Comparison of edible yield and quality of female Chinese mitten crab between two-year-old and three-year-old

Abstract

To expand the new germplasm of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) and explain its quality characteristics, this study used two-year-old mature female E. sinensis (TWC) as the control to explore the differences in edible yield, color, proximate composition, fatty acids, free amino acids and mineral elements of three-year-old mature female E. sinensis (THC). TWC had a significantly higher hepatosomatic index (HSI) but a lower gonadosomatic index (GSI) than THC (P < 0.05). The eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content in the hepatopancreas, ovary and muscle tissues of TWC were higher than those of THC. However, the content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), arachidonic acid (ARA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), total essential fatty acids (ΣEFA), total highly unsaturated fatty acids (ΣHUFA), Σn-6 PUFA and DHA/EPA were lower than those of THC. Total essential free amino acids (ΣEFAA), total free amino acids (ΣFAA) and percentage of ∑EFAA to ∑FAA (PETFAA) in the hepatopancreas, ΣEFAA and PETFAA in the ovary and ΣFAA in the muscle of TWC were higher than those of THC (P > 0.05). The values of total umami values (ΣTUV) and total sweetness values (ΣTSV) in the hepatopancreas, ovary and muscle tissue and total bitterness values (ΣTBV) in the hepatopancreas and muscle of TWC were higher than those of THC. Except for the higher Zn in TWC, the contents of the other elements measured were lower than those in THC. Overall, the edible yield and quality of THC was greater than that of the TWC, and THC was a new high-quality germplasm of E. sinensis.