Effect of phyto ecdysteroids isolated from diploclisia glaucescens (blume) diels and coscinium fenestratum (gaertn.) colebr. and juvenile hormone analogue isolated from cullen corylifolium (l.) medik. on economic parameters of bombyx mori l. under field c

In insects, moults and metamorphosis are initiated and coordinated by the interplay of juvenile hormone (JH) and moulting hormone (MH). External application of plants extracts containing phytoecdysteroids (PE) is found to reduce the maturation process in silkworms and synchronise it. Field level experiments were conducted to test the effects of PE isolated from the indigenous plants Diploclisia glaucescens (Blume) Diels (DG) and Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. (CS) on bivoltine double hybrids FC1×FC2 –a popular variety of silkworms. Synchronisation and significant reduction in maturation time by 12 h of silkworms was obtained on application of PE. A convenient method of using both JH analogue and PE extracts together on a single crop was also developed. Silk worm (Bombyx mori L.) positively responds to exogenous JH analogues and mimics when applied in minute quantities at appropriate time and thereby enhances the commercial traits. On application of JH analogue- Backuchiol - rich extract from another indigenous plant Cullen corylifolium (L.) Medik. (CC) produced an increase of 15-20% with regard to cocoon weight and shell weight. This technology is simple, affordable and could be scaled to industrial level.