Abstract
ABSTRACT: Essential oils of plants whose main compound is citral showed beneficial effects when added to fish feed. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the dietary effect of the addition of citral on zootechnical parameters and digestive enzyme activities of Centropomus undecimalis. Juveniles were fed for 45 days with diets containing different amounts of citral (0.0 - control, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mL per kg of diet). The water quality parameters were kept stable during the experiment and no mortality was observed. At the end of the experimental period, the treatment 0.5 mL citral per kg of diet had the lowest weight gain and specific growth rate, and the highest feed conversion, while the same parameters did not differ between the other treatments. Pepsin activity was higher in the stomach of fish fed with 0.5 mL citral per kg of diet and amylase activity was higher in the intestine of fish fed with 0.5 and 2.0 mL citral per kg of diet compared to the control group. Intestinal lipase activity was higher in all groups that were fed with citral compared to the control group. Chymotrypsin and trypsin activities showed no difference between groups. Consequently, dietary addition of citral at any of the levels tested is not recommended for common snook.
Highlights
Common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, is a carnivore with several characteristics that qualifies it as a marine species for intensive fish farming, since it has high market value, is well adapted to captivity, accepts inert foods and has a good feed conversion ratio (RHODY et al, 2014; TUCKER JR, 1987)
Citral is the main compound of Aloysia triphylla essential oils (EOs), whose dietary addition improved growth and oxidative status of silver catfish, Rhamdia quelen (ZEPPENFELD et al, 2016, 2017)
Dietary supplementation with the microencapsulated EO of Cymbopogon flexuosus, which has citral as the main compound, increased carcass yield and protein deposition in silver catfish (RAMPELOTTO et al, 2018)
Summary
Centropomus undecimalis, is a carnivore with several characteristics that qualifies it as a marine species for intensive fish farming, since it has high market value, is well adapted to captivity, accepts inert foods and has a good feed conversion ratio (RHODY et al, 2014; TUCKER JR, 1987). It is an important fish for sport fishing in Approved 01.24.20 Returned CR-2019-0577.R1 by the author 04.06.2C0 iência. The effect of citral on growth and digestive enzymes activity in this species was not studied, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of dietary supplementation with citral as a growth promoter of common snook and to analyze its effects on digestive enzymes activities
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
