Genetic potential for residual feed intake and diet fed during early- to mid-gestation influences post-natal DNA methylation of imprinted genes in muscle and liver tissues in beef cattle

Discovery of epigenetic modifications associated with feed efficiency or other economically important traits would increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these traits. In combination with known genetic markers, this would provide opportunity to improve genomic selection accuracy in cattle breeding programs. It would also allow cattle to be managed to improve favorable gene expression. The objective of this study was to identify variation in DNA methylation between beef cattle of differential pre-natal nutrition and divergent genetic potential for residual feed intake (RFI). Purebred Angus offspring with the genetic potential for either high (HRFI) or low (LRFI) RFI were prenatally exposed to either a restricted maternal diet of 0.5 kg/d average daily gain (ADG) or a moderate maternal diet of 0.7 kg/d ADG from 30 to 150 d of gestation. We performed DNA methylation analysis of differentially methylated regions (DMR) of imprinted genes (Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) DMR2, IGF2/H19 imprinting control region (ICR) and IGF2 receptor (IGF2R) DMR2) using post-natal samples of longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle taken from male and female calves at birth and weaning, and of LD muscle, semimembranosus (SM) muscle, and liver samples collected from steers at slaughter (17 months of age). Interestingly, for all three DMR investigated in liver, LRFI steers had higher levels of methylation than HRFI steers. In LD muscle, IGF2/H19 ICR methylation differences for heifers at birth were due to pre-natal diet, while for steers at birth they were mostly the result of genetic potential for RFI with LRFI steers again having higher levels of methylation than HRFI steers. While results from repeated measures analysis of DNA methylation in steers grouped by RFI revealed few differences, in steers grouped by diet, we found higher methylation levels of IGF2 DMR2 and IGF2R DMR2 in LD muscle of restricted diet steers at weaning and slaughter than at birth, as well as increased methylation in LD muscle of restricted diet steers compared with moderate diet steers at weaning and/or slaughter. Our results suggest that differential pre-natal nutrition, and divergent genetic potential for RFI, induces tissue- and sex-specific alterations in post-natal IGF2 and IGF2R methylation patterns and that these patterns can vary with age in Angus beef cattle.     

Integrated production of fish (pacu <Emphasis Type="Italic">Piaractus mesopotamicus</Emphasis> and red tilapia <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis</Emphasis> sp.) with two varieties of garnish (scallion and parsley) in aquaponics system

Aquaponics is emerging as an alternative for high-health food production. Being able to identify the technical viability of non-conventional plants and fish species would help to increase the interest and possibilities in aquaponic systems. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the aquaponics production of two garnish species: scallion (S) and parsley (P), using effluents of pacu and red tilapia culture. Two aquaponics devices were used, differing according to the fish species, generating two different effluents. Thus, for plant performance, four treatments were evaluated in a factorial design (plant species and fish effluent as main factors), as followed: Pacu-S, Tilapia-S, Pacu-P, and Tilapia-P, with three replicates each, for 35 days. Fish performance was evaluated using Student’s t test. Each experimental device included a fish tank, filters, and six experimental units for the plants (floating rafts). Results indicated that feed conversion ratio (FCR) was higher in tilapia as compared to pacu (p < 0.05); however, fish productivity and survival were similar between species. Plant performance parameters were similar with no significant differences regardless of the fish effluent (p > 0.05), except for higher number of leaves per plant in scallion cultured using pacu effluent. Plant performance comparing both plant species indicated that scallion performed better as compared to parsley in all parameters. In addition, scallion also performed better related to the plant quality index. The results indicate that pacu presented a viable alternative for the aquaponics production, and regarding to the garnish, scallion performed better results as compared to parsley.     

Hydroponic horticulture using residual waters from Oreochromis niloticus aquaculture with biofloc technology in photoautotrophic conditions with Chlorella microalgae

Protein‐dependent aquaculture generates large amounts of nutrient‐rich residuals; a feasible way to develop sustainable production systems is to integrate Decoupled Aquaponic Systems (DAPS) with residual water bioprocesses, to combine Photoautotrophic Biofloc Technology (P‐BFT) aquaculture and hydroponic horticulture. This study describes the characteristics of residual water from Oreochromis niloticus aquaculture performed with P‐BFT inoculated with Chlorella microalgae, reared during the nursery (180 fish m³) and grow‐out (55 fish m³) phases. The experiment included five treatments: photoautotrophic BFT inoculated with Chlorella sp. (M), C. sorokiniana 2714 (CV), and C. sorokiniana 2805 (CS), and chemoautotrophic (Q) and heterotrophic (H) as controls. Elemental characteristics in liquid and solid residual fractions (15 macro‐ and micronutrients) were compared among treatments and against Hoagland & Arnon solution with hydroponics and used in Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic horticulture including five plant species: lettuce (Lactuca sativa), pak‐choi (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis), rocket (Eruca sativa), spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and basil (Ocimum basilicum). The physicochemical parameters were ideal for O. niloticus and plants. The relationship between N:P was ideal until weeks 16–22 in the photoautotrophic treatments, compared with hydroponic solutions. Micronutrient content was greater in the solid than a liquid fraction. The best BFT effluent regarding fish and plant growth was photoautotrophic treatments. Oreochromis niloticus BFT aquaculture in photoautotrophic mode using microalgae Chlorella inoculations provided residual water beneficial to hydroponic horticulture in DAPS located in coastal arid zones where freshwater is scarce, improving aquaculture performance and reusing water and nutrients.