The GIFT that keeps on giving? A genetic audit of the Fijian Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) broodstock nucleus 20 years after introduction

Two experiments were conducted consecutively to evaluate and compare the mean weight (MWT), daily growth rate (DGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival and production rate (PR) in the non-improved strain (NS) of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Cichlidae) with those in the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) strain and the FaST selected tilapia (FaST), from the swim-up fry stage to fish weight of 1.0 g (Experiment 1) and from fish weight of 1.0 to 20 g (Experiment 2). In both experiments, results showed the GIFT and FaST strains to have significantly higher MWT, faster DGR, lower FCR and higher PR than those of the NS. Unlike in Experiment 1, survival rates did not differ significantly among the three strains. In Experiment 1, the improvements in the FaST for the MWT, DGR and PR over those for the NS were 77.9, 72.9 and 33.6%, respectively. In Experiment 2, the improvements for the same parameters were 58.7, 57.8 and 54.5%, respectively. These results indicate the advantage and potential of culturing the FaST or the GIFT strain in Kuwait for improving the production of fresh tilapia, reducing the production cost and increasing the profitability of tilapia farms.

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Production efficiency of green beans integrated with tilapia in a circular farming system of media-filled aquaponics

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5424/sjar/2020183-16038 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. e0611

Author(s):

Syafiqah Saufie ◽

Abentin Estim ◽

Sitti R. M. Shaleh ◽

Saleem Mustafa

Keyword(s):

Biomass Production ◽

Production Efficiency ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Farming System ◽

Green Bean ◽

Water Volume ◽

Green Beans ◽

The Gift ◽

Genetically Improved

Aim of study: To evaluate the biomass production of green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in a media-filled aquaponics system together with Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia, GIFT (Oreochromis niloticus).Area of study: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Malaysia).Material and methods: The experiment involved modulating and optimizing the density of extractive species (plants) in the hydroponic tank (55 cm × 35 cm). Five treatments were carried out: T0 (control-without plant), T2 (2 plants), T4 (4 plants), T8 (8 plants), T12 (12 plants) where the stocking density of GIFT was 30 tails (identical in all the treatments). Water volume in each treatment was 800 L and the experimental set up was closed recirculating type. The trials were carried out over a period of 90 days.Main results: Growth of the GIFT was not affected by the presence of green bean or by manipulation of the stocking density. Treatment T4 yielded significantly higher biomass production of green beans (1556.4 ± 88.9 g), compared to T2 (1083.6 ± 86.9 g), T8 (404.6 ± 47.9 g), and T12 (401.8 ± 98.1 g). There were noticeable fluctuations in the concentrations of NH3-N (ammonia), NO2-N (nitrite), NO3-N (nitrate) and PO4-P (phosphate) over the experimental period that indicated the process of nitrification and absorption of nutrients.Research highlights: The nitrogenous waste produced by the fish supported the biomass of the green beans in the aquaponics system and the waste uptake of this extractive species is effective enough for reuse of the water for rearing of GIFT.

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Comparison trials between Oreochromis andersonii (Kafue Bream) and O. niloticus (imported species) under farm conditions in Zambia.

10.1079/ac.109983.20203483773 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Emmanuéle Cayron-Thomas

Keyword(s):

Oreochromis Niloticus ◽

Selective Breeding ◽

River Systems ◽

Small Grant ◽

The Gift ◽

Genetically Improved ◽

On Farm ◽

Selective Breeding Programme ◽

Made In ◽

Agricultural Organization

Abstract There has been much discussion for many years over the most suitable tilapia species to use in aquaculture. It has been thought for many years that Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was the most productive, especially after it had been developed using the genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) protocols, but no trials have taken place under standard farming conditions nor was there ever any consideration taken of the possible ecological side effects of the introduction of alien species into river systems. With the help of a small grant from the Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nations, Kalimba Farm, Zambia, undertook to carry out a direct comparison between the suitability of both O. niloticus and O. andersonii for fish culture under normal farm conditions. These trials took place over three years from 2004 to 2007. The overall results concluded that there were definite advantages for both species in different areas, but considering a genetically improved species was being compared with stock that had been genetically isolated for 25 years, the overall results were encouraging for the indigenous O. andersonii. In addition, taking into account the assumed damage to fragile river systems from the introduction of invasive O. niloticus it was felt that efforts should be made in future to encourage the use of O. andersonii as the preferred fish for aquaculture in areas of Zambia that are not already polluted with O. niloticus and, furthermore, an effort should be made to improve O. andersonii through an on-farm selective breeding programme using the GIFT protocols.

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Comparison of the growth performance and long-chain PUFA biosynthetic ability of the genetically improved farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in different salinities

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114518003471 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 121 (4) ◽

pp. 374-383 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cuihong You ◽

Fangbin Lu ◽

Shuqi Wang ◽

Cuiying Chen ◽

Yuanyou Li

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Brackish Water ◽

Oreochromis Niloticus ◽

Feeding Trial ◽

Chain Pufa ◽

Lipid Source ◽

The Gift ◽

Genetically Improved ◽

Long Chain

AbstractTo compare the growth and biosynthetic ability of long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) of the genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) (Oreochromis niloticus) in different water salinities, an 8-week feeding trial was conducted on the GIFT juveniles at 0, 12 and 24 ‰ (parts per thousand; ppt), respectively, with three isonitrogenous (32 %) and isolipidic (8 %) diets (D1–D3). Diet D1 with fish oils (rich in LC-PUFA) as lipid source was used as the control, while D2 and D3 with vegetable oil (free LC-PUFA) blends as lipid source contained different ratios of linoleic acid (LA, 18 : 2n-6) and α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18 : 3n-3) at 4·04 (D2) and 0·54 (D3), respectively. At the end of feeding trial, the growth performance of D2 and D3 groups under all salinity treatments was as good as that of D1 group, which indicates that the GIFT juveniles may convert dietary LA and ALA into LC-PUFA to meet the requirement of essential fatty acids for normal growth and physiology. When fed the same diets, GIFT at 12 ppt had a better growth performance coupled with a higher liver and muscle arachidonic acid content than those in freshwater. Furthermore, brackish water (24 ppt) significantly promoted the mRNA levels of elongase 5 of very long-chain fatty acids (elovl5) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (pparα) in liver, when compared with freshwater. These results suggest that the GIFT may display better growth performance together with a relatively higher endogenous LC-PUFA biosynthetic ability under brackish water (12 and 24 ppt), probably through improving the expression of elovl5 and pparα in liver.

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Production of New and Revised A.A.V.S.O. Charts

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100073620 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 368

Author(s):

Clinton B. Ford

Keyword(s):

Variable Star ◽

Standard Form ◽

Original Data ◽

University Of Pennsylvania ◽

Standard Format ◽

Additional Information ◽

The Gift ◽

The University

A “new charts program” for the Americal Association of Variable Star Observers was instigated in 1966 via the gift to the Association of the complete variable star observing records, charts, photographs, etc. of the late Prof. Charles P. Olivier of the University of Pennsylvania (USA). Adequate material covering about 60 variables, not previously charted by the AAVSO, was included in this original data, and was suitably charted in reproducible standard format.Since 1966, much additional information has been assembled from other sources, three Catalogs have been issued which list the new or revised charts produced, and which specify how copies of same may be obtained. The latest such Catalog is dated June 1978, and lists 670 different charts covering a total of 611 variables none of which was charted in reproducible standard form previous to 1966.

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