This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) dietary supplementation on growth, digestive enzyme activities, gut morphology, and microbiota in striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). Triplicate groups of juvenile striped catfish (initial weight 20.41 ± 1.64 g) were fed twice per day at 2.5 % of body weight for 12 weeks, with 0 (control), 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, or 0.8 % MOS diets. Compared to control (0.74 ± 0.03) and fish fed low MOS concentration, those fed 0.6 % (1.01 ± 0.02) or 0.8 % (1.03 ± 0.03) MOS had significantly higher (P \ 0.05) specific growth rates. Feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio, respectively, significantly improved (P \ 0.05) in fish fed 0.6 % (1.62 ± 0.23; 1.71 ± 0.23) or 0.8 % (1.42 ± 0.06; 1.92 ± 0.08) MOS. Further, compared to control and fish fed 0.2 % MOS, those fed 0.6 % MOS had significantly higher (P \ 0.05) apparent protein and dry matter digestibilities. Amylase, protease, and lipase activities, respectively, were significantly higher (P \ 0.05) in fish fed 0.6 % MOS (5.10 ± 0.97; 0.47 ± 0.08; and 5.59 ± 1.82) than in control (2.60 ± 0.53; 0.32 ± 0.05; and 3.78 ± 0.72). Histological analysis of the anterior and posterior gut showed significantly higher (P \ 0.05) villus length in 0.6 and 0.8 % MOS fed fish than in the control and other treatments. The guts of fish fed different MOS concentrations showed similar total lactic acid bacteria counts, which were significantly higher (P \ 0.05) than those in the control. Thus, 0.6 % MOS-supplemented diet improved growth, feed utilization, digestive enzyme activities, gut morphology, and microbiota in juvenile striped catfish. & Mst. Nahid Akter

Fruits are susceptible to insect pest infestations, bird attack, various pathogens, and mechanical damages, all of which can reduce their commercial value and thereby cause significant yield and economic losses. The objective of this study was to control mango pests and diseases as well as to improve the fruit quality of mango through bagging technology. An investigation was performed during the year 2016 from March to July for safe mango production by applying minimum use of pesticide entitled studies on influence of bagging on physico-chemical properties and shelf life of AJAHR, 4(4): 1-10, 2019; Article no.AJAHR.50807 2 mango cv. Langra. The mango fruits were bagged at marble stage (40 days from fruit set) with different types of bags which constituted the various treatments viz: T 1 : Brown paper bag; T 2 : White paper bag; T 3 : Polythene bag T 4 : Muslin cloth bag; T 5 : No bagging (control). Bagging with brown paper bag and white paper bag improved fruit retention, weight of fruit, diameter of fruit, pulp weight, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, percent of citric acid, reducing sugars and β-carotene at harvest and ripe stage over control. Brown paper bag changed fruit color. In all cases good quality, cleaner, disease and insect free fruits were harvested. The sensory qualities in fruits of brown, white and muslin cloth bags were improved over control. Pre-harvest bagging also reduced occurrence of spongy tissue and the incidence of mealy bugs. These results indicate that fruit bagging can improve fruit quality through reduction in disease and insect-pest attack and shelf life of mango cv. Langra. Original Research Article

No abstract

The present experiment titled "pre harvest bagging enhanced quality and shelf life of mango cv. Langra" was conducted during the year 2017 at the mango orchard near Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The research was carried out in the Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Mango fruits were bagged at 35, 45 and 55 days after fruit set with different types of bags which constituted various treatments viz.: T1: Transparent polythene bag, T2: White paper single layered bag, T3: Brown paper double layered bag, T4: control (no bagging). In fruit physical parameter result bagged at 35 days after fruit set with white paper and brown paper bag recorded maximum fruit length (97.93 and 103.5 mm), fruit diameter (79.27 and 84.85 mm), fruit weight (311.66 g and 329.2 g), pulp weight (278.9 g and 289.8 g) respectively, and minimum result was found in polythene bag and control. Meanwhile in fruit chemical parameter of total sugar, reducing and non-reducing sugars, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, pH and β-carotene were improved over control. Brown paper bag changed fruit color. The sensory qualities in fruits of brown and white paper bags were improved over control. Fruits treated with brown paper bag showed shelf life upto 11 days with lowest weight loss and good physical quality as against 6days of unbagged fruits (control). These results specify that fruit bagging can improve fruit quality through diminution in disease and insect-pest infestation and shelf life of mango cv. Langra.

The influence of dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus acidophilus, on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, gut histomorphology and gut microflora were evaluated in juveniles striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). Five experimental diets were formulated by supplementing 0, 10 3 , 10 5 , 10 7 and 10 9 CFU/g L. acidophilus in fishmeal and casein-based semi-purified diet. Triplicate groups of striped catfish (21.69 ± 0.18 g) were stocked in 15 fiberglass tanks with stocking density of 25 individuals per tank and fed twice daily at 2.5% of the fish body weight for 12 weeks. Weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and the protein efficiency ratio were significantly higher in fish fed with 10 5 and 10 7 CFU/g L. acidophilus supplemented diets compared with the other treatment groups. Compared with the control and fish fed low (10 3 CFU/g) L. acidophilus supplementation, those fed with 10 5 and 10 7 CFU/g had significantly higher (p < 0.05) apparent protein digestibility. Inclusion of L. acidophilus at 10 7 CFU/g diet significantly increased amylase, protease and lipase activities. Microscopic analysis showed that the villi length in both the anterior and posterior gut and microvilli length in the posterior gut increased significantly in fish fed L. acidophilus supplementation at 10 5 and 10 7 CFU/g of diet. The fish fed L. acidophilus supplemented diets significantly increased the total lactic acid bacteria counts in the gut of striped catfish compared with the control-fed group. Based on gut histomorphology and growth performance, inclusion of L. acidophilus at 10 5 CFU/g appears to have the most positive effect on striped catfish farming. K E Y W O R D Sdigestive enzyme activities, growth performance, gut morphology, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

A study was performed during 2016 from January to July for safe mango production by applying the minimum use of pesticides. The mango fruits were bagged at marble stage (45 days after fruit set) with various treatments viz: T0: No bagging (control), T1: Brown paper double-layered bag (BPB); T2: White paper single-layered bag (WPB); T3: Perforated polythene bag (PB) and T4: White cloth bag (WCB). In physical parameters, brown and white paper bag recorded the maximum fruit weight (169.10 g and 147.6 g), fruit length (8.57 and 8.33 cm), fruit diameter (5.63 and 5.87 cm) and pulp weight (124.47 g and 105.60 g) respectively, while minimum result was found in the other treatments and control. Meanwhile, in bagging fruits, chemical parameters of total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, percent of citric acid, reducing sugars and β- carotene were increased over control. Brown paper bag changed fruit color. The sensory qualities in fruits of brown and white paper bags were improved over control. Fruit retention was significantly improved by pre-harvest fruit bagging with a brown paper bag (95.90%), white paper bag (95.50%), and control (90.00%) over polythene bag (80.00%). Fruits with brown paper bags showed shelf life up to 18 days with good physical quality and the lowest weight loss against 15 days of control fruits. The sensory attributes were better in fruits of brown, white paper and white cloth bags over control. Bagging at marble stage also reduced the occurrence of spongy tissue and the incidence of mealy bugs. These results indicate that fruit bagging can improve the quality and the shelf life of mango cv. Amrapali through the reduction of disease and insect-pest attack.

The health conditions of freshwater mud eel, Monopterus cuchia of Ailee beel, Mymensingh district was investigated through clinical and histopathological observations from September 2005 to March 2006. Monthly sampling of water quality parameters like temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and total hardness were carried out. Water temperature and total hardness were at reduced level for fish during the months of November to January in the beel. Clinically weak body, rough skin, deep ulcer and grey brownish colour of the body were noticed especially from November to January. Major pathology in the skin and muscle such as loss of epidermis and dermis, necrosis of myotoms, huge vacuum spaces, marked melanomacrophage and fungal granuloma were found in December and January. Marked melanomacrophages, severe haemorrhage, vaccums, hepatic necrosis, fat droplets were found in the liver. In kidney numerous haemorrhagic areas, necrosis, few fat droplets and many fungal granulomas were seen in December and January. Histopathologically, sampled fishes were found normal in September and October and reduced pathological signs were observed in February and March. Clinically and pathologically eels were found to be more affected in December and January. Reduced temperature and total hardness might have played role in the occurrence of clinical and pathological changes in fish during the period. The fishes were affected by EUS, with the evidence of development of fungal granuloma in skin, muscle and kidney.

The influence of dietary supplementation of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition and haematological parameters were evaluated in Asian catfish (Clarias batrachus) juveniles. Triplicate groups of juveniles Asian catfish (21.23 ± 1.01 g) were fed twice per day at 3 % of body weight for 12 weeks, with 0 (control), 0.2, 0.4 or 0.6% MOS diets. Compared to control, those fed with MOS supplemented diets had significantly improved (P<0.05) specific growth rates, protein efficiency ratio and survival rate. Significantly lower hepatosomatic index was noted in 0.2% and 0.4% MOS diets compared to those fish fed control. Similarly, intraperitoneal fat was significantly lowest in those fish fed with 0.4% diet over the control group. The highest protein content was (81.86±0.36) in fish fed with 0.4% MOS diet, whereas ash content was highest (7.33±1.23) in fish group fed with 0.6% MOS. Significantly decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and increased packed cell volume were observed when the fish fed with 0.4% and 0.6% MOS diets compared to the remaining treatments. MOS supplemented diets showed significant influence on the white blood cell count compared to the control. Thus, 0.4% MOS is sufficient to improve growth and haematological parameters in Asian catfish.