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determined as 69.28%, 14.99%, 7.99% and 2.28%, respectively (Jinadasa et al.
2016). In another study, moisture, crude protein, crude oil, and crude ash contents
of P. lividus samples were found as 79.87%, 12.03%, 3.05% and 2.25%, respectively (Mol et al. 2008).
The chemical composition of sea urchins varies according to the season, feeding,
temperature and breeding period. It has been reported that season and gender
affected the chemical composition of Evechinus chloroticus gonads (Verachia et al.
2012) and Paracentrotus lividus (Dincer and Cakli 2007; Rocha et al. 2019;
Martinez-Pita et al. 2010) and Arbacia lixula (Martinez-Pita et al. 2010). Similar
results were reported for Strongylocentrotus franciscanus (McBride et al. 2004),
Arbacia lixula. Gonads of Paracentrotus lividus showed the highest glycogen concentration in autumn and winter months compared to gonads during the spring and
summer months having the lowest glycogen concentration due to spawning. The
seasonal variations observed the biochemical composition of P. lividus gonads was
related to the energy requirements for protein synthesis in gamete production
(Montero-Torreiro and Garcia-Martinez 2003). The seasonal variations in the
gonads of P. lividus were observed mostly for the proteins and lipids (Fernandez
1997, 1998).
The main component of the nutritional composition of sea urchins is protein. In
particular, the protein content of the gonads is related to the reproductive period.
Before ovulation, gonads contain significant levels of protein. There is an inverse
relationship between protein storage and gametogenesis. Carbohydrate is used as
the main energy source for the growth of gonads of sea urchins. When the gonad
mass reached the highest level, the carbohydrate content is at the lowest level.
Carbohydrate content increased in spring when food was abundant (Arafa
et al. 2012).
Fatty acid composition of sea urchin varies with diet composition and reproductive status. The polyunsaturated fatty acids of P. lividis gonads collected from the
intertidal zone of the Tunis Gulf constituted the highest rate among the total fatty
acids. The highest PUFA level was determined in winter and spring, and the lowest
level in summer (Arafa et al. 2012). Similarly, in P. lividus PUFAs were more abundant than SFAs and MUFAs (De La Cruz-García et al. 2000; Rocha et al. 2019).
Mol et al. (2008) found that MUFA and PUFA contents of P lividus were higher
than SFA. EPA and DHA were the major polyunsaturated fatty acids of sea urchin
gonads (Arafa et al. 2012; Rocha et al. 2019).
4.2.2 Postharvest Quality Changes in Sea Urchins
Japanese buyers take several factors into account when purchasing uni. Colour, texture, presentation, and size are all important considerations, making for a highly
competitive market. The best quality urchin roe is usually golden orange to yellow
and has a distinct, sweet ocean taste, while poorer quality urchin tends to be bitterer
or have brownish coloration. In markets such as the United States and Canada,
4.2 Sea Urchin
determined as 69.28%, 14.99%, 7.99% and 2.28%, respectively (Jinadasa et al.
2016). In another study, moisture, crude protein, crude oil, and crude ash contents
of P. lividus samples were found as 79.87%, 12.03%, 3.05% and 2.25%, respectively (Mol et al. 2008).
The chemical composition of sea urchins varies according to the season, feeding,
temperature and breeding period. It has been reported that season and gender
affected the chemical composition of Evechinus chloroticus gonads (Verachia et al.
2012) and Paracentrotus lividus (Dincer and Cakli 2007; Rocha et al. 2019;
Martinez-Pita et al. 2010) and Arbacia lixula (Martinez-Pita et al. 2010). Similar
results were reported for Strongylocentrotus franciscanus (McBride et al. 2004),
Arbacia lixula. Gonads of Paracentrotus lividus showed the highest glycogen concentration in autumn and winter months compared to gonads during the spring and
summer months having the lowest glycogen concentration due to spawning. The
seasonal variations observed the biochemical composition of P. lividus gonads was
related to the energy requirements for protein synthesis in gamete production
(Montero-Torreiro and Garcia-Martinez 2003). The seasonal variations in the
gonads of P. lividus were observed mostly for the proteins and lipids (Fernandez
1997, 1998).
The main component of the nutritional composition of sea urchins is protein. In
particular, the protein content of the gonads is related to the reproductive period.
Before ovulation, gonads contain significant levels of protein. There is an inverse
relationship between protein storage and gametogenesis. Carbohydrate is used as
the main energy source for the growth of gonads of sea urchins. When the gonad
mass reached the highest level, the carbohydrate content is at the lowest level.
Carbohydrate content increased in spring when food was abundant (Arafa
et al. 2012).
Fatty acid composition of sea urchin varies with diet composition and reproductive status. The polyunsaturated fatty acids of P. lividis gonads collected from the
intertidal zone of the Tunis Gulf constituted the highest rate among the total fatty
acids. The highest PUFA level was determined in winter and spring, and the lowest
level in summer (Arafa et al. 2012). Similarly, in P. lividus PUFAs were more abundant than SFAs and MUFAs (De La Cruz-García et al. 2000; Rocha et al. 2019).
Mol et al. (2008) found that MUFA and PUFA contents of P lividus were higher
than SFA. EPA and DHA were the major polyunsaturated fatty acids of sea urchin
gonads (Arafa et al. 2012; Rocha et al. 2019).
4.2.2 Postharvest Quality Changes in Sea Urchins
Japanese buyers take several factors into account when purchasing uni. Colour, texture, presentation, and size are all important considerations, making for a highly
competitive market. The best quality urchin roe is usually golden orange to yellow
and has a distinct, sweet ocean taste, while poorer quality urchin tends to be bitterer
or have brownish coloration. In markets such as the United States and Canada,
4.2 Sea Urchin