Morphological study and analysis of leaf architecture in two primary and two secondary food plants of muga silkworm, Antheraea assamensis Helfer in Assam
1Abdul Jalil, 2Bedabati Chowdhury and 3Azizur Rahman
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) Email: abduljalil4all@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Muga silk production is a pride of Assam. About 6% of the natural silk produced in the world is bagged by muga {Antheraea assamensis Helfer}. The muga rearing is very much dependent on its food plants which are mainly perennial tree available in the vast geographical region of North East India. While Persea bombycina Kost {Som} and Litsea monopetala Roax {Soalu} {Family: Lauraceae} are predominantly used as the primary food plants for rearing of muga silkworm and Litsea salicifolia Hook. and Litsea cubeba Lour. are used as secondary food plants for rearing of muga silkworm {Antheraea assamensis Helfer}. The leaf architecture in these food plants are diversed. The objective of the study is to reveal the morphological study and analysis of leaf architecture of those four primary and secondary food plants of muga {Antheraea assamensis Helfer}. The results of leaf micro morphology studies like, lamina shape, venation framework, stomata, trichomes etc can provide more accurate basis for the selection of food plants for the rearing purposes of muga silkworm.