EFFECT OF THE REFRIGERATION OF COCOON ON THE FECUNDITY OF MOTH AND HATCHABILITY OF EGGS OF MULTIVOLTINE MULBERRY SILKWORM (BOMBYX MORI LINN.)

The cold storage duration and prerefrigeration period of cocoon, both caused notable impact on the fecundity and hatching per cent of eggs. The egg laying capability and hatching per cent decreased with increasing duration of refrigeration at all the prerefrigeration periods. The egg laying capability of moth (385 ± 2.05) and hatching per cent of egg (95.83 ± 1.16) was maximum in case of untreated cocoon while both, the hatchability (40.36 ± 3.26) and fecundity (305 ± 4.24) were minimum in 2 days prerefrigerated cocoon, refrigerated for 30 days. The cocoon of Bombyx mori race Nistari may safely be refrigerated for 10 days without causing any notable decline in the feecundity of moth and hatching per cent of the eggs. Thus, it may solve the problem of sericulture industry regarding the safe post ponement of the emergence of moth with good status of fecundity and hatchability.