Effect of Salicylic Acid on Commercial Traits of the Bivoltine Crossbreed Races of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

Topical application with 100, 200 and 300 ng/ml phytohormone salicyclic acid on commercial traits was analysed in bivoltine CSR2, CSR4 and CSR2XCSR4 crossbreed races of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. The results showed that there was significant increase in larval weight female cocoon weight, male cocoon shell weight, and hatching percentage with 100 and 200 ng/ml, silkgland weight, female cocoon shell ratio, male cocoon shell ratio, filament length, in all the treated groups in CSR2 race of the silkworm, B. mori when compared over the respective carrier controls. There was significant increase in larval weight and number of eggs per ovariole with 100 ng/ml, female cocoon weight, male cocoon weight, moth emergence percentage and egg productivity with 200 ng/ml and female cocoon shell weight, female cocoon shell ratio, male cocoon shell weight, male cocoon shell ratio, filament length, filament weight denier and moth emergence percentage with all the treated groups in CSR4 race of the silkworm, B. mori when compared over the respective carrier controls. There was also significant increase in larval weight, silkgland weight, female cocoon shell weight, female cocoon shell ratio, male cocoon shell weight, male cocoon shell ratio, egg productivity and length of the ovariole in all the treated groups, whereas filament weight, denier, number of eggs per ovariole and moth emergence percentage with 100 and 200 ng/ml, male cocoon weight with 200 and 300 ng/ml in CSR2XCSR4 crossbreed race of the silkworm, B. mori when compared over the respective carrier controls. These results suggest that the CSR2XCSR4 and CSR4 races showed good response to phytohormone salicylic acid when compared with that of CSR2 race of the silkworm, B. mori.