Effect of artificial diet and culture systems on sensory quality of fried fish flesh of Indian major carps.

Two 90 days experimental trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of artificial diet (35% protein) on sensory quality of yearlings of Indian major carps (Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala and Catla catla). Experimental diet was given at 3% of fish wet body weight per day. After 90 days trial organoleptic study of fried fish was carried out by twelve panelists using hedonic scale for each species from treated and control ponds. In monoculture, Catla catla showed significantly higher score for flavour in treated ponds than control. Labeo rohita was found to be significantly different for juiciness and tenderness scores in treated ponds versus control. However, sensory scores of fried Cirrhinus mrigala did not exhibit any difference between treatments. In polyculture system, Cirrhinus mrigala was found to be significantly different with respect to sensory colour, tenderness, oiliness and over all acceptability in control than treated ponds. However, there were no differences in organoleptic quality of fried fish for Catla catla and Labeo rohita in polyculture system. It can be concluded from the present investigation that artificial diet can improve the sensory quality in monoculture system while in polyculture it has affected the flesh quality especially of bottom feeding fish (Cirrhinus mrigala) for various sensory attributes.