Rearing of silkworms, Bombyx mori L. is an indispensable and significant activity of sericulture, the art and science of producing silk, the Queen of textiles. It is considered an arduous job and a critical concern is the unsynchronized maturation of silkworms on the onset of cocoon spinning requiring more time and manpower to complete mounting for cocoon production. This study determined the effect of phytoecdysteroid extracted from Portulaca oleracea L. on the synchronization of silkworm maturation to shorten the mounting time. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) confirmed the presence of the phytoecdsyteroid, 20-hydroxyecdysone extracted from local plant, P. oleracea. The extract was sprayed with 50% and 100% concentrations (v/v) on mulberry leaves and administered to 5th instar silkworms different batches of silkworms at 116 hours, 92 hours, 76 hours, 52 hours and 28 hours before spinning. The time range and number of spinning silkworms during mounting process were recorded cumulatively. Results showed that both concentrations made approximately 50% synchronization of maturation in B. mori L. on the day of spinning at 6:30-7:59 AM and complete maturation at 8:00-9:59 AM. On the other hand, the negative control had approximately 50% synchronized maturation of silkworms between 10:00-11:59 AM and complete maturation at 1:00 PM. Phystoedysteroid from P. oleracea L. shortened the larval stage of silkworms and enhanced synchronization of maturation. Consequently, this study will help sericulture farmers consume lesser time and manpower of mounting matured silkworms.
