Abstract:
Recently a number of mulberry silkworm strains and mulberry varieties found in the world and a few of them are found in Ethiopia. However no sufficient information were available respecting the variability in larval weight and cocoon traits among different mulberry silkworm strains, and on the yield potential of mulberry plants. Hence, this study was conducted on five mulberry silkworm races viz., yellow (multivoltine), Kenya-3,Kenya-5,Korea-1and China-2 (bivoltine) so as to evaluate for their weight in fifth instar mature larvae and quantitative cocoon traits ,and on the yield potential of S13 mulberry variety based on different growth parameters. Both the experiments for evaluation of variability in larval and cocoon traits among the mulberry Silkworm strains and yield potential of S13 mulberry variety were carried out in Bonga at B/W/S/P School compound. Highly significant (p<0.05)difference was observed in mean larval weight, cocoon weight, shell weight and pupa weight among four silk worm races viz.,Yellow,Kenya-3,Kenya-5 and Korea-1.But in Kenya-5 and China-2 no significant difference in mean larva, cocoon, shell and pupal weight was obtained. Of the five mulberry silkworm races the highest mean larval weight, cocoon weight, pupa weight and shell weight were obtained from Korea-1 silkworm race while the minimum mean larval weight, cocoon weight, pupa weight and shell weight were accounted by yellow race. From the results there was no significant difference (p > 0.05), ) in mean shell ratio were obtained between (Yellow race and China-2), (Kenya-3 and Kenya-5),(Kenya-3 and Korea-1),(Kenya-5 and Korea-1) and (Korea-1 and China-2).However, the mean shell ratio among the following pairs (yellow and Kenya-3), (Yellow and Kenya-5 ) , (yellow and Korea-1), (Kenya-3 and China-2), (Kenya-5 and China-2) were significant difference (p < 0.05).The finding of this study also confirmed that the mean propagation, height , leaf size, leaf and shoot number in S13 mulberry variety showed an increasing trend at 45,60,90 and 120 days after planting .Thus, the propagation rate of S13 mulberry variety were achieved 56%, indicating for the adaptability to climatic condition of Bonga.
