L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate Mg as source of vitamin C for juvenile Penaeus monodon

Abstract

Phosphated ascorbic acid (MAP), a stable vitamin C derivative, was used in practical diets for Penaeus monodon (wet weight, 126-254 mg) as a source of vitamin C. In Experiment I, the levels were from 0 to 1,500 ppm MAP. No significant differences in weight gain, SGR, survival and FCR were observed among treatment means after 92 days of feeding but the lowest values were obtained in the group fed without the MAP dietary supplement. At the start of the experiment shrimps were infected with monodon baculovirus (MBV). However, the histological structure of the hepatopancreas showed improvement in animals fed diets containing 100 ppm MAP and above, after 92 days.

In Experiment II, shrimps were given different MAP levels (0 to 8,000 ppm) for 81 days. The FCR and survival of shrimps in MAP supplemented diets were significantly higher than those without MAP. In both experiments, shrimps without dietary MAP were weak and developed blackened subcuticular tissues, a symptom of vitamin C deficiency. MAP was utilized by P. monodon as a source of vitamin C. An adequate level in a practical diet would be 100 to 200 ppm MAP, equivalent to 50 to 100 ppm ascorbic acid.