Evaluation of economic characters of two commercial eco-races of eri silkworm (Samia ricini Donovan) reared on castor and Borpat leaves during spring and autumn season in Assam

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out the economic characters of two commercial eco-races (borduar and kokrajhar) of eri silkworm (Samia ricini Donovan) by feeding them with two different food plants viz., castor and borpat separately during spring and autumn season by maintaining four replications in each treatment combination during rearing period. It was observed that castor is better than borpat leaves for rearing of eri silkworm during spring and autumn season in Assam. Economic parameters such as cocoon weight, pupal weight were recorded higher in kokrajhar eco-race and shell weight, shell ratio (%) and rate of cocooning (%) were recorded higher in borduar eco-race during spring season when fed with castor leaves.