Malays. Appl. Biol. (June 2004) 33(1): 13-18
EFFECT OF ECOLOGICAL FACTORS ON THE SILK PRODUCING
POTENTIAL OF THE MULBERRY SILKWORM
(BOMBYX MORI LINN.)
UPADHYAY, V.B.*, GAUR, K.P. and GUPTA, S.K.
Silkworm Laboratory
Department of Zoology
D.D.U. Gorakhpur University
Gorakhpur - 273009 (U.P.)
INDIA
ABSTRACT
Results showed that the variation in temperature, relative humidity and photoperiod has no significant influence on the •*eight of silk gland in Bombyx mori larvae. The maximum weight of silk gland was 0.21 gm at 26°C, 0.23 gm at 80% RH and 0.22 gm at 12 hours light a day. The shell ratio of Bombyx mori was found to be influenced by varying temperature and relative humidity regimes. However, photoperiod has no considerable effect on the shell ratio. The shell ratio was observed to be maximum level of 12.7% at 26°C, 12.9% at 80% RH and 13% at 12 hours light a day.
ABSTRAK
Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa perubahan suhu, kelembaban relatif dan fotokala tidak mempengaruhi berat glanda sutera dalam larva ulat sutera Bombyx mori. Berat maksimum glanda sutera ialah 0.21 gm pada suhu 26°C, 0.23 gm pada kelembaban relatif 80% dan 0.22 gm pada sinaran cahaya selama 12 jam. Nisbah cangkerang Bombyx mori dipengaruhi oleh perubahan suhu dan kelembaban relatif manakala sinaran cahaya tidak memberi sebarang kesan. Nisbah cangkerang didapati mencapai aras yang maksimum sebanyak 12.7% pada suhu 26°C, 12.9% pada kelembaban relatif 80% dan 13% pada sinaran cahaya selama 12 jam.
Key words: Ecological factors, silk producing potential, Bombyx mori.
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