The effect of cellulose on the growth and cellulolytic activity of abaloneHaliotis fulgens when used as an ingredient in formulated artificial diets

This work demonstrated that when cellulose was substituted for sodium algin ate in an artificial diet, there was no significant change in growth of juv enile Haliotis fulgens. An increase in cellulolytic activity was observed i n stomach fluid when cellulose was present in the diet (19%), compared with a noncellulose diet (3.24 vs. 1.87 U, respectively), suggesting enzymic ad aptation. Growth in length and weight of abalone provided diets with and wi thout cellulose was similar (p < 0.05). The feed conversion efficiency rati os were higher for the feed with cellulose (1.21 vs. 1.04), although differ ences were not statistically significant. Abalone fed the high-cellulose di et had associated greater activity of both cellulase and alginase. The poss ible role of microorganisms in the production of carbohydrases like alginas e and cellulase is discussed.