Vol. 8, Special Issue 6 (2020)
Minerals as exogenous modulators in enhancing silk productivity of silkworm, Bombyx mori L.
Author(s): KA Murugesh
Abstract: Experiments were conducted by supplementing minerals viz., zinc sulphate, magnesium sulphate and potassium chloride with mulberry leaves to improve the silk yield of B. mori. Per os administration of minerals to silkworm larvae during third, fourth and fifth instars significantly enhanced the larval, cocoon and silk reeling related parameters. Among the different minerals studied, it was found that the treatment with Zinc sulphate @ 100 ppm + Magnesium sulphate @ 200 ppm + Potassium chloride @ 100 ppm recorded significantly higher mature larval weight (4.45 g), ERR (97.16%), cocoon weight (2.30 g), shell weight (0.55 g), pupal weight (1.76 g) and shell ratio (23.19%), filament length (1458 m), filament weight (0.431 g) and silk productivity (6.35 cg/day). The proteins in silk gland (62.70 mg/g) and haemolymph (46.00 mg/g) were also found be higher in the above treatment apart from fibroin (410 mg/shell) and sericin (102.0 mg/shell) contents in cocoons.
DOI: 10.22271/chemi.2020.v8.i6d.11161
Pages: 241-245 | 514 Views 95 Downloads
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How to cite this article:
KA Murugesh. Minerals as exogenous modulators in enhancing silk productivity of silkworm, Bombyx mori L.. International Journal of Chemical Studies. 2020; 8(6): 241-245. DOI: 10.22271/chemi.2020.v8.i6d.11161
