The effects of increasing levels of dietary phospholipids (PL) on the reproductive performance, egg and larval quality, and lipid composition of females of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii were investigated. Three isolipidic diets containing similar amounts of highly unsaturated fatty acids but varying levels of PL (0.8, 2.4 and 4.6%) were fed during 180 days to three groups of eight females originating from Thai ponds. No significant differences were observed for fecundity, egg size and hatchability, starved larvae size, and size, survival and tolerance to stress of 8 day-old larvae. Similarly, no major differences in the lipid composition of the midgut gland, ovaries and muscle tissue of females could be detected. Results indicate the lack of need of dietary supplementation of PL for M. rosenbergii broodstock, as previously reported for earlier life stages. It is suggested that the basal level of 0.8% dietary PL was sufficient to meet the dietary demands of the prawn broodstock. The PL requirements of M. rosenbergii broodstock, if any, may be satisfied in commercial feeds through the inclusion of ingredients containing some phospholipids endogenously.
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