Qualitative and Quantitative Silk Yield from Silkworm through Utilization of Humulene

Abstract

Terpenes and terpenoids are well known to maintain the juvenile condition of silkworm larvae. Humulene sesquiterpene compound with single ring and three units of isoprene. The present attempt was aimed to utilize humulene through acetone for applications (topical) on the second day to the fifth larval stage of double hybrid race of silkworm, Bombyx mori (L). The application humulene through acetone was resulted into yield of qualitative and quantitative silk cocoons and silk fibers. The entire cocoon weight (without floss), weight of shell of silk cocoon, weight of pupae. There was significant improvement in the silk shell percentage (ratio of shell to the entire cocoon) and scale of denier of silk through the utilization of spray of humulene solution to the fifth larval stage of double hybrid race of silkworm, Bombyx mori (L). The readings: 2.967** (±0.879); 0.843** (±0.137); 2.124 and 28.412*** respectively belong to weight of entire cocoon, weight of silk shell, weigh of pupae and the silk shell percentage (ratio of shell to the entire cocoon). The readings: 1489.63* (±229.53); 0.831** (±0.118) and 5.020*** respectively belong to silk fiber length (meter), silk fiber weight (gram) and the scale of denier. As a terpene compound, humulene exhibits probable activity analogous with natural Juvenile Hormone (JH) and may deserve applicable aspects of its utilization as efficient factor for growth of insects like silkworm. The schedule of spraying humulene through acetone should be introduced in the rearing of larval stages of silkworm for yield of qualitative and quantitative silk cocoons and silk filaments.