INFLUENCE OF FORTIFICATION OF MULBERRY LEAVES WITH NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC MULTIVITAMINS ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF Bombyx mori L.

Fourth instar of silkworm larvae, Bombyx mori L. were fed on mulberryleaves fortified with two different multivitamin sources, natural (bee honey) andsynthetic (Pharovit iron). The impact of the larval, cocoon, shell and pupal weight,filament length and weight and the number of breaks during reeling (filament size)were examined. Different results on biological parameters were obtained based onused concentrations or treatments. All the tested concentrations of two multivitaminsincreased filament size than control except the least concentration of Pharovit iron.Results also established highly significant elevation in the total soluble protein andincreased number of protein bands, while decreased significantly the activity oftransaminase enzymes (AST and ALT) either in honey or Pharovit treatmentscomparing to control. Thus, fortification of mulberry leaves with honey enhanceprotein metabolism, consequently, improving the commercial qualities of filament size,that s very important in sericulture.