Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Altitude and Food Plant Dependent Growth Variation in Pupa Of Indian Tasar Silk , Mylitta Drury () Grown During Rainy Season

Dr. L. K. Jena Department of Zoology, S. R. College, Baliapal, Balasore – 756023, Odisha, India.

Abstract: The nutritional status of food plants , the larva of which feeds on the leaves of a and altitudes play pivotal role in successful rearing number of food plants available in the natural of Indian tropical tasar silk worm Antheraea forests located at different altitudes. It is widely mylitta Drury both in commercial and seed crops. distributed in India in the form of about 44 The pupa is the most crucial stage of its life cycle ecoraces between the range of 16 - 240 N latitude for the adult life and race continuation as well as and 80 – 880 E from West Bengal in the East to for exploiting its genetic potency and dynamics to Karnataka in the South with its natural inhabitation our best advantages. In the present investigation an in the forest areas of Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, experimental rearing of Antheraea mylitta Drury Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra was carried out during rainy season in Similipal Pradesh. It is usually trivoltine (TV) (three broods Biosphere Reserve, Mayurbhanj, Odisha, India to in a year) at lower altitude (50 - 300 m ASL), evaluate the performance of growth parameters bivoltine (BV) at middle altitude (301 - 600 m like length, diameter and weight of pupa ASL) and univoltine (UV) at higher altitude (601 - metamorphosed from mature female larva reared 1000 m ASL). The tasar silk worm feeds the best on eight different food plants at lower, medium and on plants such as Asan ( alata W. & A.), higher altitudes. The performance of all the growth Arjun ( W. & A.) and Sal parameters of the female pupae at all the three ( Gaertn) which are considered as altitudes was observed to be significantly the primary tasar food plants. However, more than two highest in Sal food plant (Shorea robusta Gaertn.) dozens of secondary host plants are also available and the lowest in Jamun host plant (Syzygium of which Ber (Ziziphus jujube Gaertn), Sidha cumini (L.) Keels). The investigation also revealed ( parviflora Roxb.), Dha that irrespective of the species of food plants, ( Wall.), Bahada (Terminalia higher altitude is the most favourable for tasar belerica (Gaertn) Roxb.) and Jamun (Syzygium cocoon crop performance in comparison to cumini (L.) Skeels) are the most abundant. These medium and lower altitudes during rainy season. In unutilized secondary food plants can be exploited view of comparatively superior performance of sustainably for the rearing of A. mylitta by the growth parameters of female pupa of A. mylitta tribal rearers. The pupa is the resting stage of tasar during rainy season, the eight species of food silkworm where it stops feeding and remains plants utilized were graded in the order Sal > Asan almost dormant. It is a transitional stage when > Arjun > Ber > Sidha > Dha > Bahada >Jamun almost all biological activities and internal organs and the altitudes were ranked in the order higher of the larval body undergo a complete change. The altitude > medium altitude > lower altitude. life cycle of A. mylitta includes a long period of pupal diapause during summer and winter seasons. Key words: altitude, rainy, Antheraea mylitta, Since the food plants are known to have profound pupa, growth, food plants effects on economy of cocoon crop, establishment of food plant specificity of silkworm at different 1. Introduction altitudes during different seasons along with evaluation of commercial parameters of tasar The Indian tropical tasar silk insect Antheraea culture in different host plants is highly essential mylitta Drury is a semi-domesticated polyphagous for increasing the production of raw silk and seed cocoons.

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

A number of studies have already been made on tabular presentation was also prepared by use of the the performance of rearing of A. mylitta at lower experimental data to study and establish the altitude in some food plants [6]. Besides, literatures correlationship of growth tendency of female pupae are also available on Comparative Study of the between different food plants and altitudes. The Effect of Different Food Plants [8], Evaluation of data so obtained were statistically analyzed by Novel Tasar Silkworm Feed [13], rearing with applying standard methods like ‘t’ test and artificial diet [3], endocrine mediation in ANOVA test [18] for each type of pupal growth termination of pupal diapauses [15], influence of parameter. temperature and photoperiod on termination of pupal diapauses [12], bioenergetics during 3. Results diapauses [16], larval energetics in different food plants [5, 7, 4], impact of environmental factors on During rainy season at lower altitude, the the indoor rearing [17], induction of biomolecules highest growth of female pupa of A. mylitta in in mature leaves of T. arjuna [1], role of terms of length (4.14 ± 0.06), diameter (2.11 ± phytohormones in terminating pupal diapauses [2], 0.05) and weight (12.62 ± 0.13) was observed in rearing and cocooning in indoor conditions [14], Sal food plant (Table 1). The lowest pupal growth but lack of information on the growth performance in length (2.49 ± 0.06), diameter (1.01 ± 0.04) and of A. mylitta raised on different primary as well as weight (8.58 ± 0.14) was recorded from Jamun unutilized secondary food plants at different food plant (Table 1). The ‘t’ test indicated altitudes during different seasons prompted to take significant (p < 0.05) difference in growth in terms up the present investigation to evaluate the growth of length, diameter and weight of the female pupae trend of pupa metamorphosed from female larva of raised on different food plants. The ANOVA test A. mylitta in different food plants at different also showed significant (p < 0.01) interaction altitudes during rainy season for proper gradation between the food plants and the growth parameters of the food plants and altitudes. of pupae metamorphosed from female larvae reared at lower altitude during rainy season. Considering 2. Materials and Methods the overall performance of growth parameters of female pupae of A. mylitta during rainy season at A number of food plants having identical age lower altitude the food plants were graded in the and growth were selected at random from each of order Sal > Asan > Arjun > Ber > Sidha > Dha > the eight species at three different altitudes i.e. Bahada >Jamun. lower altitude (50 – 300 m ASL), medium altitude The growth of female pupae of A. mylitta in (301 – 600 m ASL) and higher altitude (601 – 1000 terms of length (cm), diameter (cm) and weight (g) m ASL) for the rearing of larva of A. mylitta during was also evaluated at medium altitude during rainy rainy season. The food plants were kept under season. The highest growth of pupa in terms of watch and ward activities throughout the rearing length (4.36 ± 0.05), diameter (2.19 ± 0.03) and process. The cocoon crop experiment was started weight (12.88 ± 0.14) was observed in Sal food with hatchlings hatched from 5 B.V. dfls supplied plant (Table 2). The lowest growth in length (2.64 by Research Extension Centre, Central Silk Board, ± 0.05), diameter (1.16 ± 0.03) and weight (9.54 ± Bangriposi, Mayurbahnj, Odisha. The larvae were 0.12) was indicated by the Jamun grown female reared on each type of food plant as per pupa (Table 2). Significant (p < 0.05) difference in recommendation of FAO manual and guidelines growth in terms of length, diameter and weight of published by Regional Tasar Research Station, the female pupae raised on different food plants Central Silk Board, Baripada, Mayurbhaj, Odisha. was observed from ‘t’ test. The ANOVA test also At the late fifth instar stage, the female larvae showed significant (p < 0.01) interaction between allotted with different serial numbers started the food plants and the growth parameters of pupae spinning the cocoon and metamorphosed to pupa grown at medium altitude during rainy season. In within the cocoon. The tough cocoons were view of comparatively superior performance of harvested from the food plants and their shell growth indices of female pupae of A. mylitta during covers were cut open to collect the pupae. The rainy season at medium altitude the gradation of female pupae were sorted out food plant wise. Then the food plants was in the order Sal > Asan > Arjun the growth of pupae was evaluated in terms of > Ber > Sidha > Dha > Bahada >Jamun. length (cm), diameter (cm) and fresh weight (g) in Likewise, during rainy season at higher altitude each species of food plant. The length and diameter the growth in length (cm), diameter (cm) and of the female pupa were measured by using weight (g) of female pupae of A. mylitta was also millimeter scale and slide caliper respectively. The analyzed. The highest value of pupal growth in weight of the pupa was determined gravimetrically terms of length (4.57 ± 0.03), diameter (2.34 ± by using 0.001 mg sensitive digital balance. The 0.04) and weight (13.62 ± 0.16) was observed in

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Sal food plant (Table 3). The Jamun grown female growth performance of female pupa on Ber remains pupa exhibited the lowest growth in length (2.86 ± very much at par with Arjun and Sal, for which it 0.05), diameter (1.19 ± 0.04) and weight (9.91 ± can be included under primary group of food plants 0.13) (Table 3). The ‘t’ test indicated significant (p of A. mylitta. However, in case of acute shortage of < 0.05) difference in growth in terms of length, food plants during peak period of rearing seasons, diameter and weight of the female pupae raised on the consideration of food plants like Sidha and Dha different food plants. Significant (p < 0.01) for rearing purpose is suggested here. In the present interaction between the food plants and the growth study the growth performance of female pupa parameters of female pupae grown at higher raised on Bahada food plants showed considerable altitude during rainy season was also observed results for its utilization at the time of severe dearth from ANOVA test. On the basis of comparatively of food plants. Further investigation on the above superior performance of the growth indices of the growth parameters at the other stages of life cycle female pupae of A. mylitta during rainy season at of A. mylitta during different rearing seasons may higher altitude the food plants were ranked in the be carried out to draw a concrete conclusion. order Sal > Asan > Arjun > Ber > Sidha > Dha > The Effects of altitude on the body size of some Bahada >Jamun. macrolepidopterans was reported earlier [19]. The above results revealed that the growth of Similar effects of altitudes on biology, productive female pupae of A. mylitta in terms of length, efficiency, body weight, commercial trend and life diameter and weight at lower, medium and higher span of Antheraea paphia Linn. were also observed altitudes during rainy season was found to be the [9]. The current investigation revealed that the highest in Sal food plant and the lowest in the growth of female pupa at higher altitude was Jamun food plant (Fig. 1, Fig. 2 & Fig. 3). significantly higher than at middle and lower altitudes in the same season and this confirmed the 4. Discussion reports of many earlier workers given above. The highest growth at higher altitude also coincided with prevalence of lower temperature (22.86 ± 0.47 Superior growth parameters of tasar cocoon 0 crop raised on Sal food plants was earlier reported C), higher relative humidity (86.67 ± 1.62 %) and [11]. Superiority of Sal at lower altitude during shorter photoperiod (11.78 ± 1.11 hr) than that of rainy season, whereas superiority of Asan during middle and lower altitudes. So the cause of the autumn and winter seasons in the same altitude for highest growth of female pupa of A. mylitta at cocoon crop parameters (weight of cocoon, pupa higher altitude might be due to the cumulative and shell) was also reported [6]. In the present effect of altitude, temperature, RH and photoperiod study the growth of female pupa in terms of length, as reported earlier by some authors. diameter and weight during rainy season at lower, medium and higher altitudes was observed to be 5. Conclusion the highest in Sal food plant and the lowest in Jamun plant. This indicated the nutritional As the demand for tasar silk is increasing day by superiority of Sal food plant among all the food day, it is impossible to meet the requirements by plants of tasar silkworm and commercial non- practicing cocoon crop performances on the limited feasibility of Jamun plant for grainage and egg available population of primary food plants. So it is production during rainy season. It might be due to absolutely necessary to find out the alternative and greater content of nutrients and phagostimulants in abundant species of food plants to fulfill the Sal leaf for the female larva to yield the highest growing requirements of tasar silk at the present growth of pupa favoured by optimum climatic time. Since the overall cocoon crop performance on conditions which can be ascertained by further Ber (Ziziphus jujuba Gaertn), an unutilized biochemical investigation. secondary food plant, remained very much at par Appreciable cocoon crop performance on the with primary group of food plants like Asan, Arjun food plants like Asan, Arjun, Sal, Ber, Sidha and and Sal, it can be treated as a primary food plant Dha was reported earlier [6]. Asan, Arjun and Sal for rearing of tasar silkworm. The vast availability are reported to be food plants of primary of this unutilized food plant near the rearing fields importance for tasar cocoon crop [10]. But the can be exploited sustainably by the local tribes for present investigation indicated that Ber, Sidha and successful cocoon crop performance of A. mylitta. Dha can be considered for the rearing activities of A. mylitta when there is inadequacy of primary 6. Acknowledgement food plants in the rearing field without hampering much the economics of cocoon crop, although they The author is thankful to authorities of Regional are graded as secondary food plants [10]. The Tasar Research Station (RTRS), Central Silk current finding also revealed that the overall Board, Baripada, Mayurbhanj, Odisha for

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in providing field facilities and the Head, P.G. Different Altitudes of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, F. Orissa, India”, The Bioscan, 2010, 5 (1) : 41 - 45. M. University, Balasore for the technical assistance. [10] Jolly, M.S., “Tasar Research Scientific Brochure”, Central Silk Board, Bombay, India, 1966, pp 40. 7. References [11] Jolly, M.S., Sen, S. K. and Ahsan, M. M., “Tasar [1] Abraham, G., Thomas, G. and Babu, C. R., culture”, Central Silk Board, Ambica publisher, Bombay, “Induction of 1974, pp 152. Biomolecules in Mature Leaves of Terminalia arjuna due to Feeding of Antheraea mylitta Drury”. The [12] Jolly, M.S., Sinha, S. S. and Razdan, J. L., Scientific World Journal, 2004, 4: 887 – 891pp. “Influence of temperature and photoperiod on termination of pupal diapauses in the tasar silkworm (A. [2] Ahsan, M. M., Jolly M. S., Banerjee, N. D. and mylitta D.)”, J. Insect Physiol., 1970, 17: 753 – 760. Biswakarma, “Role of phytohormones in terminating pupal diapauses of Antheraea mylitta D”, Indian J. Seric., [13] Kumar, D., Pandey, J.P., Sinha, A.K., Salaj, S., 1976, 15 (1): 21 – 26. Mishra, P.K. and Prasad, B.C., “Evaluation of Novel Tasar Silkworm Feed for Antheraea mylitta: It’s Impact [3] Akai, H., Suto, M., Ashoka, K., Nayak, B. K. and on Rearing, Cocoon Trait and Biomolecular Profile”, Jagannatha Rao, C. B., “Rearing of Antheraea mylitta American J. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with newly developed artificial diet”, Wild Silkmoth, 2013, 3: 167-174. 1991, 89-90: 121-127. [14] Ojha, N. G., Sinha, S. S., Singh, M. K. and Sharan, [4] Dash, A. K., “Rainy season energy budget of larva of S. K., “Rearing and cocooning of tropical tasar silkworm, Indian tasar silk Antheraea mylitta Drury Antheraea mylitta Drury (: Saturniidae) in (Saturniidae) living in wild Sal (Shorea robusta) host indoor condition”, Int. J. Wild Silkmoth and Silk, 1994, plant”, Int. J. Wild Silkmoth & Silk, 2001, 6: 1 – 7. 1 (2): 257 - 260.

[5] Dash, A. K. and Dash, M. C., “Energetics of the [15] Pradeep, A. B., Sharan, S. K., Singh, M. K., Sinha, Indian tasar silk worm, Antheraea mylitta Drury B.R.R.P. and Sinha, S. S., “Endocrine mediation in (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) raised on Asan (Terminalia termination of pupal diapauses in Antheraea mylitta tomentosa) food plant”, moth, 1989, 2: 165 – Drury (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)”, Indian J. Seric., 1997, 172. 36 (3): 39 – 42.

[6] Dash, A. K., Nayak, B. K. and Dash, M. C., “The [16] Satpathy, S., “Studies on bioenergetics of tasar effect of different food plants on cocoon crop silkworm, Antheraea mylitta D. during diapause”, Ind. J. performance in Indian tasar silk worm, Antheraea mylitta Seric., 2003, 42 (1): 32 – 34. Drury (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)”, J. Res. Lepid., 1992, 31 (1 - 2): 127 – 131. [17] Sharma, K. B. and Ali, Sarfaraz, “Impact of Environmental Factors on the Indoor Rearing [7] Dash, A. K., Nayak, B. K. and Dash, M. C., Performances of Tropical Tasar Silkworm, Antheraea “Energetics of the Indian tasar silk worm, Antheraea mylitta D. (Saturniidae: Lepidoptera)”, The Ecoscan, mylitta Drury (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) raised on Arjun Special issue, 2013, Vol. IV: 255-260. (Terminalia arjun)”, Int. J. Wild Silkmoth and Silk, 1996, 2: 37 – 40. [18] Sokal, R. R. and Rohlf, F. J., “In Biometry, The principles and practices of statistics in biological [8] Deka, M. and Kumari, M., “Comparative Study of the research”, W. H. Freeman & Co. San Francisco, 1969, Effect of Different Food Plant Species on Cocoon Crop pp. 1 – 776. Performance of Tropical Tasar Silkworm (Antheraea mylitta Drury)”, Int. J. Res. Chem. Environ., 2013, Vol.3, [19] Sullivan, J. Bolling and Miller, E. William, Issue 1: 99-104. “Intraspecific Body Size Variation in Macrolepidoptera as Related to Altitude of Capture site and Seasonal [9] Dey, D. G., Nayak, B. K., Mohanty, N. and Guru, B. Generation”, Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society, C., “Reproductive Characteristics of Modal Ecorace of 2007, 61(2): pp 72–77. Wild Tasar Silk moth, Antheraea Paphia Linn. at

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Table 1. Growth of female pupae grown during rainy season at lower altitude in different food plants

Food Plants Length (cm) Diameter (cm) Weight (g)

Asan 3.97 ± 0.03 1.97 ± 0.02 11.24 ± 0.12

Arjun 3.71 ± 0.02 1.76 ± 0.04 10.81 ± 0.11

Sal 4.14 ± 0.06 2.11 ± 0.05 12.62 ± 0.13

Ber 3.53 ± 0.04 1.64 ± 0.03 10.53 ± 0.11

Sidha 3.29 ± 0.03 1.39 ± 0.02 9.67 ± 0.08

Dha 3.09 ± 0.06 1.28 ± 0.03 9.42 ± 0.09

Bahada 2.84 ± 0.04 1.17 ± 0.03 9.03 ± 0.12

Jamun 2.49 ± 0.06 1.01 ± 0.04 8.58 ± 0.14

Table 2. Growth of female pupae grown during rainy season at medium altitude in different food plants

Food Plants Length (cm) Diameter (cm) Weight (g)

Asan 4.19 ± 0.02 2.04 ± 0.03 12.43 ± 0.13

Arjun 3.98 ± 0.04 1.83 ± 0.02 12.02 ± 0.11

Sal 4.36 ± 0.05 2.19 ± 0.03 12.88 ± 0.14

Ber 3.71 ± 0.03 1.67 ± 0.04 11.39 ± 0.12

Sidha 3.52 ± 0.04 1.48 ± 0.02 10.61 ± 0.11

Dha 3.33 ± 0.03 1.37 ± 0.02 10.36 ± 0.13

Bahada 3.03 ± 0.02 1.21 ± 0.04 9.98 ± 0.09

Jamun 2.64 ± 0.05 1.16 ± 0.03 9.54 ± 0.12

Table 3. Growth of female pupae grown during rainy season at higher altitude in different food plants

Food Plants Length (cm) Diameter (cm) Weight (g)

Asan 4.27 ± 0.04 2.19 ± 0.02 13.16 ± 0.09

Arjun 4.11 ± 0.03 1.94 ± 0.03 12.71 ± 0.11

Sal 4.57 ± 0.03 2.34 ± 0.04 13.62 ± 0.16

Ber 3.92 ± 0.02 1.81 ± 0.03 12.14 ± 0.12

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Sidha 3.68 ± 0.03 1.62 ± 0.02 11.43 ± 0.13

Dha 3.49 ± 0.04 1.48 ± 0.03 10.66 ± 0.12

Bahada 3.23 ± 0.03 1.36 ± 0.02 10.37 ± 0.14

Jamun 2.86 ± 0.05 1.19 ± 0.04 9.91 ± 0.13

5 4 3 Lower alt 2 Medium alt 1 Higher alt 0

Fig. 1. Growth in length (cm) of female pupae of A. mylitta raised on different food plants during rainy season at lower, medium and higher altitudes 2.5

2

1.5 Lower alt 1 Medium alt Higher alt 0.5

0

Fig. 2. Growth in diameter (cm) of female pupae of A. mylitta raised on different food plants during rainy season at lower, medium and higher altitudes 16 14 12 10 8 Lower alt 6 Medium alt 4 Higher alt 2 0

Fig. 3. Growth in weight (g) of female pupae of A. mylitta raised on different food plants during rainy season at lower, medium and higher altitudes

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