Pub Date : 2026-10-30Epub Date: 2025-06-30DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742909
Shen Li , Bangsong Meng , Wenxuan Ouyang , Liqun Wang , Jinpeng Chen , Xin He , Qiwei Qin , Min Yang
Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is an important economic freshwater aquaculture species in China, but factors such as disease and a lack of quality seedlings have constrained aquaculture development. In response, we conducted research on breeding for disease resistance and successfully bred a disease-resistant family F1 generation. We used this model to conduct Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) infections to differentiate between resistant and susceptible groups, clarify differences by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), and verify disease resistance trait-associated genes using an in vitro infection model. RNA-seq results indicated that pathways such as complement and coagulation cascade, PI3K-Akt, NF-ĸB, and PPAR signaling, and key genes such as C3, PPARα, NFKBIA, JUN, FOS, PI3K, and JAK1 had key roles in LMBV infection resistance. Furthermore, we cloned and preliminarily verified MsPPARα, MsNFKBIA, MsJUN, and MsFOS candidate gene roles in LMBV replication. The results were consistent with RNA-seq data, the low expression of candidate genes effectively inhibited LMBV replication. In conclusion, disease resistance to LMBV is related to lipid metabolism and stabilized inflammatory immune responses. Our study provides a theoretical basis and support for disease-resistance breeding programs for largemouth bass against LMBV infection, and contributes to disease risk and the enrichment of germplasm resources.
{"title":"Establishing LMBV infection resistance models in largemouth bass: Exploration and confirmation of pathways and genes relevant to disease resistance in breeding programs","authors":"Shen Li , Bangsong Meng , Wenxuan Ouyang , Liqun Wang , Jinpeng Chen , Xin He , Qiwei Qin , Min Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742909","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742909","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Largemouth bass (<em>Micropterus salmoides</em>) is an important economic freshwater aquaculture species in China, but factors such as disease and a lack of quality seedlings have constrained aquaculture development. In response, we conducted research on breeding for disease resistance and successfully bred a disease-resistant family F1 generation. We used this model to conduct Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) infections to differentiate between resistant and susceptible groups, clarify differences by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), and verify disease resistance trait-associated genes using an in vitro infection model. RNA-seq results indicated that pathways such as complement and coagulation cascade, PI3K-Akt, NF-ĸB, and PPAR signaling, and key genes such as C3, PPARα, NFKBIA, JUN, FOS, PI3K, and JAK1 had key roles in LMBV infection resistance. Furthermore, we cloned and preliminarily verified MsPPARα, MsNFKBIA, MsJUN, and MsFOS candidate gene roles in LMBV replication. The results were consistent with RNA-seq data, the low expression of candidate genes effectively inhibited LMBV replication. In conclusion, disease resistance to LMBV is related to lipid metabolism and stabilized inflammatory immune responses. Our study provides a theoretical basis and support for disease-resistance breeding programs for largemouth bass against LMBV infection, and contributes to disease risk and the enrichment of germplasm resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742909"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144534695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-10-30Epub Date: 2025-06-26DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742899
Rafaela S. Costa , Ana Basto , Marta Monteiro , Bia Pinho , Tiago Sá , Marisa V. Santos , Daniel Murta , Johan W. Schrama , Luisa M.P. Valente
This study explored the potential of an insect meal (IM) mixture of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and yellow mealworms (YMs) to substitute 3% (diet IM3), 25% (diet IM25) and 50% (diet IM50) of the fishmeal (FM) protein in a control diet (CTRL; 15% FM) for European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles. The four diets were isoproteic and isolipidic and were tested in triplicate in a recirculating aquaculture system with water at 22 °C and 35 ppt salinity, under a 12 h light/12 h dark photoperiod. After a 75-day feeding period, the fish growth performance, nutrient utilisation, intestinal morphology, muscle fatty acid profile and antioxidant capacity were evaluated. The diets containing IM ensured similar growth (DGI = 2.0) and feed efficiency (FCR = 1.0–1.1) to CTRL. Moreover, they promoted comparable nitrogen and energy retention efficiencies (38–40% and 44–47%). However, fish fed with the IM diets presented 20–27% lower faecal phosphorus losses than the control group. Anterior intestine integrity was maintained in all fish, but those fed IM50 displayed longer villi than the control. The muscle fatty acid profile of IM-fed fish also resembled that of the control, with 364–405 mg EPA + DHA per 100 g of fillet. IM25 and IM50 promoted higher lauric acid deposition in the muscle, and the muscle of fish fed with IM50 presented the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity, suggesting higher antioxidant capacity. Overall, the study shows that the IM mixture can be an adequate protein source for seabass juveniles, also offering functional benefits.
{"title":"Combining Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor meals in diets for European seabass: Effects on growth, nutrient utilisation, intestinal morphology and muscle quality","authors":"Rafaela S. Costa , Ana Basto , Marta Monteiro , Bia Pinho , Tiago Sá , Marisa V. Santos , Daniel Murta , Johan W. Schrama , Luisa M.P. Valente","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742899","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742899","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explored the potential of an insect meal (IM) mixture of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and yellow mealworms (YMs) to substitute 3% (diet IM3), 25% (diet IM25) and 50% (diet IM50) of the fishmeal (FM) protein in a control diet (CTRL; 15% FM) for European seabass (<em>Dicentrarchus labrax</em>) juveniles. The four diets were isoproteic and isolipidic and were tested in triplicate in a recirculating aquaculture system with water at 22 °C and 35 ppt salinity, under a 12 h light/12 h dark photoperiod. After a 75-day feeding period, the fish growth performance, nutrient utilisation, intestinal morphology, muscle fatty acid profile and antioxidant capacity were evaluated. The diets containing IM ensured similar growth (DGI = 2.0) and feed efficiency (FCR = 1.0–1.1) to CTRL. Moreover, they promoted comparable nitrogen and energy retention efficiencies (38–40% and 44–47%). However, fish fed with the IM diets presented 20–27% lower faecal phosphorus losses than the control group. Anterior intestine integrity was maintained in all fish, but those fed IM50 displayed longer <em>villi</em> than the control. The muscle fatty acid profile of IM-fed fish also resembled that of the control, with 364–405 mg EPA + DHA per 100 g of fillet. IM25 and IM50 promoted higher lauric acid deposition in the muscle, and the muscle of fish fed with IM50 presented the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity, suggesting higher antioxidant capacity. Overall, the study shows that the IM mixture can be an adequate protein source for seabass juveniles, also offering functional benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742899"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144534702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-10-30Epub Date: 2025-06-29DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742882
Alyssa M. Budd , Roger Huerlimann , Jarrod L. Guppy , Ricardo C.C. Pinto , Jose A. Domingos , Dean R. Jerry
Sex in fish is remarkably plastic. In some gonochoristic species, temperature exposure during early development can result in epigenetic changes and phenotypic reversal of an otherwise genetically encoded sex. In most of these cases, high temperatures result in an increased proportion of phenotypic males. In sequential hermaphrodites, such as the protandrous barramundi (Lates calcarifer), the effect of temperature on sex is largely unknown. Here, we reared 1-year-old barramundi under four different temperature profiles and examined the effects on mRNA expression, DNA methylation and phenotypic sex. Exposure to high temperature (34 °C) led to early sex change, skewing sex ratios toward transitional and female fish compared to the all-male control group. These phenotypic changes were accompanied by differences in methylation and/or expression of conserved sex-determining genes (e.g., cyp19a1a and dmrt1), and others with putative roles in cellular sensing and signal transduction. Global DNA methylation differences and alternative splicing were observed between sexes but not between temperatures, suggesting that these epigenetic mechanisms occur downstream of putative temperature-modulated signal transduction pathways. The results demonstrate that in contrast to gonochoristic fish, the gonads of sequential hermaphrodites maintain plasticity beyond the completion of sex differentiation, and that exposure to high temperatures leads to an increased proportion of females, rather than males. The findings may assist in the development of temperature as a consumer friendly strategy for sex control in aquaculture.
{"title":"Mechanisms driving temperature-induced early sex change in barramundi (Lates calcarifer)","authors":"Alyssa M. Budd , Roger Huerlimann , Jarrod L. Guppy , Ricardo C.C. Pinto , Jose A. Domingos , Dean R. Jerry","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742882","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742882","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sex in fish is remarkably plastic. In some gonochoristic species, temperature exposure during early development can result in epigenetic changes and phenotypic reversal of an otherwise genetically encoded sex. In most of these cases, high temperatures result in an increased proportion of phenotypic males. In sequential hermaphrodites, such as the protandrous barramundi (<em>Lates calcarifer</em>), the effect of temperature on sex is largely unknown. Here, we reared 1-year-old barramundi under four different temperature profiles and examined the effects on mRNA expression, DNA methylation and phenotypic sex. Exposure to high temperature (34 °C) led to early sex change, skewing sex ratios toward transitional and female fish compared to the all-male control group. These phenotypic changes were accompanied by differences in methylation and/or expression of conserved sex-determining genes (e.g., <em>cyp19a1a</em> and <em>dmrt1</em>), and others with putative roles in cellular sensing and signal transduction. Global DNA methylation differences and alternative splicing were observed between sexes but not between temperatures, suggesting that these epigenetic mechanisms occur downstream of putative temperature-modulated signal transduction pathways. The results demonstrate that in contrast to gonochoristic fish, the gonads of sequential hermaphrodites maintain plasticity beyond the completion of sex differentiation, and that exposure to high temperatures leads to an increased proportion of females, rather than males. The findings may assist in the development of temperature as a consumer friendly strategy for sex control in aquaculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742882"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144548368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-10-30Epub Date: 2025-07-03DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742888
Shiqi Song , Xiujuan Shan , Chengcheng Su , Yongsong Zhao
With increasing in human activities such as the operation of offshore wind farms and shipping, the impacts of anthropogenic low frequency continuous noise on marine organisms have garnered increasing attention. This study used the sound-sensitive large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) to investigate the physiological effects of low frequency continuous noise. Fish were exposed to continuous underwater noise at sound pressure levels of 105 ± 5 dB, 125 ± 5 dB, and 145 ± 5 dB for 15 days, with an unexposed control group. Antioxidant enzyme activities in the liver were measured, and transcriptome sequencing was performed to screen for noise stress-related differentially expressed genes. Results showed that superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity peaked under low noise stress but decreased significantly under high noise stress. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity decreased initially and then increased, reaching the highest level under high noise stress. Catalase (CAT) activity was highest under medium noise stress and similar to the control under high noise stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed that noise stress altered gene expression in the brain and liver, with differentially expressed genes significantly enriched in pathways related to neural function, apoptosis, metabolism, immunity, and signal transduction. Key genes in glutamatergic and GABAergic synapse pathways were downregulated, while caspase family genes in apoptosis pathways were upregulated. Genes related to pancreatic secretion and fatty acid metabolism were downregulated, and those in complement and chemokine signaling pathways were altered. The study suggests that continuous exposure to underwater noise from human activities generates excessive reactive oxygen species in L. crocea, disrupting the normal function of the antioxidant enzyme system. High-intensity noise may exceed its antioxidant defense capacity and potentially lead to neurologic damage, accelerated apoptosis, metabolic disorders, and compromised immune function in L. crocea. These findings provide a basis for the impact assessment of anthropogenic low frequency continuous noise on fishery resources.
{"title":"Physiological reactions of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) to sound stimulus at 500 Hz: Implications for marine management regarding low frequency continuous noise","authors":"Shiqi Song , Xiujuan Shan , Chengcheng Su , Yongsong Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742888","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742888","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With increasing in human activities such as the operation of offshore wind farms and shipping, the impacts of anthropogenic low frequency continuous noise on marine organisms have garnered increasing attention. This study used the sound-sensitive large yellow croaker (<em>Larimichthys crocea</em>) to investigate the physiological effects of low frequency continuous noise. Fish were exposed to continuous underwater noise at sound pressure levels of 105 ± 5 dB, 125 ± 5 dB, and 145 ± 5 dB for 15 days, with an unexposed control group. Antioxidant enzyme activities in the liver were measured, and transcriptome sequencing was performed to screen for noise stress-related differentially expressed genes. Results showed that superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity peaked under low noise stress but decreased significantly under high noise stress. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity decreased initially and then increased, reaching the highest level under high noise stress. Catalase (CAT) activity was highest under medium noise stress and similar to the control under high noise stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed that noise stress altered gene expression in the brain and liver, with differentially expressed genes significantly enriched in pathways related to neural function, apoptosis, metabolism, immunity, and signal transduction. Key genes in glutamatergic and GABAergic synapse pathways were downregulated, while <em>caspase</em> family genes in apoptosis pathways were upregulated. Genes related to pancreatic secretion and fatty acid metabolism were downregulated, and those in complement and chemokine signaling pathways were altered. The study suggests that continuous exposure to underwater noise from human activities generates excessive reactive oxygen species in <em>L. crocea</em>, disrupting the normal function of the antioxidant enzyme system. High-intensity noise may exceed its antioxidant defense capacity and potentially lead to neurologic damage, accelerated apoptosis, metabolic disorders, and compromised immune function in L. <em>crocea</em>. These findings provide a basis for the impact assessment of anthropogenic low frequency continuous noise on fishery resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742888"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144579910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-10-30Epub Date: 2025-07-05DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742920
Jorge García-Márquez , Alejandro Morcillo-Guillén , Antonio J. Vizcaíno , Alba Galafat , María Isabel Sáez , Tomás Francisco Martínez , Luciano Foglio , Lorenzo Proietti , Tiziana Bongiorno , Francisco Gabriel Acién , Katia Parati , Francisco Javier Alarcón-López
This study aims to assess the potential use of microalgae, produced through a sustainable process, as protein and lipid source in practical diets for two commercially valuable fish species: Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). To achieve this goal, the study evaluated different biomasses of Microchloropsis gaditana, cultivated on either conventional synthetic medium (MSM) or diluted pig manure (MPM), incorporated crude or hydrolysed into aquafeeds. Specifically, the impact on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, and intestinal morphology was evaluated in both species. Regarding growth performance, no significant improvement was observed in sturgeon fed M. gaditana-supplemented diets. However, gilthead seabream significantly increased body weight except for the group fed diets elaborated with hydrolysed microalgae. Digestive enzyme activities were also modified by the use of algal biomass, with negative effects in Siberian sturgeon, whereas gilthead seabream proteolytic activities were enhanced, which evidenced a species-specific digestive response. Finally, morphological analyses of intestinal mucosa revealed that dietary inclusion of M. gaditana induced significant changes in both species. In Siberian sturgeon, the inclusion of microalgae reduced the total absorption surface, regardless of the growth medium used for producing the microalgae. Conversely, in gilthead seabream, dietary inclusion positively influenced intestinal morphology, increasing the intestinal fold diameter, enterocyte height, and microvilli length, indicating enhanced nutrient uptake capacity. In conclusion, these results evidenced the potential application of microalgae obtained from biorefinery as a protein and lipid source in practical diets for both fish species. However, the contrasting effects observed in both species bring to light the need for future works to assess the species-specific responses to dietary changes.
{"title":"The effects of microalgal feed supplementation on growth and digestive function of Acipenser baerii and Sparus aurata","authors":"Jorge García-Márquez , Alejandro Morcillo-Guillén , Antonio J. Vizcaíno , Alba Galafat , María Isabel Sáez , Tomás Francisco Martínez , Luciano Foglio , Lorenzo Proietti , Tiziana Bongiorno , Francisco Gabriel Acién , Katia Parati , Francisco Javier Alarcón-López","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742920","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742920","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to assess the potential use of microalgae, produced through a sustainable process, as protein and lipid source in practical diets for two commercially valuable fish species: Siberian sturgeon (<em>Acipenser baerii</em>) and gilthead seabream (<em>Sparus aurata</em>). To achieve this goal, the study evaluated different biomasses of <em>Microchloropsis gaditana,</em> cultivated on either conventional synthetic medium (MSM) or diluted pig manure (MPM), incorporated crude or hydrolysed into aquafeeds. Specifically, the impact on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, and intestinal morphology was evaluated in both species. Regarding growth performance, no significant improvement was observed in sturgeon fed <em>M. gaditana</em>-supplemented diets. However, gilthead seabream significantly increased body weight except for the group fed diets elaborated with hydrolysed microalgae. Digestive enzyme activities were also modified by the use of algal biomass, with negative effects in Siberian sturgeon, whereas gilthead seabream proteolytic activities were enhanced, which evidenced a species-specific digestive response. Finally, morphological analyses of intestinal mucosa revealed that dietary inclusion of <em>M. gaditana</em> induced significant changes in both species. In Siberian sturgeon, the inclusion of microalgae reduced the total absorption surface, regardless of the growth medium used for producing the microalgae. Conversely, in gilthead seabream, dietary inclusion positively influenced intestinal morphology, increasing the intestinal fold diameter, enterocyte height, and microvilli length, indicating enhanced nutrient uptake capacity. In conclusion, these results evidenced the potential application of microalgae obtained from biorefinery as a protein and lipid source in practical diets for both fish species. However, the contrasting effects observed in both species bring to light the need for future works to assess the species-specific responses to dietary changes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742920"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144605911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-10-30Epub Date: 2025-06-26DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742883
Samitha S.N. Liyanage , Kasun A. Bandara , Kaylan A. Martin , Kyle R. Wood , Jason W. Abernathy , Benjamin H. Beck , Timothy J. Bruce , Luke A. Roy , Rex A. Dunham , Xu Wang , Ian A.E. Butts
Supplying high-quality sperm from blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus is a requirement for channel catfish, I. punctatus ♀ × blue catfish ♂ hybrid production. Storing sperm at low temperatures (4 °C) is a simple and inexpensive method to facilitate hatchery production. Our study objective was to determine the effect of short-term storage on sperm quality and microbiome dynamics in blue catfish. Mature males (n = 8) were selected, testes dissected, milt extracted and stored at 4 °C. Sperm swimming kinematics [motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), straight-line velocity (VSL)], viability, and lipid peroxidation were quantified in conjunction with microbial community composition at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h post-storage. Sperm kinematics and viability declined during short-term storage, while malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of lipid peroxidation, significantly increased within the first 24 h. Time-specific microbiome changes were observed in sperm during short-term storage. Amplicon sequence variant (ASV) richness was significantly decreased at 72 h. Evenness and Shannon index of bacterial communities significantly decreased at 24 h and remained unchanged from 48 to 72 h. The ASVs belonging to potentially harmful bacterial species, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Aeromonas hydrophila, showed significantly higher abundances following 48 and 72 h. Our results demonstrate changes in sperm quality and microbial communities during short-term storage. These findings can be used to improve sperm storage techniques for hybrid catfish hatchery facilities.
{"title":"Effect of short-term storage on sperm quality and microbiome dynamics in blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus","authors":"Samitha S.N. Liyanage , Kasun A. Bandara , Kaylan A. Martin , Kyle R. Wood , Jason W. Abernathy , Benjamin H. Beck , Timothy J. Bruce , Luke A. Roy , Rex A. Dunham , Xu Wang , Ian A.E. Butts","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742883","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742883","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Supplying high-quality sperm from blue catfish, <em>Ictalurus furcatus</em> is a requirement for channel catfish, <em>I. punctatus</em> ♀ × blue catfish ♂ hybrid production. Storing sperm at low temperatures (4 °C) is a simple and inexpensive method to facilitate hatchery production. Our study objective was to determine the effect of short-term storage on sperm quality and microbiome dynamics in blue catfish. Mature males (<em>n</em> = 8) were selected, testes dissected, milt extracted and stored at 4 °C. Sperm swimming kinematics [motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), straight-line velocity (VSL)], viability, and lipid peroxidation were quantified in conjunction with microbial community composition at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h post-storage. Sperm kinematics and viability declined during short-term storage, while malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of lipid peroxidation, significantly increased within the first 24 h. Time-specific microbiome changes were observed in sperm during short-term storage. Amplicon sequence variant (ASV) richness was significantly decreased at 72 h. Evenness and Shannon index of bacterial communities significantly decreased at 24 h and remained unchanged from 48 to 72 h. The ASVs belonging to potentially harmful bacterial species, <em>Pseudomonas fluorescens</em> and <em>Aeromonas hydrophila</em>, showed significantly higher abundances following 48 and 72 h. Our results demonstrate changes in sperm quality and microbial communities during short-term storage. These findings can be used to improve sperm storage techniques for hybrid catfish hatchery facilities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742883"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144570467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aquaculture's global contribution to fish production and consumption has grown significantly. In Nigeria, private sector interests in catfish farming have driven its growth, boosting income, dietary diversification, women and youth empowerment, and overall economic growth. This necessitates the development of policies that support aquaculture profitability. This study utilizes economic, operational, and socioeconomic data from catfish farms in Nigeria to identify potential policy options that promote profitability. Key policy options are categorized into knowledge/learning-based, tactical decision-based, and infrastructure-based policy options. ANCOVA was used to measure effect sizes, while regression assessed the significance and direction of policy-related factors. These factors influence profitability through their effects on performance variables, which directly affect ROI. Among the key performance variables, product price, feed conversion ratio, and feed price have the greatest impact on profitability, with eta-squared values of 0.32, 0.27, and 0.27, respectively. Through these variables, policy-related factors associated with learning, such as experience, training and social media, significantly impact profitability. Similarly, infrastructure-based factors, including backyard farming and use of earthen ponds, contribute positively to profitability. The study also emphasizes the need for high-quality input and the development of a comprehensive breed improvement program for better seed quality. Additionally, training participation significantly enhances sustainable resource management through efficient input usage. Findings highlight the need to integrate marketing expertise into training and extension services to help farmers secure better product prices and improve overall profitability. It is concluded that advancing these policy options would not only enhance profitability but also promote sustainability of Nigeria's aquaculture sector.
{"title":"Policy options for profitable and sustainable aquaculture","authors":"Olanrewaju Femi Olagunju , Dadi Kristofersson , Theódór Kristjánsson , Tumi Tómasson","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742880","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742880","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aquaculture's global contribution to fish production and consumption has grown significantly. In Nigeria, private sector interests in catfish farming have driven its growth, boosting income, dietary diversification, women and youth empowerment, and overall economic growth. This necessitates the development of policies that support aquaculture profitability. This study utilizes economic, operational, and socioeconomic data from catfish farms in Nigeria to identify potential policy options that promote profitability. Key policy options are categorized into knowledge/learning-based, tactical decision-based, and infrastructure-based policy options. ANCOVA was used to measure effect sizes, while regression assessed the significance and direction of policy-related factors. These factors influence profitability through their effects on performance variables, which directly affect ROI. Among the key performance variables, product price, feed conversion ratio, and feed price have the greatest impact on profitability, with eta-squared values of 0.32, 0.27, and 0.27, respectively. Through these variables, policy-related factors associated with learning, such as experience, training and social media, significantly impact profitability. Similarly, infrastructure-based factors, including backyard farming and use of earthen ponds, contribute positively to profitability. The study also emphasizes the need for high-quality input and the development of a comprehensive breed improvement program for better seed quality. Additionally, training participation significantly enhances sustainable resource management through efficient input usage. Findings highlight the need to integrate marketing expertise into training and extension services to help farmers secure better product prices and improve overall profitability. It is concluded that advancing these policy options would not only enhance profitability but also promote sustainability of Nigeria's aquaculture sector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742880"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144513819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-10-30Epub Date: 2025-07-14DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742956
Minna Hiltunen, Ruchira Kannangara, Bernadeth Nakandalage, Olivia Söderena, Hemanta Timilsina, Juhani Pirhonen, Katja Pulkkinen
Recycling waste to new products is a key concept in circular economy with benefits to environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation. Microalgae cultivation integrated to aquaculture is an example of circular economy that has potential to increase environmental sustainability of aquaculture via capture of nutrients and use of CO2 efflux, and production of valuable, renewable biomass and biomolecules. Here we studied the simultaneous utilization of Recirculating Aquaculture System's (RAS) water and CO2 exhaust (ca. 600–1100 ppm) on growth and biochemical composition of Chlorella vulgaris, a widely used microalga. C. vulgaris had high growth rates (μmax up to 0.95) even at the relatively low temperature of 18–19 °C used in the experiments and captured on average 98–100 % of phosphate, 82–99 % of nitrate, and 68–95 % of total nitrogen in the RAS water during 8–16 day experiments. Growth, biomass accumulation, and nutrient capture were improved by using high light intensity (ca. 90 μmol m−2 s−1) and/or RAS exhaust air. The highest lipid content (∼18 % DW) in C. vulgaris was achieved in two-stage cultivation under sulphur limitation, but nitrogen limitation by adding phosphorus (decreasing N:P ratio) into RAS water did not increase lipid content. Fatty acid composition of C. vulgaris was mainly determined by culture medium and light intensity. Overall, we produced stable and fast-growing cultures of C. vulgaris using RAS water and biogenic CO2 in conditions relevant for potential future integration of microalgal production to RAS while examining also biochemical composition of the produced biomass.
{"title":"Growth and biomass composition of Chlorella vulgaris using nutrient-rich water and CO2 from a recirculating aquaculture system","authors":"Minna Hiltunen, Ruchira Kannangara, Bernadeth Nakandalage, Olivia Söderena, Hemanta Timilsina, Juhani Pirhonen, Katja Pulkkinen","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742956","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742956","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recycling waste to new products is a key concept in circular economy with benefits to environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation. Microalgae cultivation integrated to aquaculture is an example of circular economy that has potential to increase environmental sustainability of aquaculture via capture of nutrients and use of CO<sub>2</sub> efflux, and production of valuable, renewable biomass and biomolecules. Here we studied the simultaneous utilization of Recirculating Aquaculture System's (RAS) water and CO<sub>2</sub> exhaust (ca. 600–1100 ppm) on growth and biochemical composition of <em>Chlorella vulgaris</em>, a widely used microalga. <em>C. vulgaris</em> had high growth rates (μ<sub>max</sub> up to 0.95) even at the relatively low temperature of 18–19 °C used in the experiments and captured on average 98–100 % of phosphate, 82–99 % of nitrate, and 68–95 % of total nitrogen in the RAS water during 8–16 day experiments. Growth, biomass accumulation, and nutrient capture were improved by using high light intensity (ca. 90 μmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>) and/or RAS exhaust air. The highest lipid content (∼18 % DW) in <em>C. vulgaris</em> was achieved in two-stage cultivation under sulphur limitation, but nitrogen limitation by adding phosphorus (decreasing N:P ratio) into RAS water did not increase lipid content. Fatty acid composition of <em>C. vulgaris</em> was mainly determined by culture medium and light intensity. Overall, we produced stable and fast-growing cultures of <em>C. vulgaris</em> using RAS water and biogenic CO<sub>2</sub> in conditions relevant for potential future integration of microalgal production to RAS while examining also biochemical composition of the produced biomass.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742956"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144656953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-10-30Epub Date: 2025-07-03DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742914
Fa Dai , Siyu Chen , Wei Sun , Jiehao Xu , Chutian Ge , Xiaodong Zhang
The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is a crucial economically significant aquatic species, yet its aquaculture is severely impacted by disease-related challenges. Among these, Aeromonas hydrophila stands out as one of the most prevalent pathogenic bacteria, responsible for the highest diversity of disease manifestations and detection rates in farmed P. sinensis. In this study, a pathogenic strain A. hydrophila PS-1 from diseased P. sinensis was isolated and identified. A green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeled PS-1 (PS-1/GFP) was constructed with the pAPR-EGFP plasmid. The growth, motility, and pathogenicity of PS-1/GFP showed no difference from that of the wild type strain. After artificial infection, green fluorescence was only observed in the intestine and liver in a paraffin section at 72 h of infection, which indicated that PS-1 infection exhibited tissue specificity. Accordingly, the colonization sites of PS-1 in P. sinensis were intestine and liver, with bacterial loads reaching as high as 5 × 109 CFU/g and 7 × 108 CFU/g, respectively. Moreover, PS-1 could internalize into intestinal fibroblast-like cells and induce similar cell morphological changes akin to pyroptosis. This work established methodological tools and fundamental insights for investigating diseases in P. sinensis, and laid the groundwork for further elucidation of the pathogen-host interaction mechanisms between A. hydrophila and P. sinensis.
{"title":"Identification of Aeromonas hydrophila PS-1 and GFP-labeled tracking of its infection in Pelodiscus sinensis","authors":"Fa Dai , Siyu Chen , Wei Sun , Jiehao Xu , Chutian Ge , Xiaodong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742914","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742914","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (<em>Pelodiscus sinensis</em>) is a crucial economically significant aquatic species, yet its aquaculture is severely impacted by disease-related challenges. Among these, <em>Aeromonas hydrophila</em> stands out as one of the most prevalent pathogenic bacteria, responsible for the highest diversity of disease manifestations and detection rates in farmed <em>P. sinensis</em>. In this study, a pathogenic strain <em>A. hydrophila</em> PS-1 from diseased <em>P. sinensis</em> was isolated and identified. A green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeled PS-1 (PS-1/GFP) was constructed with the pAPR-EGFP plasmid. The growth, motility, and pathogenicity of PS-1/GFP showed no difference from that of the wild type strain. After artificial infection, green fluorescence was only observed in the intestine and liver in a paraffin section at 72 h of infection, which indicated that PS-1 infection exhibited tissue specificity. Accordingly, the colonization sites of PS-1 in <em>P. sinensis</em> were intestine and liver, with bacterial loads reaching as high as 5 × 10<sup>9</sup> CFU/g and 7 × 10<sup>8</sup> CFU/g, respectively. Moreover, PS-1 could internalize into intestinal fibroblast-like cells and induce similar cell morphological changes akin to pyroptosis. This work established methodological tools and fundamental insights for investigating diseases in <em>P. sinensis</em>, and laid the groundwork for further elucidation of the pathogen-host interaction mechanisms between <em>A. hydrophila</em> and <em>P. sinensis</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742914"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144557222","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-10-30Epub Date: 2025-07-03DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742928
S. Bråtelund , T. Ruttink , F. Goecke , G. Klemetsdal , S. Forbord , J. Skjermo , D. Aldridge , A.R. Borrero-Santiago , J. Ødegård , J. Funderud , Å. Ergon
The kelp species Saccharina latissima is gaining attention due to the growing interest in kelp cultivation in Europe and North America. The current common practice of propagation is to generate seedlings through mixed hybridization of individuals collected from the wild. However, virtually nothing is known about rates of self-fertilization, apomixis, and unintended selection in this process. Moreover, efforts to develop genetic material suitable for cultivation remain limited. We conducted a selection experiment to test how mixed hybridization and selection could be used for initial breeding for large-size S. latissima sporophytes. We mixed spores from 159 wild sporophytes to produce an F1 generation. Approximately 800 offspring were phenotyped and genotyped using “genotyping by sequencing” (GBS). Then, 25 large-sized individuals were selected as parents for an F2selected population, while 25 random individuals served as parents of an F2control population. Approximately 800 individuals from F2selected and 200 individuals from F2control were phenotyped and genotyped. Parentage assignment revealed considerable variation in transmission between parents. Selfing rates exceeded expectations under random mating in F2selected (0.10), and particularly in F2control (0.73), where it led to high inbreeding levels (FIS = 0.16) and contributed to reducing the expected heterozygosity from 0.20 to 0.18. In F1, 4 % of the sporophytes were apomictic, while in F2selected and F2control the fraction of apomictic sporophytes was 0 % and 1 %, respectively. Additionally, spontaneous triploid offspring were identified on the basis of GBS data at a rate of 0.3 %–0.6 %. We discuss implications of our results for practical propagation and breeding of S. latissima.
{"title":"Genetic transmission, self-fertilization, apomixis and triploidy in mixed hybridizations of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima)","authors":"S. Bråtelund , T. Ruttink , F. Goecke , G. Klemetsdal , S. Forbord , J. Skjermo , D. Aldridge , A.R. Borrero-Santiago , J. Ødegård , J. Funderud , Å. Ergon","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742928","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742928","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The kelp species <em>Saccharina latissima</em> is gaining attention due to the growing interest in kelp cultivation in Europe and North America. The current common practice of propagation is to generate seedlings through mixed hybridization of individuals collected from the wild. However, virtually nothing is known about rates of self-fertilization, apomixis, and unintended selection in this process. Moreover, efforts to develop genetic material suitable for cultivation remain limited. We conducted a selection experiment to test how mixed hybridization and selection could be used for initial breeding for large-size <em>S. latissima</em> sporophytes. We mixed spores from 159 wild sporophytes to produce an F1 generation. Approximately 800 offspring were phenotyped and genotyped using “genotyping by sequencing” (GBS). Then, 25 large-sized individuals were selected as parents for an F2<sub>selected</sub> population, while 25 random individuals served as parents of an F2<sub>control</sub> population. Approximately 800 individuals from F2<sub>selected</sub> and 200 individuals from F2<sub>control</sub> were phenotyped and genotyped. Parentage assignment revealed considerable variation in transmission between parents. Selfing rates exceeded expectations under random mating in F2<sub>selected</sub> (0.10), and particularly in F2<sub>control</sub> (0.73), where it led to high inbreeding levels (<em>F</em><sub>IS</sub> = 0.16) and contributed to reducing the expected heterozygosity from 0.20 to 0.18. In F1, 4 % of the sporophytes were apomictic, while in F2<sub>selected</sub> and F2<sub>control</sub> the fraction of apomictic sporophytes was 0 % and 1 %, respectively. Additionally, spontaneous triploid offspring were identified on the basis of GBS data at a rate of 0.3 %–0.6 %. We discuss implications of our results for practical propagation and breeding of <em>S. latissima</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"610 ","pages":"Article 742928"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144579904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号