Dietary fluted pumpkin (Telfairiaoccidentalis) improves reproductive indices in male African catfish (Clariasgariepinus) broodstock

Abstract

Background: Medicinal plants/herbs are used as natural additives in fish diets to enhance reproductive performance in fish. Many studies have shown that antioxidants can enhance fertility either directly or indirectly and that most plants rich in antioxidants have the tendency to increase sperm count, motility, and enhance sperm morphology Method: The effects of dietary aqueous extract of fluted pumpkin (Telfairiaoccidentalis) leaf powder on growth and reproductive indices of male catfish, Clariasgariepinus bloodstocks was investigated.Four isonitrogenous diets were formulated from practical ingredients where the control basal diet (FPE1) was without aqueous extract of T. occidentalis leaf powder and the other diets were supplemented by 50, 100, 150 and 200 g kg_1 aqueous extract of T. occidentalis leaf powder respectively (designated as FPE2, FPE3, FPE4 and FPE5). The diets were manually fed to the broodstocks at a daily rate of 3% body weight (BW), twice a day (09:00 and 16:00 h) for 8 weeks. Fish were weighed collectively at biweekly intervals, their average weights were recorded and the daily amount of feed for each tank was readjusted accordingly. Result: Fish fed experimental diets showed significantly improved reproductive indices over the control fish. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) gonadosomatic index was recorded for the fish fed diets of aqueous extract of T. occidentalis leaf powder compared to fish fed on control diet. Conclusion: These results revealed that supplement diets with medicinal plant (T. occidentalis) improve gonadosomatic index, and reproductive indices of male C. gariepinusbroodstocks and these plant has a potential pro-fertility property which can be exploited in fish fingerling production by hatchery operators.