Further Studies on Nutritive Effects of Aspartic and Glutamic Acids on the Silkworm, Bombyx mori

Abstract

In the nutrition of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, the free forms of aspartic and glutamic acids possessed low effect, but their salts exerted high effect. Potassium, magnesium, or calcium salt was more effective than sodium salt. Asparagine was utilized well, whereas glutamine was of reduced value. Neutralization of free aspartic acid with KOH or NaOH produced the same effect as brought about by K- or Na-aspartate, and shifted pH of the diet at the same time. It was considered that the neutralization favored the acceleration of larval feeding.