K. MASTHA*, T.RAJKUMAR AND C.V. NARASIMHA MURTHY
Abstract
Nutrition plays an important role in improving the growth and development of silkworm Bombyx mori. Silk production is mainly dependent on larval growth and nutritive value of mulberry leaves. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of application of various food probiotics on nutritional efficiency of Silk work Bombyx mori. Previous studies showed some promising results in increasing cocoon quality parameters with certain microorganisms such as Spirulina and Saccharomyces cerevisiae etc. In the present study experiments were carried out to determine the effect of different Probiotics on the microbial flora of gut of silkworm Bombyx mori fed with mulberry (Morus alba) leaves and four different probiotics such as Blue green algae Spirulina, Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus sporogenes. The gut microbial flora was analyzed. The data revels that various useful bacteria were increased and pathogenic bacteria were minimized with blue green algae Spirulina and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Data were collected and subjected to the statistical analysis. The results showed that blue green algae Spirulina and Saccharomyces cerevisiae had better efficiency of food conversion and silk protein formation when compared to Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus sporogenes.