Phenology of Primary and Secondary Host Plant Species of Muga Silkworm (Antheraea assamensis)
Abdul Jalil1, Bedabati Dasgupta2 , Azizur Rahman3 and S.I. Bhuyan4
1Department of Botany, Hatsingimari College, Hatsingimari-783135 (India) 2Department of Botany, University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya-793101 (India) 3Department of Sericulture, Government of Assam, Guwahati-781022 (India) 4*Department of Botany, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Adarsha Mahavidalaya, Behali-784184 (India) *Corresponding Author: safibhuyan@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
A phenological study was carried out on primary Persea bombycina (Som) & Litsea monopetela Roxb. (Soalu) and secondary Litseasa salicifolia Hook. (Dighloti) & Litsea cubeba Lour. (Mejankori) host plant species of muga silkworm Antheraea assamensis in different states of North Eastern India taking monthly observations on tree height, tree girth, canopy, lowermost branch height of 5 years old tree and leaf parameters, shoots parameters, leaf initiation, leaf falling, flowering and fruiting, seed germination etc. All the plants varied significantly on most of the shoot and leaf phenological parameters. The longest leaf life span was recorded for Som 358 ± 35days. The leaf initiation started in March- June, matured in July-August and leaf falling in December-January. Shoot elongation rate was also significantly different for host plant species. Flowering bud started in November and flowering stage was longer in Som (26 days)and shorter in Soalu (20 days). Fruiting appeared from fourth week of March to first week of June in Som. The fruit attained maturity at 15 to 20 days after fruit set. The flower drop in inflorescence was 93.52% and only 6.48% of flowers set in to fruits on Som. Seed germination of Som is 25% and May- July is the seed sowing season.