Abstract: Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis (wild population) is one of the national class Ⅱ protected aquatic wild animals. To understand the differences of traits between wild and cultured populations and distinguish wild population from the cultured population, we investigated the differences in muscle nutritive components between wild and cultured populations. The results showed that there were significant differences in muscle general nutrient composition, fatty acid composition and content, mineral and micronutrient contents between both populations, but no difference in the composition and content of amino acids. Water, crude protein, and crude ash contents in the muscle of the wild population were significantly higher than those of the cultured population (P<0.05), while crude fat content in the cultured population was significantly higher than that in the wild population (P<0.05). C12:0 was detected only in the wild population. The contents of saturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids were significantly lower in the wild population than in the cultured populations (P<0.05). The contents of K, Na, Ca, Mg, P, and Zn were significantly higher in the wild population than in the cultured population (P<0.05). In conclusion, the composition and content of fatty acids, minerals, and micronutrients in muscle were significantly different between the wild and cultured populations, which could be used as a basis for identification of wild and cultured populations, and provide a reference for the conservation and management of B. lenok tsinlingensis.

Key words: Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis, wild population, cultured population, nutritional component, amino acid, fatty acid.