Ten mulberry varieties viz., Tr8, Tr12, Tr20, S1708, MS5, Matigara black, C6, C10, Morus nigra and M5 were evaluated for leaf quality through rearing experiments using bivoltine (NB4D2) silkworms at Bethamangala, Kolar district. Results revealed that, silkworm larvae reared on S1708 leaves during II moult recorded highest larval weight (25.05mg) and moulting ratio (83.26%) and lowest larval weight (15.94mg) and moulting ratio (70.04%) recorded in silkworms reared on Morus nigra leaves. Silkworms reared on S1708 leaves recorded highest ten larval weight (43.21), cocoon weight (2.15g), shell weight (0.64g), shell percentage (20.96%), filament length (1142.69mts), renditta (5.07), denier (2.08) and E.R.R (79.98%) whereas lower ten larval weight (34.24g), cocoon weight (1.40g), shell weight (0.23g), shell percentage (15.12%), filament length (726.24mts), renditta (7.32), denier (2.98) and E.R.R (63.76%) were observed in Morus nigra mulberry variety. It is observed that, mulberry variety S1708 is superior in silkworm moulting and rearing tests compared to other varieties studied.
Keywords: Bombyx Mori, Cocoon Characters, Evaluation, Feeding, Moulting, Mulberry, Rearing
