Muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis helfer) indoor rearing by integrated “leaf freshness technology”- A new technology

Abstract

Integrated Muga silkworm indoor rearing technology includes “leaf freshness technology” (LFT), “Nutrient Supplemented Phago-stimulant” and bacterial disease control by streptomycin sulfate. All these techniques were applied in complete indoor conditions up to cocoon formation and, very high positive significant results were achieved in respect of larval survivability, larval biomass growth and error (ERR) percent in comparison to outdoor conventional rearing. Muga silkworm, being wild in nature, is very difficult to rear in indoor condition. Moreover, the detached food plant leafs goes on wilting within few hours. LFT made it possible to rear Muga silkworm completely in indoor conditions and minimized early stage loss of larvae from nature’s vagaries, like pest and predators, souring temperature, hailstorm, wind, etc. The use of Nutrient Supplemented Phago-stimulant resulted to increased leaf nutrient quality, arrestancy of larval movement and increased feeding rate which reflected in the higher biomass growth in comparison to treatment without it use. Spraying of 0.5% streptomycin sulfate solution in the indoor reared Muga silkworm, minimized the bacterial infection thereby contributing to larval survivability. Normal cocoon qualities such as silk ratio, denier, sex ratio of male and female cocoon, were not affected by the use of Nutrient Supplemented Phago-stimulant, chemically treated host plant leafs used in LFT and spray of streptomycin sulfate solution. This new integrated LFT may help in adopting indoor rearing of naturally wild Muga silkworm for more production of Muga silk yean. Key words: Leaf freshness, phago-stimulant, nutrient, biomass, denier, integrated, streptomycin sulfate, indoor.