Abstract
BackgroundSericulture depends on rearing of silkworm on mulberry leaves. For this reason, Silk production has direct relationship with larval growth. One of the alternative ways of improvement of larval growth and cocoon production is enrichment of mulberry leaves with supplementary nutrients. The present study has been aiming to find out the feed efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Spirulina-treated MR2 mulberry leaves with regard to food utilization by larvae and ultimate impact on the economic parameters of silkworm (Bombyx mori).ResultFresh mulberry leaves were treated with chemically mediated AgNPs and Spirulina; it was diluted by different concentrations such as 100 ppm AgNPs (T2), 300 ppm AgNPs (T3), 500 ppm AgNPs (T4), AgNPs with Spirulina (T5), and Spirulina alone (T6). Group T1 served as the control. The result indicates significant differences among the six groups. The economic traits and the nutrient efficacy were significantly increased in AgNPs and Spirulina-treated groups when compared to those in the control.ConclusionSilkworms are the only source for producing silk. Commercial AgNPs and Spirulina administration has significantly induce food consumption, utilization, and superior cocoon characters by maintaining a balance in the gut flora. Thus, it is inferred that silkworm larvae fed with commercial AgNPs and Spirulina beneficially influence the energy and economic parameters of B. mori, which can be exploited in commercial cocoon production.
Highlights
Sericulture depends on rearing of silkworm on mulberry leaves
A higher rate of protein synthesis was reported in the fatbody (Martin, Kinner, & Thomas, 1971), and it seems to act as the storage organ for a variety of proteins and facilitate their
Rearing of mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori The third-instar larvae of Indian bivoltine hybrid silkworm Bombyx mori were collected from chawki worm rearing center, Kethanur, Tamil Nadu, India
Summary
Sericulture depends on rearing of silkworm on mulberry leaves. For this reason, Silk production has direct relationship with larval growth. One of the alternative ways of improvement of larval growth and cocoon production is enrichment of mulberry leaves with supplementary nutrients. The present study has been aiming to find out the feed efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Spirulina-treated MR2 mulberry leaves with regard to food utilization by larvae and ultimate impact on the economic parameters of silkworm (Bombyx mori). Silver nanoparticles exhibit new optical properties, which are observed neither in molecules nor in bulk metals (Asta, Igoris, Puiso, Algimantas, & Asta, 2006). Chemical reduction is the most frequently adopted method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as colloidal silver dispersion in water is stable. The reduction of silver ions in aqueous solution generally yields colloidal silver with the size of particles being several nanometers in diameter (Aashritha, 2013)
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