Measures of egg quality in induced spawns of the Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer Bloch

The egg morphometry and lipid and protein components were determined in ind uced spawns (n=14) of the sea bass, Lates calcarifer, to identify measures of egg quality. Based on fertilization and hatching rates, the spawns were classified either in Group I, (zero fertilization) or Group II (where ferti lization and hatching occurred). The egg morphometry did not differ between the two groups (p > 0.05). The total lipid was higher in Group II than in Group I, although the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). The EPA an d linoleic acid were significantly higher in Group II (p < 0.05). There wer e positive correlations between the total saturated fatty acids and fertili zation rate (p < 0.05; r=0.58), the total saturated fatty acids and percent age of normal zygotes (p < 0.02; r=0.62), and DHA and the percentage of nor mal zygotes (p < 0.04; r=0.56). The total protein and FAAs were higher in G roup I than in Group II, but the differences were not significant (p > 0.05 ). Proline, glycine, p-ethanolamine, and aspartic acid were significantly h igher in Group II (p < 0.05), while tyrosine and glutamic acid were signifi cantly higher in Group I (p < 0.05). Phosphoserine and fertilization rate w ere positively correlated (p < 0.03; r=0.60), as well as aspartic acid and hatching rate (p < 0.05; r=0.54). Arginine was negatively correlated with f ertilization rate (p < 0.03; r=-0.61) and the percentage of normal zygotes (p < 0.03; r=-0.63). Serine was inversely correlated with yolk volume of th e newly-hatched larvae (p < 0.03; r=-0.77). The moisture content of the egg s, which was significantly higher in Group II than in Group I (p < 0.03), w as directly correlated with the FAAs:protein ratio (p < 0.03; r=0.76). The present results reveal egg components that may be used as quality measures in induced spawns of sea bass, a euryhaline teleost that spawn pelagic eggs containing an oil globule.