EFFECT OF MICRONUTRIENTS SUPPLEMENTED MULBERRY LEAVES ON THE LARVAL BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MULBERRY SILKWORM, Bombyx mori LINNAEUS 1758 (LEPIDOPTERA: BOMBYCIDAE)

Nutritive value of mulberry leaf is a key factor besides environment and technology adoption for better growth and development of the silkworm larvae. The present study deals with the effect of micronutrient supplemented mulberry leaves on the biochemical characteristics of PM´CSR2 hybrid variety of mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori fifth instar larvae. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with twelve treatments including a control (T0 to T11), and the treatments were replicated thrice. Each treatment was supplemented with the desired quantity of the respective micronutrient in single or in combination. Twenty early Bombyx mori fifth instar larvae in plastic trays were used for each replicate of the respective treatment, and were fed with the 5-6 fully grown mature mulberry leaves (T0 to T11) twice a day (morning and evening). The amount of carbohydrate and protein present in haemolymph, silk gland, fat body and muscle, and the amount of lipid, trehalose and glycogen in haemolymph and fat body of the fifth instar larvae of control and treated group were estimated. Maximum carbohydrate content in the haemolymph, silk gland, fat body and muscle of the fifth instar Bombyx mori was observed in T9 (195.0 ±7.07mg/mL), both T8 and T9 (190 ±13.13mg/g), T8 (245.0 ±49.49mg/g) and T9 (152.5 ±16.6mg/g) respectively, and for the maximum protein content, the respective values were in T9 (158.0 ±31.11mg/mL), T9 (172.0 ±11.31mg/g), T8 (166.0 ±76.36mg/g) and T9 (195.0 ± 86.26mg/g). The maximum lipid, trehalose and glycogen in haemolymph was observed in T8 (5.96 ±1.40mg/mL), T3 (7.66 ±1.25mg/mL) and T5 (1.30 ±2.51mg/mg/mL) respectively, and for maximum content in fat body, the respective values were observed in T6 (16.87 ±1.20mg/mL), T9 (7.91 ±0.24mg/mL) and T8 (11.87 ±0.10mg/mL) Overall results of the present study emphasized that supplemented micronutrients in T9 (CuSO4 15Kg/ha + ZnSO4 15Kg/ha + FeSO4 30Kg/ha) followed by T8 (CuSO4 10Kg/ha + ZnSO4 10Kg/ha + FeSO4 20Kg/ha) positively influenced the biochemical characteristics of Bombyx mori fifth instar larvae.