Ova Fatty Acids Composition and Spawning Performances of Silver Carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Morocco)

Abstract

The present study is performed in order to determine the relationship between fatty acid (FA) profile of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) eggs and fertilization success, embryos viability and larval production. Mature unfertilized ova were collected during the reproductive season from 23 mature and healthy females, reared in Deroua fish farm (Morocco). Total lipids were extracted from ova sample and subjected to trans-esterification then the resulting fatty acids methyl esters were analyzed by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). The results showed that silver carp ova are dominated on total FA by docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (21.21%) followed by oleic acid (21.07%), palmitic acid (17.71%) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (10.25%). During the breeding season, polyunsaturateds (PUFAs), monounsaturateds (MUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SFA) didn’t show any significant difference. Moreover, within the PUFAs, the n-3 series were more abundant than the n-6 series, the total mean was 31.57 ± 1.01% and 5.33 ± 0.32%, respectively. No correlation was between fatty acids and the fertilization success. Maternal weight has effect on the levels of oleic acid (C18:1), arachidonic acid (C20:4) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6) in the egg whereas levels of palmetoleic acid (C16:1), eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6) are related to female age.