Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L) Fruit Extract Affects The Gonad Development and Ovulation of Female Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus); Study of Gonadal Morphology and Histopathology

Abstract

One of the problems in the cultivation of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is the ability to reproduce early and quickly mature gonads so that the fish kept are difficult to reach the size of market demand. This study aims to determine the effect of various doses of bitter melon fruit extract on the development of female gonads and to study the histopathological changes in the structure of the gonad. This research was carried out in July-September 2021. There were 600 juveniles of tilapia used in this study. Tilapia rearing was carried out in 12 containers (each 200 L volume of water) for 60 days. The experimental design was carried out with 4 treatments of bitter melon extract (BME) consisting of 0 g, 0.1 g, 0.2 g, and 0.3 g for 1 kg of feed and 3 replicates. Parameters observed were gonad morphology, gonad somatic index, and histopathology of the gonad. The gonadal maturity index for all treatment has not significant (P>0.05) but the morphology of the gonad showed differences in size and color. Based on histopathology analysis shows structural changes in the form of oocyte cells undergoing necrosis and increased oocyte atresia in BME treatment.