Biochemical composition of muscle tissue of penaeid prawns

Abstract

Biochemical composition of muscle tissue of females belonging to four species of penaeid prawns, viz. Metapenaeus affinis, M. dobsoni, Penaeus merguiensis and Parapenaeopsis stylifera, inhabiting the coastal waters of Goa, India, was estimated in relation to degree of maturity. Protein was the significantly dominant component in all the species regardless of maturity conditions while Carbohydrate was present in negligible quantity, Variation in composition of different components did not exhibit any regular pattern even between the different maturity stages of individual species. Statistically no significant difference was noticed in the biochemical composition within or between the species