Studies on radiation pasteurisation of medium fatty fish 1. Control of radiation induced oxidative changes in white pomfret (Stromateus cinereus) by vacuum packaging

Marked differences were observed in proximate biochemical compositions of the skin and muscle of white pomfret. The skin showed comparatively higher content of extractable lipids and was more susceptible to radiation-induced oxidative changes like development of rancid odours and yellow discolouration than the muscle. Irradiation of skin samples under vacuum suppressed these changes. The present paper also reports on the efficacy of vacuum packaging in controlling oxidative rancidity and yellow discolouration in white pomfret skin subjected to irradiation and subsequent storage at 0-2°C.

Studies on radiation pasteurisation of medium fatty fish 3. Storage properties of white pomfret (Stromateus cinereus) fillets

White pomfret fillets packed under aerobic conditions had a limited shelf life of 8 days as against 10 days for samples packed under vacuum and stored at 0-2°C. Irradiation and subsequent storage of the fillets under vacuum at 0-2°C exhibited shelf lives of 30, 50 and 60 days for radiation doses of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 Mrad respectively in contrast to aerobically packed fillets which showed only 20, 35 and 50 days of storage life for the same levels of radiation doses and developed yellow discolouration and rancid odours.

Studies on radiation pasteurisation of medium fatty fish 2. Precursors of yellow discolouration in irradiated white pomfret (Stromateus cinereus)

Triglycerides, phospholipids and sarcoplasmic proteins fractions of white pomfret produced considerable amounts of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBRS) on irradiation. Incubation of malonaldehyde with pomfret skin under aseptic conditions developed yellow pigmentation of the skin tissues, similar in spectral characteristics to those produced on irradiation of the skin.

Report on two types of leptocephalus-eel from Vellar Estuary (Bay of Bengal)

Two types of leptocephalus-eel, identified as ophichthyid larva and Muraenesox cinereus, collected from the Vellar estuary, India, are described. M. cinereus larvae are common in the estuary during November-January whereas ophichthyid larvae are very rare, collected on one occasion (January) only.