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

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

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