IMPACT OF HONEY-ENRICHED MULBERRY DIET ON THE DIGESTIVE METABOLISM OF THE SILKWORM, BOMBYX MORI

R. Madhavi; S. Arivoli; S. Siva Prasad

Volume : X, Issue : IV, April - 2020

IMPACT OF HONEY-ENRICHED MULBERRY DIET ON THE DIGESTIVE METABOLISM OF THE SILKWORM, BOMBYX MORI

R. Madhavi, S. Arivoli, S. Siva Prasad

Abstract :

The impact of honey–enriched mulberry diet on digestive metabolism of Bombyx mori has been studied during fifth instar larval development. The biochemical data on digestive substrates (proteins, carbohydrates, trehalose and cellulose) and digestive enzymes (protease, α–amylase, trehalase and cellulase), have been analyzed in terms of developmental changes vis–à–vis the impact of hone–enriched mulberry diet on such changes. The growth trends in the midgut compartments of gut wall and gut content indicate that all digestive substrates tend to accumulate in the gut wall cells, while the activity levels of corresponding digestive enzymes tend to decline throughout larval development. The positive growth trends in digestive substrates and negative growth trends in enzyme activities indicate that the silkworm digestive metabolism follows Hutchinson’s investment principle and accordingly accumulates matter in gut wall as energy reserves for future use. The honey–enriched mulberry diet showed positive impact on matter accumulation in gut wall and digestibility of gut enzymes.