Observations on the utilization of the biochemical constituents during maturation of the butterfish Scatophagus argus (L.1766) from Palk Bay, south east coast of India

Abstract

Observations on the utilization of biochemical constituents of various tissues viz. liver, muscle and gonads of butterfish Scatophagus argus (L. 1766) with respect to sex and maturity stages were made from Mandapam water in Palk Bay. Investigation revealed that moisture content of muscle, liver and gonad in male and female butterfish was more or less same in all the stages with very little difference of 1-2% in both sexes. An inverse relationship of moisture content with carbohydrate and lipid was recorded in muscle, liver and gonad irrespective of their development stages. Protein level in muscle, liver and ovary of female and in testis of male decreased during maturation process. Muscle and liver carbohydrate content in female and male decreased indicating utilization of carbohydrate during maturation and spawning. In female, higher caloric value was recorded in stage I for both muscle and liver tissues while in ovary it was in stage IV whereas in male higher caloric values in muscle, liver and gonad were registered in stage VII.