Effect of Antibiotic Administration on Growth and Development of Silk Gland in Mulberry Silkworm (bombyx Mori L.)

Nutrition is the important physiological process, which plays a prime role in the growth and in turn it affects the productivity of the silkworm. The supplementation of different materials along with mulberry leaves to silkworm results higher yield because the production of quality silk mainly depends on larval nutrition. The influence of antibiotic on growth and development of silkworm larva and silk gland was assessed. Solution of two concentrations (50 and 100 ppm) of antibiotic (Norfloxacin®) was administered orally along with mulberry leaves to two popular Indian silkworm hybrids (CSR2× CSR4 and BL67×CSR101) during 5th instar larval period. It was found that administration of antibiotic enhanced the growth and development of silkworm and recorded significantly higher silk gland, larval, shell and cocoon weight in treated batches. The growth of the silk gland during different hours of 5th instar was observed and maximum growth was recorded during 144 hrs and it was significantly higher for treated batches. The study summarizes that supplementation of mulberry leaves with antibiotic have a significant improvement in growth and development of silkworm larva, silk gland as well as other economical traits of silkworm.