EFFECT OF HIGHLY UNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS, ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL AND ASCORBIC-ACID IN BROODSTOCK DIET ON EGG COMPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PENAEUS-INDICUS

Experiments were conducted by feeding Penaeus indicus broodstock with compound diets containing different concentrations of highly unsaturat ed fatty acids (HUFA), alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid, In the rang e of dietary HUFA concentration, from 1.4% to 2.5% of dry matter, the HUFA concentration in eggs was maintained at a constant value, 3.8% of dry matter, promoting embryonic development, Eggs with poor HUFA conc entration (2%/dry matter) were obtained by feeding broodstock with low dietary HUFA content, resulting in low ability to develop, These resu lts suggest that this concentration is insufficient to sustain membran e development during embryogenesis. The alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid concentrations in broodstock diet affected their concentration in eggs and hatchability. Tile action of these two vitamins in preventin g HUFA oxidation in developing eggs is discussed.