Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Mar. Sci.
Sec. Marine Biotechnology and Bioproducts
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1515751
This article is part of the Research Topic Omics Applied to the Body Colour Formation and Pigmentation of Aquatic Animals View all 3 articles

Enhancement of body red coloration in juvenile spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) by dietary supplementation with Lianjiang red orange peels as a natural carotenoid source

Provisionally accepted
Tong Han Tong Han Yongguan Liao Yongguan Liao Lei Yang Lei Yang Xinyi Li Xinyi Li Gang Shi Gang Shi Chunhua Zhu Chunhua Zhu Dong-Neng Jiang Dong-Neng Jiang Guangli Li Guangli Li Hongjuan Shi Hongjuan Shi *
  • Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) is an economically important marine species in China, with high ornamental and edible value. The effects of dietary supplementation of Lianjiang red orange peels, a natural carotenoid source, at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12%, hereafter referred to as G0, G3, G6, G9 and G12, were measured on color values, carotenoid content, expression of genes such as cyp2j6, cyp1a1, hsp70, slc2a11, bco2, cyp26c1 after 4 weeks. Subsequently, the different color values (L*, a*, and b*), total carotenoids content, and gene expression pattern were analyzed. In the groups fed diets containing more than 9% Lianjiang red orange peels (9% and 12%), the L* value (lightness) decreased, while the a* value (redness) increased in red skin, and b* value (yellowness) increased in caudal fin (P < 0.05). Additionally, the total carotenoids content in red skin of the G9 group and caudal fin of the G12 group was substantially higher than in the other groups (P < 0.05). By comparative transcriptome analysis of the red skin in G0 and G9 groups, 419 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, of which 237 were upregulated and 182 were downregulated. Genes involved in carotenoid deposition (cyp2j6, cyp1a1) and pigment cell development (hsp70, slc2a11) were significantly upregulated, whereas genes related to carotenoid decomposition (bco2) and retinoic acid metabolism (cyp26c1) were significantly downregulated in the G9 group. These findings suggest that Lianjiang red orange peels, as a natural carotenoid source, enhance body coloration by influencing the deposition of carotenoid, pteridine pigments, erythrophore development, and inhibiting the oxidative cleavage of carotenoid and retinoic acid metabolism. This study enhances body coloration by influencing carotenoid and pteridine pigment deposition, and provides theoretical guidance for aquaculture practices involving spotted scat.

    Keywords: Spotted scat1, Lianjiang red orange2, Natural carotenoids source3, Body color enhancement4, transcriptome analysis5

    Received: 23 Oct 2024; Accepted: 26 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Han, Liao, Yang, Li, Shi, Zhu, Jiang, Li and Shi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Hongjuan Shi, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.