Changes in the activity of digestive enzymes in response to chemical Mutagen Diethyl Sulfate in the silkworm Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)

The silkworm Bombyx mori L. is a economic sericigenous insect show a high degree of sensitivity towards chemical mutagens and have drastic physiological and biochemical effects during its larval stages. In the present study a bivoltine race of silkworm NB 4D 2 was treated with chemical Mutagen Diethyl Sulfate (DES). The larvae were used for the treatment with different concentrations of DES orally as well as injected through body wall. In F 1 generation, the larvae of 4th and 5th instar were used to study the activity of prominent digestive enzymes amylase and protease for evaluation of the mutagenic response in haemolymph and midgut tissues. The enzyme activity was found to be higher in treated sets, particularly in 8 mM injection sets. Further, maximum enzyme activity was noticed during middle part of both the instars with a few variations among the treated sets. The data were statistically analysed using One-way ANOVA and discussed. © 2012 Knowledgia Review, Malaysia