Impact of egg albumen (egg white) fortified mulberry leaf on rearing and some cocoon parameters of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (CSR6 × CSR26) × (CSR2 × CSR27) double hybrid

Abstract

Fortification of mulberry leaf with egg albumen and its impact on commercial characteristics of Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) was conducted at College of Temperate Sericulture Mirgund SKUAST-K during spring 2017. The silkworm double hybrid (CSR6 × CSR26) × (CSR2 × CSR27) was reared on mulberry leaves fortified with aqueous egg albumen solution daily once during fourth and fifth instar. Four different concentrations of egg albumen viz., 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% were tested. Egg albumen improved all the rearing and cocoon characteristics of the silkworm. T5 (20% egg albumen) significantly improved all the parameters registering lowest total larval duration, highest weight of ten mature larvae, cocoon weight, shell weight and shell ratio of 25.33 days, 57.96g, 2.32g, 52.65cg and 22.52% respectively.