Antifertility activity of Apron 35SD in silkworm Bombyx mori

Abstract

The antifertility effects of Apron 35SD (Methyl D, L-N-(2-6-dimethyl-phenyl)-N-(2'-methoxyacetyl-alaninate), a new chemical fungicide produced by Ciba-Geigy, in silkworm Bombyx mori has been investigated. 50 mu l of 50, 100, 200 and 400ppm of the chemical in 0.75 percent NaCl were injected into five day old male and female pupae at the wingbud region. The moths emerged out of these were mated to untreated moths of opposite sex, and female moths of both the crosses were allowed to lay eggs. The results showed that when males were treated, the chemical induced significant amount of dominant lethals. The crosses involving the treated females produced a large percentage of unfertilized eggs. The percentage of dominant lethals and unfertilized eggs were increased proportionately with the increase in the concentration of the chemical administered. Thus Apron 35SD is both mutagenic and antifertility agent in silkworms.