Enhancement of larval and cocoon traits of silkworm, Bombyx mori l. through the application of amino acids

Abstract

Experiments were conducted by administering different amino acids viz., Glycine, Alanine and Serine with mulberry leaves to enhance the larval and cocoon traits of Bombyx mori L. Supplementation of amino acids to silkworm larvae once daily in the morning from the first day of the fifth instar to spinning significantly enhanced the larval, protein, cocoon and silk reeling traits. Among the different amino acid combinations tested, it was found that the treatment with Glycine @ 10 ppm + Alanine @ 100 ppm + Serine @ 100 ppm registered significantly highest fifth instar larval weight (4.48 g), ERR (96.50%), silk productivity (6.38 cg/day), silk gland weight (1.12 g) and silk gland length (31.05 m), cocoon weight (2.63 g), shell weight (0.60 g), pupal weight (2.03 g), shell ratio (22..81%), filament length (1220 m) and filament weight (0.440 g). The proteins in the silk gland (64.70 mg/g) and haemolymph (48.50 mg/ml) were also found to be the highest in the above treatment apart from fibroin (420 mg/shell) and sericin (107.05 mg/shell) contents in cocoons. It is concluded that feeding the silkworm by amino acids viz., glycine, alanine and serine fortified mulberry leaves during the fifth instar significantly improves the larval, cocoon and silk reeling traits.