Studies on influence of various stages of mulberry leaf in the growth and cocoonic parameters of silkworm Bombyx mori (L.)

The objective of this work was to determine the effects of different stages of mulberry leaves on growth performance of treated larvae of Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera, Bombycidae) and characters of the resulted cocoons were evaluated. Results showed that the food consumption rate and assimilation rate were greatest for larvae fed on tender and over matured mulberry leaves as compared to larvae fed on mature leaves. Assimilation and conversion efficiencies were very high in the larvae grown on matured mulberry leaves (0.189 and 1.99% respectively). Moreover, the larvae fed on matured mulberry leaves showed higher growth rate, cocoon weight and shell ratio. Among the three different growth stages of leaves, the matured leaves were found to be the best food for final instar larvae of Bombyx mori L. which promotes maximum larval growth and it gains to quality cocoon and raw silk production.