Quality control in Orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioldes, during ice storage

Abstract

In this study, changes of TMA and its relation with bacteria count was evaluated in Orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides during ice storage at 18th day. TMA and bacteria count changes were evaluated at days 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18. TMA increased at days 0, 3 and 6 but changes during these days were not noticeable and it showed no significant differences (P>0.05). By passing time and from day 9 amount of TMA showed increased compared with other days and had significant difference in the value (P<0.05) such I that reached from 0.96 (day 0) to 12.46ms/100g (day 18). The psychrophilic bacteria showed a more monotonous change relative to the mesophilic bacteria and became dominant in ice through time. Logarithm of colonies of the psychrophilic bacteria per gram increased from 1.37 at day 0 to 7.72 at day I 8th. The mesophilic bacteria showed fluctuations in their number such that at day 15th they decreased and at day 18th, increased. The level of TMA showed significant difference between the first days and last days (P<0.05) such that they increased from 2 at day 0 to 4.61 at day 18th. Bacterial count especially *psychrophilic bacteria were increased during storage, whereas mesophilic bacteria decreased at day 15 of storage. TMA showed relationship with psychrophilic bacteria and storage days (P<0.05, R=0.98).