Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #250352
Title: Clearance of yellow pigments lutein and zeathanxin in channel catfish reared at different water temperatures

Author
item LI, M - Mississippi State University
item ROBINSON, E - Mississippi State University
item OBERLE, D - Mississippi State University
item LUCUS, P - Mississippi State University
item Peterson, Brian
item Bates, Terry

Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2011
Publication Date: 4/1/2011
Citation: Li, M.H., Robinson, E.H., Oberle, D.F., Lucus, P.M., Peterson, B.C., Bates, T.D. 2011. Clearance of yellow pigments lutein and zeathanxin in channel catfish reared at different water temperatures. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 41:105-110.

Interpretive Summary: A study was conducted to determine clearance time of yellow pigments in channel catfish raised at various temperatures (10, 20, and 30 C). The yellow color intensity of fillets of fish reared at 20 and 30 C decreased over time. There was no decrease in yellow color intensity of fillets of fish raised at 10 C. Results demonstrate that about 8 weeks were needed for catfish to “purge” most of the yellow pigment at warm temperatures (20 and 30 C). A longer period of time (>12 weeks) was required at 10 C.

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted to determine clearance time of yellow pigments lutein and zeaxanthin in channel catfish at various temperatures. Fish of initial weight of 13.4 g were stocked into flow-through aquaria and fed once daily with a yellow pigment enhanced diet for 11 weeks when the yellow color became visible in the flesh. All fish were then transferred into tanks in three recirculating systems which were assigned one of three temperatures (10, 20, and 30 C). During the pigment clearance period, fish were fed a control diet without added pigments once daily to satiation for 12 weeks. Every four weeks, fish from three randomly chosen tanks per temperature were euthanized and fillets were analyzed for yellow color intensity [Commission Internationale de I’Eclairage (CIE) b*] and lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations. The b* values of fillets of fish reared at 20 and 30 C decreased linearly as time progressed. There was no significant linear regression of b* value against time for fish raised at 10 C. The rate of pigment clearance was similar for fish reared at 20 and 30 C. Results demonstrate that about 8 weeks were needed for catfish to “purge” most of the yellow pigment at warm temperatures (20 and 30 C). A longer period of time (>12 weeks) was required at 10 C.