Grainage performance of eri silkworm Samia ricini (Donovan) fed on different accession of castor food plants

Abstract

The commercially exploited Eri silkworm, Samia ricini (Donovan) is multivoltine and has several ecoraces. The ecoraces were maintained in the GPB and the high yielding ecoraces of Diphu eri silkworm was reared on different four accession of Castor, Ricinus communis Linn, that is, Acc. 003, Acc. 004, Acc. 011 and Acc. 056 in two favorable seasons, that is, Autumn and Spring. The study of grainage, that is, seed production and rearing performance of eri silkmoth with respect to moth emergence, egg laying pattern, single moth weight, length of wing span were studied with feeding of foliage of four different type of castor accession. The experimental study revealed that Acc.003 castor is found to be most suited host plant for eri silkworm in all aspects. The percentage of un-emerged cocoon was comparatively less in case of castor Acc.003 than that in other food plants. Both potential and effective fecundity in terms of eggs, egg size, fertilization of eggs and hatching% were found higher in case of castor Acc.003. In all aspects, Acc. 056 were found less suitable than Acc. 004, Acc. 011, and castor Acc. 003 accession.

Keywords: Castor accession, grainage performance, emergence, oviposition, fecundity, hatching.