不同藻密度下Zn2+ 浓度对萼花臂尾轮虫实验种群增长参数的影响

为了比较不同食物密度下污染物浓度对受试生物的慢性毒性,筛选出以轮虫为受试生物对水环境中Zn2+污染进行监测的敏感指标,在不同斜生栅藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)密度(1.0×106、2.0×106和4.0×106个/m L)下不同浓度(0、0.1、0.3、0.5、0.7、0.9 mg/L)的Zn2+对萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)实验种群增长参数的影响。结果表明,25℃以及1.0×106、2.0×106和4.0×106个/m L藻密度下Zn2+对萼花臂尾轮虫的24 h LC50值分别是6.647、8.102和5.873 mg/L。与各食物密度下的对照组相比,当食物密度为1.0×106个/m L时,各浓度的Zn2+对萼花臂尾轮虫的各种群增长参数均无显著性影响(P0.05)。当食物密度为2.0×106个/m L时,各浓度的Zn2+均显著延长了轮虫的生命期望、世代时间和平均寿命,提高了轮虫的净生殖率;除0.3 mg/L外,其他浓度的Zn2+显著提高了轮虫的种群内禀增长率。当食物密度为4.0×106个/m L时,0.1、0.3和0.7mg/L的Zn2+显著提高了轮虫的种群内禀增长率,0.7和0.9 mg/L的Zn2+显著提高了轮虫的后代混交率。藻密度对轮虫的生命期望、世代时间、净生殖率、种群内禀增长率、平均寿命和后代混交率均有极显著性影响(P0.01),Zn2+浓度对轮虫的生命期望、世代时间、净生殖率、种群内禀增长率和后代混交率均有极显著性影响(P0.01),藻密度和Zn2+浓度之间的交互作用对轮虫的生命期望、种群内禀增长率和后代混交率均有显著性影响(P0.05)。2.0×106个/m L食物密度下,Zn2+浓度与轮虫的生命期望、世代时间、净生殖率和平均寿命之间具有显著的剂量-效应关系;4.0×106个/m L食物密度下,Zn2+浓度与轮虫的后代混交率间也具有显著的剂量-效应关系。     

SOEing 法构建EGFP真核表达载体及其在杜氏盐藻中的表达

通过重叠区扩增基因拼接法（Gene splicing by overlap extension,SOEing）构建含有杜氏盐藻（Dunaliella salina）硝酸盐还原酶（NR）基因5′-上游序列（Pnr）and 3′-端序列（Tnr）的EGFP真核表达载体,并将其转化杜氏盐藻。利用改进的SOEing法,将杜氏盐藻NR基因Pnr与报告基因EGFP cDNA融合,并与pEGM-7zf克隆载体连接,顺序将盐藻NR基因Tnr序列与融合片段相连,构建含Pnr-EGFP-Tnr表达盒的盐藻真核表达载体p7NET。电击法转化杜氏盐藻,在盐藻转化株中观察到了EGFP的瞬时表达。此研究为转基因杜氏盐藻研究和成功建立杜氏盐藻生物反应器奠定了实验基础。     

食物密度对镜湖萼花臂尾轮虫不同克隆生活史特征的影响

对镜湖萼花臂尾轮虫（Brachionus calyciflorus）夏季种群内4个生化遗传特征上互不相同的克隆（克隆A、B、C和D）在4个斜生栅藻（Scenedesmus obliquus）密度（1.0×10⁶、2.0×10⁶、4.0×10⁶和8.0×10⁶ cells·L^-1）下的生活史特征进行了研究.结果表明：食物密度对各克隆轮虫的存活率和繁殖率均有不同的影响.4克隆中克隆C的世代时间最短,克隆B的世代时间、生命期望和平均寿命最长,克隆A的后代混交雌体百分率最高;净生殖率和个体适合度在4克隆间无显著差异.镜湖萼花臂尾轮虫在2.0×10⁶ cells·L^-1的食物密度下净生殖率最低;在1.0×10⁶cells·L^-1的食物密度下平均寿命和生命期望最短,而后代混交雌体百分率却最高;在8.0×10⁶cells·L^-1的食物密度下种群内禀增长率最高,平均寿命和生命期望最长;在高食物密度（4.0、8.0×10⁶cells·L^-1）下个体适合度较大.克隆C的个体适合度在密度为3.9×10⁶cells·L^-1时最小,而克隆D的个体适合度在食物密度为6.34×10⁶cells·L^-1时最大.食物密度的变化可能是7月份之后镜湖萼花臂尾轮虫从水环境中消失的原因,而4克隆轮虫个体适合度的相似性则可能是镜湖轮虫共存于同一水体的原因之一.     

杜氏盐藻促生菌株的分离与鉴定

拟通过探究藻际微生物对微藻生长及代谢产物积累的影响,筛选出促进微藻生长的促生菌株。以杜氏盐藻(Dunaliella salina)Ds-SXYC-2为试材,分离鉴定盐藻藻际环境中的共生菌株,进一步构建藻菌(1∶1)共培养体系、测试盐藻生长及代谢产物积累等表型。结果显示,从杜氏盐藻藻际环境分离获得5株共生菌株,经16S rDNA分子鉴定,属于3个菌属。菌株B1与B2为涅斯捷连科氏菌(Nesterenkonia),菌株B3与B4为盐单胞菌(Halomonas),菌株B5为海杆菌(Marinobacter)。5株共生菌株对杜氏盐藻的生长均有促进作用,菌株B3能显著促进杜氏盐藻生长及代谢产物的积累。共培养15 d后,杜氏盐藻生物量达到2.3 g/L,比对照组增加了28.9%,叶绿素a的含量达到4.61 mg/L,比对照组增加了36.3%,β-胡萝卜素比对照组提高了56.4%。盐藻多糖、蛋白质、总脂含量分别比对照组增加了34.8%、71.2%和37.6%。菌株B3盐单胞菌可以作为促进杜氏盐藻生长及代谢产物累积的优势菌株,进一步构建共培养体系可应用于杜氏盐藻的商业生产。     

食物浓度对方形臂尾轮虫发育历期与实验种群增长参数的影响

为探讨富营养化水体中大量发生的轮虫与微藻之间的关系 ,在实验室条件下 ,观测了不同藻类食物浓度下方形臂尾轮虫生命周期中各发育阶段的历时以及种群增长参数的变化。实验选用蛋白核小球藻为食物 ,浓度梯度为 0 1× 10 6、 0 5× 10 6、 1 0× 10 6、 2 0× 10 6、 4 0× 10 6、 8 0× 10 6、 12× 10 6cells/ml。结果表明 :食物浓度对方形臂尾轮虫的胚胎发育时间与繁殖前期历时、产卵量、世代净生殖率、世代时间和种群的内禀增长率均有明显影响。在食物浓度为 2 0× 10 6cells/ml时 ,方形臂尾轮虫的繁殖前期最短 ,产卵量最大 ,世代净生殖率和种群增长率最高 ,世代时间最短。方形臂尾轮虫可在高于其最适食物浓度的较宽的食物浓度范围内 ,保持较高的种群增长率 ,表现出较强的对环境中高浓度藻类的适应     

朱砂叶螨实验种群的孤雌生殖效应

在温度28±1℃,相对湿度65±5％的条件下,室内以蚕豆叶饲养朱砂叶螨。连续观察3个世代,世代平均历期25.12 d,其中卵平均历期4.34 d,幼螨平均历期2.01 d,若螨平均历期4.66 d,雌螨平均产卵历期14.16 d;组建朱砂叶螨实验种群连续3个世代的生命表。实验结果表明:孤雌生殖对朱砂叶螨实验种群具有强烈的影响作用,表现在缩短了雌螨的产卵历期,使雌螨的产卵高峰期提前,提高了种群的死亡率,降低了种群的净繁殖率、内禀增长率以及周限增长率。同时发现朱砂叶螨实验种群对世代历期、单雌卵量、性比具有极强的保持能力,孤雌生殖对这些指标的影响不能遗传给下一代。     

三种阔叶草坪草对斜纹夜蛾生长发育及营养利用的作用

为了探讨斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura对草坪的为害,提供综合治理该虫的理论依据,室内利用白三叶草Trifolium repens、红三叶草T. pratense和马蹄金Dichondra repens 3种阔叶草坪草,分别饲喂斜纹夜蛾幼虫;应用编制实验种群生命表的方法,分析斜纹夜蛾种群生长发育的趋势;同时研究该幼虫对3种草坪草的趋性及营养利用。结果表明：斜纹夜蛾幼虫的趋性表现为白三叶草＞红三叶草＞马蹄金。该虫在3种草坪草上都能够完成生活史;2种三叶草饲喂的该虫幼虫存活率、化蛹率、成蛾率显著高于马蹄金,幼虫期和蛹期则显著短于马蹄金;3种草坪草饲喂的该虫产卵期和平均产卵量相互之间差异不显著,而马蹄金饲喂的产卵前期和雌成虫寿命则显著短于2种三叶草。3种草坪草饲喂的该虫净生长率（Ro）、世代平均周期（T）、内禀生长率（r_m）、周限生长率（λ）、种群加倍时间（DT）及种群增长参数（I）都有差异,其中2种三叶草的各种群增长参数较接近。对5龄幼虫取食3种阔叶草坪草的营养指标测定结果显示：取食马蹄金的相对生长率显著高于取食红三叶草的;取食马蹄金的相对取食量和近似消化率显著高于取食三叶草的;取食马蹄金的食物利用率和食物转化率显著低于取食三叶草的;2种三叶草间无显著差异。综合分析认为,斜纹夜蛾最喜食三叶草,最容易在三叶草草坪上猖獗为害。     

培养液NaCl浓度对杜氏盐藻3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶同工酶的影响

目的：探讨在不同NaCl浓度下,杜氏盐藻（Dunaliella salina）的3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶（Glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogen-ase,GPDH）同工酶的活性与其渗透调节相关性。方法：采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis,PAGE）技术对在不同NaCl浓度生长的杜氏盐藻的GPDH进行同工酶电泳检测。结果：在0.5mol/LNaCl低盐的条件下,杜氏盐藻具有4种NAD＋-GPDH同工酶,分别为GPDH1、GPDH2、GPDH3、GPDH4。当NaCl逐渐分别增高为2.0、3.0、4.0、5.0mol/L时,只有1种NAD＋-GPDH同工酶即GPDH1。结论：GPDH1具有较高活性,这与高盐胁迫时细胞大量合成甘油进行渗透调节密切相关。     

盐酸四环素浓度和食物密度对萼花臂尾轮虫生活史特征的综合影响

近年来,抗生素的环境污染问题已引起人们的广泛关注,其在环境中的残留可对水生态系统的结构和功能产生重要影响。迄今,盐酸四环素浓度和食物密度对轮虫生活史特征的影响研究尚未见报道。以萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)为受试动物,研究了在不同斜生栅藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)密度下,不同浓度的盐酸四环素(Tetracycline hydrochloride)对萼花臂尾轮虫生活史特征的影响。结果表明,食物密度和盐酸四环素浓度对轮虫的生命期望、净生殖率、世代时间、内禀增长率、平均寿命和后代混交率,以及食物密度和盐酸四环素浓度间交互作用对除了内禀增长率外的其他5个统计学参数均具有显著影响。在各食物密度下,轮虫的特定年龄繁殖率高峰值随着盐酸四环素浓度的增加呈现先增加后降低的趋势;盐酸四环素对轮虫生长和繁殖参数的影响呈现"低促高抑"的特点。3个食物密度下,高浓度的盐酸四环素显著提高了萼花臂尾轮虫的后代混交率,且在1.0×10~6个/mL藻密度下毒物浓度与轮虫后代混交率间具有显著的剂量-效应关系。食物密度的高低显著影响盐酸四环素对萼花臂尾轮虫的毒性效应。     

温度和食物浓度对三品系萼花臂尾轮虫实验种群动态的影响

应用个体培养方法,研究了温度(20、25和30℃)和藻类食物浓度(1．5×10^6、3．0×10^6、6．0×10^6和9．0×10^6cells·ml^-1)对青岛、芜湖、广州三品系萼花臂尾轮虫种群动态的影响．结果表明,温度仅对轮虫的世代时间和种群内禀增长率有显著影响,而品系对所有生命表参数均无显著影响．轮虫种群的内禀增长率随培养温度的升高而增大,世代时间则随培养温度的升高而缩短．食物浓度仅对轮虫的生命期望值和平均寿命有显著影响,品系对轮虫的净生殖率、世代时间、生命期望值和平均寿命也有显著影响．三品系间,以广州品系轮虫的净生殖率、世代时间、生命期望值和平均寿命最大,芜湖品系最短．当食物浓度为3．0×10^6cells·ml^-1时,轮虫的生命期望值和平均寿命最长,9．0×10^6cells·ml^-1时最短．各品系轮虫的净生殖率、世代时间、总生殖率、生命期望值和平均寿命均随培养温度的升高而减小,广州品系的净生殖率除外．轮虫种群的内禀增长率和广州品系轮虫的总生殖率则随培养温度的升高而增大．青岛和广州品系轮虫的各生命表参数,均与食物浓度呈曲线相关,但芜湖品系仅世代时间、平均寿命和生命期望值随食物浓度的增大而缩短．     

Rearing of Fabrea salina Henneguy (Ciliophora, Heterotrichida) with three unicellular feeds

The growth rate of the ciliate Fabrea salina was studied in batch cultures in the presence of three feeds, tested separately from each other: the Prymnesiophyceae, Isochrysis galbana obtained from pure culture, the Chlorophyceae Dunaliella salina, and the commercially available yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. F. salina, and D. salina were harvested below the surface from the first evaporation pond and the crystallizer pond, respectively in multi-pond salterns (Sfax, Tunisia). The highest density of Fabrea was recorded with I. galbana (26 ind ml(-1)). However, the greatest length (243 microm) was recorded with Fabrea fed with D. salina. The lowest density, length and biovolume values were recorded with Fabrea fed with S. cerevisiae. The ANOVA test showed that density (F=18, d.f.=57), length (F=33, d.f.=57), and biovolume (F=19, d.f.=57) of Fabrea fed with yeast were significantly different (p<0.001) from those when Fabrea was fed with D. salina and I. galbana. The ciliate Fabrea encountered in the Sfax saltern (Tunisia) might be a valuable food source for Tunisian marine fish hatcheries.     

Effects of the heavy metal Cu2+ on growth, development, and population dynamics of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Spodoptera litura (F.) larvae were fed with artificial food containing four different concentrations of copper (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). Copper affected growth, development, and population dynamics of late instar larvae. Our results indicate that the fourth and fifth instar survival rates were significantly reduced at 50-200 mg/kg copper (Cu2+). Moreover, all the Cu2+ treatments significantly reduced pupation and moth emergence rates in a dose-dependent manner. Larvae fed 25 or 50 mg/kg Cu2+ showed significant reductions in development period compared with non-Cu controls, and the pupation duration of animals fed 200 mg/kg was significantly longer than in non-Cu controls. All Cu2+ concentrations significantly reduced individual pupal weights compared with controls. In addition, Cu2+ at some concentrations significantly affected fertility parameters, such as doubling population time (DT), the net reproduction rate (R(o)), the mean generation time (T), the intrinsic rate of increase (r(m)), and the finite increase rate (A). Our study demonstrates that low concentrations of Cu2+ in the diet (25 and 50 mg/kg) shorten the generation time by 4-5 d, whereas higher Cu2+ concentrations (100 and 200 mg/kg) increase DT for 1-2 d.     

Life history characteristics of Frankliniella occidentalis on cucumber leaves with and without supplemental food

The development time, fecundity, longevity, and resultant intrinsic growth rate of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) [Thysanoptera: Thripidae] encaged on a cucumber leaf were compared among seven types of food supplied: six pollen species and a mixture of milk powder and yeast. The rationale was to find a food source that offers the least benefit for thrips and could therefore be considered as a food source for the preventative introduction of thrips predators. With the exception of the mixture of milk powder and yeast, all the food sources tested offered a nutritional benefit for the thrips. The addition of pollen increased fecundity and reduced development time, mainly during the larval stage. Betula pubescens and Corylus avellana pollen also increased adult longevity. The nutritional benefit of Pinus sylvestris pollen was greater than that of the other five pollen species, as manifested by its significantly greater positive effect on fecundity. The other pollen species could not be ranked in terms of nutritional benefit to F. occidentalis. The negative effect of the milk powder plus yeast mix on the life‐table parameters of F. occidentalis probably only occurs in an encaged situation where thrips cannot escape from the unfavorable environment. The crude estimate of the intrinsic growth rate of F. occidentalis increased from 0.163 on the plain cucumber leaf to 0.240 when P. sylvestris pollen was added to the leaf. The differences in intrinsic growth rate mainly reflect the differences in fecundity among the food sources. Thus, the peak oviposition rate may be used as a measure of the nutritional benefit F. occidentalis can obtain by feeding on supplemental food sources. The positive effect of a supplemental food source on thrips does not necessarily mean it is unsuitable for the preventative introduction of thrips predators, because the supplemental food can also affect the population dynamics of the predator and the predator–prey interaction and, hence, the outcome of biological control.     

Control of cell division in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultured at different growth rates

Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been grown with different generation times by alterations in media richness and by altering the flow rate of the limiting nutrient, glucose in a chemostat. Within the generation time range 2.89-approx. 8.0 h the time from the initiation of DNA synthesis to cell division was independent of generation time and was approx. 2 h. Thus the cell cycle of yeast can be divided into an expandable phase from cell division to the initiation of DNA synthesis, the length of which is dependent on growth rate and a constant phase from the initiation of DNA synthesis to cell division which takes a constant time independent of generation time. In cells growing with generation times longer than 8.6 h this constant phase expands somewhat in time. These results are reminiscent of the observation that in the bacterium Escherichia coliB/R the time from initiation of DNA synthesis to cell division is constant except at very slow growth rates.     

Life tables and intrinsic rate of natural increase ofPediobius furvus [Hym.: Eulophidae] onChilo partellus [Lep.: Pyralidae]

In the present studies, life table data and intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m) of the eulophid pupal parasitoid,P. furvus (Gahan) were obtained fromChilo partellus (Swinhoe) at a constant temperature of 26.7±0.6°C, 52.3±2.7% RH in the laboratory. Development of immature stages took 19.1±0.3 days; adult females lived for 7.9±3.3 (range, 2–13) days and produced a mean of 91.9±22.4 progeny per female, with a sex ratio of 1:2.9 (♂:♀). The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was 0.2558/female/day; the net reproductive rate (R₀), 237.25; the capacity for increase (r_c) of 0.252; and the finite rate of increase (λ) of 1.29/female/day; thus, each female contributed 231.42 individuals to the population in a mean generation time of 21.38 days.      

Growth rate of tank-reared Mediterranean amberjack, Seriola dumerili (Risso 1810) fed on three different diets

Mediterranean amberjack Seriola dumerili (Risso 1810) has aquaculture potential. The growth rate and food conversion ratio of S. dumerili on three different types of food (A: 100% frozen sardines; B: 50% frozen sardines and 50% pellet; C: 100% pellet) were measured, and analysed with respect to temperature, condition index and chemical composition of the fish fillet. Wild S. dumerili, average body weight 248 g and average total length 26.9 cm were caught in August and September 1994 in the South Adriatic Sea near Dubrovnik, Croatia and kept in three tanks (n=15 in each tank; duration of experiment, 226 days). The fish that were fed on diet A [initial weight, 252 ± 71 g; total length (TL), 24.3 ± 2.6 cm] started feeding immediately; however, fish assigned to diet C began to feed entirely on the pelleted diet 1 month after the start of the experiment. The mortality of fish fed on diet A was negligible, the registered growth rate was 313 ± 74 g (124.2%), specific growth rate was 0.32% day^?1 and the food conversion rate was 6.7. The fish fed on diet B (initial weight, 246 ± 74 g; TL, 28.2 ± 2.5 cm) started to feed on day 3 and achieved a total growth rate of about 98% (final weight gain, 241 ± 69 g) and specific growth rate of 0.24% day^?1 (feed conversion rate of 9.00 and mortality 13%). The fish fed on diet C (initial weight, 246 ± 74 g; TL, 28.2 ± 2.5 cm) started to feed on the pellets after 1 month and had a growth rate of 87% (weight gain 214 ± 85 g), a specific growth rate of 0.24% day^?1 and a food conversion rate of 10.6 with considerable mortality (27%). In all three diet groups the fish grew with considerable variation in food consumption and growth rate, depending on seasonal temperature variations of the ambient sea water supplied to the rearing tanks. Chemical analysis showed that the protein level (amount) in the fish meat exceeded 20% in all three fish fillet samples.     

温度和铜绿微囊藻毒性对萼花臂尾轮虫生活史参数的影响

文章开展了25℃下两个品系铜绿微囊藻(有毒与无毒)不同浓度对萼花臂尾轮虫生活史的影响研究, 及在5个温度下不同浓度有毒铜绿微囊藻对萼花臂尾轮虫生活史影响的研究。结果表明铜绿微囊藻毒性、浓度及二者交互作用对轮虫生活史参数净生殖率(R₀; F=31.83, P<0.01; F=30.36, P<0.01; F=13.51, P<0.01)、内禀增长率(r_m; F=34.67, P<0.01; F=18.73, P<0.01; F=12.99, P<0.01)均有显著影响; 温度、铜绿微囊藻浓度及二者交互作用对轮虫生活史参数净生殖率、内禀增长率也均有显著影响。无毒铜绿微藻在低浓度(1×104 cells/mL)下对轮虫种群有促进作用, 可作为轮虫食物来源, 但缺乏脂肪酸等营养物质, 食物质量比蛋白核小球藻低; 在高浓度(1×105和5×105 cells/mL)下轮虫摄食无毒铜绿微囊藻机率变大, 整体食物品质下降, 对轮虫有抑制作用。有毒铜绿微囊藻对轮虫种群的抑制作用更加明显, 微囊藻浓度升高, 净生殖率和内禀增长率显著下降。研究结果还表明30℃和35℃高温下轮虫生长繁殖变快, 世代时间缩短。在高温(30℃和35℃)环境下, 铜绿微囊藻浓度升高对轮虫抑制作用更加明显。     

Suitability of Aphis craccivora (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) biotype-B as prey for Chrysopa pallens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

The suitability of Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) biotype-B eggs and nymphs as prey for pre-imaginal development and survival, adult longevity, and fecundity of the lacewing, Chrysopa pallens (Rambur) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) was evaluated under laboratory conditions at 25±1°C, 50±10% RH and a photoperiod of 16 h L:8 h D. Survival of C. pallens from first instar to adult eclosion was significantly different between the larvae that fed on the two prey species. C. pallens fed on A. craccivora completed development from egg to adult emergence, but those fed on eggs and nymphs of B. tabaci could not complete development, resulting in abnormal pupae and no normal adults emerged. The net reproductive rate (R ₀), intrinsic rate of natural population increase (r _m ), finite rate of increase (λ), mean generation time (T), index of population trend (I), doubling time (DT), and gross reproductive of rate (GRR) of C. pallens that fed on A. craccivora were 201.9 eggs per female, 0.13/d, 1.1/d, 40.1 d, 68.5, 5.2 d, 203.1 eggs per female, respectively. These results could be useful for mass-rearing of C. pallens and for understanding its population dynamics in the field in relation to the availability of different prey species.     

The learning ability and memory retention of broiler breeders: 2 transgenerational effects of reduced balanced protein diet on reward-based learning

The effect of reduced balanced protein (RP) diet in the F0 and F1 generation of broiler breeders on the learning ability and memory retention of the F2 generation was investigated by means of a reward v. no reward discrimination T-maze test. There were two treatments for the F0 generation: control (C) group, reared on standard commercial diets, and reduced balanced protein (RP) group, fed with RP diets (25% reduction in CP and amino acids). The female F0-progeny of each treatment was again separated into the two dietary treatments, resulting in four treatments for the F1 generation: C/C, C/RP, RP/C and RP/RP (breeder feed in F0/F1 generation). The RP diets fed breeders received on average 10% more feed than C diets fed breeders to achieve a similar target BW. The F2 generation was composed of four treatments coming from the female F1-progeny of the four treatments and were all fed with C diet (namely C/C/C, C/RP/C, RP/C/C and RP/RP/C). All four F2 generation groups were able to complete the T-maze learning test with a slight difference in success rate but a significant difference within groups was observed regarding the time needed to complete the test. In general, the RP/RP/C group needed more time for completing the test compared with the other three groups and the shortest time was recorded for the RP/C/C group. At similar ages, breeders with early learning experience spent significantly less time in completing the test compared with unexperienced breeders. Long-term memory retention was observed in all four groups whereas the learning ability in solving the test decreased with age. It took longer for the breeders to complete the test at older ages. In conclusion, under our experimental conditions, the RP dietary treatment in previous generations had no influence on the T-maze learning ability and memory retention of broiler breeders of the third generation, although it might have effects on the working performance in the T-maze learning test of F2 generation breeders.