Impact of unilateral eyestalk ablation on major biochemical parameters of muscle of the freshwater crab Travancoriana schirnerae Bott, 1969 (Decapoda: Gecarcinucidae)

Abstract

The current study examined the moultwise impact of unilateral eyestalk ablation on major biochemical parameters of the muscle of the freshwater crab Travancoriana schirnerae Bott, 1969 (Decapoda: Gecarcinucidae). Meat from unilaterally destalked crabs 15 days post-operation was analyzed for protein, oligosaccharide, polysaccharide, total free amino acid, total lipid, cholesterol and moisture content following standard procedures. The results indicated a moultwise cycling of the major biochemical parameters of the muscle. Unilateral eyestalk ablation induced a rise in all the major biochemical parameters except moisture, irrespective of the moult stages. The alteration induced as an impact of unilateral destalkation in the biochemical parameters decide the suitability of this technique to enhance meat quality as practiced in aquaculture farms of marine decapods.