COMPARISON OF MUSCLE NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITIONS OF FOUR WILD ORIENTAL RIVER PRAWN MACROBRACHIUM NIPPONENSE POPULATIONS IN JIANGSU PROVINCE

Recently, the oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense aquaculture industry has suffered the degeneration of genetic characterization, which presents a significant obstacle to the sustainable development of freshwater aquaculture. To select the excellent breeding and cultivate high-quality larvae of M. nipponense, we explored the nutritional composition of edible muscle as an essential indicator of selection breeding by studying the growth traits and nutritional composition of wild M. nipponense from the four largest lakes including Taihu Lake, Gaoyou Lake, Hongze Lake and Luoma Lake in Jiangsu Province. Results showed that the flesh content rate of M. nipponense ranged from 33.99% to 35.40%, and no significant difference was found among the four wild populations though the total length, body length, wet weight and muscle wet weight were obviously different. The changes in crude protein, crude lipid, ash and moisture of M. nipponense muscle were 17.73%—18.81%, 1.40%—1.83%, 1.07%—1.24% and 78.44%—79.49%, respectively. Total 17 amino acids, including 7 essential amino acids, were identified in muscle, and the essential amino acid index (EAAI) was 70.51 to 74.09. The contents of His, Arg, Asp, Glu, total amino acid and nonessential amino acid were distinctly different in the M. nipponense from the four natural waters. Total 16 fatty acids, including 10 unsaturated fatty acids, were found, and the fatty acid composition (C20﹕0 and C14﹕1) and contents (C18﹕0, C18﹕2 and C20﹕1) were obviously affected by various available food resource and environmental factors. The mineral elements, including 4 macroelements (Na, K, Ca and Mg) and 5 microelements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and Cr), were monitored and the contents of Fe and Mn were significantly different among the four wild populations. These findings indicate that the flesh contents are similar among various size of M. nipponense, and that the food availability and environmental factors may significantly affect some amino acids, fatty acids and mineral elements. Thus, it is necessary to maintain these nutritive substances during the aquaculture period. Taihu Lake shrimp and Luoma Lake shrimp can be served as seed shrimp to improve the genetic characterization of M. nipponense in Jiangsu Province.