Abstract
Here an indigenously isolated microalgal strain Ascochloris spp. cultivated in synthetic medium was evaluated as an aquaculture feed supplement. The daily dietary supplement includes microalgal feed (AF) and commercial diet feed (CF) (as control), respectively. These diets were fed separately to the juvenile Clarias gariepinus fishes (n = 4) under controlled conditions for an experimental period of 100 days. The protein, glycogen and lipid contents in the muscle extracts were found to be marginally higher in fishes that were fed with CF than AF diet. Similarly, CF fishes showed significantly higher glutathione-s-transferase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and lipid peroxidase activities, except glutathione content. Zero mortality of the fishes with no significant difference in the overall body mass with the two dietary supplements strongly suggests that algal biomass could supplement the requisite nutrients for their metabolic activities. This preliminary investigation helps in exploring algal biomass as a potential alternative feed additive in the aquaculture industry.
Highlights
Aquaculture industry is one of the rapidly growing sectors recording an annual growth rate of 8.8% in past three decades
It was reported that inclusion of fresh and marine water-grown microalgae in the fish diet had significantly contributed in improving the healthy nature of the aqua species and enhanced the immune responses towards oxidative stress (Mustafa et al 1995; Velasquez et al 2016)
Based on the biochemical and enzymatic responses of GSH, GST, Superoxide dismutase (SOD), CAT and LPO with Ascochloris spp., it clearly suggests that the microalga could be a prospective candidate in aquafeed formulations
Summary
Aquaculture industry is one of the rapidly growing sectors recording an annual growth rate of 8.8% in past three decades. Fishmeal and fish oil are the most essential constituents of the aqua feed that contributes to the increasing costs and sustainability of aqua-industry. It was estimated that total marine catches is predicted to decline drastically to 5 million metric ton by the end of year 2020 (FAO 2012, 2018). Such alarming need enforces the aquaindustries for finding partial and complete fishmeal replacement. This have led to an extensive use of plantbased nutrient sources such as cereals, oilseed meals, pulses and protein concentrate meals
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