A Comprehensive Assessment of Nutritional Value, Antioxidant Potential, and Genetic Diversity in <i>Metapenaeus ensis</i> from Three Different Populations

Abstract

Due to its high tolerance to salinity and temperature, as well as its strong adaptability, Metapenaeus ensis holds an important position in the Chinese aquaculture industry. However, studies on the evaluation of its germplasm resources remain insufficient. This research conducted an in-depth comparative evaluation of M. ensis from three representative farming regions in China: Sanya, Zhuhai, and Raoping. The nutritional analysis of muscle tissue showed no statistically significant differences in crude ash, moisture, and crude protein content among the populations (p > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed in crude fat and total sugar content (p p p p p > 0.05). A genetic diversity analysis indicated that M. ensis has relatively low diversity, with the MeSY population showing higher SNP density and nucleotide diversity. A genetic differentiation analysis revealed significant genetic differentiation between the MeSY and MeZH populations, while differentiation between the MeZH and MeRP populations was relatively smaller. This comprehensive assessment of nutritional components, amino acids, fatty acids, antioxidant capacity, and genetic diversity highlights the advantages of germplasm resources from different regions. These findings provide valuable insights for future research on the genetic characteristics and breeding potential of M. ensis.

Keywords

• <i>Metapenaeus ensis</i>
• germplasm resources
• genetic diversity
• population
• nutritional components