The effects of density and artificial substrate on intensive shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei nursery production

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) can be installed indoors, allowing year-round production of tropical animals in nearly any climate. A nursery phase is commonly used in Litopenaeus vannamei production since it allows for enhanced biosecurity and better quantification of animals while reducing space requirements. However, it is unclear whether animal density and inclusion of artificial substrate may improve shrimp performance during the nursery phase. In this experiment, we compared shrimp production parameters in two stocking densities with or without the use of an artificial substrate by creating four treatments: low-density LD; 1500 PL/m⁻³, low-density with substrate LDS, high-density HD; 3000 PL/m⁻³), and high-density with substrate (HDS). The LDS and HDS treatments included 0.46-m² of high-density polyethylene 2.5-cm mesh as a substrate, which increased the tank surface area by 21 %. Each treatment was randomly assigned to four 160-l culture tanks, each with a biofilter. The shrimp had an initial weight of 4 mg and were grown for 50 days. The low-density treatments had significantly higher dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH than the high-density treatments (P ≤ 0.001). Specifically, LDS had the highest DO and pH followed by the LD, HD, and HDS treatments, respectively. High-density treatments had significantly higher NO₂-N levels than low-density treatments during week 2 of the experiment when an unusually high concentration of nitrite was observed. FCR was significantly lower in both low-density treatments than in high-density treatments. At harvest, the total biomass (kg m⁻³) was significantly higher in high-density treatments than in low-density treatments (P ≤ 0.001), and the HDS treatment had a significantly greater biomass output than HD. Producers should consider artificial substrate and higher densities during nursery production to maximize shrimp production; however, the effects on water quality should also be taken into account.     

Impact of postovulatory food deprivation on the ova transport, hormonal profiles and metabolic changes in sows.

The effect of food deprivation on ova transport, hormonal profiles and metabolic changes was studied in 20 crossbred multiparous sows during their second oestrus after weaning. To determine the time of ovulation, transrectal ultrasonographic examination was performed. The sows were divided into 2 groups, one control group (C-group), which was fed according to Swedish standards, and one experimental group (E-group). The E-group sows were deprived of food from the first morning meal after ovulation until slaughter. Blood samples were collected every second hour from about 12 h before expected ovulation in the second oestrus after weaning until slaughter and were analysed for progesterone, prostaglandin F2 alpha-metabolite, insulin, glucose, free fatty acids and triglycerides. All sows were slaughtered approximately 48 h after ovulation and the genital tract was recovered. The isthmic part of the oviduct was divided into 3 equally long segments and flushed separately with phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Uterine horns were also flushed with PBS. A significantly greater number of ova were found in the first and second part of the isthmus in the E-group (p = 0.05) while in the C-group most of the ova were found in the third part of the isthmus or the uterus (p = 0.01). The level of prostaglandin F2 alpha-metabolite was significantly higher in the E-group compared with the C-group. The concentration of progesterone increased in both groups after ovulation but there were no significant differences between the groups. The other blood parameters showed that the food-deprived sows were in a catabolic state. The 48 h period of fasting results, directly or indirectly in an delayed ova transport, which may be due to a delayed relaxation in the smooth circular muscle layer of the isthmus.     

提高中锰白口铸铁韧性的研究

为改善中锰白口铸铁的韧性以扩大其应用范围,本文探讨了C, Si, Mn等合金元素、变质处理和热处理工艺对中Mn白口铸铁组织和性能的影响.     

黑龙江省西部地区重瓣白玫瑰引种栽培及繁育技术

经在黑龙江省齐齐哈尔地区对重瓣白玫瑰引种栽培及繁育技术研究表明：该树种　１９９７～２０００年的平均抗寒指数为　２．７，冻害小于Ⅲ级，枝条冻伤长度小于　５０％，能正常开花，可以在此安家落户。同时对其形态特征、主要物候期、繁育技术和抚育管理作了介绍。     

向日葵[Helianthus annuus(L.)]白花粉突变体遗传研究初报

向日葵[IIelianlhus anuus (L.)]是我国的重要经济作物。其花粉通常呈深浅程度不同的黄颜色。据我们掌握和查新资料,目前世界上尚未见有关白花粉方面的报道。1989年7月下旬至8月上旬,我们在吉林农业大学向日葵育种试验田的恢复系C8711群体中,先后发现4株白花粉突变体。暂分别定名为C8711—1、C8711—2、C8711—3和C8711—4。在进行人工套袋之前,此4株突变体已经在一定程度上发生了开放授粉,其中C8711—4开放授粉程度较轻。成熟时单独收获这4株突变体的种子,以进行有关遗传学研究,本文拟对白花粉突变的遗传学机理进行初步的探讨。     

湖北省分地区水灾损失等级划分初探

建立了湖北省分地区水灾损失灾度等级的划分标准。基于模糊模式识别理论，按最大隶属原则和择近原则对灾度等级进行了模糊综合评判。     

提高母猪生产潜力与仔猪断奶体质量的措施

根据母猪的生长周期，改良哺乳母猪投料方式等，能充分挖掘母猪的生产潜力。加强仔猪的管理。能提高其生长速度，缩短把猪出栏时间，直接或间接的提高经济效益。     

Detection, identification and significance of phytoplasmas in grasses in northern Australia

Sugarcane yields have been severely reduced by white leaf and grassy shoot phytoplasma diseases in many parts of Asia. Australian sugarcane crops are not known to be affected by these diseases, but plant pathogenic phytoplasmas found in other introduced and native grasses in northern Australia could pose a serious threat to the Australian sugarcane industry. To further evaluate this threat, leaves from plants of 20 grass species, with and without symptoms, were collected during field surveys in northern Australia and tested to determine whether phytoplasmas were present and whether symptoms were reliable indicators of phytoplasma presence. Molecular tools were used to detect and characterize phytoplasmas. Four different phytoplasmas were found in seven grass species known to grow near healthy sugarcane crops. All the phytoplasmas were closely related to sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma (SCWL), one of the phytoplasmas that causes disease in sugarcane in Asia. Four of the host plant species and two of the phytoplasmas were new records. The relationship between symptoms and phytoplasma presence was poor. Because some plants with symptoms tested negative for phytoplasmas, a series of surveys was carried out in which flowers, leaves, roots and stems of two known host plant species, Whiteochloa cymbiformis and Sorghum stipoideum, were tested separately on nine occasions during two wet seasons. This was done to investigate the distribution of phytoplasmas within plants over time. Results showed that spatial and temporal variation of phytoplasmas occurred in these two host plant species. Hence, evaluation of disease distribution within a region requires repeated testing of all plant parts from plants without symptoms, as well as those with symptoms. To date, there is no report of a vector capable of transmitting to Australian sugarcane the phytoplasmas found in grasses in this study. If one is present, or occurs in the future, then native and introduced grasses could constitute a large reservoir of phytoplasma for vectors to draw on. This work provides an early warning for the sugarcane industry that the potential for infection exists.     

北川白山羊基因组与表型性状相关的多态性RAPD标记

北川白山羊是在特定生态条件下未经系统繁育而形成的优良地方山羊品种,在生长发育、繁殖和抗逆等性状方面具有突出优势。通过对122只北川白山羊个体基因组的扩增,结果从80条RAPD引物中选出12条多态引物,北川白山羊群体平均遗传相似率和遗传多样性指数分别为0.859 8±0.077 6和0.919 8,表明北川白山羊品种具有一定的遗传分化和较丰富的遗传多样性。在12条多态性引物中,SBS06同时对体质量（P=0.028）、体高（P=0.017）和体长（P=0.037）具有显著影响,SBS02对体质量（P=0.033）和体高（P=0.034）具有显著效应,所以推断影响体质量和体高性状的QTL基因座可能与RAPD标记SBS06和SBS02相连锁,可以应用于北川白山羊体质量和体高性状的标记辅助选择以及相应主效基因的进一步研究。     

Use of Porcine Meal in Plant‐based Practical Diets for Pacific White Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

Two growth trials were conducted to evaluate and confirm the efficacy of a porcine meal (PM) with high protein content (>90%) as an alternative feed ingredient in commercial‐type feed formulation for Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Six experimental diets were formulated for the two growth trials. The first five diets contained increasing levels (0, 1, 2, 4, and 6%) of PM as a replacement for soybean meal in a plant‐based diet with low inclusion level (6%) of fish meal (FM). The last experimental diet was produced utilizing 4.2% PM to completely replace FM. In Trial 1, shrimp (1.5 g initial mean weight, 20 shrimp/tank, n = 4) were offered test diets for 6 wk in a semirecirculation system. At the end of Trial 1, shrimp fed with the diet containing 6% PM exhibited significantly enhanced weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and survival compared to those fed with the diet devoid of FM. As survival was poor across all treatments and different densities could mask growth results the trial was repeated. In Trial 2, shrimp (0.85 g, 15 shrimp/tank, n = 4) were offered diets for 6 wk. Dietary supplementation of PM at 6% significantly improved WG, FCR, and apparent net protein retention in contrast with the treatment devoid of FM, confirming the same trends in Trial 1. No significant difference was detected in protein, lipid, moisture, and mineral profiles of whole‐body shrimp as well as survival across all the treatments. Results of this study indicate that PM is a good high protein source in shrimp feeds, which can be included up to 6% in the low FM‐based diet without compromising the growth of shrimp.