ABSTRACT In Experiment one, a total of 60 blue peacocks were randomly assigned into the control group (12.00 MJ/kg) and treatment group (12.30 MJ/kg). Each group consisted of three repeats and each replicate contained 10 peacocks (2 males and 8 females). In Experiment two, based on better metabolic energy (ME) (12.30 MJ/kg), 90 blue peacocks were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments with 18.00%, 19.00% and 20.00% crude protein (CP) levels. The results of Experiment one revealed that the different dietary ME levels had minor effect on productive performance of peacocks (p>0.05). Decreasing dietary ME levels decreased the concentration of estradiol (E2) and increased the concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) (p<0.01). However, 12.00 MJ/kg ME stimulated creatinine levels of blue peacock, which exceeded normal values. Based on this result, blue peacocks fed with 12.30 MJ/kg ME had better performance. Results from Experiment two indicated that egg production of blue peacocks was significantly improved by the 20.00% CP diet. The concentrations of FSH, LH, and E2 remained at high levels fed with the 20.00% CP diet. Changes in serum biochemical indices such as total cholesterol, creatinine and globulin of peacocks supplied with 18.00% and 19.00% CP diets were abnormal (p<0.05). Based on the results of two experiments, the optimal dietary ME and CP levels of blue peacocks were 12.30 MJ/kg ME and 20.00% CP.

Marine yeast strains from different habitats were isolated and phytase-producing marine yeasts were screened. Of the 327 yeast strains isolated, 10 showed comparatively higher phytase activity. Physiological and biochemical characters of these 10 strains, and optimum pH and temperature of the crude phytases produced by them were examined. Partial sequences of the 18S rDNA were also analyzed. Based on the physiological and biochemical characters and phylogenetic analyses, the 10 strains were found to be closely related to Hanseniaspora uvarum (strain WZ1), Yarrowia lipolytica (strain W2B), Kodamaea ohmeri (strain BG3), Candida carpophila (strain N12C), Issatchenkia orientalis (strain YF04C), Candida tropicalis (strain MA6), Yarrowia lipolytica (strain YF08), Candida carpophila (strain NY4E), Candida tropicalis (strain YF12C), and Candida tropicalis (strain MB2). They were obtained from gut of unknown fish, gut of Holothuria scabra, gut of Hexagrammos otakii, gut of Hexagrammos otakii, gut of Synechogobius hasta, and seawater. It is interesting to note that some marine yeast strains could produce alkaline phytase. This is the first report of marine yeast strains capable of producing extracellular phytase or cell-bound phytase. The results also indicated that phytase-producing marine yeasts were diverse enough to be used in bioremediation of marine phosphorous pollution.

Se aislaron cepas de levaduras marinas de diferentes hábitats y se monitorearon las que mostraron ser productoras de fitasa. De las 327 cepas aisladas, 10 mostraron comparativamente mayor actividad fitasa. Se examinaron las características fisiológicas y bioquímicas de las levaduras productoras de fitasas, así como el pH y temperatura óptimos para su producción. También se analizaron secuencias parciales del gen 18S rARN. Con base en las características bioquímicas y fisiológicas y análisis filogenéticos, se encontró que las 10 cepas están estrechamente relacionadas con Hanseniaspora uvarum (cepa WZ1), Yarrowia lipolytica (cepa W2B), Kodamaea ohmeri (cepa BG3), Candida carpophila (cepa N12C), Issatchenkia orientalis (cepa YF04C), Candida tropicalis (cepa MA6), Yarrowia lipolytica (cepa YF08), Candida carpophila (cepa NY4E), Candida tropicalis (cepa YF12C), y Candidad tropicalis (cepa MB2). Estas cepas se obtuvieron de estómagos de peces no identificados, de vísceras de Holothuria scabra, de Hexagrammos otakii, de Hexagrammos otakii, de Synechogobius hasta, así como directamente de agua de mar. Es interesante resaltar que algunas levaduras marinas pueden producir fitasa alcalina. Ésta es la primera vez que se reportan cepas de levaduras marinas capaces de producir fitasa extracelular o unida a las células. Los resultados también indican que las levaduras marinas productoras de fitasa fueron lo suficientemente diversas como para ser utilizadas en la bioremediación de contaminación marina por fósforo.