EFFECT OF PHYTOECDYSTEROID ON SILK PRODUCING POTENTIAL OF MULTIVOLTINE MULBERRY SILKWORM BOMBYX MORI LINN

Abstract

Effect of phytoecdysteroid on silk producing potential of multivoltine mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori was studied. Experiments were performed by 40, 50, 60 and 70% concentration of phytoecdysteroid obtained from Achyranthes leaf extract. A control set was always maintained with each set of experiment. Maximum shell ratio (15.45 ± 1.07) was noticed to be in case of the double treatment (IV and V instar larvae were treated) by 60% phytoecdysteroid and minimum (12.25 ± 0.831) was recorded in triple treatment (III, IV and V instar larvae were treated) by 70% phytoecdysteroid concentration. Phytoecdysteroid treatment,if applied tactfully,may be useful for boosting up the sericulture industry as well as the economy of silkworm rearing.