Abstract:
To explore the growth characteristics and muscle quality of
Procambarus clarkii cultured in ponds across different regions, this study was conducted from March to June 2024. Ponds with similar areas and environmental conditions were selected in Daye City, Hubei Province; Nanxiong City, Guangdong Province, and Haikou City, Hainan Province. Juvenile
P. clarkii of the same source, specification, and quantity were stocked for a comparative culture experiment. During the experiment, the monthly average water temperature in the Hainan pond remained the highest. In April and May, the body length and weight of
P. clarkii in the Hainan group were significantly greater than those in the Guangdong and Hubei groups. However, there was no significant difference in body length and weight among the three groups in June. Thirty days after stocking, the specific growth rate of
P. clarkii in the Hainan and Guangdong groups began to be lower than that in the Hubei group. Correlation and redundancy analysis showed that the water temperature (WT) was the key factor affecting
P. clarkii growth. In terms of basic components, the crude protein content of
P. clarkii in the Guangdong group was significantly higher than that in the Hubei and Hainan groups, while the water content was significantly lower than that in the other two groups. In terms of amino acid quality, there was no significant difference in the total amino acid content, essential amino acid content, or flavor amino acid content among the three groups. In terms of fatty acid quality, the content of EPA+DHA in the Guangdong group was higher than that in the Hubei and Hainan groups, while the monounsaturated fatty acid content in the Hainan group was lower than that in the Hubei and Guangdong groups. The results show that the relatively high temperatures in Hainan and Guangdong from March to May promote the growth of
P. clarkii. However, excessively high temperature in Hainan in June may inhibit growth and suppress the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids. In contrast, the moderately high temperature in Guangdong may promote the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Hainan and Guangdong regions have the potential for culturing
P. clarkii, with their special hydrothermal environmental supporting off-season cultivation and early market availability.