Chemical composition of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) and its effect on growth performance, feed efficiency and metabolic biochemistry of juvenile hybrid tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus × Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract

The aquaculture due to the high cost and continued shortage of animal protein sources, the development of alternative plant protein sources has been one of the main challenges to establish sustainable aquaculture as economically viable. Objective of this investigation was to determine the chemical composition and effect of Tithonia diversifolia on the growth performance, feed efficiency and metabolic biochemistry of juveniles of Oreochromis mossambicus × Oreochromis niloticus. Five treatments were used: 0% (control), 4, 8, 12 and 16% levels of inclusion of T. diversifolia flour in diet to feed juvenile fish cultured in 15 plastic aquariums at a density of 15 fish/aquarium. The assay lasted eight weeks. The T. diversifolia flour was characterized for showing adequate levels of crude protein (21%), with low crude fat (4.5%) levels, neutral detergent fiber levels: 43.03% and acid detergent fiber: 24.40%. The growth performance presented significant differences (p˂0.05), for weight gain, day average weight gain (DAW), length gain, day average length gain (DAL), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). In treatment with 16% of inclusion of T. diversifolia flour, values obtained for weight gain, DAW, SGR, FE and PER (15.88 g, 0.28 g. day-1, 2.03 %, 0.34 g.g-1 and 0.98, respectively), which did not differ with the control treatment, highlighting the benefits of T diversifolia flour. The metabolic biochemistry parameters experienced a decrease with the increase of T. diversifolia in diet, where the highest values of triglycerides, cholesterol, and glucose were for the control treatment (p <0.05), while the protein increased to 4% of the flour. T. diversifolia flour presents an adequate balance of nutrients for its chemical composition and amino acids, without causing negative effects on the growth performance, weight-length relationship, feed efficiency, survival and metabolic biochemistry.

Growth Performance, Feed Utilisation, Digestive and Metabolic Enzyme Activity, and Liver Morphohistology in Hybrid Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus × Oreochromis niloticus) Juveniles Fed with the Inclusion of Chitosan in Their Diet

“…Food remains, which could be readily identified by their swollen pellet shape, were removed the next day in the morning and quantified by concentrating them through Whatman No.1 filter paper with a vacuum pump (Gast Manufacturing, Benton Harbor, MI, USA) before being dried at 50 • C for 18 h in an air flux oven (HS1600, Sheldon Manufacturing, OR, USA) [17,18]. Daily rations were adjusted every week to minimise the amount of surplus food [3].…”

“…The calculation formulas of weight gain rate (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR), hepatosomatic index (HSI), and survival rate (SR) are as follows [2,3]:…”

“…Such is the case of red tilapia, of which there are hybrids such as Oreochromis mossambicus × O. niloticus. The red tilapia is one of the favourite fish in America for consumption due to its features such as the absence of intramuscular spines, mild flavour, and easy preparation [3].…”

“…In Ecuador, red tilapia was introduced in 1993, and it is the second most important species in aquaculture after white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). The commercial culture of tilapia in Ecuador was developed due to the appearance of the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) that affected shrimp production, leaving available infrastructure [3]. In less than ten years, the production of red tilapia on the Ecuadorian coast covered approximately 10% of the income that Ecuador previously received from shrimp exports [2].…”

“…1 Comercial El Gordillo, Santo Domingo of The Tsáchilas, Ecuador; 2 Ullón Poultry-Valencia, Ecuador;3,4,6,13 Supermaxi-Quevedo; Ecuador, 5 Sigma Aldrich, USA; 7 Fortidex S.A-Santa Elena; 8 Supplies AZ, La Paz, BCS, México;9,11,13 Super Éxito, Quevedo, Ecuador;10 mg•kg −1 : Magnesium sulfate 5.1; Sodium chloride 2.4; Potassium Chloride 2; Ferrous sulfate 1; Zinc sulfate 0.2; Cupric sulfate 0.0314; Manganous sulfate 0.1015; Cobalt sulfate 0.0191; Calcium iodate 0.0118; Chlorine Chloride 0.051. 12 mg•kg −1 : Thiamine 60; Rivoflavin 25; Niacin 40; Vitamin B6 50; Pantothenic acid 75; Biotin 1; Folate 10; Vitamin B12 0.2; Hill 600; Myoinositol 400; Vitamin C 200; Vitamin A 5000 IU; Vitamin E 100; Vitamin D 0.1; Vitamin K5.…”