Attraction activities of fruit extracts for the oriental weatherfish Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

Abstract

The attaction activities of fruit-flesh or fruit-rind water extracts were statistically estimated on the basis of an exploratory behavior of the oriental weatherfish Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. Fruits tested were 36 forms of 25 species: 22 of 13 in Rosaceae, 6 of 6 in Rutaceae, 3 of 1 in Vitaceae, and 1 each in five other famillies (Actinidiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Ebenaceae, Moraceae, and Myricaceae). Of fruit-flesh, the attraction activity in Rosaceae was high in eight forms: one apricot (adventitious seedling form), three cherries (Napoleon biggreau, hybrid and Prunus cerasus forms), one European plum (Soldum form), one nectarine, one peach (adventitious seedling form), and one strawberry. The attraction in Rutaceae was high only in unshiu orange, but was low in two orange forms. The attraction in Vitaceae was found to be low in only one grape (Delaware form). The attraction in the other five families was low in kiwi fruit (Actinidiaceae), persimmon (Ebenaceae), and myrica (Myricaceae). Of the fruit extracts tested, strawberry was found to be highest in attraction, though its attraction activity depended on the conentration. Of fruit-rind, the attraction in Rutaceae was low only in unshiu orange. The relationship between the attraction effect and the characteristics of fruits is also discussed.