The impact of zinc chloride supplementation on larval growth and economic cocoon parameters of eri silkworm

This experiment was aimed to evaluate the impact of zinc chloride on different larval growth and cocoon parameters of eri silkworm, which was administered as food supplement by fortifying the castor leaves with four different concentrations of zinc chloride viz., 2 μg/ml, 5 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml and 15 μg/ml during fifth instar of the larval growth period. This research has been carried out in five groups of silkworms, one control group and four experimental groups. The larvae reared on 2 μg/ml zinc chloride fortified castor leaves manifested better in respect of all the larval growth and economic cocoon parameters except larval and pupal duration which were registered longer in control batch. Eri silkworm reared on spring season was better than the autumn season.