L. Lourdu Lincy’s research while affiliated with Bharathidasan University and other places

An aquaculture automation system (AcAS) is a user-friendly single-window unit. This allows end users to monitor and control the entire system easily through a built-in, customizable graphical user interface. AcAS was designed for simplicity, making it easy to configure and use. This system was integrated with highly efficient industrial-grade environmental sensors (pH, conductivity, oxidation-reduction potential, and dissolved oxygen) to ensure precise and error-free results in harsh environments. It can also store user and system data in an built-in memory device. It is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi, LoRa/ZigBee, and 4G/5G modules for data transfer, making it compatible with modern communication technologies. The program was programmed to be farmer-friendly and helped farmers maintain optimal shrimp growth conditions by monitoring various parameters. AcAS takes corrective measures as required, and provides updates to farmers through a graphical display unit. Farmers can also configure devices to receive alerts for important field parameters or alarm conditions. Therefore, AcAS enhances the efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture farming by enabling precise control of farming conditions and proactive management of aquaculture.

Traditional commercial media are costly and not ideal for large-scale probiotic production in aquaculture. Choosing the right carbon source for probiotic growth and understanding how biomass production works can offer valuable insights for potential use in aquaculture. In this study, we tested 12 starchy extracts as potential cost-effective alternatives to supplement the culture media for the production of biofloc-based probiotic isolates. We cultured probiotic strains obtained from shrimp biofloc farms and assessed their growth density and cell viability. We isolated and identified probiotic strains that were likely to be Lactobacillus sp., Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Saccharomyces sp. Of all the starchy extracts tested, the fermented rice extract proved to be an effective carbon source for boosting cell density, viability, and metabolic activity. We also experimented with fermented rice extracts in a lab-scale bioreactor for biomass production of these isolates. In this experiment, all the strains showed an increase in cell density over time. Pseudomonas sp. exhibited the fastest growth rate, followed by Saccharomyces sp., Lactobacillus sp., and Bacillus sp. The results of this study revealed that newly formulated culture medium not only reduced production costs but also boosted biomass production and cell viability of these isolates. This straightforward and practical process improves the biomass yield and probiotic effectiveness, which could potentially benefit the aquaculture industry.