Abstract
Two different size groups (fingerling and grow-out) of Indian major carps (Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala and Labeo rohita)
were evaluated for their fatty acid composition in monoculture and polyculture systems with two experimental feeds. All the
treatment groups in each trial had one control and three replicates. The studies were conducted for 90 days in earthen ponds
(0.03 ha) each and were fertilized with organic and inorganic fertilizers prior to stocking. Diets containing 42% protein (D1)
and 35% protein (D2) were applied at 4% to fingerlings (D1) and 3% to grow-out fish (D2). The concentration of palmitic
acid (C16:0) (30.5 g 100g-1), stearic acid (C18:0) (6.1 g100g-1), palmitoleic acid (C16:1) (8.1g 100g-1), oleic acid (C18:1)
(25.5 g 100g-1), and α- linolenic acid (C18:3 n -3) (4.6 g 100g-1) fatty acids, were found as dominant fatty acids in studied
three species. In all three study trials non-significant differences were found between treated and control groups and among
species for these fatty acids. The Linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6) (8.7 g 100 g-1), was found significantly higher in treated (D1) than
control (D0), while ratio of n-3/ n-6 fatty acids were significantly higher in control (D0) versus treated (D1). It has been
concluded that diet (D1) exhibited significant increase in C18:2 n-6 and eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3 n-6) which stimulated
significant increase in Σn-6PUFA in all the treated groups compared to controls.
