A comprehensive study on nutritional quality, physiological enzyme activity and genetic diversity in six populations of Penaeus monodon

Penaeus monodon is a crucial economic crustacean globally and a focal point of aquatic research. Germplasm resources provide a diverse food source for humans, meeting various nutritional needs; they also maintain plant and animal gene banks, enhancing resilience, adaptability, and promoting ecological balance in terms of genetic diversity. To accurately assess the germplasm resources of P. monodon, we conducted a comprehensive investigation. We analyzed muscle characteristics, nutrient content, amino acids, fatty acids, and genetic diversity using whole-genome sequencing in six P. monodon groups. The results showed that the crude protein content of the six groups of P. monodon was 21.17–24.60 g/100 g, crude fat content was 0.60–0.80 g/100 g, essential amino acid content was 5.44–6.41 g/100 g, total amino acid content was 15.68–18.63 g/100 g, and total fatty acid content was 354.78–587.43 mg/100 g. Genetic differentiation index (Fst) values ranged from 0.029 to 0.604 for six groups. PmSZ has a good genetic condition. There was no significant difference in crude fat in conventional nutrients, and the difference in biochemical indexes T-AOC, CAT, and SOD was not significant (P > 0.05). The noteworthy point is that the analysis of genetic diversity reveals a moderate level of genetic diversity. PmDF and PmZH exhibit the highest degree of differentiation, while PmRP and PmZH show the lowest degree of differentiation. Our survey results establish a critical foundation for comprehending and harnessing the germplasm resources essential for selectively breeding robust P. monodon populations.