EFFECT ON COCOON PARAMETERS AND HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE SILKWORM, BOMBYX MORI. L ON EXPOSURE TO AQUEOUS PLANT (MANGROVE) EXTRACTS AGAINST TUKRA DISEASE

Abstract

Abstract:  Silk is a commercial commodity for India and many other countries. The large-scale production of silk associated with several factors and nutrition remain prime one. The silkworm feed on mulberry leaves and life cycle of worm depends on supply of food and quality as well. There are several diseases affect nutritional values of mulberry leaves in fact leads to diseases. Feeding of silkworm with such poor quality (nutritional values) and infected leaves may affect development of worm and silk production. The emphasis is given to use natural methods and approaches to improve nutritional values of mulberry leaves and infections. In recent studies bug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus) is key pathogen for Tukra disease in mulberry leaves and reported one of most common and serious pest problems. The impact of diseased mulberry leaves was studied on silkworm development. The present study has been aimed at investigating various economic parameters of the silkworm cocoon, when fed with aqueous plant extract mulberry leaves with Sonneratia apetala and Avicennia alba. Further, histological changes in mid gut and silk gland were explored in present study while feeding silkworm with healthy and infected mulberry leaves. The study also provides a detailed histological analysis of while feeding plant extract sprayed mulberry leaves to silkworm. The experimental worms were divided in to three groups there are control group, tukra affected group and extract sprayed fed group. Control group of silkworm larvae was fed with normal mulberry leaves. Cumulatively, the findings of the present study were observed to evaluate the modulatory role of plant extracts with particular reference to the quality and quantity of the silk.