ANALYSES OF NUTRITIONAL CONTENTS OF PRIMARY HOST PLANT LEAVES OF TROPICAL TASAR SILK MOTH, Antheraea mylitta IN MAYURBHANJ DISTRICT OF ODISHA

Abhilash Acharya; Jyotipragyan Majhi; Gauranga Chandra Patra; Nakulananda Mohanty

Volume : VII, Issue : XI, November - 2017

ANALYSES OF NUTRITIONAL CONTENTS OF PRIMARY HOST PLANT LEAVES OF TROPICAL TASAR SILK MOTH, Antheraea mylitta IN MAYURBHANJ DISTRICT OF ODISHA

Abhilash Acharya, Jyotipragyan Majhi, Gauranga Chandra Patra, Nakulananda Mohanty

Abstract :

The tropical tasar silk moth Antheraea mylitta Drury is very important for the sericulture industry of India. The present study is aimed at investigating the nutritional constituents of the leaves of three major primary host plants in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha of tropical tasar silk moth, i.e., Asan (Terminalia tomentosa), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna) and Sal (Shorea robusta) to find out the better host plant. The concentrations of nutritional constituents, like protein, carbohydrate, ascorbic acid and total phenolics were determined. The result obtained were statistically analysed and it was found that the concentration of protein was highest in leaves of Asan and lowest in Arjun. The concentration of carbohydrate was found to be highest in leaves of Sal and lowest in Arjun. The concentration of ascorbic acid and total phenolics were found to be highest in Sal and lowest in Asan. Hence, from the present study it can be concluded that Sal is best host plant out of these three for commercial reå of tasar.