Vol. 12, Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
Sameena Maqbool, KA Sahaf, Aabid Khaliq Tantray, Manzoor Ahmad Parray, Shakeel Ahmad Mir and Munazah Yaqoob

Abstract:
Nutrition plays an important role in the growth and development of silkworm Bombyx mori L which subsequently influences the cocoon production. Although the mulberry leaves are complete diet for silkworm, the supplementation with extra nutrients results in higher yields. Two fortificants viz Spirulina and Thyroxine with three different concentrations i.e., 300 ppm, 400 ppm, 500 ppm and 1.25 ppm, 2.50 ppm, 5.00 ppm respectively were utilized to determine their effect on weight of ten mature larvae, 5^th age larval duration, total larval duration, single cocoon weight, single shell weight, shell ratio percentage, cocoon yield by number, cocoon yield by weight of Silkworm Bombyx mori L. The spirulina and thyroxine fortified mulberry leaves were fed to larva. Two groups experimental group and control group were taken. It was found that the treatment combination of spirulina 500 ppm and thyroxine 5.00 ppm recorded the highest values for these parameters. During spring season, the treatment combination of spirulina 500 ppm and thyroxine 5.00 ppm recorded the shortest 5th age larval duration (170.60 h), total larval duration (650.60 h), and recorded highest weight of ten mature larvae (51.36 g), single cocoon weight (2.30 g), single shell weight of (0.54 g), highest shell ratio percentage (23.30%), highest cocoon yield by number (9301.96) and highest cocoon yield by weight (21.44). During autumn season the treatment combination of spirulina 500 ppm and thyroxine 5.00 ppm recorded the shortest 5^th age larval duration (216.24 h), total larval duration (696.24 h) and recorded highest weight of ten mature larvae (49.48 g), single cocoon weight (1.98 g), single shell weight of (0.46 g), highest shell ratio percentage (23.03%), highest cocoon yield by number (9033.46) and highest cocoon yield by weight (18.54). It was concluded that Spirulina and Thyroxine supplemented mulberry leaves showed increase in economic characters in experimental groups as compared to control groups hence it can be recommended for use to increase the yield of the farmers.