EFFECT OF PLANT EXTRACTS ON NUTRITIONAL EFFICIENCY IN MULBERRY SILKWORM BOMBYX MORI L.

摘要

The silkworm larvae were fed on mulberry leaves treated with 1:100,1:50 and 1:25 concentrations of leaves of Coffea arabica (Linn.), Alternanihera sessilis (Robert Brown) and Eichhornia crassipes (Solms.) and its effect on food consumption and utilization was studied to understand the efficiency of food conversion into larval body, cocoon and cocoon shell during fifth instar. The daily rate of food intake, digestion and excretion were recorded. Food assimilated, assimilation rate, assimilation efficiency, food converted, conversion rate and conversion efficiencies were significantly higher in silkworm fed on mulberry leaves treated with plant extracts over control. Coffea arabica leaf extract at 1:25 concentration treatment recorded significantly higher cocoon weight (1.699 g), pupal weight (1.403 g) and shell weight (0.296 g). The studies indicated that the plant extracts exhibit the presence of certain growth stimulant and can be used to increase the silk yield in commercial silkworm rearing.