Vol. 7, Issue 11, Part G (2025)

The mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) is an important model insect in nutritional and developmental studies, with its growth and reproduction strongly dependent on dietary protein. The present study, conducted during March-April 2025 at the Experiential Learning Programme Unit on Commercial Sericulture, College of Agriculture, Latur (VNMKV, Parbhani), evaluated the impact of protein-fortified mulberry leaves on the biological performance of the bivoltine double hybrid CSR2 reared on V-1 mulberry variety under a Completely Randomized Design. Results showed that supplementing mulberry leaves with plant-based protein sources significantly improved larval and economic traits compared to the control. Among all treatments, 0.5% soya flour enrichment produced the best outcomes, including the lowest disease incidence (1.50%), the highest mature larval weight (47.23 g/10 larvae), maximum effective rate of rearing (97.03%), and highest cocoon yield (20.70 kg per 10,000 larvae). In contrast, larvae fed distilled water–treated leaves showed the poorest performance, with the lowest larval weight (39.57 g), lowest ERR (90.40%), lowest cocoon yield (14.83 kg), and the highest disease incidence (5.73%). Overall, the study confirms that protein supplementation through soya, groundnut, pigeon pea, pea, gram, black gram, and green gram flours enhances larval growth, cocoon production, and overall silkworm performance. The findings suggest that dietary proteins may directly influence reproductive physiology, potentially by improving vitellogenin synthesis and other key biochemical processes. Soya flour at 0.5% emerged as the most effective supplement, while untreated controls consistently underperformed, highlighting the critical role of protein-rich diets in silkworm development and productivity.