Influence of Phytofortified Mulberry Leaves on Economic Traits of Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.)
Asma Khursheed
College of Temperate Sericulture, Mirgund, SKUAST-K, India.
Masarat Bashir *
College of Temperate Sericulture, Mirgund, SKUAST-K, India.
S. Farhat Iqbal Qadri
College of Temperate Sericulture, Mirgund, SKUAST-K, India.
K. A. Sahaf
College of Temperate Sericulture, Mirgund, SKUAST-K, India.
K.A. Dar
College of Temperate Sericulture, Mirgund, SKUAST-K, India.
Sabiha Ashraf
College of Temperate Sericulture, Mirgund, SKUAST-K, India.
Nazaqat Hashim
College of Temperate Sericulture, Mirgund, SKUAST-K, India.
Munazah Yaqoob
Division of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-K, India.
Shakeel Ahmad Mir
Division of Agriculture Statistics, Shalimar, SKUAST-K, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Silkworm productivity depends largely on the nutritional quality of mulberry (Morus spp.) leaves. Phytofortification of mulberry with plant-based supplements has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance cocoon yield and quality. The present study was conducted at the College of Temperate Sericulture, SKUAST-K, Mirgund during spring 2022, to evaluate the effect of fortified mulberry leaves on economic traits of Bombyx mori (CSR2 × CSR4). Mulberry leaves were fortified with Glycine max, Arachis hypogaea, and Taraxacum officinale extracts at concentrations of 2%, 4%, and 6%. Results revealed significant improvements in cocoon weight, shell weight, pupation rate, fecundity, filament length, raw silk percentage, and effective rate of rearing compared to control. Among treatments, Glycine max (2%) performed best with maximum cocoon weight (2.266 g), shell weight (0.486 g), pupation rate (99.10%), filament length (1275 m), raw silk percentage (17.78%), and ERR by weight (20.476 kg). These findings indicate that phytofortified mulberry leaves, especially soybean at 2%, significantly improve the economic traits of silkworms, thereby offering a sustainable approach to enhance sericulture productivity.
Keywords: Bombyx mori, cocoon traits, mulberry, phytofortification, sericulture, silk yield