The Combination of Achnatherum inebrians Extracts and Soil Microorganisms Inhibited Seed Germination and Seedling Growth in Elymus nutans

In a greenhouse experiment,the effects of soil microorganisms and extracts of Achnatherum inebrians on the seed germination and seedling growth of Elymus nutans were studied.The results showed that both the extracts from aboveground and belowground parts of A.inebrians significantly inhibited the germination rate,germination potential,germination index,vigor index,seedling height,root length,and fresh weight of E.nutans,but increased malondialdehyde content,catalase,peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity of E.nutans seedlings(p<0.05).The allelopathy of aqueous extracts of the aboveground parts of A.inebrians was stronger than that of the pre-cipitates.Aqueous extracts of the aboveground parts of A.inebrians decreased seed germination rate,germination potential,germination index,vigor index,seedling length,root length,and seedling fresh weight by 10.45%-74.63%,24.18%-32.50%,19.03%-73.36%,37.83%-88.41%,21.42%-53.14%,2.65%-40.21%,and 20.45%-61.36%,respectively,and malondialdehyde content,peroxidase,catalase,and superoxide dismutase activity increased by 8.09%-62.24%,27.83%-86.47%,22.90%-93.17%,and 11.15%-75.91%,respectively.The above indexes were higher in live soil than in sterilized soil.Soil microorganisms increased the allelopathy of A.inebrians.The seed germination rate,germination potential,germination index,vigor index,seedling length,and seedling fresh weight of E.nutans planted in live soil decreased by 8.22%-48.48%,10.00%-51.85%,8.19%-53.26%,16.43%-60.03%,12.91%-28.81%,and 9.09%-22.86%compared with sterilized soil,respectively.Malondialdehyde content,peroxidase,catalase,and superoxide dismutase activity of E.nutans planted in live soil increased by 53.91%-81.06%,15.71%-57.34%,33.33%-86.31%,and 9.78%-52.51%compared with sterilized soil,respectively.The existence of soil microorganisms enhanced the allelopathy of the secondary metabolites of A.inebrians.A combination of microorganisms and aqueous extracts from the aboveground parts of A.inebrians had the strongest allelopathic effect on E.nutans.

Growth performance,welfare traits and meat characteristics of broilers fed diets partly replaced with whole Tenebrio molitor larvae

The role of insects in animal nutrition has been reconsidered during recent years,paving the way for an increasing market for edible insects.Their protein and amino acid balance make them a promising source of protein for replacing high value proteins.Yellow mealworm,Tenebrio molitor L.(TM;Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae)larvae,have shown positive effects on broiler performance in several research studies and have a strong potential as a sustainable alternative protein source for monogastric animals.This study aimed to assess the effect of replacing various ratios of basal diets with T.molitor larvae on broiler performance as well as on several meat and welfare characteristics.For the study,120 one-day-old male chicks(Ross 308)were randomly allocated in 3 treatments and 4 replications(10 birds per pen).Birds of the control group(basal diet)were fed with typical commercial maize and soymeal-based rations in mash form.The other 2 groups were treated with the same diet,after replacing 5%and 10%with dried TM larvae,respectively.On d 35(end of trial),meat samples were collected and analysed.Body weight,feed intake,body weight gain and feed conversion ratio during the periods of 1 to 10 d(starter period),11 to 24 d(grower period),25 to 35 d(finisher period)and 1 to 35 d(total period)were assessed.Podo-dermatitis,diarrhoea,feather score and litter conditions were also assessed during the trial.The results indicated that TM larvae inclusion in the broilers'diet positively affected body weight gain values,as well as the carcass yield,the meat composition and various welfare traits.Additionally,the dietary treatments with TM larvae favourably affected meat composition and colour parameters,whereas there were also some positive effects on lipid and protein oxidation.Saturated fatty acids were decreased by the dietary supplementation whereas the polyunsaturated fatty acids to SFA ratio increased.In general,the study showed that whole TM larvae addition can provide a promising alternative to soybean meal in the diet of broilers,demonstrating a positive impact on growth,welfare and meat characteristics.