Total carotenoid differences in scallop tissues of Chlamys nobilis (Bivalve: Pectinidae) with regard to gender and shell colour

The aim of this study was to investigate whether total carotenoid content (TCC) in noble scallop Chlamys nobilis is related to body tissue, shell colour, and gender. TCC was determined by a UV–vis recording spectrophotometer in tissue of gonad, adductor, mantle, and gill separately sampled from male and female individuals with orange and brown shell colours from the same cultured population. TCC was significantly different among body tissues, depending on shell colour and gender, ranging from 0.73 to 59.85 μg g−1. In general, TCC was greater in the order of gonad > mantle > adductor > gill. In the same gender, orange shell colour individuals contained significantly higher TCC than brown ones in all four tissues (P < 0.05). In the same shell colour, female contained significantly higher TCC than male in gonad and adductor tissues (P < 0.05).