Metabolomics reveals how regulatory cycles affect muscle quality changes in offshore vessel-farmed Larimichthys crocea

To explore the correlation between regulation cycles and quality of offshore vessel-farmed Larimichthys crocea, this study analyzed muscle quality changes at 0 (TK0), 1 (TK1), 2 (TK2), 3 (TK3) and 4 (TK4) months via metabolomics. Extended cycles increased body length/depth, caudal peduncle length/depth, springiness and crude protein, but decreased condition factors, adhesiveness and crude lipid, with these traits plateauing at TK3. Cycles also regulated muscle amino acid/fatty acid profiles, electronic tongue taste and volatile flavors. KEGG analysis showed phenotypic changes derived from activated amino acid metabolism and antioxidant pathways, with nutritional and flavor indices peaking at TK3.