ABSTRACT
Understanding the biochemical composition of good batches of mullet eggs is a beginning of an investigative process that may one day make it easier to distinguish good eggs from undesirable ones. The present study was conducted to investigate the variations, if any, in the reproductive biology and biochemical composition of wild-caught and pond-reared broodstock of Mugil cephalus. Important biochemical constituents [protein, lipids, amino acids and fatty acids] in gonads and freshly spawned eggs of both wild and cultured female broodstock of M. cephalus were analysed. The results showed that the ovarian activity of cultured prespawning females was lower than that of wild females. The activation and fertilization rates of spawned eggs varied between wild and cultivated mullet females. In addition, there was malformation during the embryonic development of fertilized eggs obtained from cultivated females. There was a significant difference in biochemical contents - namely, amino acids and fatty acids - in gonads and spawned eggs between the two stocks, which seems to be due to differences in habitat conditions, mainly salinity and ion concentrations. With such information, we may be able to enhance the survival of mullet eggs through proper control of husbandry practices including environmental parameters, nutrition and methods for spawning