Mulberry silkworm is a monophagous insect that derives all its nutritional needs from mulberry leaves. Thus, nutrition plays an important role in the growth and development of silkworm which ultimately impacts the economic traits. The present study evaluated the effect of less utilized specie in Vigna genera (Vigna subterranea) on rearing performance and cocoon traits of mulberry silkworm (Race: AC1 × AJ1). Aqueous solution of V. subterranean seed powder supplemented leaves at 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10% were fed to the fifth instar larvae while the control was treated with just water. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design in four replicates. The result showed that V. subterranean supplemented leaves led to better larval growth and consequently reflected in improved cocoon traits as there is a significant length increase in the treated group than the control (2.50±0.2). The cocoon (1.29±0.05) and pupal (1.01±0.04) weight observed for 10% treatment was significantly higher than what was obtained in the other treatments and the control group (1.13±0.07; 0.87±0.06). Thus, it can be inferred that Vigna subterranean at 10% concentration can be used in mulberry leaf supplementation in sericulture.
Key words: Mulberry, Silkworm, Bambara groundnut, Sericulture
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