Fillet quality of Asian seabass lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) grown in monoculture and coculture systems in freshwater earthen-ponds

Abstract

The effects of monoculture and co-culture systems on Asian seabass Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) fillet composition, fatty acid profile, and chemical taste taint were investigated. The monoculture (T1) and co-culture (T2 and T3) systems with Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) were carried out in 30 m2 freshwater earthen ponds for 6 months. Fish in T1 and T3 system were fed daily, and in T2 system was fed every other day. Fish from the co-culture system with Asian seabass and Nile tilapia (T2) had significantly higher protein level (80.8 %), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 1 mg.g-1) and significantly lower fat content (5.2 %) than the other treatments. In terms of chemical taste taint, T2 had significantly lower 2-methyl-isoborneol (0.0120 μg.kg-1) than T1, as well as an absence of geosmin in T2. Meanwhile, Asian seabass from the monoculture system (T1) had significantly higher total fatty acid content (103.82 mg.g-1) than T2 and T3. Thus using co-culture system in freshwater earthen ponds, with a feeding interval of 2 days, results in an improved fillet quality of Asian seabass.