Lactic acid is widely used in the food, drugs, cosmetics, and other industries to maintain the microbial stability of low-pH products. However, it is unclear whether lactic acid can affect silkworm (Bombyx mori) growth and reproduction. This study investigated the effects of lactic acid on the growth and reproduction of the silkworm. We analyzed the growth, cocoon quality, and reproductive performance of fifth instar larvae fed on mulberry leaves saturated with different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10%) of lactic acid and the control. Results showed that 0.01, 0.1, and 1% lactic acid supplementation positively affects growth and female cocoon quality, with increased larval weight and female cocoon shell weight compared to the control group. In contrast, 10% lactic acid was toxic to the larvae and significantly decreased growth, leading to larval death. Our study provides a basic reference for the optimal amount of preservatives. In addition, this study can be a desirable intervention for sericulturists and can play an important role in getting high return from silkworm-rearing activities.

中文翻译：

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补充乳酸对家蚕（鳞翅目：家蚕科）生长繁殖的影响

乳酸广泛用于食品、药品、化妆品等行业，以维持低pH产品的微生物稳定性。然而，目前尚不清楚乳酸是否会影响蚕（Bombyx mori）的生长和繁殖。本研究调查了乳酸对家蚕生长和繁殖的影响。我们分析了以不同浓度（0.01、0.1、1 和 10%）乳酸饱和的桑叶和对照为食的五龄幼虫的生长、茧质量和繁殖性能。结果表明，与对照组相比，添加 0.01、0.1 和 1% 的乳酸对生长和雌性茧质量有积极影响，幼虫重量和雌性茧壳重量增加。相比之下，10% 的乳酸对幼虫有毒并显着降低生长速度，导致幼虫死亡。我们的研究为防腐剂的最佳用量提供了基础参考。此外，这项研究可以成为蚕农的理想干预措施，并且可以在从养蚕活动中获得高回报方面发挥重要作用。