4629 research outputs found
Sort by
Identification of effective plant-based oils for use in aquafeed: An evaluation of impact on gamete quality and developmental success using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a screening organism
No full textTo evaluate the effectiveness of zebrafish as a screening system for identifying appropriate plant oils (POs) for aquafeed, Artemia nauplii (AN) were enriched with three single- cultivar olive oils (OO): Koroneiki, Parseh, and Arghavan. The resulting AN (ANKor, ANPar, ANArg, and AN36 [36 h starved AN, control]) were then fed to 360 fish (3.5 cm) for one month. The fatty acid (FA) profile of the AN was reflected in the ova and influenced both sperm motility and density, which in turn affected the fertilizability. The highest fertilizability and accelerated hatching were observed in the ANKor group. In this group, fish produced sperms with the highest motility and ova characterized by higher levels of 18:1n-9, 22:6n-3/20:5n-3 and lower 18:3n-3/18:2n-6, 20:5n-3/20:4n-6, 14:0, 16:1n-7, and 18:1n-7. Embryos produced by pairs fed ANArg exhibited delayed hatching but developed into larvae with the highest survival. Changes in ova FA and sperm quality indicate that, in zebrafish, gametes are directly influenced by parental diet, making the species an effective rapid screening system. Diet-induced changes in ova FA resulted in significant effects on hatchability, larval body morphometrics (BM), and survival. These findings indicate that zebrafish performance across embryonic-larval stages provides a sensitive model for screening POs, with survival serving as a conclusive endpoint. Survival was primarily linked to the ratio between LC-PUFAs and other FAs in ova. POs promoting these interactions are superior for aquafeeds. These ratios also guide broodstock diets to improve larval success and nutritional programming.The authors gratefully acknowledge Prof. Dr. Seyed-Mehdi Hosseini-Mazinani, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Iran), for generously providing the single-cultivar extra virgin olive oils used in this study.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Agronomic performance of sheep manure–enriched municipal solid waste compost for red beetroot cultivation (Gharb region, Morocco)
No full textIndustrial waste poses a major challenge in Morocco and worldwide, as its increasing production presents significant environmental concerns. In Morocco, approximately 1.6 million tonnes of industrial waste are generated annually, with a considerable portion classified as hazardous, primarily from the agri-food, chemical, and construction sectors. These wastes contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions and the deterioration of soil and water quality, acting as a barrier to sustainable management. In this context, composting strategy emerges as a promising method for the valorization of organic waste. This study focuses on the formulation of compost derived from the industrial waste of medicinal and aromatic plants (EDEPAM company), combined with agro-industrial waste (strawberry), and supplemented with sheep manure to correct nitrogen deficiencies. After 150 days of composting followed by 30 days of maturation, the final product showed stable and favorable physicochemical characteristics [Nitrogen (1.82%), C/N ratio (15.07), pH (7.94)], while maintaining a high organic matter content. The agronomic validation was conducted in greenhouse conditions on beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) grown in two contrasting soil types (Fluvisol and Vertisol), revealing a significant improvement in growth and photosynthetic performance at moderate application rates (25% of compost). These findings highlight the potential of integrating compost to enhance both crop yields and soil quality, thereby supporting sustainable and locally adapted agricultural practices.The author(s) declared that financial support was not received for this work and/or its publication.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Pelleted Total Mixed Rations as a Feeding Strategy for High-Yielding Dairy Ewes
No full textThe effects of pelleting a total mixed ration (TMR) for dairy sheep were investigated in an experiment involving 24 lactating Assaf ewes, which were assigned to two groups and fed the same TMR ad libitum, offered either in pelleted (PTMR group, n = 12) or in unpelleted form (CTMR group, n = 12). The experiment lasted 28 days, during which feed intake, eating behavior (including meal frequency and size, meal duration, eating rate, between-meal interval), and milk yield were recorded daily. Body weight (BW) was recorded on days 1 and 28 and milk samples were collected on days 1, 8, 15, 22 and 28 for milk composition analysis. Blood acid-base status was determined at the beginning and at the end of the trial. Ewes fed the CTMR diet exhibited (p 0.05) were observed between dietary treatments in blood acid-base status, milk yield or milk composition. However, a diet x day interaction (p 0.05), but body weight loss was greater in ewes fed the CTMR diet (−3.00 vs. −0.58 kg; p < 0.05). A trend toward improved feed efficiency was observed in the PTMR group when calculated based on milk yield corrected for that theoretically derived from the mobilization of body reserves (1.98 vs. 1.41 g DMI/kg milk; p = 0.077), with estimated contributions from body reserves of 485 g/day in the CTMR group and 70 g/day in the PTMR group. In conclusion, the use of pelleted total mixed rations in high-yielding dairy ewes enhances feed intake, feed efficiency, milk yield, and energy balance without adversely affecting milk composition or animal health in the short term.This work was funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PID2021-126489OB-I00, MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, “FEDER, Una manera de hacer Europa”).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Fruit respiration: putting alternative pathways into perspective
No full textOver the past century, research has significantly advanced our understanding of fruit respiration, from (eco)physiological processes to molecular mechanisms. This review focuses on the functional relevance and regulatory roles of mitochondrial alternative respiratory pathways (ARPs) during fruit growth and ripening. We revisit classical distinctions between climacteric and nonclimacteric fruits, considering recent insights into the alternative oxidase, uncoupling proteins, and type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenases (NDIIs). These components are increasingly recognized as central to maintaining metabolic flexibility, energy balance, and redox homeostasis, supporting both primary and secondary metabolism. We highlight how CO2 refixation and organic acid metabolism, often displaying C4/CAM-like features, impose specific demands on mitochondrial electron transport, and how spatial heterogeneity in metabolism and O2 availability across fruit tissues can shape respiratory activity. Interactions between fruit photosynthesis and respiration remain poorly understood, particularly under stress. The interplay between respiration, ethylene biosynthesis, and signaling is discussed, emphasizing feedback loops involving mitochondrial retrograde regulation and redox-sensitive control of ripening. Key knowledge gaps include in vivo flux analyses, tissue-resolved energy profiling, and functional characterization of underexplored ARP components. Finally, we outline postharvest and metabolic engineering strategies targeting ARPs as complementary to ethylene-centered approaches to improve fruit quality, stress resilience, and nutritional value.This work was supported by grants PID2020-120229RA-I00 and PID2024-163099NB-I00 to IF-S, and PID2021-125998OB-C21 to MP, all funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ‘ERDF/ EU’, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades–Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIU/AEI, Spain). We also thank the support of grants Plant Genetics-2021SGR00756 funded by Generalitat de Catalunya, RedoxPlant-RED2022-134072-T funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (MCIU/AEI, Spain), as well as CEX2019-000902-S funded by MICIU/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 (MCIU/AEI, Spain) and CERCA Programme (Generalitat de Catalunya) to CRAG. AI-S received a predoctoral fellowship (PRE2018-083610) funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ‘ESF Investing in your future’. SG-C received a predoctoral fellowship (PRE2021-097127) funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ‘ESF Investing in your future’. IF-S received funding from the ‘Ramon y Cajal’ contract RYC2019-028030-I funded by MCIN/ AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by ‘ESF Investing in your future’.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
The role of sandy environment in enhancing growth, cognition and reproduction in cultured Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) females
No full textPhysical enrichment improves fish welfare and reduces negative traits in captivity. Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis), a key species in European aquaculture, is often raised in intensive fiberglass tanks, which can lead to adverse traits, particularly for future breeders. This study assessed the long-term effects of using a sand substrate during the on-growing phase on Senegalese sole females' growth, cognition and maturation. Six tanks with juvenile soles were divided into two environments (three fibreglass, three sand) and sampled every six months for 2 years (n = 30 per group). This study measured biometrics, blood, gonad histology and gene expression in the brain and gonad. Females from sand grew faster than females from fibreglass. The histological results showed that the sand group was more mature than the fiberglass group from the second sampling, where the sand group reached previtellogenic oocytes. Sex steroids and luteinizing hormone (Lh) levels were also significantly higher in the sand group after two years. These results in maturation were supported by the fhra and pgr expression in brain and gonads. Females from sand showed higher cognitive capacity according to c-fos, nr4a2 and bdnf expression. These results show that using sand as an enrichment improves growth, cognition and reproduction in Senegalese sole females.This study received Portuguese national funds from FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology through projects UIDB/04326/2020 (DOI:10.54499/UIDB/04326/2020), UIDP/04326/2020 (DOI:10.54499/UIDP/04326/2020) and LA/P/0101/2020 (DOI:10.54499/LA/P/0101/2020) and from the Blue Bioeconomy Pact with the project Algae Vertical Nº C6449 | 5664-00000026 funded by the Portuguese Plan of Recovery and Resilience (PRR) and the European Union. The authors thank Carina Mónico of CCMAR Imaging Platform, Daniel Duarte and Bernardete Rodrigues for their support in this work. E.F. was supported by FCT contract 2020. 04181.CEECIND. This study was funded by EEA Grant project (PT-INNOVATION-80) and Mar2020 ReproF1 Project (MAR-16-02-01 FMP-0059) and CONDISOLE (CeiMar, CEIJ-005 awarded EF).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Principales problemas sensoriales de las carnes y de los preparados de carne (y VII)
No full textConcluimos en este artículo la serie sobre los problemas sensoriales que pueden presentar las carnes y los preparados de carne, en esta ocasión referidos al flavor y se muestran las conclusiones de todo el estudio.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Water sources shape drought effects on mammal activity in mediterranean woodlands
No full textDrought frequency and severity have notably increased in the Mediterranean basin throughout the 20th century, thereby impacting freshwater sources and forest regrowth, which are crucial for woodland mammal survival. We used camera trapping data collected from a mountain range in NE Spain from 2018 to 2023 (coinciding with an extreme drought event) to test whether freshwater sources, such as ponds and springs, act as biodiversity refuges for woodland mammals during extreme drought. Meteorological conditions during the study, such as accumulated precipitation, air temperature anomalies, air humidity and Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), were used to predict mammal activity, richness and diversity using linear mixed-effect models. We detected eight common species including wild boar (Sus scrofa, 48% of all detections), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus, 28%) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes, 10%). Contrary to our expectation, mammal activity was unaffected by the presence of freshwater sources. Our findings show that the presence of freshwater sources did not generally alleviate negative effects of drought on animal activity and diversity. These results may emerge because traditionally permanent freshwater sources in Mediterranean ecosystems (such as springs and ponds) have dried up during the extreme 2021–2023 drought, halting its function as biodiversity refugia for woodland mammals. Our results highlight the impact of extreme weather conditions on mammal activity and will help managers create more effective conservation strategies for mammals under increasingly dry conditions.This research was funded by the Institució Catalana d’Història Natural and the Institut d’Estudis Catalans. M.F-M. was supported by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship (RYC2021-031511-I) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the NextGenerationEU program of the European Union, the Spanish plan of recovery, transformation and resilience, and the Spanish Research Agency.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Protective effect of selenium supplementation against damage of health and muscle quality in Onychostoma macrolepis under a thermally oxidized fish oil–enriched diet
No full textFish oil is rich in highly unsaturated fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, which are easily oxidized, while selenium is an essential micronutrient that contributes to antioxidant defense by forming selenoproteins involved in maintaining cellular homeostasis. In this study, to explore the effects of selenium (selenium-rich black bean dregs; SeB) on the growth, health status, and muscle quality of Onychostoma macrolepis (O. macrolepis) under a thermally oxidized fish oil–enriched diet, a total of 156 O. macrolepis (3.43 ± 0.25 g/fish) were divided into four groups (triplicate per group) and fed with four isonitrogenous (386.7 g/kg) and isolipidic (91.7 g/kg) diets: fresh fish oil (FFO), oxidized fish oil (OFO), oxidized fish oil supplemented with selenium (1.48 mg Se/kg diet; selenium-rich yeast; OFOSeY), and oxidized fish oil supplemented with selenium (1.48 mg Se/kg diet; selenium-rich black bean dregs; OFOSeB) respectively, in a recirculation aquaculture system for 60 days. The results showed that the HSI (hepatosomatic index) was the highest in the OFO group, and it significantly decreased in selenium supplementation groups (OFOSeB and OFOSeY; P 0.05). The fatty acid content of 18:0, 18:1n-7, 20:3n-6, 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3, 22:6n-3, and n-3 PUFA were significantly reduced in the muscle of the OFO group compared to the FFO group (P < 0.05), and they were recovered in selenium supplementation groups (OFOSeB and OFOSeY; P < 0.05). The serum ALT (aspartate aminotransferase), TG (triglyceride), and MDA (malondialdehyde) were the highest in the OFO group, and they were recovered in selenium supplementation groups (OFOSeB and OFOSeY; P < 0.05). The structure of hepatocytes, intestine, muscle, and intraperitoneal adipocyte, including the hepatopancreas mitochondria, the intestinal villi, and muscle fibers showed abnormalities in the OFO group, and the supplementation of selenium (OFOSeB and OFOSeY) showed recovery. The abundance of the intestinal bacteria of the O. macrolepis was adversely affected by OFO (Proteobacteria significantly increased and Actinomycetes significantly decreased), and the supplementation of selenium recovered it to a healthier state. The relative gene expression of sod, gpx, and cat were not significantly different between FFO and OFO groups, while they significantly increased in the selenium supplementation group of OFOSeY (P < 0.05). The metabolomics results showed that there were significant differences in 23 metabolites between the OFO and OFOSeB groups (P < 0.05), which were significantly involved in the pathway of sphingolipid metabolism, histidine metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism, and fatty acid biosynthesis (P < 0.05). In summary, the present results indicated the protective effect of selenium supplementation against injury to health in hepatopancreas, intestine, and muscle of O. macrolepis under a thermally oxidized fish oil–enriched diet, and this protective effect probably comes from the improvement of the antioxidant capacity, intensified by selenium, as it is a crucial component of antioxidant enzymes.The study is financially supported by the Special Research and Development Program Project of Chinese Academy of Se-enriched Industry (2019ZKG-1).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Strategy combining mammalian fats with supplementation of pungent spices in aquafeeds, to mitigate negative impacts of fish oil replacement in fish performance, fillet quality and hepatic condition of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)
No full textThe replacement of fish oil (FO) in aquafeeds usually leads to imbalances in the dietary content of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), with negative consequences for fish performance, health, and fillet quality. Animal-rendered fats are an alternative lipid source high in saturated fatty acids, potentially sparing n-3 PUFA from oxidation, and with lower n-6 PUFA contents than plant-based oils, especially in the case of mammalian fats (MF). Hence, this work assessed the effect of replacing 45% FO by MF (negative control, NC) compared to a diet containing only FO (positive control, PC) in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata, initial body weight: 85 ± 4 g, mean ± standard deviation) at low water temperature. In addition, we studied the effect of supplementing the NC diet with a combination of pungent spices with hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory properties at three inclusion levels: 0.05 (SPICY0.05%), 0.1 (SPICY0.1%), and 0.15% (SPICY0.15%). At the end of the trial (112 days), FO substitution by MF led to poorer fish performance in terms of body weight (BW), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER). Supplementation of the NC diet with spices numerically improved SGR, FCR and PER at all inclusion levels (non-significantly different from the PC group), being FCR and PER significantly different from the NC group in the SPICY0.1% and SPICY0.15% treatments. A remarkable increase in lipid level was observed in fillets of fish fed the NC diet, but was fully counteracted by spice supplementation, especially in fish fed the SPICY0.15% diet. A lower fat accumulation was also found in the liver of fish fed the SPICY0.1% and SPICY0.15% diets, with respect to the PC and NC groups. The fillets' fatty acid profile mostly reflected the diet composition, but the SPICY0.15% diet modified it in an inverse direction to that observed in the NC, to more closely resemble the profile of fish fed the PC diet. In particular, the SPICY0.15% diet reduced fillet levels of MUFA, linoleic and linolenic acids, and increased n-3 LC-PUFA (including EPA and DHA), compared to the NC. A microarray-based transcriptomic analysis revealed a better hepatic health status, as indicated by different biological processes associated to immunity. Overall, supplementation with the combination of pungent spices at 0.15% enabled the incorporation of alternative lipid sources, such as MF, in aquafeeds without significantly compromising growth and feeding performance, liver health, and quality of the edible product.The Research was funded by LUCTA S.A.. Alberto Ruiz was supported by a predoctoral grant ( PRE2019-091259 ) linked to the ADIPOQUIZ Project ( RTI2018-095653-R-I00 ) funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain). Eva Vallejos-Vidal acknowledges the support of Fondecyt Iniciación project number 11221308 (ANID; Chile). Felipe E. Reyes-López acknowledges the support of Fondecyt Regular 1211841 (ANID; Chile). The authors would like to thank Olga Bellot, Marta Sastre and Maria Curto, staff from IRTA La Ràpita, for their assistance in the histological and biochemical analyses.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Avançament de resultats de les varietats de blat de moro de cicle curt per a gra
No full textinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio