Protein Level and Protein Energy Ratio that Produce the Best Gonad Quality of Sea Urchin Tripneustes Gratilla

Abstract

The study aims to determine protein leveland protein energy ratio that producethe best gonad qualityof sea urchin Tripneuestes gratilla. Sea urchin were fed nine test diets with the combination ratio of protein level (%) and protein energy(kcalGE/g) namely; A (22:9), B (22:11), C (22:13), D (27:9), E (27:11), F (27:13), G (32:9), H (32:11), and I (32 : 13). Treatment G produced the best gonad quality with gonad weight, gonad protein and gonad colour of 3.49 g, 64.45 % and pale yellow until orange, respectively. Treatmen G also showed carotenoid total ranged from 15 to 18 ppm and β-carotene ranged from 5 to 6 ppm. Moreover, this treatment exhibited gonad weight and gonad protein resulting in significantly difference(P<0.05) protein level ,protein energy ratio and its interaction. However, carotenoid total and β-carotenedid not exhibit any diffrence (p>0.05).