STUDIES ON THE BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOASSAY DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF MULBERRY (MORUS ALBA L.) LEAVES FED BY SILKWORM IN RELATION TO SILK PRODUCTION
The domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori Linn., is an insect of immense economic importance for sericulture industry. Mulberry is the primary forage for silkworm and leaf protein is the base for synthesis of silk proteins. Nearly 72%of the leaf protein is biosynthesized in to silk by silkworm. The nutritive content in mulberry varieties is the potential determining factor for higher cocoon yield. Realizing the biomass and nutritive significance of mulberry, the objective was prioritized for quantitative and qualitative improvement quality of silk. To determine the cocoon parameters and economics traits of silkworm (V in star larvae) fed by V1, S36 and M5 mulberry leaves in relation to marphometric characters like cocoon length, cocoon width and cocoon weight, and Economic characters like yield of cocoon (%), cocoon shell weight (gm), cocoon shell ratio (%), silk thread length (mts.).The maturity of leaves fed by CSR2 × CSR4 (bivoltine hybrid) apical leaves increase the silk yield in commercial rearing. Nutritive parameters such as proteins and reducing sugars were also significantly altered. Moisture and moisture retention capacity (MRC) were found different stages of mulberry leaves