ELECTRON-BEAM IRRADIATION, OXYGEN, AND TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON NUCLEOTIDE DEGRADATION IN STORED AQUACULTURE HYBRID STRIPED BASS FILLETS

Skinless fillets from commercially-grown aquaculture hybrid striped ba ss (Morone saxatilis x M. chrysops) were electron beam-irradiated in t he presence of air or vacuum-packaged and stored at 4C and -20C for 14 days. A mean low dose level of 2.0 or 3.0 kGy (+/-0.5 kGy) and high d ose level of 20 kGy (+/-4 kGy) were used for irradiated samples. Hypox anthine (Hx) concentrations, K-i-values {[(INO + Hx)/(IMP + INO + Hx)] x 100}, and H-values {[(Hx)/(IMP + INO + Hx)] x 100} indicated that i rradiation did not influence the rate of nucleotide degradation compar ed with nonirradiated controls at either refrigerated or frozen temper atures. Vacuum packaging or freezing of stared samples resulted in low er H-values and Hx contents compared with nonirradiated controls regar dless of irradiation treatment.