Vol. 11, Special Issue 2 (2022)

Author(s):
Sameena Maqbool, Zia H Rufaie, NA Ganie, Munazah Yaqoob, S Maqbool and Zahida Rashid

Abstract:
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) belonging to family Chennopodiaceae was reported to be having insect moulting hormone β-ecdysone or 20-hydroxyecdysone. The Leaves and soft shoots of this plant were collected, washed, dried and later on powdered for obtaining plant extract by using methanol. (Hot extraction by Soxhlet apparatus) The effect of this 20-hydroxyecdysone was later on tested on silkworm Bombyx mori L. for synchronization of maturation by using silkworm double hybrid (CSR6×CSR₂₆) × (CSR₂×CSR₂₇). In the present study fully grown larvae of 5^th instar were fed with mulberry leaves sprayed with different concentrations of this plant extract at 48 h, 72 h, 120 h and at the onset of maturation during 5^th instar. The control batches (without any treatment) and a group receiving mounting hormone (branded hormone SAMPOORNA), were maintained in similar conditions. The time and number of spinning worms during mounting process and other parameters were recorded in all the batches. Silkworms took 36-40 hours in normal course for completion of mounting completed the same in 18-24 hours when fed with mulberry leaves sprayed with this plant extract. The bivoltine silkworm hybrid immediately started spinning within 6-10 hours when fed with plant extract sprayed leaves at the end of 5^th age when nearly 3-5% worms had started spinning. The mounting process was hastened and finished within 24 hours in plant extract sprayed batches and also in branded hormone sprayed batches. Both were statistically at par as compared to control (without any treatment) which took 36-40 hours for completion of mounting.