Pigmentation of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata (L. 1875), using Chlorella vulgaris (Chlorophyta, Volvocales) microalga

Abstract

A feeding experiment was conducted over 9 weeks with seven groups of 30 (fish per group) unpigmented gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata (L. 1875) (initial mean weight = 145.2 ± 12.3 g). Three experimental diets were prepared by adding to a basal diet free of carotenoid (final pigment content of around 40 mg per kg feed): (i) a biomass of the carotenogenic Chlorella vulgaris (Chlorophyta, Volvocales); (ii) a synthetic astaxanthin; and (iii) a mixture (1:1) of microalgal biomass and synthetic astaxanthin. At 3‐week intervals, five fish were sampled from each tank for total carotenoids analysis in skin and muscle. The carotenoid pigments (total amount = 0.4%) identified in the carotenogenic alga were lutein (0.3%), β‐carotene (1.2%), canthaxanthin (36.2%), astaxanthin, free and esterified forms (55.0%), and other pigments (7.3%). Carotenoid pigments were significantly deposited in the four skin zones studied during the feeding trial: the forefront between the eyes, the opercule, along the dorsal fin and in the abdominal area. In the muscle, regardless of the astaxanthin source, the amount of carotenoids measured was very low (less than 1 mg kg−1) and differences not significant. Moreover, no muscle pigmentation was evident, and there was no variation in the amount of carotenoid analysed in skin tissue, through the trial, for each treatment. It was concluded that supplementing the feed with C. vulgaris would be an acceptable practice in aquaculture to improve the market appeal of the gilthead seabream.

Chlorella vulgaris biomass used as colouring source in traditional butter cookies

“…These results evidence the positive effect of the alga in the biscuit structure protection. This can be related to the fact that Cv biomass has a high protein content (∼40%) (Gouveia, 1992), that may have reinforced the dough system, as had also been reported for oil-in-water food emulsions . The microalgal protein and carbohydrate molecules can also play an important role on the water absorption process, which promotes the increase of biscuits firmness, as was observed by Piteira, Nunes, Raymundo and Sousa (2004).…”

“…vulgaris biomass has already been used experimentally in feed (Gouveia, Veloso, et al, 1996;Gouveia, Gomes, & Empis, 1996;Gomes, Choubert, Pereira, Santinha, & Empis, 2002;Gouveia, Rema, Pereira, & Empis, 2003) and food products . The incorporation of this biomass can provide a colouring effect and other functional characteristics such as antioxidant activity, and providing nutritional supplements (e.g.…”

Growth and biochemical composition of Chlorella vulgaris in different growth media

“…Similarly, the substitution of artificial enrichment to rotifers by microalgae, a natural diet, has proved to give good results in productions systems (Whyte et al 1994, Ferreira et al 2009). Gouveia et al (2002) showed that Chlorella vulgaris can be used for the pigmentation of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata).…”

5 Algae for aquaculture and animal feeds

“…pluvialis has been shown to be successful in enhancing the reddish skin coloration of red porgy, Pagrus pagrus (Chatzifotis et al 2011) and also of the penaeid shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Parisenti et al 2011). Both natural and synthetic sources of carotenoids have been successfully used to augment the yellow skin coloration in gilthead sea bream Gouveia et al 2002). Chlorella sp.…”