Vol. 9, Issue 6, Part D (2024)

Quality assessment of mini clonal leaves through rearing of silkworm was conducted using chawki worms of five silkworm races such as CSR2, CSR4, CSR6, CSR8 and Double hybrid. Observations noted on survival per cent, larval duration and larval weight at I & II instar. Double hybrid recorded higher survival per cent of 74.38 and 61.31 and larval weight of 25.70 (mg/10 larvae) and 130.53 (mg/10 larvae) during I & II instar respectively. CSR 8 recorded the longest larval duration of 115.50 hrs and 133.54 hrs during I & II instar. The findings suggest that mini clonal leaves can serve as a viable nutritional alternative for sericulture, potentially optimizing silk production and contributing to sustainable practices in the industry. Further research is recommended to explore underlying mechanisms and long-term effects.