The maple syrup obtained from the sap of the sugar maple Acer saccharum, is a popular sweetener consumed worldwide. Ten percent aqueous solution of maple syrup was utilized for treating the mulberry leaves. The maple syrup treated mulberry leaves were fed to the fifth instar larvae of silkworm Bombyx mori (L) (Race: Bivoltine Double Hybrid (PO3 × ND5) × (CSR4 × CSR2 ). Treating the mulberry leaves with maple syrup & feeding them to fifth instar larvae was found reflected into significant improvement in the quality of the cocoons with 49–112 percent increase in the cocoon weight; 68 – 161 percent increase in the shell weight of the cocoon. The shell ratio of the cocoon spinned by the larvae fed with maple syrup treated mulberry leaves, were measured 22 24. The silk filament reeled from treated group was found significant with 38 80 percent increase in the length and 61 – 167 percent increase in the weight. The length and weight of silk filament reflect on the denier scale. The denier scale of silk filament of the treated group was found improved from 2.5 to 3.239
The contents of maple syrup belong to Acer saccharum (L) may serve to improve the digestibility & exert the influence on efficient metabolism in the fifth instar larvae of silkworm Bombyx mori (L). The maple syrup treatment may gear overall biochemical constituency of silkworm larvae for the fortification of silk filament. The fifth instar larvae of silkworm Bombyx mori (L) (Race: Bivoltine Double Hybrid (PO3 × ND5) × (CSR4 × CSR2) should be fed with leaves of mulberr Morus alba (L) supplemented with the sugar as in the present attempt. Use of herbal source for treating mulberry leaves and feeding the fifth instar larvae of silk worm,Bombyx mori (L) may be introduced in the rearing schedule. This may fortify the digestibility larvae and reflect into the qualitative silk production.
Silkworm , Bombyx mori, maplesyrup, Acer saccharum (L)
