author(s)
KP Sahana, KG Banuprakash, KS Vinoda and NL Pavithra

abstract
The study was conducted to evaluate the performance of three fabricated self mountages viz., spiral, square and zig-zag mountages on various cocoon parameters in comparison with ribbon, plastic collapsible and bamboo mountages by using two different silkworm races viz., the cross breed (CB) (PM x CSR2) and the double hybrid (DH) (Krishnaraja). The total number of larvae per mountage was highest in bamboo mountage (682.33 for CB and 546.33 for DH) followed by spiral mountage (488.33 for CB) and zig-zag mountage (284.67 for DH) with similar trend in interaction effect. The density of larvae per square feet of mountage was significantly higher in bamboo mountage (44.00 for CB and 44.67 for DH) followed by spiral mountage (25.67 each for CB and DH) with non-significant interaction effect. The number unspun larvae count was significantly higher in bamboo mountage (6.00 for CB and 7.00 for DH) and it was lowest in ribbon chandrike (1.33) for CB and in spiral, square and zig-zag (2.67) moutages for DH and non-significant difference was observed due to their interaction. The cocooning percentage was highest in spiral mountage for both the breeds and for the same interaction effect was found non-significant. The correlation study results revealed that, the total number of larvae per mountage showed significantly positive relation with larval density per square feet of mountage.