Increasing productivity and efficiency of Nile tilapia production using plant saponins and introduction of its culture in areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority (PA)

这项建议设想了一项工作计划，该计划将有助于促进关于将植物皂苷用作鱼类饲料添加剂的科学知识，并使不仅在以色列和巴勒斯坦，而且在世界各地的罗非鱼养殖者受益。基本研究目标包括：a)从当地两种食用植物akub和fenugreek中提取和浓缩皂苷部分；b)与我们以前有经验的Quillaja皂苷相比，研究这些皂苷在诱导尼罗罗非鱼性别逆转或防止繁殖方面的有效性；c)研究这些皂苷对罗非鱼生长和饲料营养利用的影响；d)深入了解皂苷的作用机理；e)利用这些知识来修饰皂素结构以提高其效力。此外，该项目致力于向巴勒斯坦权力机构(PA)地区介绍水产养殖研究和实践，帮助转让以色列和德国合作伙伴的现有技术和三方合作取得的新成果。预计的直接结果包括鉴定从中东可商业种植的植物中提取的可用作罗非鱼饲料添加剂的皂苷或其混合物，以及将罗非鱼水产养殖研究和实践引入PA。合作伙伴的协同能力对该项目的成功实施是个好兆头。

This proposal envisages a work plan that would contribute to furthering scientific knowledge on the use of plant saponins as fish feed additives and benefit tilapia culturists not only in Israel and Palestine, but the world over. The basic research objectives include: a) extract and concentrate saponin fractions from two local edible plants, akub and fenugreek b) study the effectiveness of these saponins in inducing sex inversion or preventing reproduction in Nile tilapia in comparison with Quillaja saponins with which we have previous experience c) study the effects of these saponins on growth and feed nutrient utilization in tilapia d) gain insights into the mechanism of action of the saponins and e) use this knowledge to modify saponin structures to increase their potency. In addition, this project seeks to introduce both aquaculture research and practice to the Palestinian Authority (PA) areas aided by transfer of existing know how from the Israeli and German partners and new results from this trilateral co-operation. Direct results expected include identification of saponins or mixtures thereof, extracted from plants commercially cultivable in the Middle East, which could be used as tilapia feed additives and the introduction of tilapia aquaculture research and practise into the PA. The synergistic capabilities of the partners bode well for the successful implementation of the project.