What are the methods of mother moth examination ?
• Individual moth is taken in mortar and crushed adding 10 ml of 0.8-1.0%(Muga) and 0.6-0.8% (Eri) K2CO3 solution. • Homogenate is transferred into a test tube preferably of plastic to settle for 3-5 min, so that un-macerated tissue and debris get separated and float above • Then the bottom liquid is carefully filtered, through 2-3 thin layers of absorbent cotton and the filtrate should be centrifuged for 5 min. at 3000 rpm. • Then supernatant solution is decanted off and the sediment is dispersed in a few drops of 0.8 % (Muga) and 0.6% (Eri) K2CO3 or 2% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution, over a cyclomixer or by using a glass rod. • Two smears from each sample and five fields per • Smear at 600x magnification are examined under a microscope. Examination is done by 2 persons for cross checking • The presence of pathogen and the intensity of infection is recorded, if any, based on intensity of spores per field.
