Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research
 

Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research 

Vol. 5(6), pp. 391-395. October, 2017.

ISSN: 2360-7874 

 DOI: 10.14662/ARJASR2017.046

Full Length Research

Performance of different castor /Ricinus communis/ genotypes and their effect on eri-silkworms /Samia cynthia/

Metasebia Terefe¹, Abiy Tilahun¹, Kedir Shifa¹, Ahmed Ibrahim¹, Kassa Biratu², and Afework Bogale³

¹Melkassa Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box-436, Adama, Ethiopia

²Jimma Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box-192, Jimma, Ethiopia

³Hawassa Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box-06 ,Hawassa, Ethiopia

Accepted 16 August 2017

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is the primary feed plant for eri- silkworms /Samia cynthia /.The studies were conducted in field and laboratory conditions with the objectives to evaluate the agronomic and their rearing performance of different genotypes of castor on eri- silkworms. About 6 genotypes of castor namely, Acc 105524, Acc 208624, Hiruy, Acc 106509, Abaro and Local were evaluated in the field and laboratory. The treatments were arranged with RCBD in the field and CRD for laboratory experiments in three replications. Significant differences were observed in agronomic and rearing performances of genotypes of castor. In field, maximum number of leaf per plant (28 and 27) and dry leaf weight (167g and 169 g) were recorded from Abaro and Hiruy, respectively. However, the local genotype gave minimum leaf weight (205g). In addition, there were significant differences in rearing performances of eri-silkworms fed on different genotypes of castor. Among different genotypes, eri-silkworms fed on leaf of Abaro gave better results such as larval weight (8.20 g), effective rate of rearing (78 %), cocoon weight (3.30 g), shell weight (0.479 g), silk ratio (14.5 %), fecundity (372) and hatchability (84.17 %) as compared to other genotypes. In general, Abaro and Hiruy showed better results in agronomic performances; however Abaro also gave better results in rearing performance of eri-silkworms for improving silk production as compared to other genotypes

Key words: Castor genotypes, eri –silkworm, Samiacynthia, agronomic and rearing performance

How to cite this article: Terefe M, Tilahun A, Shifa K, Ibrahim A, Biratu K (2017). Performance of different castor /Ricinuscommunis/ genotypes and their effect on eri-silkworms/Samiacynthia/. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 5(6): 391-395

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