Effect of Tree Spacing on Silkworm Growth: A Comparative Analysis of Mulberry Varieties V1 and G4

The study evaluated the impact of three spacing configurations—5 ft × 5 ft, 6 ft × 6 ft, and 7 ft × 7 ft—on the growth parameters of silkworms fed leaves from two mulberry tree types, V1 and G4. The results revealed differences in silkworm growth and yield based on the spacing arrangements. Notably, silkworms fed with 6ft x 6ft spaced leaves from the V1 variety showed the best performance, with improved parameters such as matured larval weight (3.30 g), ERR (92.51%), lowest mortality (7.25%), silk gland weight (788.56mg), silk productivity (6.70 cg/day), cocoon weight (1.80 g), shell weight (0.38 g), shell ratio (23.00%), cocoon yield (20.56 kg), pupal weight (1.29 g), filament length (1318.99 m), filament weight (321.51 mg), denier (2.45), and renditta (6.88 kg). The G4 variety showed similar trends, though slightly lower values than V1.