School of Pure and Applied Sciences

Permanent URI for this collection

https://erepository.mku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/7092

Browse

Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    thesis.listelement.badgeOpen Access
    Differental effects of castor (Ricinus communis) varieties on productivity of eri silkworm (Samia cynthiaricini) silk in Thika, Kenya.
    (Mount Kenya University, 2024-01) Kamau, Mary Wangui
    Eri silkworms (Samia cynthia ricini) produce a protein fiber known as silk which is determined on the foods they ingest. Five castor (Ricinus communis) varieties namely M2, M3, M4, M12 and S11 were investigated to determine their differential effects on growth, development and cocoon productivity of eri silkworms. M4 variety recorded the highest preference followed by M3, M2, M12 and S11. Differences in growth rate and development of eri silkworms were registered where least larval duration was recorded in M2 and S11 (26 days each), M12 (27 days), M3(28.75 days) and M4 (28.25 days). Significant difference on larval survival was portrayed where M2 and M4 had the highest growth (100%), S11 (99.5%), M12 (98.5%) and M3 (73.5%). Effective rate of rearing (ERR) revealed significant difference where M2 recorded the highest (98.5%) followed by M12 (91.5%), S11 (91%) M4 (84%) and M3 (61.5%). The maximum hatchability (95.6%) was registered by S11 followed by M12, M4, M2 and M3 (93.2%, 90.4%, 88.9% and 86.5%) respectively. M4 recorded significantly higher fecundity (380 eggs/female) followed by M3, M12, S11 and M2 (343,339.89, 327.38, 283.88) eggs/female respectively. Variation on mature larval weight was highest in M3 (4.78g) followed by S11 (4.70g), M4 (4.64g) M12 (4.58g) and M2 (4.27g). Eri silkworms fed on castor variety M3 recorded the highest cocoon weight (2.73g/cocoon) followed by M4, M12, S11 and M2 (2.62, 2.63, 2.57 and 2.35) g/cocoon respectively). M3 showed the highest shell weight (0.33g/shell) followed by M4, M12, S11 and M2 (0.32, 0.31, 0.30 and0.27) g/shell respectively. M3 registered (12.11%) shell ratio followed by M4, S11, M2 and M12 (11.87, 11.77, 11.53 and11.50) % respectively. The study found that certain castor cultivars, specifically M3 and M4, were the most promising in terms of cocoon characteristics and therefore recommended for further future research on growth development and cocoon productivity of eri silkworms in Thika, Kenya.