Vol. 10, Special Issue 11 (2021)

Author(s):
Priyadharshini Pachiappan, Swathiga G, Thangamalar Alagesan, Umapathy G and Chozhan K

Abstract:
Mulberry nutrition plays an important role in quality silk production. An investigation was made to study the supplementation of probiotics to silkworm larvae and its impact on enzymatic profile and economic parameters of double hybrid silkworm, Bombyx mori. Three types of probiotics viz., Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Sacchoromyces boulardii, and Bifidobacterium longum and concentration ranged from 0.5 to 3.0 per cent were used for the study. Silkworm larvae were fed on mulberry leaves treated with 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5% and 3% concentrations of probiotics from 3^rd instar onwards and its enzyme activity and economic traits viz., cocoon weight (gm), pupal weight (gm), shell weight (gm) and shell ratio (%) were recorded. The results revealed that increase in concentration of probiotics showed increase in amylase and invertase activity. Among these probiotics, Bifidobacterium longum recorded maximum enzymatic activity and highest cocoon traits followed by Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Saccharomyces boulardii.