EFFECT OF PHYTOECDYSTEROID ON SILK PRODUCING POTENTIAL OF MULTIVOLTINE MULBERRY SILKWORM BOMBYX MORI LINN
Keywords:
Shell ratio, Moulting, Larvae, Bioactive hormoneAbstract
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.