Important factors in nutrient availability: Root morphology and physiology

Nutrient availability in the soil is not only determined by chemical, physical, and micro-biological factors but can be actively influenced by the plant root system. Various components of root activity have been studied in our laboratory during the last 10 years. The major findings are summarized and discussed with special emphasis on root morphology, cation-anion imbalance and proton release, the mechanism of proton release and anion secretion. Large species differences in root morphology were found between red clover and rye-grass. Root morphology was also found to be controlled by environmental and physiological factors. Experimental results obtained with different plant species suggest that proton release by plant roots is not primarily a consequence of excess cation uptake to achieve charge balance in the plant, but rather that active proton extrusion by ATPase activity creates a charge imbalance and a pH gradient which drive nutrient uptake. The pH gradient across the plasmalemma of root cells was also found to be essential for the retention of organic anions by plant roots.     

Active metabolism in larval and juvenile fish: ontogenetic changes,effect of water temperature and fasting

Oxygen consumption, ammonia excretion and fish swimming speed were measured in fish induced to swim by optomotor reaction in a circular metabolism chamber. The relationship between the swimming speed and fish metabolism described by exponential equations allowed the extrapolation to the standard metabolism, i.e. at zero swimming speed. The partitioning of the catabolised protein in the energy supply was estimated based on AQ (volume of ammonia/ volume of oxygen) values. Weight specific standard metabolism, as expressed by the ammonia excretion rate, decreased by one order of magnitude in coregonids as the fish grew from 20 to 780 mg body weight. The slope of the relationship between oxygen uptake and swimming speed decreased in coregonid ontogenesis. In salmon, after 12 days of fasting 28% of energy used was derived from protein, whilst coregonid juveniles utilized mostly lipid. Active swimming in fasted juveniles of coregonid, as well as in salmon, led to the accelerated utilization of protein as a source of energy, based on AQ coefficients. In juveniles acclimated to a range of water temperatures from 14 to 26°C, the changes in standard or active metabolic rate (expressed as oxygen uptake or ammonia excretion) were described by Q₁₀ coefficients. They were generally higher for the ammonia excretion rate than for the oxygen uptake rate and for active metabolism than for standard metabolism. Utilization of protein as energy for swimming differed significantly between the species, being in general one order of magnitude higher in coregonids than in salmon. The use of protein for swimming activity tended to decrease during coregonid ontogenesis.     

Ascorbic acid status as affected by dietary treatment in the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baeri Brandt): tissue concentration,mobilisation and L-gulonolactone oxidase activity

A study was conducted to evaluate tissue storage and mobilisation of L-ascorbic acid (AA) in the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baeri) fed three different experimental diets. The three treatments consisted of a diet devoid of vitamin C (diet A0) and two diets supplemented with equivalent of 300 mg AA kg^–1 in the form of either silicone-coated ascorbic acid (diet SC) or of ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (diet AP). During the first phase (4 months) of the trial, six batches of 130 Siberian sturgeon (initial body weight: 25.5±0.5 g) each were fed one of the three diets in duplicate. During the second phase (3 months), fish from groups SC and AP were switched to diet A0 and those fed diet A0 during the first phase were switched to diet SC. Irrespective of the dietary treatment, growth rates were not significantly different from each other. At the end of phase I, in all tissues studied, total ascorbic acid (TAA) concentrations were higher in Siberian sturgeon fed diet AP than in the other two groups. During phase II, tissue ascorbate depletion was also higher in the AP group than in the other two groups. Transfer of the AA-free diet fed group onto a diet supplemented with 300 mg AA kg^–1 (diet SC) led to a slight increase in the TAA concentrations in all tissues. Blood plasma tyrosine concentrations were not significantly different between the three groups. Whole-body collagen levels were affected by dietary AA levels or forms at the end of phase I; the differences were not significant at the end of phase II. Muscle collagen levels were slightly affected. L-Gulonolactone oxidase activity was found in the kidney of Siberian sturgeon, but not in the liver. The ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate appears to be either better utilised by Siberian sturgeon, like in many other teleosts, or more stable than the silicone-coated AA during food processing and storage. Presence of L-gulonolactone oxidase activity in Siberian sturgeon kidney combined with the absence of gross scorbutic signs in AA-free diet fed groups expressing very good growth rates suggested no need of dietary AA byA. baeri.     

The use of fish meal and soyabean meal as a protein source in the diet of grass carp fry

Diets based on fish meal and soyabean meal were fed to grass carp fry, the average body weight of each individual being 0.4 g. During the 70 days of the experiment, the best results were obtained with a diet containing 40% fish meal, when growth increment, protein efficiency ratio and apparent net protein utilization amounted to 209, 1.26 and 20.3, respectively. There was a deficiency in sulphuric amino acids in both fish meal- and soyabean meal-containing diets, and this was particularly marked in the latter. A significant decrease in available lysine was found in the diets containing soyabean meal. The main reason for the retardation in fish growth and the reduction of protein utilization when soyabean meal content is increased in the diets, seemed to be that the destruction of anti-nutritional factors by the heat processing of the meal was only partial.     

蛋雏鸡传染性喉气管炎的诊治

鸡传染性喉气管炎(ILT)是由鸡传染性喉气管炎病毒引起的以剧烈咳嗽、气喘、高度呼吸困难和气管内有血样渗出物等为特征的一种急性呼吸道传染病.育成蛋鸡感染该病多有报道,而蛋雏鸡感染发病比较少见.本文以一起48日龄海兰褐蛋雏鸡传染性喉气管炎病例为题材,从发病情况、临床症状、病理剖检变化、诊断、防治等几个方面对该病做了详尽阐述.     

猪败血性链球菌与附红细胞体混合感染病例

猪败血性链球菌病是猪链球菌感染引起的一种急性败血性传染病,猪附红细胞体病是由猪附红细胞体寄生于猪红细胞而引起的一种散在的热性、溶血性传染病.本文以某猪场这2种病混合感染病例为题材,从发病基本情况、临床症状、剖检变化、实验室检验、防治措施等6个方面对该混合感染病例做了详尽的阐述.     

Simulation study of the competitive ability of erect, semi-erect and prostrate cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) genotypes

Ecophysiological simulation models provide a quantitative method to predict the effects of management practices, plant characteristics and environmental factors on crop and weed growth and competition. The INTERCOM interplant competition model was parameterised, calibrated by monoculture data for three cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) genotypes that differed in growth habit, common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and common purslane (Portulaca oleracea), and used to simulate competition of cowpea cover crops with sunflower or purslane. The simulation results were compared with observations from field competition experiments in 2003 and 2004. INTERCOM more accurately simulated actual field data for the competition of cowpea genotypes and sunflower than companion field experiments for the competition of cowpea and purslane. The validated simulation model of cowpea and sunflower at two densities was used to study the effects of cowpea growth habit on final biomass production of cowpea and sunflower. The model suggested that erect growth habit was more competitive than semi‐erect and prostrate growth habit, when cowpea genotypes were grown with sunflower. Cowpea leaf area distribution was important to higher cowpea biomass production, while cowpea height growth was important to reduce sunflower biomass. Our simulation approach is suggested as a method for crop breeders to gauge the likely success of selection for competitive crops before undertaking expensive long‐term breeding experiments.     

Vitamin C Requirements of the Angelfish Pterophylum scalare

Abstract.— Despite a large economical value of the ornamental fish trade, little information is available on the dietary ascorbic acid requirements of these species. Ascorbic acid requirements of fishes of the cichlid family appear to vary widely. Juvenile angelfish, a widely produced ornamental cichlid, were maintained on diets containing graded levels of ascorbyl monophosphate. Liver ascorbic acid concentrations after 96 d of feeding were significantly reduced in groups receiving 120 mg or less ascorbic acid equivalents/kg diet. However, no differences in growth or mortality between groups were found, and no external signs of ascorbic acid deficiency were observed, indicating a high resistance of this species against prolonged ascorbic acid deficiency. Based on the long possible life span of angelfish in the aquarium, we proposed a conservative dietary ascorbic acid requirement of 360 mg/ kg diet, necessary to maintain maximum tissue storage of this vitamin.