The requirements of linoleic and linolenic acids for the growth of the prawn, Penaeus japonicus, were studied by using a purified diet.
In this feeding experiment conducted for 50 days, the growth of prawn on the diet containing oleic acid was extremely slow. Addition of linoleic and linolenic acids to the diet remarkably improved weight gain. The recovery tests initiated after 30-days of feeding linolenic acids were concluded to be essential for the growth of prawn. Also, the nutritive value of linolenic acid for prawn was found to be higher than that of linoleic acid.