Impact of Plant-based Protein Substitutes on Growth Performance, Histology and Gene Expression in Striped Snakehead, Channa striata (Bloch, 1793) Fingerlings

Background: This research assessed the effects of incorporating various plant-based protein sources, including corn gluten meal (CGM), cottonseed meal (CSM), groundnut meal (GNM) and mustard seed meal (MSM), alongside soybean meal (SBM) in the diet of juvenile snakehead (Channa striata). Building on our previous findings that established an optimal SBM inclusion level of 25%, this subsequent trial explored the addition of these plant protein ingredients at a 10% inclusion rate, supplemented by SBM. Methods: The experimental diets were designed to be isonitrogenous (42% crude protein), isolipidic (9% crude fat) and isoenergetic (16.1-16.2 MJ/kg). The trial was conducted over eight weeks with 400 healthy murrel fingerlings (average weight 27.0±0.06 g), sourced from Growel Feeds Pvt Ltd, a commercial fish hatchery in Andhra Pradesh. The fingerlings were reared in fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks (150 L capacity, with 20 fish per tank). Result: Evaluations of growth performance, haematological parameters, histological analyses and gene expression showed no significant differences among the various experimental groups. These results suggest that all the plant-based protein ingredients tested provided comparable growth performance and can be effectively used as alternative protein sources in conjunction with SBM for Channa striata feed formulations. This study highlights the potential for integrating cost-effective, plant-based protein sources into the feed for striped murrel fingerlings, promoting sustainability and economic viability.