Effect of Mulberry Leaves Extract (Morus alba) on Growth of Post Larvae in Giant Freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the effect of mulberry leaves extract (Morus alba) on the growth rate of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii. In the present study, the mulberry leaves extract was mixed with commercial pellets using the spray method; pellets with 5 % and 10 % mulberry leaves extract. Meanwhile, the control treatment was a commercial pellet with no mulberry leaves extract. M. rosenbergii were fed with the experimental pellets for 30 days and each treatment had 10 tails of M. rosenbergii juveniles. The result showed that the juveniles fed with pellet with 10 % mulberry leaves extract had the highest survival rate and the total number of moulting. As a conclusion, the mulberry leaves demonstrated a good effect on the growth of M. rosenbergii and reduced the mortality rate, thus, the present study suggests the use of mulberry extract as a potential nutrient supplement in the feed to increase the production of M. rosenbergii post-larvae.