性状为参照,对3个位点不同基因型组合进行比较,找到一个最优基因型组合(BC/AA/AB),与3个位点单独分析对应的最优基因型完全一致,符合加性作用模型。     

Family by environment interactions in shell size of 43-day old silver-lip pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima), five families reared under different nursery conditions

To understand the influence the environment and associated genotype by environment interactions will exert on future silver-lip pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) selective breeding programs, this study assessed the relative performance in four shell growth traits of spat from five full-sib families, when spat were communally reared at different salinities (29, 34 and 40 ppt), food availability (high, medium and low), food quality (high, medium and low), and in a hatchery vs. ocean environment for 43 days.Rearing environment was found to influence growth expression, with significant differences evident when oysters were grown at different salinities in the ocean instead of hatchery, or when fed algae of differing nutritional quality. As indicated by MANOVA, family comparative growth performances were also altered when the environment changed, with significant environment by family interactions apparent in the food quality, food availability and hatchery vs. ocean rearing treatments. Changes in salinity, however, did not affect relevant family performances.These results indicate that growth and relative family performance in P. maxima may change dependent on local environmental conditions and that genotype by environment effects may need to be considered in breeding programs for this species.     

Foraging specialisms, prey size and life-history patterns: a test of predictions using sympatric polymorphic Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Abstract –  We use arguments based on optimal foraging theory to predict body size constraints and the consequences of these on a range of life-history traits in three trophic specialist morphs of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus , living in sympatry in Loch Rannoch, Scotland. As predicted, foraging specialists feeding on small prey items with a narrow size range showed evidence of deterministic growth; the ultimate body size of macrobenthos feeders being larger ( L _∞ = 238 mm) than that of planktivores ( L _∞ = 216 mm). In contrast, the piscivorous morph showed no evidence of reaching a maximal body size.
The two size-constrained morphs (benthivores and planktivores) matured earlier and died younger (living for up to 11 and 7 years, respectively, in this study) than did the piscivorous charr which showed continuous growth up to at least 17 years.
The pattern of annual reproductive investment in maturing individuals was complex. Planktivores invested in larger eggs than the other two forms, but benthivores produced a greater number of eggs than planktivores, which in turn produced more than piscivores. Planktivorous males had a greater investment in mean testis weight than the other two forms.
Lifetime reproductive output was the greatest in the benthivorous charr, intermediate in planktivorous and the lowest in the piscivorous charr when measured either as fecundity or as gonadal weight. We conclude that constraints imposed upon foraging specialists by foraging efficiency is a significant driver of body size and ultimately reproductive investment in gape-limited foraging salmonids.     

Multivariate analysis and genetic diversity for morphometric and root textural quality traits in ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal)

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an important medicinal plant and its dried roots are used in traditional systems of medicine. The market price of roots is determined by physical (textural) quality. Brittle roots with high starch and low fiber are considered to be superior because of ease in grinding. Genetic diversity studies based on root textural parameters have not been done so far. So the present study was designed to assess genetic diversity for morphometric traits and root textural quality parameters among two morphologically distinct groups: Poshita and Nagore. The PCA separated the morphometric and root texture variables distinctly into two different principal components: PC-1 and PC-2 respectively, indicating that both are negatively associated. All the morphotypes in Poshita group showed high positive loadings in PC-1 indicating that component genotypes are high root yielding. Nagore morphotypes were low yielding but the root texture was good. Clustering of morphotypes grouped Poshita and Nagore separately with high inter-cluster distances indicating that both groups are highly divergent from each other, suggesting that there is sufficient scope for varietal improvement through hybridization.