Concentrations of total protein, lipid and carbohydrate in juveniles and sub adults of the prawn Macrobrachium malcolmsonii collected from the Cauvery river

Juveniles and sub adults of Macrobrachium malcolmsonii were collected from lower Anicut of the Cauvery River, Tamilnadu, India. Sample tissues such as hepatopancreas, gills and muscle were taken for analyzing total protein, lipid and carbohydrate contents. The content of these biochemical constituents showed an increasing trend from juveniles to different sub adult sizes. Among the three tissues tested, the concentration of total protein was found to be higher in the muscle, followed by hepatopancreas and gills. The concentration of total lipid was found to be higher in the hepatopancreas, followed by gills and muscle. The concentration of total carbohydrate was found to be higher in the muscle, followed by gills and least in the hepatopancreas. The overall percentage difference in concentration of total protein between juveniles and sub adults was found to be higher in the hepatopancreas, less in the muscle and least in the gills. In cases of total carbohydrate and total lipid, the overall percentage differences were found to be higher in the muscle, followed by gills and least in the hepatopancreas. The results clearly indicated that the content of these biochemical constituents proportionately increased with growth of the prawns. As far as muscle is concerned, in terms of nutrients, the proportion of total protein was found to be higher followed by total carbohydrate and total lipid.