Authors : Abhilash H. K.; Niveditha S. Rao; Sannappa B.

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 2 - February

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/25v2xex7

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/yc6b7239

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14964497

Abstract : Ericulture is mainly confined to North-eastern states of India since the time ancient time of an integral part of the local tribals. Ericulture, which is traditionally rearing of the eri silkworms (Samia Cynthia ricini) primarily for pupae as food purposes and silk fabric for their family use. The main hindrance faced was production would be an uneconomical because of the similar food habits. Here, eri silkworms were reared using their primary food Castor leaves (Ricinus communis) along with the supplementation of honey and the performance of economic parameters and the changes in bio- chemical compositionsviz., Protein and Carbohydrate content in different tissues viz., Haemolymph, Fat body & Silk gland were recorded in 4th and 5th instar larvae. Leaves with different concentration 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% of honey was dipped and dried under the shade, along with distilled water dipped and normal leaves as controls were fed for 4th and 5th instar Eri silkworms and the economic and nutritional results were recorded. Larvae fed with 5% concentration showed the highest nutritional contents like protein and carbohydrate, followed by 4% to 1% over controls in Haemolymph, fat body and silk gland. As well quantitative traits like larval weight, cocoon weight and pupal weightwere also exhibited increase in their quantitative character in 5% subsequently 4% to 1% above controls but in case of shell weight, shell ratio and silk productivity 3% showed highest weight. The research findings presented in the study suggest or hint at a particular conclusion, that castor leaves with the honey is the suitable diet for Samia Cynthia ricinito escalate the quantitative and qualitative characters.

Keywords : Castor Leaves, Bio-Chemical, Eri Silkworm, Quantitative Trait, Samia Cynthia Ricini.

References :

1. Anonymous (2015). Note on the performance of Indian silk industry and functioning of Central Silk Board, Bangalore. 21.
2. Arora, G. S. & Gupta, I. J. (1979). Taxonomic studies of some of the Indian non-mulberry silk moths (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). Memoirs of Zoological Survey of India, 16, 1-63.
3. Patil, G.M. & Savanurmath, C.J. (1994). Eri silkworm–The poorman’s friend. Indian Silk, 33(4), 41-45.
4. Pandey, R.K. (1995). Do leaf tannins affect non-mulberry silkworm. Indian silk, 34(8), 21-23.
5. Rajashekhargouda, R., Gopalan, M., Jayaraj, S. & Natarajan, N. (1997). Field performance of plant extracts on mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Entomon, 22(3/4), 235-238.
6. Murugan, K., Jeyabalan, D., Kumar, N.S., Nathan, S.S. & Sivaprakasam, N. (1998). Growth promoting effects of plant products on silkworm-a biotechnological approach. Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research, 57(10/11), 740-745.
7. House, H.L. (1966). The Role of Nutritional Principles in Biological Control. The Canadian Entomologist, 98(11), 1121-1134.
8. Setua, M., Setua, G., Debnath, S., Chakraborty, S. & Bajpal, A. (2009). Effect of foliar application of methanol on growth and leaf yield in mulberry (Morus alba L). Annals of Agricultural Research, 30(1&2).
9. Legay, J.M. (1958). Recent advances in silkworm nutrition. Annual Review of Entomology, 3(1), 75-86.
10. Seki, H. & Oshikane, K. (1959). Studies on polyploid mulberry trees (111). The evaluation of breeded polyploid mulberry leaves and the results of feeding silkworms on them. Research reports of Faculty of Textile and Sericulture, Shinshu University, 9(6-15), Ueda, Japan.
11. Sengupta, K., Singh, B.D. & Mustafi, J.C. (1992). Role of vitamins in silkworm nutrition. Indian Journal of Sericulture, 11(1), 11-19.
12. Ito, T., Kawashima, K., Nakahara, M., Nakanishi, K. & Terahara, A. (1964). Effects of sterols on feeding and nutrition of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Journal of Insect Physiology, 10(2), 225-238.
13. Kirimura, J. (1962). Studies on amino acid composition and chemical structure of silk protein by microbiological determination. Bulletin of Sericultural Experiment Station (Tokyo), 17, 447-522.
14. Ito, T. (1983). Nutrition and artificial diets of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, 1-292, Nihon-Sanshi-Shinbun Press, Tokyo. Japan.
15. Lu, S.L. & Jiang, Z.D. (1988). Absorption and utilization of amino acids in mulberry leaves by Bombyx mori L. Acta Sericologica Sinica, 14(4), 198-204.
16. Babu, M., Swamy, M.T., Rao, P.K. & Rao, M.S. (1992). Effect of ascorbic acid-enriched mulberry leaves on rearing of Bombyx mori L. Indian Journal of Sericulture, 31(2), 111-114.
17. Suprakash Pal, S.P. (2002). Effect of vitamin B-complex supplementation on the growth and development of mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori (L.). Insect Environment, 8(4), 150.
18. Etebari, K. & Matindoost, L. (2005). Application of multi-vitamins as supplementary nutrients on biological and economical characteristics of silkworm Bombyx mori L. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 8(1), 107-112.
19. Choudhury, P.C., Shukla, P., Ghosh, A., Mallikarjuna, B. & Sengupta, K. (1991). Effect of spacing, crown height and method of pruning on mulberry leaf yield, quality and cocoon yield. Indian Journal of Sericulture, 30(1), 46-53.
20. Raman, K.V.A., Mala, V.R., Magadum, S.B. & Datta, R.K. (1995). Effect of seasons and mulberry varieties on the feed conversion efficiencies of different silkworm hybrids of Bombyx mori L. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology, 15(3), 157-161.
21. Parra, Jose Roberto Postali (1991). Food consumption and utilization by insects: Nutritional Ecology of Insects and Its Implications for Pest Management, Manole, 359.
22. Miranda, J.E., Takahashi, R. & Silva, A.D. (1998). Ascorbic acid supplement in the food of Bombyx mori L. (Bombycidae: Lepidoptera). Revista de Agricultura (Piracicaba), 73(3), 367-372.
23. Nour, M.E., S.A. El-Maasarawy & S. Mahmoud (1997). Propolis in the nutrition of the silkworm Bombyx mori L: influence on biology, silk yield and biochemical changes in haemolymph. Proceedings of the 1^st International Conference on silk "ICSAI".
24. Zannoon, A.A. (1994). Effect of some nutritional additives on certain biological and productivity characters of mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Journal of Productivity and Development (Agricultural Research) (Institute of Efficient Productivity, Zagazig University, Egypt), 1, 19-24.
25. Falco, G., Gomez-Catalan, J., Llobet, J.M. & Domingo, J.L. (2003). Contribution of medicinal plants to the daily intake of various toxic elements in Catalonia, Spain. Trace elements and electrolytes, 20(2), 120-124.
26. Garcia, C., Arroy, J.M., Godoy, J.A. & Jordano, P. (2005). Mating patterns, pollen dispersal, and the ecological maternal neighbourhood in a Prunus mahaleb L. population. Molecular Ecology, 14(6), 1821-1830.
27. Ball, D.W. (2007). The chemical composition of honey. Journal of chemical education, 84(10), 1643.
28. Stewart, W.H. & Ruberg, S.J. (2000). Detecting dose response with contrasts. Statistics in Medicine, 19(7), 913-921.
29. Jan, S.L. (2005). Step contrasts for identifying the minimum effective dose. Communications in Statistics-Theory and Methods, 34(1), 45-57.
30. Rani, G.A., Padmalatha, C., Raj, R.S. & Singh, A.R. (2011). Impact of supplementation of amway protein on the economic characters and energy budget of silkworm Bombyx mori L. Asian Journal of Animal Sciences, 5(3), 190-195.
31. Kavitha, S., Prasad, S. & Yellamma, K. (2011). Determination of minimum effective dose of Zinc chloride for modulation of metabolism and silk production in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The Bioscan, 6(1), 147-152.
32. Thulasi, N. & Sivaprasad, S. (2014). Impact of feeding of lemon juice-enriched mulberry leaves on the larval growth, protein profiles and economic traits in the silk worm, Bombyx mori. Indian Journal of Applied Research, 4(2), 36-44.
33. AT, M.A. & Al-Swayeh, O.A. (1997). Natural honey prevents ethanol-induced increased vascular permeability changes in the rat stomach. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 55(3), 231-238.
34. Samarghandian, S., Farkhondeh, T. & Samini, F. (2017). Honey and health: A review of recent clinical research. Pharmacognosy research, 9(2), 121.
35. Yusof, A., Ahmad, N.S., Hamid, A. & Khong, T.K. (2018). Effects of honey on exercise performance and health components: A systematic review. Science & Sports, 33(5), 267-281.
36. Raeessi, M.A., Aslani, J., Gharaie, H., Zarchi, A.A.K., Raeessi, N. & Assari, S. (2011). Honey with coffee: a new finding in the treatment of persistent postinfectious cough. Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 23(63), 1-8.
37. Dandin, S.B. & Giridhar, K. (2010) Handbook of Sericulture Technologies. Central Silk Board, Bangalore, 420.
38. Dayashankar, K.N. (1982). Performance of eri silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval on different host plants and economics of rearing on castor under Dharwad conditions. M. Sc.(Agri) Thesis, UAS, Bangalore. 86.
39. Lowry, O.H., Rosebrough, N.J., Farr, A.L. & Randall, R.J. (1951). Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 193(1), 265-275.
40. Sadasivam, S. & Manickam, A. (2008). Biochemical Methods, new age international limited. New Delhi, 2, 4-10.
41. Cochran & Cox (2000). Experimental Design Procedures for the Behavioural Sciences. Cole Publishing Company, 319-380.
42. Bhattacharya, A. & Kaliwal, B.B. (2005a). The biochemical effects of potassium chloride on the silkworm, (Bombyx mori L.). Insect Science, 12(2), 95-100.
43. Kaliwal, B.B. & Bhattacharya, A. (2005b). Synergetic effects of potassium and magnesium chloride on biochemical contents of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3(1), 15-21.
44. Rajabi   R,   Ebadi   R,   Fazilati   M &  Mirhoseini   S.Z. (2006). Nutritive effects of mulberry leaves enrichment with riboflavin vitamin on bio-economic character of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. 9^th Arab Congress of Plant Protection, 19-23, Damascus, Syria.
45. Kavitha, S., Sivaprasad, S., Saidulla, B. & Yellamma, K. (2012). Effect of zinc chloride and zinc sulphate on the silkworm, Bombyx mori growth tissue proteins and economic parameters of sericulture. The Bioscan, 7(2), 189-195.
46. Sailaja, B. & Sivaprasad, S. (2010). Photoperiodic modulation of circadian rhythms in the silk gland protein profiles of Bombyx mori and its influence on the silk productivity and quality. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 2(1), 48.
47. Singh, S.M. (1960). Influence of royal jelly and tiuracil (Sic) on the larval development and on nitrogen component in the blood of two parent races and their hybrids in larval of B. mori L. RV. Ver a Soie. 12(2), 247-249.
48. El-Karaksy, I.A. (1979). Studies on silkworms in Egypt. Attempts for enhancing silk production by means of certain food .Ph.D. Thesis, Faculty of Agriculture - Alexandria University.
49. El-Karaksy, IA, Samia M. El Hattab, & Nagda A.El-Sayed (1990). Effect of nutritional conditions on the productivity of Eri-silkworm Philosamia ricini Bosid. Alexandria Science Exchange Journal, 11(3), 75-91.
50. El-Sayed, Nagda A. A. (1999). Evaluation of six mixtures of food additives on some biophysiological and reproductivity parameters of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori L. Menoufia Journal of Agricultural Biotechnology, 24(6), 1971-1986.
51. El-Massarawy, S.A.S. (1995). Anabolic effect of propolis extract on the larvae of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Egypt, 73, 41- 50.
52. Gad, Abir A. M. (2006). Effects of honey bee products on some biological and physiological parameters of mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori. The Egyptian Science Magazine, 3(2), 27-32.