INFLUENCE OF MIRACULAN IN THE FOOD AND PROTEIN UTILIZATION OF DIFFERENT LARVAL STAGES OF SILKWORM, BOMBYX MORI L.

Influence of plant growth regulator, Miraculan (Triacontanol), a long chain aliphatic alcohol preparation on the growth of different larval stages (I & V Instars) of Bombyx mori L. was studied. The larvae of the test insect were fed with mulberry leaves soaked in four different concentrations of Miraculan viz. 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 and 5 mg/1, respectively. As the concentration of the plant growth regulator increased the growth rate of the experimental insect larvae enhanced proportionately. Both higher growth rate and increase in larval weight have been observed at the highest dose of 5 mg/1. The body tissue conversion from ingested food and protein was considerably enhanced at the highest dose of 5 mg/1. However, best larval growth occurred at a dose of 2.5 mg/l of growth regulator.