IMPACT OF FEEDING SELECTED MULBERRY GERMPLASM VARIETIES ON SILKWORM BOMBYX MORI L. THROUGH BIOASSAY TECHNIQUES FOR COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION

A critical evaluation study comprising five mulberry varieties viz., S1708, MS5, C10, C6 and M5 was conducted for their leaf quality through silkworm moulting and rearing using crossbreed (PMxNB4D2) silkworms. Results revealed that, in moulting tests, silkworm larvae reared on S1708 mulberry leaves recorded highest larval weight (25.03mg) and moulting ratio (84.96%) and lowest larval weight (17.04mg) and moulting ratio (71.06%) recorded in silkworms reared on C6 leaves during II moult. Silkworms reared on S1708 leaves recorded highest larval weight (39.08mg), cocoon weight (1.90g), shell weight (0.41g), shell percentage (21.66%), filament length (957.57mts), reelability (86.88%), renditta (6.06), denier (2.08) and E.R.R (88.31%), whereas lower larval weight (26.20g), cocoon weight (1.30g), shell weight (0.19g), shell percentage (16.18%), filament length (722.60mts), reelability (56.12%), renditta (8.30), denier (2.62) and E.R.R (78.86%) were observed in C6 mulberry leaves. It is clear from the results that, mulberry variety S1708 turns out to be superior in bioassay tests compared to other varieties studied.