UNIVERSITY OF MYSORE

DEPARTMENT OF STUDIES IN SERICULTURE SCIENCE

MANASAGANGOTRI.MYSURU-570006

A project presentation on
‘Effect of supplementation of amla juice with mulberry leaf on biomolecules and
economic characters in FC1 silkworm hybrid’.

PRESENTED BY

Kiran Kumara.D (SS200012)

Pavan H.R (SS200020)
Shalini.K.R (SS200025)
Shashi.B (SS200026)

GUIDE

Dr.M.N. Anil Kumar

Professor

2022
 CONTENTS

Sl.No Particulars
1. Introduction

2. Review of literature

3. Materials & Methods

4. Experimental results

5. Summary

6. Conclusion
 1. INTRODUCTION

 The silkworm, Bombyx mori L. is the specialist feeder (monophagus),

depending exclusively on the mulberry leaf (Morus sps.) as its food.
Needless to say, it has to derive its nutritional requirements from mulberry
leaves for its growth and development.

 Any variation in the nutritional components of mulberry leaves may have

some influence on the growth and development of silkworm.

 The dietary nutrition management has a direct influence on quality and

quantity of silk production in B. mori (Murugan et al., 1998).

 The quality of leaves provided to the silkworms for feeding has been
considered as the prime factor governing the production of good cocoon
crop.
 Feeding performance in B. mori is adjudicated by supplementary plant extracts

along with mulberry leaves .The leaf of superior quality enhances the chances

of reaping good cocoon crop.

 The silkworms fed on mulberry leaves enriched with ascorbic acid showed

better growth and produced heavier cocoons. Similar observations were made

by Madhu Babu (1992).

 Supplementation of plant extracts viz. Tribulus terrestris, Pssoralea coryleifolia,

Phyllanthus niruri, Polypodium sps., Parthenium hysterophorus and Tridax

procumbens, increases silk yield and fecundity of B.mori. (Rajashekargouda

1991; Murugan et al., 1994; Shiva Kumar et al.,1995; Murugesh 2002 ).

 In recent year, adequate work has been undertaken on dietary

supplementation of plant extracts to improve rearing and reeling parameters

. However, not much more information is available on biomolecules due to

supplementation of plant extracts. In this context proposed project work was

undertaken to study the supplementation of amla juice on biomolecules and

economic parameters of silkworm.

 OBJECTIVES

 To record the impact of amla juice at varied concentrations on the

biomolecules in the FC1 silkworm hybrid.

 To study the influence of amla juice at different concentrations on economic

parameters in the FC1 silkworm hybrid.
 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
 Effect of botanical extracts treated with mulberry leaf on economic parameters of
B. mori .

 Alagumalai et al., (1991) reported bran of pulses (red gram and black gram) were
supplemented to the silkworm resulting in higher larval weight (3.756g), silk gland
weight (1.178 g), cocoon weight (1.819 g) and shell weight (0.309 g) was obtained in the
larvae fed on red gram bran compared to control (2.125g, 0.582g, 1.030g and 0.162g),
respectively.

 Roychoudhury et al., (1994) reported that fifth instar bivoltine hybrid (JD 6x SF19) reared
on artificial diet containing soya bean and defatted soya bean as protein supplements
had a shorter larval duration (12 days), improvement in larval weight (3.78 g) and
significant increase in single cocoon weight (1.48 g) as compared to larvae reared on
mulberry leaves alone (12.5 days, 3.62 g and 1.43 g, respectively).
 The application of petroleum ether and aqueous extract of Tribulus terrestris and
Psoralea coryleifolia indicated an increase of 4.8 per cent in cocoon yield over the
control (Rajashekargouda et al., (1997).
 Vanitha et al., (2006b) reported that silkworm hybrid CSR2 X CSR4 fed on leaves
supplemented with 80 per cent fine fresh ragi flour +20 per cent activated horse gram
fine fresh flour from fourth instar until spinning exhibited superiority over control in
respect of larval weight (3.671 g, 3.009g), cocoon weight (2.086 g, 2.060 g), pupal
weight (1.626 g. 1.610 g), shell weight (0.487g ,0.440g) and filament length (1065 m,
905 m), respectively.
 Effect of botanical extracts treated with mulberry leaf on larval growth and
development of silkworm, B.mori .
 The topical application of phytoecdysone extracted from leguminosae member Cassia
tora L. dosage level of 5 ml extract per 100 larvae on the penultimate day of spinning
gave positive results. "The maturity rate in PMXNB 18 and NB18X NB7 was accelerated by
6 to 12h (Anonymous,1988).
 Phytoecdysones extracted from leaf, bark and stem of Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. was
sprayed on the larvae of KA X NB 4D2 and PM X NB4D2 at the rate of 5ml per 100 larvae.
The number of larvae mounted at an interval of 6 hours was recorded. The maturation
time was pronounced in case of PM X NB4D 2 compared to KA X NB4D2 Anonymous,
1989).
 According to Latha et al.,(2012), aqueous extracts of different medicinal

plants viz., Adathoda vasica, Bougainvillea spectabilis, Phyllanthus niruri,

Terminalia arjuna and Pongamia glabra administered to fifth instar larvae of

PM x CSR2 through mulberry leaves revealed positive response to the

botanical treatments. However, there was an increase in mature larval weight

from 25.65 to 28.68 g/10 which were recorded for P. glabra and P.niruri

administered batches respectively. Further the trend was same, even in silk

productivity (3.52 to 4.60 cg/day) and reduced total larval mortality (15 to

7%) over the control (21%). It may be due to the presence of biomolecules

like tannins (340 mg/g) and total phenols (188 mg/g) in P. niruri, which might

have enhanced the growth of the silkworm and act as viral inhibitors in

avoiding infection by BmNPV as well as enhancing silk yield and quality as

reflected in the experimental data.

 
 Effect of plant extracts on metabolism and physiology of silkworm.

 Ahsan et al., (1976) studied the role of phytohormones in terminating pupal

diapause of Antheraea mylitta D. The topical application of cyasterone to the green
pupae (with in 2 hour of pupation of A. mylilta was effective in influencing pupal
adult development. The emerged adults behaved normally in respect of coupling,
egg laying and hatching behavior.

 Anil Kumar and Prashanth (2018) Proved that silk worm breeds CSR2 and CSR4
reared on mulberry leaf supplemented with soya bean flour at 4% concentration
enhance alanine aminotransferase in fifth instar 6th day larvae (518.10 unit/g
protein and 470.50 unit/ g protein) followed by fifth instar 3rd day (449.08 unit/ g
protein and 396.23 unit/ g protein) and fifth instar 1st day (359.0 unit/g protein and
306.43 unit/g protein). Similar trend was registered for aspartate aminotransferase
by CSR2 and CSR4.
 Manjula Saravanan et al., (2011) registered that mulberry leaves supplemented with Vigna
unguiculata flour at 7.5% concentration enhances the enzyme activities of aspartate
aminotransferase (420.67 μ/L) alanine aminotransferase (241.53 μ/L) and alkaline
phospatase (24.15 μ/L) in the haemolymph of fifth instar first day silkworm larvae as over
respective control batches (390.22 μ/L, 212.08 μ/L and 19.17 μ/L).
 Manjula Saravanan et al., (2010a) reported that mulberry leaves fortified with Dolichos
lablab flour at 7.5% concentration increase the activities of aspartate aminotransferase
(440.02 μ/L) alanine aminotransferase (212.08 μ/L) and alkaline phosphatase (24.16μ/L) in
the haemolymph of fifth instar1st day old silkworm larvae as compared to respective
control batches (390.22μ/L, 212.08 μ/L and 19.17 μ/L)

  Manjula Saravanan et al. (2010b) noticed that the silkworm larvae NB 4D2 nourished with
mulberry leaves supplemented with Dolichos lablab flour solution at varied concentrations
viz. 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10% concentration along with mulberry leaf to record enzyme
activities such as amylase, sucrose, protease, urease and trehalose in midgut tissue of
fourth day of fourth instar larva. Results of the study indicated that increase in the activity
levels of amylase, sucrose, protease and urease at 7.5% supplementation over control
batch. However, decrease in trend of trehalose activity at this concentration.
 3.MATERIALS & METHODS
“Effect of supplementation of amla juice with mulberry leaf on biomolecules and
economic characters in FC1 silkworm hybrid ”. was carried out at the Department of
Studies in Sericulture Science, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore during 2022.
The methods followed and materials used in the study are presented under the following
headings.

3.1 Maintenance of mulberry garden

 The experiment was conducted using mulberry garden (V-1 variety) maintained at
Manasagangothri campus, Mysuru.
 The tender and medium mulberry leaves were used for young-age silkworm rearing.
While, coarse leaves were used for late-age rearing.
 To maintain good quality leaf for feeding, proper methods were followed during
harvesting and storage.
 Fresh leaves were collected during morning and evening hours of the day and stored in
leaf preservation chamber covered with wet gunny cloth to reduce loss of moisture and
degradation of nutrients (Sekharappa et al., 1991).
3.2 Disinfection of rearing house and appliances
 To ensure the rearing house and appliances pathogen free, they were thoroughly
cleaned with water and 2% bleaching powder solution followed by 2.5% Sanitech
solution @1.5 liter per square meter to achieve disinfection (Dandin et al., 2003).

3.3 Procurement of disease free layings (DFLs) and incubation

 The disease free layings (eggs) of popular bivoltine silkworm hybrids namely FC1
(CSR2 x CSR26) was procured from the National Silkworm Seed Organization (NSSO),
Central Silk Board (CSB), Mysuru.
 The egg cards were surface sterilized by dipping them in 2% formalin for 8-10 minutes
and dried in shade before use.
 The eggs were incubated at room temperature (250C) and 70-80% relative humidity by
adopting standard incubation method and were subjected to black boxing for about 48
h at pin head stage (Benchamin and Nagaraj, 1987).
3.4 Rearing of silkworm

 After brushing the eggs, newly hatched silkworms were carefully shifted on to the rearing
bed and fed fresh tender leaves and reared by employing stranded rearing techniques
advocated by Dandin and Giridhar (2010).
3.5 Selection of plant extract

Amla fruit juice (Phyllanthus emblica )

Classification
Kingdom - Plantae
Order - Malphighialas
Family - Phyllanthaceae
Genus -Phyllanthus
Species - emblica
Medicinal properties
Amla consumed as in large quantities. The major quantity of amla used making
Chayavanprash , Ayurvedhic medicines , Cosmetics products and other values added
products like preserve juice , ready to served drinks sherbet , jam , fruit bar , dehydrated
amla , whole or powder , mouth fresheners , etc.
Chayavanprash is generally considered as health tonic in all aspects where as Ayurvedhic
products like TRIPHALA is used for constipation and cosmetic products like hair oil creams
are useful for keeping hair and skin healthy respectively. As amla is richest source of
vitamin-c promote immune function and liver health.
 3.6 Estimation of biomolecules

 Collection and preservation of samples

 The midgut and fat body tissue was collected by dissecting larva and fat
body was taken after removing the digestive track.
 The collected samples were preserved at -20oC until further use.

 Biochemical analysis was carried out in the fat body and midgut tissue of
silkworm during 5th instar 1st day to 6th day old larvae in respective
treatments as well as control batches.
 PROTEIN

Estimation of total protein were carried out according to Lowry et al.,

(1951).

Tissue extract (0.1g )

Add 10 ml of Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 20 min.

1 ml sample homogenate.
+
5 ml of protein reagent.

Add 0.5 ml of follin’s reagent.

Incubated for 30 minutes
at room temperature.

O.D will be measured at 660 nm against blank.

mg of protein/ g of wet tissue.
 CARBOHYDRATES

Total carbohydrates were estimated by Anthrone method as described by

Dubios et al. (1956) using glucose as standard.

1 ml of tissue homogenate will be prepared + 4ml of anthrone reagent

Boiling the contents exactly for 8

minutes

Contents are cooled under running water.

OD is measured at 620nm.

mg of carbohydrates/g wet tissue.

 Analysis of economic parameters
1. Larval weight (g)
Three larvae were randomly selected in each replication of every treatment and weighed
just before spinning.

2. Cocoon weight (g)

Three cocoons were randomly selected from each treatment replication-wise and the
mean cocoon weight was computed.

3. Pupal weight (g)

Weight of three pupae from the already weighed cocoons was recorded replication-wise in
all the treatments.

4. Shell weight (g)

After removing the pupa and larval exuvium from the cocoons, the shell weight was
recorded.

5. Shell ratio (%)

The shell ratio was calculated using the formula:
Shell weight (g)
Shell ratio (%) = × 100
Cocoon weight (g)
6. Filament Length
Ten cocoons were randomly selected from each batch was reeled to find out the filament length of the
cocoon using epprouvette and was determined by adopting the formula:
L = R×1.125
R = Number of revolutions recorded by epprouvette.
1.125 = Circumference of epprouvette in meter.

7. Denier
This denotes the thickness of the filament, 9000 meters of the silk filament weighing 1g is considered
as 1 denier. It is calculated using following formula:

Weight of the filament

Denier = × 9000
Length of the filament
8. Renditta
This is a measure of actual silk available from the cocoons. The renditta was expressed as the
quantity of cocoons required to get a kg of raw silk.

Weight of cocoon reeled

Renditta =
Weight of raw silk obtained
9. Raw silk percentage
It was calculated as the quantity of silk produced from a unit weight of cocoons.
Silk weight
Raw silk percentage = × 100
Total cocoon weight
 4. RESULTS
BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES

Amla 0.2% Amla 0.4% Amla 0.6% Control (DW) Control

118.15
115.13
109.13

110.27
109.52

106.33
100.28

94.37
140.00

96.26
88.73

91.22
120.00

84.53
79.42
73.38
69.23

67.19
60.53
64.47
100.00

58.84
52.04
(mg)

51.69
49.28
46.32
80.00
39.80

41.42
37.58
34.26

38.81
29.74
32.02

60.00
40.00
20.00
0.00
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6

Fifth instar

Effects of fortified mulberry leaf with amla on protein content in fat body of FC 1 silkworm
hybrid.
 Amla 0.2% Amla 0.4% Amla 0.6% Control (DW) Control

74.44
75.28
72.57
70.83
69.13
67.29
80.00

62.19
63.28
61.52
64.10
59.13
57.32
70.00

54.84
48.48
51.04
48.75
44.26
60.00 43.91

40.26
45.53
41.93
38.83
39.10
36.35
50.00
31.83

34.82
35.16
29.22
28.55
(mg)

40.00
26.16

30.00

20.00

10.00

0.00
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6

Fifth instar

Effects of fortified mulberry leaf with amla on protein content in midgut of FC 1 silkworm
hybrid.
 Amla 0.2% Amla 0.4% Amla 0.6% Control (DW) Control

34.61
33.05
40.00

31.99

28.46
28.50
28.01
35.00

26.47
25.96
30.00

23.12
22.07
19.76
19.25
18.96
25.00

16.79
16.39
(mg)

20.00

11.18
10.98
10.08
9.92
9.17
15.00
4.96
5.02

4.20
10.00 4.87
4.54
3.10
3.28

2.99

2.72
2.93

5.00

0.00
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6
Fifth instar

Effects of fortified mulberry leaf with amla on carbohydrate content in fat body of FC 1
silkworm hybrid.
 Amla 0.2% Amla 0.4% Amla 0.6% Control (DW) Control

29.85
28.72
35.00

25.85
26.53
25.39
24.86
23.36

25.29
30.00

21.87
21.25
25.00

17.63
16.84

14.90
15.32

14.64
20.00
(mg)

10.17
9.83
15.00

9.40
8.93
8.42
3.98
3.83

10.00
3.54

3.31
3.39
2.36
2.68

2.29
2.56

2.25

5.00

0.00
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6
Fifth instar

Effects of fortified mulberry leaf with amla on carbohydrate content in midgut of FC 1 silkworm
hybrid.
 ECONOMIC PARAMETERS

Larval Cocoon Shell Shell Pupal Filament Filament

Cocn. Renditta Raw silk
weight Weight weight ratio Weight Length Weight Denier
(%)
(g) (g) (g) (%) (g) (m) (g) (kg) (%)

0.2 4.665±0.015 2.032±0.016 0.469±0.192 23.08±0.436 1.563±0.213 1204±106.53 0.401±0.196

2.998±0.193
5.067±0.058 19.73±0.699
2

0.4 4.492±0.009 2.004±0.006 0.455±0.218 22.70±0.516 1.549±0.215 1174±220.83 0.387±0.182

2.967±0.082
5.178±0.083 19.31±0.417
7

0.6 4.453±0.199 1.964±0.080 0.438±0.134 22.30±0.756 1.526±0.082 1125±222.17 0.370±0.101

2.960±0.081
5.308±0.123 18.84±0.160
8

Control
4.366±0.004 1.914±0.078 0.409±0.126 21.37±0.290 1.505±0.204 1066±62.865 0.341±0.074 5.613±0.098 17.82±0.524
(dw) 2.879±0.406

Absolute
4.287±0.002 1.861±0.070 0.391±0.121 21.01±0.940 1.470±0.249 1029±80.037 0.323±0.093 5.762±0.245 17.36±0.346
control 2.825±0.258

Influence of mulberry leaves fortified with amla fruit juice at varied concentration of larval and cocoon
characters of FC1 silkworm hybrid.
 2.032
2.05 2.004
1.96400000000
2 001
1.91399999999
1.95 999

1.9 1.861
(g) 1.85
1.8
1.75
0.20% 0.40% 0.60% CONTROL (DW) CONTROL

Concentrations

Effects of mulberry leaves supplemented with amla at varied

concentrations on larval weight.

Matured larval weight (gm)

Silkworm larvae fed on mulberry leaves supplemented with amla fruit juice expressed variation in
respect of larval weight with maximum being in FC1 at 0.2% (4.665g) followed by 0.4 % (4.492g)
and 0.6% (4.453g) respectively, while it was minimum in absolute (4.287g) and distilled water
control (4.366g).
 2.032
2.05
2.004
2 1.964
1.9139999999999
1.95 9

(g) 1.9 1.861

1.85

1.8

1.75
0.20% 0.40% 0.60% CONTROL (DW) CONTROL

Concentrations

Effects of mulberry leaves supplemented with amla at varied

concentrations on cocoon weight.

Cocoon weight (gm)

The larvae reared on mulberry leaves extra foliated with amla exerted highest cocoon
weight of 2.032g at 0.2% followed by 0.4% (2.004g) and 0.6% (1.964g). As against to
this, it was lowest in absolute (1.861g) and distilled water (1.914g) batches .
 0.48
0.463
0.46 0.457
0.446
0.44

0.42 0.41
0.39100000000
(g)

0.4 0001
0.38

0.36

0.34
0.20% 0.40% 0.60% CONTROL (DW) CONTROL

Concentrations

Effects of mulberry leaves supplemented with amla at varied

concentrations on shell weight.

Shell weight (gm)

The larvae reared on mulberry leaves fortified with alma juice at varied concentration
exhibited notable differences with respect to shell weight with highest being in FC 1 at 0.2%
(0.469g) followed by 0.4% (0.455g) and 0.6% (0.438g), respectively. While, it was least in
absolute and distilled water controls (0.409 and 0.391g), respectively.
 23.5 23.08
22.7
23
22.3
22.5
22
21.37
21.5 21.01
(%)
21
20.5
20
19.5
0.20% 0.40% 0.60% CONTROL (DW) CONTROL
Concentrations

Effects of mulberry leaves supplemented with amla at varied

concentrations on Shell Ratio.

Shell ratio (%)

The silkworm larvae treated with amla juice at 0.2% concentration exhibit the
highest shell ratio of 23.08% followed by 0.4% (22.70%) and 0.6%(22.30%). Whereas
the larvae supplemented with distilled water and absolute control scored lowest shell
ratio of 21.37 and 21.01% ,respectively.
 1.6
1.572 1.5498999999999
1.58 9
1.56
1.54 1.51
1.52 1.505
1.5
(g)
1.47
1.48
1.46
1.44
1.42
1.4
0.20% 0.40% 0.60% CONTROL (DW) CONTROL
Concentrations

Effects of mulberry leaves supplemented with amla at varied

concentrations on pupal weight.

Pupal weight (gm)

The pupa formed by the larvae reared on mulberry leaves supplemented with amla
juice at 0.2% registered maximum pupal weight of 1.563g followed by 0.4% (1.549g)
and 0.6% (1.526g)over distilled water and absolute control batches.
 1250
1204
1200 1174
1150 1125
1100
1066
(m)
1050 1029
1000
950
900
0.20% 0.40% 0.60% CONTROL (DW) CONTROL
Concentrations

Effects of mulberry leaves supplemented with amla at varied

concentrations on filament length.

Filament length (m)

Filament length is one of the major contributing quantitative traits in silkworm. The
silkworm reared on mulberry leaves supplemented with amla recorded marked
differences in respect of filament length with maximum being in FC 1 at 0.2% (1204 m)
followed by 0.4% and 0.6% (1174 and 1125m). Among the supplemented batches the
lowest filament was observed at 0.6% when compared to absolute control (1029m) and
distilled control (1066m).
 0.45 0.387000000000
0.401 001
0.4 0.37
0.341 0.323000000000
0.35 001
0.3
0.25
0.2
(g)

0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0.20% 0.40% 0.60% CONTROL CONTROL
(DW)
Concentrations

Effects of mulberry leaves supplemented with amla at varied

concentrations on filament weight.

Filament weight (gm)

The silkworm larvae supplemented with amla at 0.2% exerted highest filament weight
of 0.401g followed by 0.4% (0.387g) and 0.6% (0.370g) over absolute (0.323g) and
distilled water control (0.341g) batches.
 19.73
20
19.31
19.5
18.84
19
18.5
17.82
%
18
17.36
17.5
17
16.5
16
0.20% 0.40% 0.60% CONTROL (DW) CONTROL

Effects of mulberry leaves supplemented with amla at varied concentrations on

cocoon denier.

Denier
It denotes size of filament obtained from cocoons of silkworm breeds. Marginal variation
was noticed in respect of denier among breeds provided with mulberry leaves fortified
with amla fruit juice at different concentrations. In FC1silkworm shows lowest denier at
absolute control (2.825) followed by distilled water (2.879), 0.6% (2.960) and 0.4%
(2.967). As opposed to this, highest denier was noticed with 0.2% (2.998) concentration.
 3.05
2.998
3 2.967 2.96

2.95
2.879
2.9
2.825
2.85

2.8

2.75

2.7
0.20% 0.40% 0.60% CONTROL (DW) CONTROL
Concentrations

Effects of mulberry leaves supplemented with amla at varied

concentrations on renditta.

Renditta
This trait indicates actual silk available from the cocoon. Notable variation was noticed
with respect to renditta among breeds provided with mulberry leaves fortified with amla
fruit juice at varied concentrations. In the FC1 silkworm lowest renditta was recorded at
0.2% (5.067) followed by 0.4% (5.178) and 0.6% (5.308). In contrast, highest renditta was
seen in absolute control (5.762) and distilled water (5.613) batches.
 19.73
20
19.31
19.5 18.84
19
18.5
% 17.82
18 17.36
17.5
17
16.5
16
0.20% 0.40% 0.60% CONTROL (DW) CONTROL

Effects of mulberry leaves supplemented with amla at varied

concentrations on raw silk percentage .

Raw silk percentage(%)

The raw silk percentage indicates that the amount of silk obtained produced from the
cocoon. The mulberry leaves fortified with the amla fruit juice shows raise in the raw silk
percentage. The 0.2% concentration shows the highest raw silk percentage of 19.73%
followed by 0.4 and 0.6% concentrations (19.73 and 18.84%), respectively. While, it was
lowest in absolute and distilled water control (17.36 and 17.82%).
0.2% 0.4% 0.6%

Control (DW) Control

FC1 silkworm fed on mulberry leaves fortified with amla at varied

concentrations
 0.2% 0.4% 0.6%

Control (DW) Control

Cocoons of FC1 silkworm fed on mulberry leaves fortified with amla at varied
concentrations
 SUMMARY

 The FC1 silkworm hybrid scored better in respect of larval weight, cocoon weight,

shell weight, pupal weight, shell ratio, filament length, filament weight, renditta and

raw silk percentage except denier at 0.2% supplementation of amla over remaining

treatments as well as control batches.

 Both carbohydrate and protein contents were relatively higher at 0.2%

supplementation of amla as against control batches.

 The silkworm larvae nourished on mulberry leaf enriched with amla at 0.2% recorded

higher protein and carbohydrate content in 5 th instar 6th day and it was least in 1st day.
 CONCLUSION

 The results of the present investigation inferred that, the silkworm larvae
reared on mulberry leaves fortified with amla juice performed better with
respect economic parameters and same can be utilized for enhancing the
cocoon crop production.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 I express my sincere gratitude to my project guide Dr. M.N Anil Kumar,
Professor, Department of Studies in Sericulture Science, University of Mysore,
Manasa Gangothri, Mysuru - 570006 for his excellent supervision, precious
suggestions and support at every step of the project work.
 It is a great pleasure to express our sincere gratitude to Prof. H.B. Manjunatha,
Chairman, Department of Studies in Sericulture Science, University of Mysore,
Mysuru for providing the facilities and opportunity to carry out the project work.
 I also express my thanks to other faculty members Prof. T.S. Jagadeesh Kumar,
Prof. B. Sannappa., Dr. R.S.Umakanth., Dr. N. Murthy., Dr. Kunal Ankola., Dr.
Nagendra aradhya and non teaching staff for their support and co-operation
during tenure of project work.
 I would like to express special thanks to all my classmates for their support and
help.
THANK YOU