EFFECT OF SONICATION ON THE NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY OF Chlorella sorokiniana IN RAINBOW TROUT (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Despite the growing interest in microalgae as sustainable sources of nutrients in complete feeds and recent findings indicating their good potential as a bulk feedstuff for formulated aquafeeds, their dietary inclusion, even at low level, often implies declining nutrient and energy availability in carnivorous fish species (Sorensen et al., 2016; Kousulaki et al., 2015; Tibaldi et al., 2015; Tulli et al., 2012; Burr et al., 2011). A possible adverse role of microalgae cell wall structure and composition on nutrient availability has been hypothesized by different authors. This study was carried out to test sonication as a possible post production cell wall disruption technique to increase the digestibility of Chlorella sorokiniana freeze dried biomass in rainbow trout.