Occurrence of bitter tasting gonads of the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus in Fukui during fishing season

Abstract

Bitter tasting gonads in the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus occurred in Fukui Prefecture during the fishing season in 2019. Bitterness was found only in female gonads, and pulcherrimine, a bitter tasting amino acid specific to female gonads, was detected in specimens. Relict ova was also observed in the ovary by tissue observation. We concluded presence of pulcherrimine in ovaries is the cause of bitterness in this study. A delayed spawning is likely to be associated with the occurrence of pulcherrimine.