Effect of Planting Density and K2O:N Ratio on the Yield, External Quality, and Traders' Perceived Shelf Life of Pineapple Fruits in Benin

Quality, shelf life, and yield of a pineapple fruit are the important attributes for the producers and customers in the pineapple value chain of Benin, whereas poor quality, short shelf life, and low yield are the main constraints. We quantified the effects of planting density and K2O:N fertilizer ratio on the pineapple yield, external quality, and perceived shelf life in four on-farm experiments with cv. Sugarloaf in Benin; two experiments were installed in the long rainy season and two in the short rainy season. A split-plot design was used with the planting density as the main factor at three levels: 54,000, 66,600, and 74,000 plants.ha−1. The K2O:N ratio was a subfactor with three levels: K2O:N = 0.35 (farmers' practice), K2O:N = 1, and K2O:N = 2. The results showed that both factors had no effect on the crop development variables (such as the number of functional leaves and D-leaf length) at the moment of flowering induction. The planting density had no effect on the total weight per fruit, infructescence weight, total fruit length, infructescence length, crown length, or the fruit shelf life as perceived by traders. The yield increased from 54.9–69.1 up to 90.1 t.ha−1 with an increase in the planting density. The yield increase was not at the expense of the fruit weight. Increased K2O:N ratio led to a higher fruit weight whereas the fruit length was not affected. The shelf life of fruits produced at a K2O:N ratio of 1 and as perceived by traders was 6 days longer than that of fruits produced at a ratio of 0.35 (farmers' practice). Based on these results, we suggest the fresh pineapple farmers in Benin to use a combination of 66,600 plants.ha−1 with a K-fertilization scheme based on a K2O:N ratio of 1 to meet the expectation of both producers and customers in terms of fruit yield and fruit quality.

Acute and sub-chronic effects of copper on survival, respiratory metabolism, and metal accumulation in Cambaroides dauricus

Trace metal contamination in the aquatic ecosystem occurs worldwide: although copper is an essential trace metal, it is considered as a pollutant at certain levels in China. Freshwater crayfish Cambaroides dauricus is a commercially important wild species in northeastern China, in which is an important heavy industry area. The population of C. dauricus was decreasing sharply due to the environmental pollution and human intervention over the past 20 years. However, nothing is known regarding the responses of this species to trace metal toxicants. This study aimed to determine the acute and chronic toxicity of Cu and its toxicological effects on respiratory metabolism, as well as Cu accumulation in C. dauricus. The acute (96 h) median lethal concentration (LC50) value of 32.5 mg/L was detected in C. dauricus. Then, acute (96 h; 8.24, 16.48 mg/L) and sub-chronic (14 days; 2.06, 4.12 mg/L) exposure in Cu was investigated by estimating the oxygen consumption rate, ammonium excretion rate, and Cu accumulation. Both acute and sub-chronic Cu exposure induced an inhibition of the oxygen consumption rate and ammonium excretion rate, and thereby, an increased O:N ratio. The shift in O:N ratio indicated a metabolic substrate shift towards lipid and carbohydrate metabolism under Cu stress. Cu accumulation in the hepatopancreas and muscles throughout the study was found to be time-dependent and concentration-dependent. The maximum accumulation in the hepatopancreas and muscle were almost 31.6 folds of the control after 14 days’ exposure to 4.12 mg/L concentration. Based on the present work, we suggest that crayfish be considered a potential bioindicator of environmental pollution in freshwater systems. The study provides basic information for further understanding of the toxicological responses of this species to trace metals.

Effect of Application Ratio of Potassium over Nitrogen on Litchi Fruit Yield, Quality, and Storability

Soils of litchi orchards in China are commonly deficient in nitrogen and potassium. The cultivar Feizixiao litchis planted in a typical acidic upland orchard, which is low in nitrogen and potassium, were used as a subject in field experiments with different ratios of potassium to nitrogen (K2O:N = 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4). Field experiments were conducted from 2009 to 2012. The effects of K2O:N ratio on the yield, quality, and storability of litchi were investigated and discussed. Results indicated that with the increase of K2O:N ratio, fruit yield initially increased and then decreased, and litchi had the highest yield when K2O:N was 1.2. When K and N fertilizers were applied at the ratio of 1.2, litchi had a better fruit quality with higher vitamin C content, soluble sugar, and soluble solid. With the increase of K2O:N ratio, healthy fruit rate initially increased and then decreased. This rate reached the maximum value when K2O:N was 1.2. Meanwhile, fruit-rotting rate, peel-browning index, cell membrane permeability, and peroxidase (POD) activity decreased at first and then increased and reached the minimum value when the K2O:N ratio was 1.2. Therefore, litchi fruit had the highest yield, better quality, and best storage property when K2O:N was 1.2. Thus, this ratio is recommended for the main litchi production areas in China.

Effect of zinc and benzene on respiration and excretion of mussel larvae (Perna perna) (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca; Bivalvia)

The presence of pollutants in the ocean may affect different physiological parameters of animals. Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion were evaluated in D-shaped larvae of mussels (Perna perna) exposed to zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) and benzene (C6H6). When compared to the control group, both pollutants presented a significant reduction in oxygen consumption. A reduction in the ammonia excretion was also observed, both for ZnSO4 and C6H6 and also in the oxygen consumption. The results indicate that anaerobic metabolism may occur at the beginning of P. perna mussels development, as observed in veliger larvae. The O:N ratio under experimental conditions showed low values indicating that catabolism in veliger larvae was predominantly proteic.

Larval development in the American lobster: changes in metabolic activity and the O:N ratio

The rates of oxygen consumption under conditions of feeding and starvation and the rates of ammonia excretion after feeding increased with each larval stage of the American lobster (Homarus americanus Milne Edwards) and decreased with the first postlarval stage. There was no significant difference in the O:N ratio of the first three larval stages (~26.5), but a significant reduction (P < 0.01) was measured among stages IV and V. It appears that, whereas protein catabolism may be the principal source of energy, some of the energy yield during larval development is from lipid or carbohydrate catabolism; the use of the latter substrates is diminished in the last larval and first postlarval stages.

A Simple Method to Determine the O:N Ratio of Small Marine Animals

INTRODUCTIONThe atomic ratio of oxygen-consumed to ammonia-nitrogen excreted by marine organisms (O:N ratio) is more conveniently and precisely determined with current analytical procedures than the respiratory quotient (R.Q.). When an organism is oxidizing protein exclusively the O: N ratio will be low, less than 7; it will be high when either fat or carbohydrate is oxidized.