Abstract:
Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) is a monophagous insect that drives almost all required nutrients for its
growth and development from mulberry leaf. Nutrition plays a vital role in sericulture. It improves the growth,
development, health, feed consumption and conversion of silkworm thereby improving the commercial traits.
Application of the required nutrient in the required amount to mulberry plant is, therefore, very essential for the
successful silkworm growth and cocoon production. The present study was carried out at the Department of
Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture Moshtohor, Benha University, Egypt. Chemical fertilizer, bio-fertilizer
and its mixture increased the traits of fresh cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell ratio, total larval
duration, hatchability, silk gland weight, filament length and filament weight and filament size. While,
application by bio-fertilizer resulted in better values for cocoon shell ratio, cocoon formation percentage,
larval weight, total larval duration, silk gland length and filament length. Both chemical and bio fertilizes
exhibited better values for pupal weight. Also, bio-fertilizer acquired the best values for pupation ratio and
cocoon formation percentage. Control and chemical fertilizer treatment gave the highest values for fecundity
and fertility traits. While, mixture and bio-fertilizers resulted in the best values for silk gland length.
Key words: Silkworm Bombyx mori Mulberry leaf Bio-fertilizers Inorganic fertilizers Biological
aspects Economic traits |
