Seasonal variations in the biochemical composition of Meretrix casta (Chemnitz) occurring in Vellar estuary

Balasubramanian, K and Natarajan, R (1988) Seasonal variations in the biochemical composition of Meretrix casta (Chemnitz) occurring in Vellar estuary. CMFRI Bulletin, 42 (1). pp. 184-188.

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Abstract

Seasonal variation in biochemical composition of Meretrix casta (Chemnitz) occurring in Vellar estuary (Lat. 11 °29' N; Long 79°46' E), S. India was carried out monthly for a period of one year from April '75 to March '76. Gonad recorded high percentage of carbohydrates (5.2%-9.4%) than the other body components (viz- mantle, adductor muscle, gills, foot, siphon and digestive gland). Gonad also recorded the highest protein value of 74.4% but mean monthly values showed that mantle had higher percentage of protein (60.5%) than other body components. Digestive gland had high percentage of lipid (mean 3.05%) than the other body components. Digestive gland appears to be storage organs for fat and protein. Of the seven body components studied, gill showed very low percentage of protein (47.07%), carbohydrate (1.45%) and fat (1.73%). Protein content of gonad registered an increase before spawning and decrease after spawning. Thus, protein content of gonad showed seasonal changes associated with the annual reproductive cycle-

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