Introduction
Mung bean (Vigna radiata) has recently attracted attention as a plant-based ingredient for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) feeds, either as seed meal or sprout-derived material (Kubiriza et al., 2018; Soliman et al., 2018; Negara et al., 2026). However, its nutritional value may depend on processing, since raw seeds, sprouts and heat-treated materials can differ in palatability, nutrient availability and metabolic effects. This study evaluated the effects of raw, sprouted and heat-treated mung bean on growth performance, feed utilization, serum biochemistry, condition factor and organosomatic indices of juvenile tilapia.
Materials and Methods
The feeding trial was carried out for 80 days in a closed recirculating aquaculture system with experimental tanks of approximately 80 L working volume. Nile tilapia with an initial body weight of approximately 2.97 g were distributed into three dietary treatments: raw mung bean, heat-treated mung bean and sprouted mung bean. Each treatment had three replicate tanks with 10 fish per tank. The diets were formulated to contain approximately 38% crude protein and 6% lipid. Fish were hand-fed to apparent satiation, and water temperature was maintained at 27.5 ± 1.0 °C. At the end of the experiment, growth performance, feed conversion ratio, serum biochemical parameters, condition factor, viscerosomatic index, hepatosomatic index and spleenosomatic index were determined. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's test at P < 0.05.
Results
All treatments showed a 100% survival rate. Final body weight was affected by dietary treatment, with the highest value in the sprouted mung bean group (17.48 ± 1.15 g) and the lowest value in the heat-treated mung bean group (13.53 ± 0.76 g). The raw mung bean group showed an intermediate response (17.18 ± 0.75 g). Final body length did not differ significantly among treatments, although the sprouted group showed the highest numerical value. Feed conversion ratio was numerically more favorable in the sprouted mung bean group than in the heat-treated group.
Serum biochemical results showed a different trend from growth performance. Total protein, albumin, triglyceride and alkaline phosphatase were higher in fish fed the heat-treated mung bean diet, but these increases were not reflected in improved growth. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose, globulin and albumin/globulin ratio were not significantly affected by diet. Condition factor, viscerosomatic index, hepatosomatic index and spleenosomatic index were also similar among treatments.
Discussion
The present results suggest that sprouting was a more suitable processing method than heat treatment for mung bean inclusion in juvenile tilapia diets. The sprouted mung bean diet supported higher final body weight and numerically better feed utilization, without marked changes in condition factor or organosomatic indices. In contrast, heat-treated mung bean increased some serum protein- and lipid-related indicators, but this response did not provide a growth advantage. Therefore, under the present experimental conditions, sprouted mung bean appeared to be the most promising form, while the serum profile of the heat-treated group likely reflected a processing-related metabolic response rather than improved performance.
References
Kubiriza, G. K., Akol, A. M., Arnason, J., Sigurgeirsson, ��., Snorrason, S., T��masson, T., & Thorarensen, H. (2018). Practical feeds for juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) prepared by replacing Rastrineobola argentea fishmeal with freshwater shrimp (Caridina nilotica) and mung bean (Vigna radiata) meals. Aquaculture Nutrition, 24(1), 94–101. https://doi.org/10.1111/anu.12537
Negara, G. A. W. P., Setiawati, M., Ekasari, J., & Jusadi, D. (2026). Utilization of mung bean sprout waste Vigna radiata hydrolyzed cellulase enzyme in feed on the digestibility of Nile tilapia Oreochromis sp. Jurnal Akuakultur Indonesia, 25(1), 138–150. https://doi.org/10.19027/jai.25.1.138-150
Soliman, M. A. M., Batran, A. M., Soliman, H. A. M., & Gomha, S. A. A. (2018). Utilization of mung bean (Vigna radiata, Linnaeus) as a protein source in experimental diets for fry Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Effects on growth performance, feed utilization and apparent digestibility co-efficiency. Egyptian Journal of Nutrition and Feeds, 21(2), 559–572. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejnf.2018.75748