Studies on Effects of Nutrient Supplements fortified with Phagostimulants Formulation H1 on growth and development of indoor reared Antheraea assamens
A phagostimulant formulation H1 was fortified with different combinations of ascorbic acid, proline and Na cyclamate to study their effect on growth and development of Muga silkworm under indoor rearing. All the chemicals fortified with formulation H1 had positive effect on body tissue growth of Muga silkworm, the best fortified combination being ascorbic acid-proline that gave highest average tissue growth of 2.8861 g against the average tissue growth of 2.55934 g in control. In larval survivability, the fortified nutrient combination ascorbic acid – proline and ascorbic acid – Na cyclamate had profound effect in all the instars. In respect of cocoon qualities, measured as cocoon weight, shell weight and silk ratio, all the nutrient combinations with phagostimulant formulation H1 were high in contrast to control. Leaf extract of Som plant has positive effect if used in the spray solution as substitute of blank water.