STUDIES ON CAROTENOID TRANSPORT IN RED-AND WHITE-FLESHED CHINOOK SALMON (ONCORHYNCHUS TSHAWYTSCHA)

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Chinook salmon are unique among Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) because immature fish feeding at sea develop one of two distinct muscle colors, and are known as red- and white-fleshed chinook. These color types are under strong genetic control. The red-fleshed chinook salmon, like the other Pacific salmon, are more common, their muscle color ranging from pink to deep red due to the deposition of carotenoids. The white-fleshed ones apparently do not deposit carotenoids in their muscle. The muscle carotenoid levels of red- and white-fleshed chinook salmon are frequently examined with the guidance of the two color types, but there are very few reports describing the carotenoid distribution in various tissues other than muscle.Catotenoid distribution was examined in muscle, ovary, integument, and serum from red- and white-fleshed chinook salmon along with their muscle proximate compositions. There were no significant differences in muscle compositions of moisture, protein, and lipid except for the carotenoid levels between red- and white-fleshed salmon. Similar carotenoid levels of ovaries were found between red- and white-fleshed chinook salmon, although the muscle carotenoid level of white-fleshed salmon was apparently low compared to redfleshed salmon. This suggests that white-fleshed chinook salmon have the ability to accumulate the carotenoids in their ovaries but not muscle. The white-fleshed chinook salmon may be devoid of carotenoid receptors in their muscle and this seems to be the reason for the failure to accumulate the carotenoids in their muscle.