Activities of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in various silkworm races and correlation studies

The goal of the experiment was to estimate the levels of % enzymes (acid and alkaline phosphatases) in several bivoltine silkworm breeds (Bombyx mori L.). Correlations were also calculated to investigate their association with a variety of economic parameters. The SK1 silkworm breed had highest acid phosphatase activity of 5.26 µ moles of para nitro phenol released/ml of %/ mg protein/min. Other breeds, such as SK6, SK22, SK28, and SK33 were also found to be excelled. % alkaline phosphatase activity was found nil in all the silkworm breeds. % acid phosphatase had positive correlations with single shell weight (r = 0.713), single cocoon weight (r = 0.668), cocoon yield per 10000 larvae by number (r = 0.623), silk productivity (r = 0.674), cocoon yield per 10000 larvae by weight (r = 0.658), pupation rate (r = 0.619), and fecundity (r = 0.621). As a result, breeders may find these breeds to be prolific silkworm breeds and hence could be used in future breeding programs for evolution of new silkworm breeds.