Journal of Biological Sciences1727-30481812-5719Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/jbs.2015.199.206, Bombyx mori L. (PM×CSR2) (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) Larval Growth and Cocoon Traits]]>GobenaWaktole Sori BhaskarR.N. 42015154Nutrition plays a pivotal role in sericulture. It improves the growth, development, health, feed consumption and conversion of silkworm thereby improving the commercial traits. Silkworm, Bombyx mori L., is a monophagous insect that drives all required nutrients for its growth and development from mulberry leaf. Some plant extracts are feeding stimulants and improve the nutritional intake, growth, disease resistance/tolerance of silkworm ultimately improving the cocoon traits. The present investigation was carried with an objective to determine the impact of fortification of M5 mulberry leaves with botanicals on growth and commercial traits of B. mori (PM×CSR2). Three botanicals (Parthenium hysterophorus L., Phyllanthus niruri Hook and Psoralea coryleifolia) were tested along with two controls. The experiment was laid in CRD replicated three times. Feeding of fortified leaves with the plant extracts led to better larval growth and development which ultimately reflected in the economic traits of PM×CSR2 silkworm hybrid. Fifth instar 5th day larval weight (26.25 and 27.52 g/10), mature larval weight (28.63 and 30.13 g/10), ERR (98.33 and 100.00%), cocoon weight (18.06 and 18.79 g/10), shell weight (3.68 and 3.72 g/10), pupal weight (14.30 and 15.23 g/10), shell ratio (20.38 and 19.80%), filament length (901.03 and 910.95 m) and silk productivity (4.04 and 4.097 cg per day) in two rearing were found significantly maximum for P. coryleifolia fortified leaves fed worms followed by P. niruri besides reducing larval duration and cocoon filament denier compared to other treatments. Thus, fortification of mulberry leaves with P. coryleifolia and P. niruri leaf extracts had favorably influenced PM×CSR2 larval growth leading to significantly better economic traits. There is a need to identify the active principle(s), standardize and formulate the botanicals and develop better administration techniques for commercial silkworm rearing.]]>Bhaskar, R.N., G. Sridevi, M.C. Devaiah and R. Govindan,2004Bombyx mori L. (CSR2 x CSR4).]]>2004pp: 247254Chandrakala, M.V., V.G. Maribashetty, C.A.A. Ahmed and H.K. Jyothi,2001Bombyx mori L.]]>2001pp: 4142Cochran, W.G. and G.M. Cox,2000pp: 319-380pp: 319-380Datta, M. and J. Gupta,2002Bombyx mori L. Nistari race to assess its effect on cocoon production.]]>20505510Dubey, A. and R.P. Srivastava,2005Bombyx mori L.]]>2005pp: 362365Gayathri, T.V., M. Vijayendra, K.C. Narayanaswamy, G. Manjunath and G.T.N. Venkatesh,2006Bombyx mori L.]]>2006pp: 73Hipparagi, G.D., S.G. Rayar and S.S. Karabhantanal,2001Bombyx mori L., growth and development.]]>2001pp: 127Jeyapaul, C., C. Padmalatha, and A.J.A. Ranjith Singh,2003Bombyx mori L.]]>42128131Krishnaprasad, N.K., B. Sannappa, M.K. Jayashree and S.S. Raj,2000Bombyx mori L.]]>13368371Krishnaprasad, N.K., B. Sannappa, T.K. Reshma and P.K.K. Prasad,2001Bombyx mori L.).]]>54247Krishnaswami, S., M.N. Narasimhanna, S.K. Suryanarayan and S. Kumarraj,1973Pages: 131Pages: 131Laskar, N. and M. Datta,2000Bombyx mori L. race Nistari.]]>18591596Mahesha, H.M., R. Rajashekaragouda and S.G. Rayar,1999Bombyx mori L.]]>1999pp: 111114Mahesha, H.M., R. Rajashekhargouda and S.G. Rayar,1999Bombyx mori L.]]>1999pp: 114121Murugan, K., D. Jeyabalan, N. Senthilkumar, S.S. Krishna and N. Sivaprakasam,19991999pp: 107108Murugesh, K.A.,2002Exorista bombycis (Louis).]]>2002Murugesh, K.A. and C.A. Mahalingam,2005Tribulus terrestris on the growth of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. and its impact on economic traits of cocoons.]]>2005Nagesh, B.S. and R.P. Srivastava,2001Bombyx mori L.]]>2001pp: 130Nair, K.S., J.S. Nair and K. Trivedy,1998Bombyx mori L.]]>3101101Nasreen, A., G.M. Cheema and M. Ashfaq,1999Bombyx mori L. on alternate food plants.]]>2843845Patil, R.R., M.V. Chandrakala, J. Sukumar, H.T. Channal, S. Kusugal and G. Ankad,20052005pp: 204207Rajashekaragouda, R., M. Gopalan, S. Jayaraj and N. Natarajan,1997Bombyx mori L.]]>22235238Patil, R.R., G.D. Hipparagi, S.N. Kasuga, B.R. Banakar, M.M. Khazi, R. Srinivasan and V. Umesh,2001Bombyx mori L.]]>2001pp: 38Ranganatha, R., Chandramohan, N. and S. Manimegalai,2004Bombyx mori L.]]>2004Santhoshkumar, G.H.,1997Lantana camara L. and Clerodendron inermae G. on Bombyx mori L.]]>1997Santoshkumar, G.H., Rajashekargouda and J. Mane,200047577Shubha, K.,20052005Sridevi, G.,2003Bombyx mori L.]]>2003Sridevi, G., R.N. Bhaskar, M.C. Devaiah and R. Govindan,2004Bombyx mori L. (PM x CSR2).]]>22689691Sujatha, K. and A.P. Rao,2003Curcuma longa (turmeric) on the commercial characters of multivoltine silkworm, Bombyx mori.]]>6109111