1Insect Resources Laboratory Animal Resources Programme, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, IBSD, Takyelpat, 795001, Manipur, India
2School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, 751024, Odisha, India
3College of Agriculture and Forestry, CHF, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, 791102, India
4Regional Sericultural Research Station, Imphal, 795004, India
*Email: rajacftri77@gmail.com (corresponding author):
Online published on 13 March, 2026.
Oak tasar silkworms,Antherea proylei is prone to viral, bacterial, fungal, and protozoan infections due to its semi-domestication. Nuclear polyhedrosis viruses are known to cause the highest loss of cocoon yield. In the present study we evaluated the effect of botanical extracts from the leaves of Vitex negundo L. and Lantana camara L. to suppress the NPV virosis in tasar silkworm and increase the cocoon yield. In comparison to both infected and uninfected untreated control, the artificially infected silkworm, A. proylei larvae with AnprNPV, exhibited a significant increase in cocoon weight, shell weight, and shell ratio when treated with varying concentrations (1, 2, and 3%), of methanolic extract from Vitex negundo L. and Lantana camara L. leaves, with highest increase observed in both 3% methanolic extracts. Infected control (AnprNPV@106 POBs/ml) recorded the lowest cocoon weight, shell ratio and shell weight. Moreover, the economic parameters are improved to optimal levels thereby making it applicable for enhancing quality and quantity in sericulture.
Antherea proylei, Nuclear polyhedrosis virus, Tiger Band Disease, Lantana camara, Vitex negundo, Sericigenous insects, Cocoon characteristics, Cocoon weight, Shell weight, Shell ratio
