Studies on the water movements between the atmosphere and hyalomma dromedarii eggs during embryo genesis, using 13 HHO

ABSTRACT

Changes in water vapour sorption, wet weight, total water content of Hyalomma dromedarii egg were studied during embryogenesis at couples of 30°C and different ambient water vapour activities [A[v,s]] The results show that a continuous influx of atmospheric water vapour through the egg shell occur when the eggs are incubated in atmospheres containing tritiated water [HTO]. The daily rate of the water vapour influx increases steeply with age in the first few days and slowly in the rest of the incubation period. At the different ages the sorption rate increases as the atmospheric A[v] increases. The original egg water content remains constant when incubated at 0.96 A[v], increases above, and decreases below this value. At 1.00 A[v] the wet weight of both partially dehydrated and normal eggs of different ages remain constant at this value, and decreases continuosly at the lower A[v] as the age proceeds. The water content of the egg exhibits a dynamic state by a continuous exchange with the ambient water vapour