Effect of Feeding Graphene Coated Leaves to Tasar Silkworm on Performance of Cocoons Crop

Graphene is a single layer (monolayer) of carbon atoms, tightly bound in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice. It is extensively used as a reinforcing filler for biomaterial due to its high tensile strength, reactivity, compatibility and antimicrobial properties. Graphene may play a vital role in enhancing the quality and quantity of the cocoons, via enhancing the mechanical properties. During present investigation silkworms (Antheraeae mylitta D.) were fed with graphene sprayed leaves of Terminalia tomentosa Roxb. Enhanced quality and quantity of Tasar cocoons were obtained due to the feeding of graphene sprayed leaves to. larval silkworms. Raman spectroscopy confirmed that graphene was incorporated into the Tasar cocoons /silk fibers. The finding suggested that silkworm cocoons obtained from the worms consuming graphene had higher larval weight, cocoon weight, shells weight, cocoons volume as compared to normal feeding. Successful production of graphene-incorporated Tasar cocoons, and subsequently the silk may open up possibilities for the large-scale production of high quality and quantity of Tasar cocoons.