Foliar constituents of cassava varieties and their effects on rearing parameters of eri silkworm Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval Sakthivel N. Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board, Government of India, Allikkuttai (Post), Salem, 636017, Email: drnsakthivelcsb@gmail.com Online published on 5 February, 2019. Abstract Foliar constituents of seven cassava varieties viz. CO2, CO3, CO(TP)4, H165, H226, MVD1 and Kunguma Rose in relation to crop age at 6, 8 and 10 months after plantation and its influence on rearing parameters of eri silkworm (Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval) was studied. This was studied to find out the suitable variety for ericulture. Among the varieties, highest nutrient contents viz., leaf moisture crude protein, total carbohydrate, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and total minerals and low values in anti-nutritional contents i.e. tannin and HCN were observed with H165, closely followed by MVD1. The CO2 variety was found to be having the least nutritional levels and exhibiting higher values of anti-nutrient contents. The biochemical contents except that of total carbohydrates and tannins decreased with crop age and all the nutrients were positively correlated with economic traits of eri silkworm. Only, tannins and HCN showed negative correlations. The economic traits viz., ERR, cocoon yield, shell yield, SR %, fecundity and hatching % were superior in H165 and MVD1 followed by CO4; the least values of were observed in variety CO2. The varieties H165 and MVD1 cultivated under semiirrigated conditions might be exploited for ericulture to generate additional income to the cassava growers. Top Keywords Manihot esculenta, foliar constituents, Samia cynthia ricini, rearing parameters, economic traits, tannins, HCN, age of plants. Top |