EFFECT OF AEROIONIZATION ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE SILKWORM

Abstract

Numerous studies have established that negative air ions have a beneficial
effect on the animal body, improving metabolism, appetite and feed digestibility, promote
growth and development, increase productivity and resistance to diseases, and also have a
beneficial effect on the health of bees. The purpose of the research was to study the effect of
aeroionization on dynamics of larvae development, biological, productive and reproductive
parameters of the silkworm. The object of the study was recognized breeds of silkworm:
Kavkaz-1, Kavkaz-2, which were included in the Biocollection of silkworm breeds of Sericulture Research Station – branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “North
Caucasus Federal Agricultural Research Centre” (Stavropol Territory, Zheleznovodsk, Inozemtsevo). According to the research, the following results were obtained: treatment with
negative ions during the fattening period of younger instars of larvae (from the first to the
third instar) of Kavkaz-1, Kavkaz-2 breeds had a positive effect on subsequent stages of silkworm development; the fattening period was shortened – larvae formed cocoons earlier; viability increased by 2,0-2,4% compared to the control group (fattening without treatment with
negative ions); average cocoon weight increased depending on the breed: Kavkaz-1 by 2,6%,
Kavkaz-2 by 1,1% compared to the control group; number of cocoon defects decreased: (on
average, dead cocoons by 1,05%, twin cocoons by 1,06%); reproductive parameters increased: the average weight of one egg by 1,38% and 1,71%, average number of egg laying
by 78,8 pieces and by 60,6 pieces, as a result of which the weight of egg mass increased by
11,8% and 12,1% for Kavkaz-1 and Kavkaz-2 breeds, respectively. Thus, aeroionization
when fattening younger instars of silkworm larvae helps increase the mass of cocoons, increases yield and reduces the number of defective cocoons and stimulates the fertility of butterflies.