Influence of Selected Dietary Micronutrient Elements on Growth and Biochemistry of Farmed Prawns

From the present study, it is clear that all the three metals, selenium, molybdenum and cobalt have significant effect on the antioxidant status of the shrimps. Selenium and molybdenum were observed to induce peroxidative damage at elevated levels. But at the same level, cobalt did not show such an effect. Selenium was found to be growth promoting at lower levels of dietary supplementation. Even though low levels of dietary selenium had a protective effect against the lipid peroxidation, the present study indicates that high levels of dietary selenium could promote lipid peroxidation. The selenium-dependent antioxidant enzyme, GPx behaved differently in muscle and hepatopancreas. A high concentration of selenium was required for the active expression of the enzyme in the muscle, where as in hepatopancreas maximum activity was observed at lower selenium concentration. Selenium supplementation had a positive effect on GSH concentration. The other antioxidant enzymes such as GST, SOD and CAT showed enhanced activity at higher concentration of selenium. Molybdenum supplementation significantly reduced the free radical scavenger enzymes SOD and CAT. This resulted in enhanced lipid peroxidation in tissues. The activity of antioxidant enzyme GPx and the concentration of the substrate for the enzyme, GSH also were lower at elevated levels of molybdenum supplementation. In addition to this amino acids and fatty acids were also altered in molybdenum supplemented groups. In trace amounts, dietary molybdenum exerts a beneficial effect on the growth and also in the activities of the enzymes XO and SO. At the same time it also indicates a possibility of oxidative damage as a result of the peroxidation caused by the activities of the enzymes SO and XO at elevated concentrations of molybdenum is also indicated. The absorption of various trace elements was also altered by molybdenum supplementation.Among the three metals studied, cobalt was the least toxic one at the administered levels. But this metal has a significant effect on the lipid content, amino acid composition, cholesterol levels and phospholipid levels. Increased growth was also observed as a result of cobalt supplementation in shrimps. The antioxidant system of the animal was activated by dietary cobalt. Tissue levels of the trace metals were also found to be altered in cobalt supplemented groups of shrimps.These studies, thus shows that influence of dietary trace metals calls for more detailed studies in farmed shrimp. They may hold the key to growth and even disease resistance in shrimp. But this still remains as a virgin field which demands more attention, especially in view of the increasing importance of shrimp farming.

Studies On Pobtunid Crabs [Crustacea Decapoda Brachyura)

True crabs are the most fascinating group of organisms among the decapod crustaceans. Great importance is attached at present to the increased exploitation of these animals and therefore there is great scope for further development of their fishery. They have a broad and hard carapace, massive chelate legs, bent abdomen and exhibit high degree of adaptation to the environment. They show pelagic, benthic, intertidal, burrowing and terrestrial modes of life. Their commensal association with other invertebrates, their breeding behaviour and life history are of great interest to biologists. More than six hundred species of crabs are known to occur in Indian waters and among them about eight species form a regular fishery along the entire stretch of peninsular India (Rao §§_al., 1973) round the year. Crab fishery in India is fast developing and there is vast scope for them as there are many more potential species. Among the various crustacean diets, crabs are celebrated for deliciousness and for nutritional richness. In recent days, crab food items have become more popular and gained global reception. These resources can also be augmented further by culturing them in ponds in the future. Information on biology and ecology of constituent species go a long way not only in effective exploitation and regulation of the respective fishery resources but also helps in evolving a suitable gear for their capture. Information collected on the national level in various aspects as reproduction, growth rate, larval development, parasites, diseases, nutritive values etc. will be of help in evolving a national policy for the effective utilisation and conservation of this resource. They also provide the baseline information for undertaking any purposeful and meaningful culture activities. Information on the various aspects mentioned above is very much restricted in true crabs and hence the present study

Probiotic effect of Bacillus NL110 and Vibrio NE17 on the survival, growth performance and immune response of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

Eight hundred and eighty-¢ve strains of bacterial isolates fromvarious samples associatedwith the natural habitat ofMacrobrachiumrosenbergii were screened for their probiotic potential. Two putative probionts namely Bacillus NL110 and Vibrio NE17 isolated from the larvae and egg samples, respectively, were selected for experimental studies and were introduced to the juveniles of M. rosenbergii (0.080 0.001g) through di¡erent modes such as through feed, water and both. The probiotic potential of the above bacteria in terms of improvements inwater quality, growth, survival, speci¢c growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio and immune parameters was evaluated. The treatment groups showed a signi¢cant improvement in SGR and weight gain (Po0.001). Survival among di¡erent treatment groups was better than that in the control group. There were also signi¢cant improvements in the water quality parameters such as the concentration of nitrate and ammonia in the treatment groups (Po0.05). Improvements in immune parameters such as the total haemocyte count (Po0.05), phenoloxidase activity and respiratory burst were also signi¢cant (Po0.001). It is concluded that screening of the natural micro£ora of cultured ¢sh and shell¢sh for putative probionts might yield probiotic strains of bacteria that could be utilized for an environment-friendly and organic mode of aquaculture.

Probiotic effect of Bacillus NL110 and Vibrio NE17 on the survival, growth performance and immune response of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

Eight hundred and eighty-¢ve strains of bacterial isolates fromvarious samples associatedwith the natural habitat ofMacrobrachiumrosenbergii were screened for their probiotic potential. Two putative probionts namely Bacillus NL110 and Vibrio NE17 isolated from the larvae and egg samples, respectively, were selected for experimental studies and were introduced to the juveniles of M. rosenbergii (0.080 0.001g) through di¡erent modes such as through feed, water and both. The probiotic potential of the above bacteria in terms of improvements inwater quality, growth, survival, speci¢c growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio and immune parameters was evaluated. The treatment groups showed a signi¢cant improvement in SGR and weight gain (Po0.001). Survival among di¡erent treatment groups was better than that in the control group. There were also signi¢cant improvements in the water quality parameters such as the concentration of nitrate and ammonia in the treatment groups (Po0.05). Improvements in immune parameters such as the total haemocyte count (Po0.05), phenoloxidase activity and respiratory burst were also signi¢cant (Po0.001). It is concluded that screening of the natural micro£ora of cultured ¢sh and shell¢sh for putative probionts might yield probiotic strains of bacteria that could be utilized for an environment-friendly and organic mode of aquaculture

Establishment and characterization of India's first marine fish cell line (SISK) from the kidney of sea bass (Lates calcarifer)

A continuous cell line (SISK) from kidney of sea bass, Lates calcarifer, has been established and characterized. The cell line was maintained in Leibovitz' L-15 supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum. This cell line has been subcultured more than 100 times over a period of 2 years. The SISK cell line consists of predominantly of epithelial-like cells. These cells showed strong positive for epithelial markers such as cytokeratin 19 and pancytokeratin. The cells were able to grow at temperature between 25 and 32 °C with optimum temperature of 28 °C. The growth rate of sea bass kidney cells increased as the FBS proportion increased from 2% to 20% at 28 °C with optimum growth at the concentrations of 15% or 20% FBS. The distribution of chromosome number was 30 to 56 with a modal peak at 48 chromosomes. Polymerase chain reaction products were obtained from SISK cells and tissues of sea bass with primer sets of microsatellite markers of sea bass. Five fish viruses were tested on this cell line to determine its susceptibility to these viruses and this was found to be susceptible to MABV NC1 and nodavirus, and the infection was confirmed by RT-PCR and CPE. This suggests that the SISK cell line has good potential for the isolation of various fish viruses. This cell line has been shown to be susceptible to bacterial extracellular products. The SISK cell line is the India's first marine fish cell line.

Learning From Cross Country Experiences In Housing: A Micro Finance Approach For Inclusive Housing In India

Housing is one of the primary human needs. It is second only to the need for food and clothing. From a macro perspective, housing is an industry that can prove itself to be a growth engine for a nation, particularly a developing nation like India. Housing has been one of the top priorities for the various governments in India since the seventies. The need for housing has been increasing at a phenomenal pace in India and so also the need for housing finance. Since the growth in supply of housing could not keep pace with the growth in its demand, housing shortage has been on the rise over the years. Housing finance industry which was relatively dormant till the early nineties underwent sweeping changes ever since the initiation of financial sector deregulation measures. Financial deregulation measures brought about several changes in this industry, the first and foremost being the fast growth rate in the industry coupled with cutthroat competition among the industry players. This trend has been quite prominent since the entry of commercial banks into this arena. Accordingly, there has been a surge in the growth of retail (personal) loans segment, particularly in respect of housing loans. This is evident from the fact that housing loans disbursed by banks as a percentage of their total loans has increased from just 2.79% as of end-March 1997 to as high as 12.52% as of end-March 2007. Thus, there has been an unprecedented growth rate in the disbursement of housing loans by banks, and as of 31 March 2007 the outstanding balance of housing loans by all banks in India stands at Rs.230689 Crore, as against just Rs.7946 Crore as of 31 March 1997, the growth rate being 35.82 %CAGR (for the eleven years’ period, FY 1997-‘2007). However, in spite of the impressive growth in housing finance over the years, there are growing apprehensions regarding its inclusiveness, i.e. accessibility to the common man, the underprivileged sections of the society to housing finance etc. Of late, it is widely recognized that formal housing finance system, particularly the commercial banks (CBs) – most dominant among the players – is fast becoming exclusive in operations, with nearly 90% of the total housing credit going to the rich and upper middle income group, primarily the salaried class. The case of housing finance companies (HFCs) is quite similar in this regard. The poor and other marginalized sections are often deprived of adequate credit facilities for housing purpose. Studies have revealed that urban housing poverty is much more acute than the rural probably because of the very fast process of urbanization coupled with constant rural to urban migration

Export performancecof Indian spices in the WTO regime: a disaggregated analysis

Export has assumed an important place in the development of any country and considered as the engine of economic growth. India requires huge amount of foreign exchange for its essential import and for achieving rapid growth. Millions of job opportunities have to be created to utilise the youth for nation building. Even though the country has different sources of foreign exchange, export earning is the safe way of obtaining it in the long run. Export of high valued traditional products not only gives foreign exchange, but also employment to large number of people. Spices are the traditional products of India whose production process is highly intensive in semi and unskilled labour, and high domestic and foreign market prices compared to other traditional products. The new world trade scenario with the establishment of WTO has affected India’s spices export considerably. The study examines the export performance of Indian spices in the WTO regime taking the export of major spices from 1985 to 2013 using the growth of export, trend and instability in growth rate, changes in the composition and direction of spices, export performance ratio and the prospects of spices in earning foreign exchange during the WTO period and Pre-WTO period. The analysis reveals that the overall performance of Indian spices exports during the WTO regime are satisfactory. Export volume and value increased much during this period. But the decrease in market share of spices export during the WTO period reflects that, the favourable conditions in the international market are not exploited by India. High Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Value Elasticity (EV) of major spices amidst the low export shares shows that export performance of Indian spices during the WTO regime was not mainly affected by external demand factors as suggested by Ragnar Nurkse in his Demand Deficiency Thesis, but because of internal supply factors as suggested in Supply Deficiency Thesis, (supported by K.S Dhinsha, Dacosta, Goddamwar,etc.). But the fluctuations of export during the recession and prosperity periods show that external demand is also a determinant of Indian spices export. From this one can conclude that both the domestic supply factors and foreign demand factors influence the export performance of Indian spices. The long term performance of Indian spices exports are mainly influenced by domestic supply factors as suggested by Supply Deficiency Thesis and short term performance is mostly influenced by external demand factors as suggested by Demand Deficiency Thesis.