Rice Bran Extract Enriched Mulberry Leaves (Morus Alba L.) For The Improvement Of Silkworm (Bombyx Mori L) Growth, Cocoon And Silk Production.

Abstract

Mulberry leaves are considered as an effective food for silkworm growth. The present research was conducted to study the growth performance of the 4^th and 5^th stages of silkworm (Bombyx mori L), which were fed with MR-2 variety mulberry leaves fortified with rice bran extract. This supplementary diet was increased the growth of late age silkworms. The 4^th stage of silkworm fed with MR-2 variety mulberry leaves fortified with 2.0 % concentration rice bran extract showed an increased average larval weight (0.89 ± 0.27 g) than the average larval weight in the control group (0.82 ± 0.27 g). The 5^th stage of silkworm fed with MR-2 variety mulberry leaves fortified with high concentration rice bran extract (1.0 %) showed an increased average larval weight (4.89 ± 0.32 g) than the average larval weight in the control group (4.41 ± 0.15 g). A significant difference was observed in parameters such as average larval weight, specific growth rate, weight gain, leaf supplied, leaf waste, and silkworm larval excreta at different concentrations of the rice bran fed group of silkworms in the control group fed silkworms.