Effect of Different Maturity Mulberry Leaves on Biology of Bivoltine Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.)

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effects of feeding mulberry leaves of different maturity stages-tender, medium, and coarse on the biology of bivoltine silkworms (Bombyx mori L.), with the goal of enhancing sericulture practices by identifying the most beneficial leaf types for feeding. Study Design: A randomized block design was employed to evaluate the impact of different mulberry leaf maturity levels on silkworm development. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted during monsoon 2020-21 at the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Latur, under Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra. Methodology: Disease-free layings of FC2 X FC1 bivoltine double hybrid silkworms were reared with seven treatments involving different combinations of mulberry leaves categorized as tender, medium, and coarse. Each treatment included three replications, with 100 larvae per replication. Key parameters measured included larval duration, pupal duration, moth emergence, fecundity, and hatching percentage. Results: Larval duration was shortest for larvae fed tender leaves (23.82 days), significantly shorter compared to those fed coarse leaves (25.38 days). Pupal duration was also shortest for tender leaves (10.67 days) and longest for coarse leaves (11.50 days). Moth emergence was highest in larvae fed tender leaves (97.67%) and lowest in coarse leaves (84.67%). Fecundity ranged from 442.33 to 566.67 eggs per female moth, with the highest observed in larvae fed tender leaves (566.67 eggs). Hatching percentage was highest for tender leaves (94.67%) and lowest for coarse leaves (85.33%). Conclusion: The study confirms that tender mulberry leaves significantly enhance silkworm development and productivity, resulting in shorter larval and pupal durations, higher moth emergence rates, increased fecundity, and improved hatching percentages. These findings highlight the importance of tender leaves in optimizing sericulture practices and improving silk production efficiency.