Influence of brushing schedule on leaf biochemical analysis for commercial character expression of bivoltine silkworm hybrids (Bombyx mori L.)

Abstract

In the present investigation, the biochemical analysis of mulberry varieties along with the effect of brushing schedule, hybrids and mulberry varieties for commercial cocoon character expression was studied. The treatments comprised of two brushing schedule (early i.e. 1st of September and late i.e. 20th of September), two hybrids (PO3 × ND5 and SH6 × NB4D2) and two mulberry varieties (China white and Tr-10). The experiment was laid out in factorial-completely randomized block design with eight treatments and three replications and the analysis of treatments was worked out by analysis of variance technique. Biochemical analysis revealed that mulberry variety China white had significantly higher carbohydrate and biomass content while as, crude protein, ash content and amino acids were significantly higher in Tr-10. Observations made for commercially important traits indicated that, single shell weight, single cocoon weight, shell ratio percentage and fibroin content were significantly higher for early brushing schedule, PO3 × ND5 and China white, whereas, effective rate of rearing (by weight and by number), sericin content and renditta was significantly higher for late brushing schedule, SH6 × NB4D2 and Tr-10. Thus, two commercial rearing’s are possible with brushing schedule of early i.e. 1st of September and late i.e. 20th of September for hybrid PO3 × ND5 fed on China white mulberry variety for commercial cocoon characters.