Biochemical changes in spiralling whitefly affected cassava leaves and its impact on eri silkworm Samia cynthia ricini boisduval

Abstract

Changes in the biochemical constituents including nutritional and anti-nutritional values of the cassava varieties H226 and MVD1 infested by spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus Russell and its influence on economic traits of eri silkworm Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval were studied. The moisture, crude protein, total carbohydrate, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and total minerals, tannins and HCN of leaves of both varieties were drastically reduced following infestation. The larvae fed with infested leaves from both varieties showed significant adverse effect on economic traits i.e. increase in total larval period and reduction in other traits namely larval weight, effective rate of rearing, cocoon yield, shell yield, shell ratio, fecundity and hatchability compared to those of healthy leaves recording lower larval duration and higher values of other corresponding traits. For all parameters adverse effect was more pronounced in the lot fed with infested MVD1 leaf than the variety H226.