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Mountage is a mechanism that allows mature silkworms to spin cocoons on a platform. At the field, there are several sorts of mountages, some of which are more popular. Farmers construct such mountages out of a variety of locally accessible materials. Although there are various types of mountages available, each has its own set of drawbacks. In this study we use certain types of mountages i.e. Rotatary Collapsible mountages, Mulberry twigs mountages, Egg tray mountages, Husk rice mountages and Pinus mountages. Single cocoon weight was recorded highest in the Paddy Husk Mountages than other mountages. Highest Avg. Filament length is observed in Paddy Husk mountage (93.33) and the lowest Avg. Filament Length are observed in Rotatary Collapsible Mountage. The Non Breakable Avg. Filament Length in our study observes that the highest in Pinus Mountage (78.66) and lowest in Rotatary Collapsible Mountage (71.33). The Avg. Filament Denier highest observed in Rotatary Collapsible Mountage (2.61) and lowest Pinus Mountage.(2.33) In conclusion, the Paddy Husk mountage employed in this study is the best for silkworm rearing, because it is easily and locally available in everywhere in the villages as well as town. The cost of the Paddy Husk was very low and quality of cocoon formed by Paddy Husk mountage is very good cocoon and the post cocoon parameters. The result of the present study reveals that, the Paddy Husk mountage is the better when compared to the other mountages for various parameters such as cocoon and the post cocoon parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Florfenicol (FF) is a new antibiotic commonly used in sericulture. This study aimed to examine the effects of low (LC: 0.06 g/L), medium (MC: 0.12 g/L), and high (HC: 1.2 g/L) concentrations of FF on the midgut physiological functions of the silkworm, Bombyx mori (L.) (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). The results showed that the body weight and the whole cocoon weight of silkworms decreased and the development duration of the fifth instar was prolonged in the HC group. The structure of intestinal microbiota of silkworm larvae was changed by high FF exposure. Specifically, the abundance of conditional pathogens (Curtobacterium, Sanguibater, etc.) was significantly increased, whereas the abundance of Pseudomonas and Pedobacter was decreased significantly. Additionally, the intestinal reactive oxygen species level at 72 h was significantly elevated, and the muscle layer had become loose, together with the appearance of gut goblet cell atrophy. We observed that the increase in Lactobacillus abundance led to a reduction in intestinal fluid pH, resulting in decreased α‐amylase and protease activities, whereas lipase activity exhibited an elevation. The results demonstrated that the accumulation of peroxides induced by exposure to 1.2 g/L FF caused intestinal damage, and the decrease in pH resulting from alterations in microbial composition and structure affected digestive enzyme activity, collectively leading to physiological impairment of the silkworm midgut. These findings provide a valuable reference for the safe use of FF in sericulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Considering the importance of comparing the silkworm performances of Iranian and imported commercial hybrids from China production traits, viability index and cocoon dimensions index were investigated in eight Iranian (31×32, 32×31, 103×104, 104×103, 151×154, 154×151, 153×154 and 154×153), and nine imported Chinese commercial hybrids (Suju×Minghu (S×M), Minghu×Suju (M×S), Baiyue×Qiufeng (B×Q), Qiufeng×Baiyue (Q×B), BaiyueB×QiufengA (BB×QA), QiufengA×BaiyueB (QA×BB), 781×7532, Lianggang No2 and Guican No 5) in the present study. Materials and Methods: After eggs hatched and according to the standard protocols, the studied hybrids were reared under the same conditions at Iran Silk Research Center (ISRC). Statistical analyses were done in three replications of 200 larvae (totally 600 records per each hybrid) based on completely randomized design. For comparing the means, Tukey's statistical test was used at a significance level of P<0.05. The GLM procedure was used in SAS software version 9.4. Data generated in respect of the studied traits were subjected for further analysis by a multiple trait evaluation index using the following formula: evaluation index (E.I.)= (A-B/C×10) + 50, where A is value of a particular breed for particular trait, B is mean value for a particular trait of all the hybrids, C is standard deviation of a particular trait for all the hybrids, 10 is standard unit and 50 is fixed value. Minimum / average Evaluation Index (E.I) value fixed for selection of a hybrid is >50. Based on the evaluation index (E.I) consisted of production traits and viability, best hybrids were identified. Results and Discussion: The result of the research showed the close competition between Iranian and Chinese silkworm hybrids. In the situation that the performance of Iranian 32×31 and 31×32 hybrids for traits related to weight, shell weight and shell percentage of best cocoons was higher than the other hybrids but based on a composite index that was used in this research, 151×154, 154×151, 153×154 and 154×153 hybrids showed superiority. Based on this index, M×S and S×M as well as BB×QA and QA×BB had a higher average than the other hybrids. This result is based on the average of two-way crosses for the hybrids that both pairs were used in the experiment. Conclusion: Generally, the results of mean comparisons and evaluation index showed that Iranian hybrids had better performance in all traits related to produce cocoons than the Chinese hybrids. Although, Chinese hybrids were significantly different from the Iranian for pupa viability percentage trait as Lianggang No2 hybrid showed the highest value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nigerian silk industry, once a major economic contributor, has faced a significant decline due to various economic, environmental, and technological challenges. The objective of this review paper is to investigate the potential for technological innovations and provides a comprehensive pathway to revitalize the silk industry in Nigeria focusing on modern techniques in mulberry cultivation, biotechnological interventions for pest and disease management, and the impact of government policies in promoting eco-friendly technologies. The review also considers recent developments in automation and mechanization, highlighting their potential to boost productivity and sustainability. Case studies of successful technology and sustainability integration in sericulture from other countries are analyzed to draw relevant lessons for Nigeria. The review examines the environmental impact of traditional sericulture practices and how sustainable methods can mitigate these effects. Policy recommendations to support sustainable sericulture are discussed, emphasizing the role of public-private partnerships in driving industry innovation. By prioritizing recent literature, this review offers current insights into the industry's state and provides strategic recommendations for stakeholders to foster a sustainable and technologically advanced sericulture sector in Nigeria. The ultimate goal is to revive the Nigerian silk industry through a balanced approach that integrates modern technology with environmental sustainability, ensuring long-term viability and economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chawki rearing centers (CRCs) play a pivotal role in the sericulture industry by focusing on the cultivation and rearing of high-quality silkworms, known as chawki. This study investigates the primary constraints faced by CRCs across various operational aspects, including agricultural practices, labor management, technical support, and market dynamics. Key findings reveal significant challenges such as the absence of drought-resistant mulberry varieties, high capital requirements for wages, labor shortages, and inadequate technical guidance. Natural factors like climate change and pest outbreaks further exacerbate these issues, impacting silkworm health and productivity. Marketing constraints, such as price volatility and transportation costs, add to the operational complexities of CRCs. The study underscores the need for coordinated efforts among government agencies, research institutions, and industry stakeholders to address these challenges and enhance the sustainability of chawki rearing in the sericulture sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silkworm is an economically important insect known for its uniqueness in silk production. Oviposition is an important aspect of insect seed production which needs in-depth study. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the mating period on the fecundity, egg fertility and performance of bivoltine silkworm. Adult males and females were allowed to mate for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours respectively. The eggs laid by the mother moth were acid treated, incubated and hatched larvae were reared following standard protocol. The treatments were replicated 5 times and laid out in a Completely Randomized Design. Data were collected on female fecundity, egg fertility, larval and pupal weights, larval survival and cocoon parameters. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were separate using DMRT (P

Simple Summary: Thailand's polyvoltine hybrid silkworm, Dok Bua, is 30% more productive than indigenous breeds and is robust and well-suited to the local environment, making it a preferred choice in Thai sericulture. However, synthetic insecticides used on mulberry pests pose risks to silkworms. Neem extract tends to be a safer alternative. The potential toxicity of Thai neem seed extract on this silkworm and their enzymatic detoxification capability could substantially affect their growth and productivity. To explore this, we carried out toxicological and biochemical assessments. The results indicated that the extract had a significant toxicity across all larval stages. Younger larvae were notably more susceptible. We proceeded to examine the activity of the key enzymes implicated in xenobiotic metabolism. The finding that the detoxification enzyme had a low level of activity in the early instar larvae aligned with the larvae mortality. Neem extract suppressed esterase activity but induced glutathione S-transferases (GST) activity, remarkably, in the whole body. Despite its toxicity, GST metabolism could mitigate the effects, indicating the detoxification capabilities of silkworms. These novel findings suggest that neem extract is toxic to all larvae, with GST playing a critical role in detoxification, highlighting the need for careful consideration in sustainable sericulture safety practices. Neem, a biopesticide, offers a safer alternative to the synthetic insecticides commonly used in mulberry cultivation, which can harm silkworms. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Thai neem seed extract on all instar larvae of the Thai polyvoltine hybrid silkworm, Bombyx mori L., Dok Bua strains, focusing on the mortality rate and the activities of esterase (EST) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) enzymes. Acute toxicity was assessed using the leaf-dipping method. Results showed that the mortality rate tended to be higher in younger instars than in older ones. The first instar larvae exhibited the highest mortality rate at 94%, whereas the LC50 was highest in the third instar at 5.23 mg L−1 at 72 h. This trend aligns with the activities of EST and GST, which were evaluated in the whole bodies of the first instar larvae and the midgut tissue of fifth instar larvae. As the extract concentration increased, EST activity decreased while GST activity increased in both the first and fifth instar larvae. These findings highlight that neem extract is toxic to all instar larvae, with GST playing a crucial role in detoxification, particularly in the whole body of the Thai polyvoltine hybrid silkworm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sericulture has a pivotal position in the agricultural production of China. The number of silkworms is one of the key indicators in the process of silkworm breeding, which is crucial to the feeding and healthy growth of silkworms. Accurate detection of the number of silkworms can ensure the quality of sericulture products. However, manual counting has not fully met the needs of large-scale production in recent years. There is a high demand to combine AI technology for silkworm counting. In this study, silkworm detection and counting were studied from the perspective of deep learning. Several challenges were solved in the detection of silkworms. Since the silkworms belonged to the small targets, it was difficult to detect the fewer features; When the number of silkworms was high, serious masking occurred to cause interference in the detection of densely distributed silkworms; It was difficult to ensure that the clear images of silkworms were captured from the actual production. The blur images were easy to deteriorate the accuracy of detection. Two tasks were covered as follows. 1) The image dataset of silkworms was constructed; 2) MAM-YOLO, a silkworm detection and counting model was proposed using multi-dimensional perception. The pictures of silkworms were first taken from the Guangxi Sericulture Technology Promotion Station. These pictures of silkworms were preliminarily processed. The polygon annotation was then selected, according to the body and distribution of silkworms. The pictures of silkworms were annotated with the open-source tool (Labelme). Finally, the dataset was expanded using image transformation and noise addition. The silkworm picture dataset was obtained for the subsequent training, verification, and testing. An improved YOLOv8 (MAM-YOLO) was proposed to detect the silkworm, in order to realize the accurate detection and counting. A silkworm detection and counting model was proposed using space-to-depth transformation and image deblurring. The fine-grained detection performance of blurred images was improved in the MAMYOLO model. The space-to-depth transformed convolution was utilized instead of stride convolution for the pooling layer in the feature extraction. The fine-grained features were extracted from the images, in order to further improve the detection of the low-resolution and small targets. In addition, the impact of blurred images on the detection performance was reduced by introducing a deblurring module into the model. RCS-OSA module was added to the YOLOv8 model. The network feature extraction was improved to integrate the information of different sizes in the receptive fields. The detection head of the original network was improved into the multi-dimensional sensing head. The three-dimensional features of size, space, and channel were aggregated to enhance the detection of silkworm targets. The loss function was replaced with the EIOU loss function. The regression accuracy of the detection frame was improved to reduce the object occlusion. Experimental results show that the MAM-YOLO more accurately detected the silkworm targets. The detection speed of mAP@0.5:0.95 reached 74.8% and 22.2 frames per second, indicating the better functions of silkworm detection and counting with high precision and high rate. The detection requirements were fully met in the actual work of the Guangxi sericulture station. The results show that the silkworm detection and counting system of the technical indicators met the application requirements. The finding can provide the detection services for the actual production work of the silkworm breeding station. In the end, a generalization experiment was conducted on the Global Wheat Challenge 2021 dataset. It was found that the MAM-YOLO was also achieved in the better detection performance of wheat ears, particularly on the small targets similar to dense occlusion.Sericulture has a pivotal position in China's agricultural production. The number of silkworms is a key indicator in the process of silkworm breeding, which is crucial to the feeding and healthy growth of silkworms, and accurate detection of the number of silkworms can ensure the quality of sericulture products. The traditional way of counting silkworms manually is inefficient, and it needs to be combined with technology to intelligently complete this kind of heavy work. In this thesis, from the perspective of deep learning, a silkworm detection and counting method is studied, and several problems in silkworm detection are solved: silkworms belong to small targets, which have fewer features so that they are not easy to detect; silkworms are densely distributed, and when the number of silkworms is high, serious masking phenomenon occurs which causes interference in the detection; it is difficult to ensure that the images of silkworms obtained in the actual production are clear, and blur images will make the detection affected. The main research content of this thesis is as follows: This chapter completed two main tasks: 1) Completed the production of silkworm image data set; 2) MAM-YOLO, a silkworm detection and counting model based on multi-dimensional perception, was proposed.In this paper, pictures of silkworms were taken by workers from Guangxi Sericulture Technology Promotion Station. First, these pictures of silkworms were preliminically processed. Then, according to the characteristics of the body and distribution of silkworms, the polygon annotation method was selected, and the pictures of silkworms were annotated with the open-source tool Labelme. Finally, the data set is expanded by means of image transformation and noise addition, and finally the silkworm picture data set is obtained for subsequent training, verification and testing.This chapter proposes an improved silkworm detection method based on YOLOv8, MAM-YOLO, which realizes accurate detection and counting of silkworm. Secondly, aiming at the problems of loss of fine-grained information and poor detection performance of blurred images in the MAM-YOLO model, a silkworm detection and counting model based on spaceto-depth transformation and image deblurring is proposed. The model utilizes space-to-depth transformed convolution instead of stride convolution and pooling layer in the feature extraction process, so that fine-grained features in the image can be extracted, which further improves the detection capability for low-resolution and small targets. In addition, the impact of blurred images on the detection performance is reduced by introducing a deblurring module into the model. By adding RCSOSA module to YOLOv8 model, the capability of network feature extraction is improved, and the information of different size receptive fields is integrated. The detection head of the original network is improved into multi-dimensional sensing head, and the three-dimensional characteristics of size, space and channel are aggregated to enhance the detection ability of silkworm targets. By replacing the loss function with EIOU loss function, the regression accuracy of detection frame is improved and the problem caused by object occlusion is reduced. Experiments show that MAM-YOLO can more accurately detect silkworm targets, and the detection speed of mAP@0.5:0.95 reaches 74.8% and 22.2 frames per second, which realizes the functions of silkworm detection and counting with high precision and high rate, and can meet the detection requirements in the actual work of Guangxi sericulture station. results show that the silkworm detection and counting system of the technical indicators have met the application requirements, and can provide detection services for the actual production work of silkworm breeding station.In the end, a generalization experiment was conducted on the Global Wheat Challenge 2021 data set, and it was found that MAM-YOLO also showed a high improvement in the detection performance of wheat ears, proving that the proposed method can generalize to other small targets similar to dense occlusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The rapid advancement of deep learning technologies presents novel opportunities for restoring damaged patterns in ancient silk, which is pivotal for the preservation and propagation of ancient silk culture. This study systematically scrutinizes the evolutionary trajectory of image inpainting algorithms, with a particular emphasis on those firmly rooted in the Context-Encoder structure. To achieve this study's objectives, a meticulously curated dataset comprising 6996 samples of ancient Chinese silk (256 × 256 pixels) was employed. Context-Encoder-based image inpainting models—LISK, MADF, and MEDFE—were employed to inpaint damaged patterns. The ensuing restoration effects underwent rigorous evaluation, providing a comprehensive analysis of the inherent strengths and limitations of each model. This study not only provides a theoretical foundation for adopting image restoration algorithms grounded in the Context-Encoder structure but also offers ample scope for exploration in achieving more effective restorations of ancient damaged silk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry (Morus L.) is an important crop for the sericulture industry, serving as the primary food source for the silkworm Bombyx mori L. Thailand has a long history of practicing sericulture and has imported and improved upon many indigenous cultivars to create new hybrid offspring. It is crucial to understand the genetic divergence of these accessions for their conservation and utilization in selection and breeding. In this study, 85 representative mulberry accessions in Thailand were observed morphology and analyzed for their genetic relationships using SRAP and EST-SSR markers. The findings indicate that the morphological traits of Thai mulberry are distinctive enough to differentiate between M. macroura Miq. and wild hybrid mulberry, and a group consisting of M. alba L. and M. australis Poir., and their hybrids. 12 SRAP primer combinations produced 193 polymorphic amplicons with an average of 17.0 bands per primer set, and the mean of PIC was 0.259. Eleven novel EST-SSR primers generated 35 amplicons with an average of 3.2 alleles per primer set, and the average PIC was 0.139. The dendrogram obtained using the UPGMA algorithm in R studio showed that the wild and wild hybrid mulberry were genetically distant from the domesticated species studied here. These findings have important implications for the characterization, improvement, molecular systematics, and conservation of Thai mulberry germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that sericulture is an important branch of animal husbandry, not only for the production of silk but also as a valuable source of protein, it is necessary to constantly study the possibilities for its improvement as a branch of this domain. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to assess the nutritional value and digestibility of mulberry leaves from the Kokuso 21 and Eforie varieties, as consumed by silkworms (Bombyx mori L., Bombicidae Family, Lepidoptera Order) during a summer study, in 2021. The Japanese variety (Kokuso 21) and the Romanian variety (Eforie) were used as food sources for the Triumf hybrid, developed in Romania; the larvae were divided in two batches of 300 larvae and each set was subdivided into six groups of 50 larvae, which were raised in paper trays based on their age and size. The research indicated that mulberry leaves have an average digestibility value of 54.46%; the aging process of the leaves altered their chemical composition, with most nutrients showing a decreasing trend in digestibility throughout the larval growth period, except for crude fiber, which remained unchanged in the early larval stages and increased to 26.78% towards the end of the experiment. Overall, the Kokuso 21 variety demonstrated superior nutrient digestibility compared to Eforie. An important finding from this study is the need for future research to determine the degree of nutrient metabolism and conversion into silk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pebrine, caused by microsporidium Nosema bombycis, is a devastating disease that causes serious economic damages to the sericulture industry. Studies on development of therapeutic and diagnostic options for managing pebrine in silkworms are very limited. Methionine aminopeptidase type 2 (MetAP2) of microsporidia is an essential gene for their survival and has been exploited as the cellular target of drugs such as fumagillin and its analogues in several microsporidia spp., including Nosema of honeybees. Methods: In the present study, using molecular and bioinformatics tools, we performed in-depth characterization and phylogenetic analyses of MetAP2 of Nosema bombycis isolated from Guangdong province of China. Results: The full length of MetAP2 gene sequence of Nosema bombycis (Guangdong isolate) was found to be 1278 base pairs (bp), including an open reading frame of 1,077 bp, encoding a total of 358 amino acids. The bioinformatics analyses predicted the presence of typical alpha-helix structural elements, and absence of transmembrane domains and signal peptides. Additionally, other characteristics of a stable protein were also predicted. The homology-based 3D models of MetAP2 of Nosema bombycis (Guangdong isolate) with high accuracy and reliability were developed. The MetAP2 protein was expressed and purified. The observed molecular weight of MetAP2 protein was found to be ~43-45 kDa. The phylogenetic analyses showed that MetAP2 gene and amino acids sequences of Nosema bombycis (Guangdong isolate) shared a close evolutionary relationship with Nosema spp. of wild silkworms, but it was divergent from microsporidian spp. of other insects, Aspergillus spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and higher animals including humans. These analyses indicated that the conservation and evolutionary relationships of MetAP2 are closely linked to the species relationships. Conclusion: This study provides solid foundational information that could be helpful in optimization and development of diagnostic and treatment options for managing the threat of Nosema bombycis infection in sericulture industry of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silkworm is an economically important insect known for its unique silk production. Oviposition is an important aspect of insect reproduction which needs in-depth study. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the mating period on the fecundity, egg fertility, and performance of bivoltine silkworm (Bombyx mori L). Adult males and females were allowed to mate for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours respectively. The eggs laid by the mother moth were acid treated, incubated, and subsequent hatched larvae were reared following standard protocols. The treatments were replicated five times and placed in a completely randomized design. Data were collected on female fecundity, egg fertility, larval and pupal weights, larval survival, and cocoon parameters. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were separated using DMRT (P <0.05). The results showed that the number of eggs laid, larval weight, number of cocoons harvested, shell ratio, and effective rate of rearing were significantly higher in progeny whose parents were allowed to mate for one hour. The cocoon weight, pupal weight, and shell weight were highest in progeny whose parents were allowed to mate for five hours, but not significantly different from the ones of other mating durations. There was a negative linear relationship between mating duration and hatchability (r=-0.88) at P<0.05. The study conclusively established that mating duration of one hour in bivoltine silkworms is enough to produce the best larval and cocoon performance. Hence, one-hour mating duration can be recommended for silkworm producers in the sericulture industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change refers to the global phenomenon of rapid transformation in natural climate patterns like rain, wind, heat and more. Climate change poses a significant challenge to the existence of species and the stability of ecosystems on a global scale. The escalation in the Earth's atmospheric temperature is predominantly influenced by the heightened levels of greenhouse gases (GHG), including carbon dioxide (72%), methane (18%) and nitrous oxide (9%). (Bora et al., 2022). Agriculture is directly dependent on climate change and weather in India. The climate change viz., temperature, rainfall and carbon dioxide showed impact on crop growth and production in the country (Ram et al., 2016). Temperature fluctuations impact silkworm behavior, development, survival, growth and reproduction as highlighted by Neelaboina et al. in 2018. Silkworms are ectothermic organisms meaning that, their body temperature closely aligns with their surrounding environment. Consequently, alterations in temperature can significantly impact insect behavior, distribution, development, survival, growth and reproduction. Elevated air temperatures particularly during the 4th and 5th larval instars pose a significant climatic challenge that can adversely affect both silkworms and cocoon crops. The issues arising from these unfavorable conditions can be effectively mitigated by adhering to the recommended silkworm rearing technologies as outlined by Tripath et al. (2017). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk farming is an agro based industry which involves production of silk from silkworm. The different varieties of leaf of Morus alba L. are the solo source of the food for silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). The nutritional enrichment of mulberry leaves plays a very important role in yielding good quality cocoons. In recent years, chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) have become one of the world's most recognizable foods to have good protein content and its higher proportion of á-linolenic acid and omega-3 fatty acids making it a good nutritional supplement. In the present investigation the effect of different chia seeds concentrations (1, 1.50 and 2.0% w/v) were used along with the mulberry leaves fed ad libitum to know its effect on food utilization and growth in the silkworm double hybrid FC1 x FC2 race from I to V instar larvae at 25±2°C with relative humidity of 75±5% and control were taken for comparing the experimental work. The food utilization parameters like food intake, faeces defecation, assimilation, food converted, oxidation, feeding rate, assimilation rate, conversion rate, metabolic rate, assimilation efficiency and conversion efficiency (K1 and K2) were studied. Results showed that the mulberry leaves supplemented with chia seeds as a feed to B. mori has direct effect on enhancing the growth of the larva, reduced larval period and food intake compared to control group. It has been observed that the 2.0% chia seeds treated group plays a significant role with an increase in growth and better food intake which averaged 6171.519 mg/mg/day compared to control group i.e., 3831.965 mg/mg/day and followed by other two chia seeds treated groups i.e., 1.50 and 2.0% concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out at Department of Sericulture, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru to know the effect of foliar application of different volumes of nano nitrogen on growth and yield of mulberry and its subsequent effect on silkworm Bombyx mori L. (FC1 X FC2). The study resulted in significant improvement in silkworm (FC1 x FC2), when fed with mulberry leaves raised with different volumes of nano nitrogen fertilizer. Significantly shorter fifth instar larval duration (8.67 days), higher fifth instar larval weight (36.65 g/10 larvae) and better ERR (100 %) were observed from the silkworm batches fed with leaves harvested from mulberry plants raised with foliar application of 0.4% nano nitrogen fertilizer @ 225 ltr per acre on 25th day after pruning + 50% soil application of N, which was on par with silkworm batches fed with leaves harvested from mulberry plants raised with foliar application of 0.4% nano nitrogen fertilizer @ 200 ltr per acre on 25th day after pruning + 50% soil application of N showing shorter fifth instar larval duration (8.67 days), higher fifth instar larval weight (36.07 g/10 larvae) and better ERR (100 %). The cocoon parameters of silkworm (FC1 x FC2) viz., cocoon yield by weight (22.62 kg/10,000 worms), cocoon yield by number (10,000 / 10,000 worms), cocoon weight (2.26 g), cocoon shell weight (0.50 g), pupal weight (1.77 g), cocoon shell ratio (21.90 %) and reeling parameters viz., average filament length (1280.46 m) and non-breakable filament length (1251.01 m) were significantly superior in the silkworm groups fed with leaves harvested from mulberry plants raised with foliar application of 0.4% nano nitrogen fertilizer @ 225 ltr per acre on 25th day after pruning + 50% soil application of N, which was on par with the silkworm batches fed with leaves harvested from mulberry plants raised with foliar application of 0.4% nano nitrogen fertilizer @ 200 ltr per acre on 25th day after pruning + 50% soil application of N showing cocoon yield by weight (22.50 kg/10,000 worms), cocoon yield by number (10,000 / 10,000 worms), cocoon weight (2.25 g), cocoon shell weight (0.48 g), pupal weight (1.77 g), cocoon shell ratio (21.45 %) and reeling parameters viz., average filament length (1232.10 m) and non-breakable filament length (1197.60 m). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is a pathogen causing Bombyx mori larval mortality and is also called grasserie disease (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). Since this viral disease is not fully under control in sericulture, it is necessary to identify agents that can prevent or reduce the infection/proliferation of BmNPV in B. mori culture boxes. Sericultural activity is similar an agriculture, and the loss of cocoon production leads to economic losses. In this research area, we previously reported that the molecule Bm5 inhibits cathepsin activity from BmNPV (V-CATH) and protects infected B. mori larvae from liquefaction processes, limiting the spread of the disease. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of Bm5 in reducing sericultural loss due to BmNPV infection. Assays were carried out with B. mori fifth-instar hybrids immediately inoculated with BmNPV and Bm5 to prevent viral cathepsin action. The biological and productive variables relevant during larval development and cocoon productivity were analysed to verify the effectiveness of Bm5 treatment. Biological and economic parameter data showed that the larval survival rate of the BmNPV-infected and Bm5-treated groups was 35.6% higher than that of the untreated BmNPV group. In addition, the infected BmNPV and Bm5-treated groups showed surviving pupae that produced good-quality cocoons. The α- and β-esterase analysis from the midgut and fat body did not show a change in isoenzyme expression between Bm5-treated and untreated larvae infected with BmNPV. Therefore, the inhibition of viral cathepsin with the Bm5 was shown to be effective in reducing the loss of silk production from BmNPV-infected B. mori larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sericulture is the process of cultivating silkworm cocoons for the production of silks. The quality silk production requires quality seed production which in turn requires accurate classification of male and female pupa in grainage centers. The challenges in the current methods of silkworm cocoon sex classification using manual observation lie in the time-consuming nature of the process, potential human error, and difficulties in accurately discerning subtle morphological differences between male and female cocoons. FC1 and FC2 single hybrid variety breed pupa are commonly used in south India for the production of high yielding double hybrid bivoltine silkworm seeds. In this study, 1579 FC1 and 1669 FC2 variety samples were used for the classification process. To overcome the challenges of present physical observation by expert employees, camera images of FC1 and FC2 cocoons were used in this study for sex classification. The proposed model used Histogram Oriented Gradient (HOG) feature descriptor of cocoon samples. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) was applied on the feature vector to reduce the dimension and this feature matrix was given to the classical machine learning algorithms support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbors (kNN), and gaussian naïve bayes for classification with stratified 10-fold cross validation. The results showed that for FC1 data HOG + LDA + Naïve Bayes performed better with a mean accuracy of 95.3% and for FC2 data HOG + LDA + KNN attained a mean accuracy of 96.2%. Our results suggest that this camera imaging method can be used efficiently in the classification based on the cocoon size and shape of different breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry silkworm is a monophagous insect, so the only way to improve the silk industry is the enrichment of mulberry leaves with supplementary nutrients. In this investigation mulberry leaves treated with algal probiotics (Spirulina plantalis and Azolla Pinnata) with different concentrations (1, 2, and 3%) from 4th larval instar till spinning to study the impact of these supplements on some biological parameters (larval weight (g.), growth rate%, longevity (hr.) and fecundity (no.)), economical parameters (cocoon weight (g.), cocoon shell weight (g.), shell ratio%, and pupa weight(g.)) and biochemical parameters ( total protein, protease, amylase, and invertase). The obtained results indicate that all types of probiotics with different concentrations have a positive impact on all parameters under study but the most effective one was azolla 2% that affect positively on the fecundity of females and the shell ratio % of males reduced feeding days in the 5th larval stage that is a very important economical factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing the leaf productivity of the species Morus alba L. and Morus nigra L. and the influence of the mulberry species on some basic vegetative traits was the aim of this paper. The study was conducted during 2018-2020 at the Training Experimental Station of the Sericulture section of the Faculty of Agriculture at Trakia University - Stara Zagora. Object of the study were representatives of the genus Morus - M. alba L. (variety "Vratsa 1") and M. nigra L. The studied mulberry trees were from a lowstemmed plantation of an intensive type. The analysis of variances shows that the type of mulberry has a highly significant influence (p>0.001) in all analyzed cases characterizing leaf productivity. The established differences between the species in terms of the studied vegetative traits are in favor of M. alba. However, for M. nigra the average values of some morphological indicators are within the limits of those generally established in practice. This gives reason to consider that the data obtained in the present study are a useful addition to the general characterization of the species and are relevant for the purposes of selection and production of mulberry cultivars and hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the sericulture project conducted at the Collegno asylum in 1941 and 1942 as a form of occupational therapy for hospitalized patients. Topics include the historical significance of sericulture in Piedmont, Italy the detailed documentation and outcomes of the silkworm breeding initiative, and the eventual decline of this practice due to wartime disruptions and competition from synthetic fibers.

Despite rapid economic growth, income inequality between rural and urban areas remains an important social issue in Thailand. In 2020, the disparity between the Northeast region, which has the lowest GRP per capita, and the East region, which has the highest GRP per capita, was approximately 5.05 times. Northeast Thailand is an agricultural area and is famous for silk production. According to the Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture, in 2017 sericulture silk yarn production in the Northeast region was 520 metric tons and engaged 82,071 households (or approximately 80% of all households in the region). Improving the silk industry in the Northeast is essential for economic development in this region. Obtaining certifications that guarantee quality is considered one effective way to increase farmers' income. Hence, this study aimed to clarify the factors that play a role in obtaining certification and the impact of obtaining certification on farmers' profits from silk weaving. We examined the case of farmers in Khon Kaen province in Northeast Thailand and focused on four certifications: Organic Thailand, Geographical Indication (GI), OTOP, and Peacock. We conducted both quantitative and qualitative analyses based on the primary data collected through in-person interviews with 103 farmers from October to November 2022. The results showed that the important factors affecting profits from silk weaving are design, the type of dyestuffs, and the ability to access markets where products fetch high prices. To identify the key factors to obtain certification, we used logistic regression, and to evaluate the impact of the certifications, we conducted a two-sample t-test. Statistical analysis results revealed that joining a farmers' community and the number of processes involved in sericulture are two important factors in obtaining certifications and that farmers who have certifications tend to earn more income compared to non-certificated farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect farming is gaining attention as a promising area for exploring probiotic bacteria, which can benefit both insect health and various industries. Silkworm farming is a key industry in Thailand; however, challenges such as disease susceptibility and optimising growth require innovative solutions for sustainable practices. Our study addresses this by assessing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in native Thai silkworm faeces, which accumulate as natural by-products during the rearing process. We conducted biochemical tests, including those for catalase, haemolytic activity, bile salt tolerance, antimicrobial activity, antibiotic susceptibility, and cell surface hydrophobicity, along with taxonomic classification. Out of 102 isolates, eight potential probiotics were selected, with five showing strong probiotic traits like acid and bile salt tolerance and cell surface hydrophobicity, enhancing gut survivability. These isolates also displayed antagonistic activity against pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Safety assessments confirmed their safety, with no haemolytic activity and sensitivity to antibiotics like chloramphenicol and amoxicillin. These LAB isolates (SP04, SP06, SP44, SP64, and SP67), identified as Enterococcus faecalis strain NBRC 100481, show promise as in vitro probiotics for silkworm rearing, calling for further in vivo evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide a comprehensive re-examination of the early medieval cocoons unearthed during archaeological excavations in the Cathedral Square at Ostrów Tumski, Poznań, Poland, in the 1950s. We challenge previous identifications, in particular the misidentification of these cocoons as Bombyx mori (silk moth) which influenced the interpretation of sericulture practices in the region. Comprehensive comparative microstructural analyses, including digital microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, as well as the association of the cocoons with structures, validate our revised identification as Hymenoptera (possibly parasitic wasp) cocoons. While silkworm breeding and silk production did not occur in 11th-century Poznań, our meticulous review of the historical records highlights the appearance of silk fabric as early as the 9th and 10th centuries in Poland trough trade routes likely originating in China and Byzantium. We underline the significance of Hymenoptera cocoons, a rarity in archaeology. In addition to contributing to a more accurate understanding of the history of silk textiles in early medieval Poland, and enriching knowledge of global trade contacts and cultural connections, our study emphasizes the importance of challenging and updating scholarly findings as the research methods improve.

The Nigerian silk industry, once a major economic contributor, has faced a significant decline due to various economic, environmental, and technological challenges. The objective of this review paper is to investigate the potential for technological innovations and provides a comprehensive pathway to revitalize the silk industry in Nigeria focusing on modern techniques in mulberry cultivation, biotechnological interventions for pest and disease management, and the impact of government policies in promoting eco-friendly technologies. The review also considers recent developments in automation and mechanization, highlighting their potential to boost productivity and sustainability. Case studies of successful technology and sustainability integration in sericulture from other countries are analyzed to draw relevant lessons for Nigeria. The review examines the environmental impact of traditional sericulture practices and how sustainable methods can mitigate these effects. Policy recommendations to support sustainable sericulture are discussed, emphasizing the role of public-private partnerships in driving industry innovation. By prioritizing recent literature, this review offers current insights into the industry's state and provides strategic recommendations for stakeholders to foster a sustainable and technologically advanced sericulture sector in Nigeria. The ultimate goal is to revive the Nigerian silk industry through a balanced approach that integrates modern technology with environmental sustainability, ensuring long-term viability and economic growth.

Sericulture, the practice of rearing silkworms for the production of silk, is an essential agro‐based industry in several countries. However, silkworms are susceptible to a variety of diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites, which may have a significant negative impact on global silk production. Traditional methods of pathogen identification, such as microscopy and laboratory culturing, have limitations in terms of accuracy and efficiency. The development of molecular techniques for pathogen identification has revolutionised the field of sericulture over the last decade. Genomic DNA and RNA‐based molecular techniques allow for the rapid and accurate detection of disease‐causing pathogens in silkworms. Molecular diagnosis has several advantages over traditional methods, including increased sensitivity and specificity, shorter turnaround time and the ability to detect pathogens that are difficult to culture or visualise under a microscope. Molecular techniques have been applied to detect several important pathogens of silkworms, including Nosema sp., nucleopolyhedrovirus, cypovirus, iflavirus and bidensovirus. The use of molecular diagnostics in sericulture is immensely important as the demand for high‐quality silk increases globally and the assessment of emerging pathogens associated with crop loss is essential. Major advancements in the improvement and application of molecular methods for diagnosing widespread silkworm pathogens are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorting unreelable inferior cocoons during the reeling process is essential for obtaining high-quality silk products. At present, silk reeling enterprises mainly rely on manual sorting, which is inefficient and labor-intensive. Automated sorting based on machine vision and sorting robots is a promising alternative. However, the accuracy and computational complexity of object detection are challenges for the practical application of automatic sorting, especially for small stains of inferior cocoons in images of densely distributed cocoons. To deal with this problem, an efficient fine-grained object detection network based on attention mechanism and multi-scale feature fusion, called AMMF-Net, is proposed for inferior silkworm cocoon recognition. In this model, fine-grained object features are key considerations to improve the detection accuracy. To efficiently extract fine-grained features of silkworm cocoon images, we designed an efficient hybrid feature extraction network (HFE-Net) that combines depth-wise separable convolution and Transformer as the backbone. It captures local and global information to extract fine-grained features of inferior silkworm cocoon images, improving the representation ability of the network. An efficient multi-scale feature fusion module (EMFF) is proposed as the neck of the object detection structure. It improves the typical down-sampling method of multi-scale feature fusion to avoid the loss of key information and achieve better performance. Our method is trained and evaluated on a dataset collected from multiple inferior cocoons. Extensive experiments validated the effectiveness and generalization performance of the HFE-Net network and the EMFF module, and the proposed AMMF-Net achieved the best detection results compared to other popular deep neural networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted in Shebadino, Tula and Wondogenet districts of Sidama regional state of southern Ethiopia from 2018 to 2023 with the objectives of to evaluate the performance of silk production technologies at various levels of silk production with stakeholders/beneficiaries. The study also aimed to create awareness and develop confidence among silkworm producers, development agents, agricultural experts and policy makers for wider dissemination. Nine kebeles’ (the lowest administrative level), were selected from three (3) districts for the purposes of this study. Five (5) farmers from each kebele were selected, totaling 45 farmers, for technology pre-scale up and promotion. Three rounds of theoretical and practical training were given to these farmers after they were selected. Training in the third round focused on managing row silk and cocoons after harvest, with a first round that covered broad knowledge and the importance of sericulture. Of the farmers who were chosen and trained, 95.6 percent were women who began raising silk worms, producing cocoons, and processing row silk. Each farmer received 30 kilograms of castor seed and 50 disease-free adult moths for pre-scaling up and promotion of the technology. During the first year of the study period, 90%, 50%, and 40% of the disease-free moths that were disseminated laid eggs and developed into cocoons at Shebadino, Tula sub city and Wondogenet districts respectively. Sericulture is very beneficial to young people, particularly women, in terms of providing a variety of employment options and viable income without affecting their regular agricultural activities or the existing sociocultural equilibrium. Sericulture technology with its package used, knowledge and skill of the farmers (users) on the technology upgraded, continuous follow up assured by DAs and experts. This study highlights the significance of sericulture for rural development and offers insightful information for its dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of a country or an area to prosper economically is largely depend on entrepreneurship, especially in light of the current unemployment crisis and anticipated technological advancements. The most important issues in the growth of entrepreneurship are not just how to offer chances to entrepreneurs, but also how to provide them substantial support so they may achieve greater success. To this, cultivating mulberry plants, production of disease-free layings, raising of young (chawki) and late-age silkworms for cocoon production, reeling of cocoons (silk reeling) for yarn production, throwing (spinning, warp, and weft production), wet processing (dyeing and printing), weaving (fabric production), modern (computer-aided) and traditional (textile designing) textile marketing and so on are just a few of the varied range of activities that make up the Indian silk industry. Additionally, sericulture products and by-products have become more significant in the biotechnological, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries, in recent years, for the creation of high-value new goods. Therefore, there is a great deal of opportunity for successful business in the sericulture and seribiotechnology sectors to grow. These opportunities help young people and unemployed women to become successful business owners who both support the workforce and work for themselves. This can help address the issues of unemployment standards and in India’s rural and urban areas as well as elevate socioeconomic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the earliest fibers used by mankind is silk, which was first cultivated in China. Mulberry silk is produced from Bombyx Mori which feeds on mulberry tree leaves. Bombyx Mori silkworm, hatching from its egg after 8–10 days of incubation, starts spinning its cocoon around itself on the 25th or 28th day. These cocoons are subjected to dry heat or boiling water which kills the pupae. Most of the silk consumers in Turkey are not aware of the fact that the silkworms are killed before completing their natural life span. On the other hand, the number of consumers has been rising in the world who wants to wear silk without harming the animals. In this study sericulture was done in an ethical way to produce peace silk fabrics and some of the mechanical properties of the fabrics were determined. This study is of value, raising awareness about peace silk and ethical production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores practices of raising domesticated silkworms and the embodied ethics that inform these ways of caring in northeast Thailand. Combining ethnography and historical analysis, I consider how both silkworms and the humans who raise and then kill them have experienced forms of “rough care” through state-organized encompassment and resettlement onto silk farms in the mid-twentieth century. Rough practices of care continue to the present day, with implications for how human and non-human beings live together amid increasing precarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutritive value of mulberry leaves makes it the only food of silkworms (Bombyx mori L.). It is recorded that 6.73 million hectares of area are affected by salinity and sodicity stresses covering various states of the country, which is becoming one of the major threats to popularizing sericulture in India. In the present study, chlorophyll, protein, catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase content of leaves of six mulberry germplasm viz., English Black, Kolitha-3, C776, Rotundiloba, BC259, and S1 grown under coastal saline soils of South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India was investigated. Results demonstrated a sharp decrease in the chlorophyll (2.35 to1.19 mg.g FW-1) and protein (30.10 to 15.20 mg.g FW-1) contents of leaves of all the mulberry germplasm with increasing soil salinity (1.60 to 22.70 dS.m-1). On the contrary, the number of stress-related antioxidant enzymes like catalase, peroxidases, and superoxide dismutase increased from 1.15 to 5.43, 1.43 to 4.76, and 8.65 to 25.15 g-1 FW.min-1, respectively. Overall, the field study indicated the superiority of Kolitha-3 and C776 grown in Canning (Canning I and II), Basanti, Namkhana, Kakdwip, and Sagar blocks of coastal regions of South 24 Parganas. The study deals with issues of the utilization of scarce land promoting income-generating avenues like sericulture in saline areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chelsea has an unusually large number of veteran mulberry trees for a London borough (around 25 at the last count). And, while they are not all as old as they look, many have direct links to Chelsea's history, including the Tudor estates of Thomas More and Henry VIll, a short-lived eighteenth century silk farm, and the 1800s headquarters of a Moravian religious community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transfer of sericulture into Byzantium is a critical episode in the global dissemination of silk production technology. However, it is now widely accepted that the explanatory model portraying the transfer as a one-off event is at odds with the historical facts. This article seeks to reassess the transfer of this technology through the lens of appropriation, interpreted as a process. Based on a detailed analysis of the limited evidence available, it attempts to reconstruct the process from transregional and diachronic perspectives, embracing, on the one hand, the transmission of sericulture from China to Byzantium and, on the other, its development in Byzantium over time. This reconstruction offers an explanation for unresolved historical problems. It also constitutes a template for modelling the global transfer of technology in the premodern world, potentially of great value for an in-depth understanding of the transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundPebrine, caused by microsporidium Nosema bombycis, is a devastating disease that causes serious economic damages to the sericulture industry. Studies on development of therapeutic and diagnostic options for managing pebrine in silkworms are very limited. Methionine aminopeptidase type 2 (MetAP2) of microsporidia is an essential gene for their survival and has been exploited as the cellular target of drugs such as fumagillin and its analogues in several microsporidia spp., including Nosema of honeybees.MethodsIn the present study, using molecular and bioinformatics tools, we performed in-depth characterization and phylogenetic analyses of MetAP2 of Nosema bombycis isolated from Guangdong province of China.ResultsThe full length of MetAP2 gene sequence of Nosema bombycis (Guangdong isolate) was found to be 1278 base pairs (bp), including an open reading frame of 1,077 bp, encoding a total of 358 amino acids. The bioinformatics analyses predicted the presence of typical alpha-helix structural elements, and absence of transmembrane domains and signal peptides. Additionally, other characteristics of a stable protein were also predicted. The homology-based 3D models of MetAP2 of Nosema bombycis (Guangdong isolate) with high accuracy and reliability were developed. The MetAP2 protein was expressed and purified. The observed molecular weight of MetAP2 protein was found to be ~43–45 kDa. The phylogenetic analyses showed that MetAP2 gene and amino acids sequences of Nosema bombycis (Guangdong isolate) shared a close evolutionary relationship with Nosema spp. of wild silkworms, but it was divergent from microsporidian spp. of other insects, Aspergillus spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and higher animals including humans. These analyses indicated that the conservation and evolutionary relationships of MetAP2 are closely linked to the species relationships.ConclusionThis study provides solid foundational information that could be helpful in optimization and development of diagnostic and treatment options for managing the threat of Nosema bombycis infection in sericulture industry of China.

Key message: Superior F1 mulberry genotypes with high leaf yield, quality, and moderate to high stability were identified for optimal and sub-optimal input conditions. Mulberry (Morus spp.) is a highly heterozygous, perennial tree widely grown for its foliage to feed monophagous silkworms (Bombyx mori L.) and fruits for human consumption across the globe. The present study evaluated twenty-one F1 mulberry genotypes for the selection of superior ones based on leaf yield, yield attributes, leaf quality, and stability over two years under optimal and sub-optimal input (irrigation and fertilizer) conditions. Based on pooled data analysis over four crop seasons, it was found that six mulberry genotypes, D16, D21, D22, D23, D28, and D67, had leaf yields (663–840 g/plant) statistically similar to or better than the Vishala check (663 g/plant) under optimal conditions. Similarly, under sub-optimal conditions, seven genotypes, D16, D21, D22, D23, D24, D28 and D34, showed significantly higher leaf yields (418–596 g/plant) than Vishala (415 g/plant). The δ13C (a surrogate trait of water-use efficiency) of five mulberry genotypes, D16, D21, D24, D28, and D34, varied from – 28.21 to – 28.98 and was similar to the AGB8 check (– 28.87). Total soluble sugar, protein, chlorophyll content, and the silkworm moulting percentage and single larval weight for the seven genotypes D16, D21, D22, D23, D24, D28, and D34 were statistically similar to or better than Vishala under both optimal and sub-optimal conditions. The additive main effects and the multiplicative interaction-based simultaneous selection index showed that these seven genotypes had moderate to high stability and high leaf-yielding ability over the seasons under both optimal and sub-optimal conditions. DNA fingerprint profiles of these selected genotypes have been developed for their molecular identification. Under this context, these seven genotypes might be further tested under advanced evaluation trials to identify the best one regarding leaf yield and quality under optimal and sub-optimal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contextualization: The analysis of genetic diversity is essential to preserve and adequately harness genetic resources, both plant and animal, and it is transcendental for developing selection and improvement strategies to obtain promising materials. Knowledge gap: There are few studies of characterization and analysis reported of genetic variability for mulberry Morus spp. in Colombia and need to be developed in order to provide information that enables refining and optimizing the management, use, and conservation of the available germplasm, contributing to the recovery and harnessing of these genetic resources' potential. Purpose: The research aimed to genetically characterize the mulberry, Morus spp., collection of the Cauca region sericulture project using microsatellite markers. Methodology: 36 accessions belonging to the mulberry collection conserved at the Centro de Estudios Vegetales La Rejoya (Center for Plant Studies La Rejoya in English) of Universidad del Cauca were evaluated using ten microsatellites fluorescently labeled. The diversity and genetic structure parameters were evaluated. Additionally, the genetic relationships were determined through a cluster analysis. Results and conclusions: 49 alleles were detected, with a mean PIC of 0.57, indicating the use of polymorphic and informative markers. The population structure analysis with the Bayesian (STRUCTURE v 2.3.4) and grouping methods (Neighbor- joining and PCoA) indicated three discrete population groups with significant genetic differentiation of 22% (AMOVA - Fst; p<0.001). It highlighted the finding of nineteen different genotypes, suggesting the presence of a high number of duplicate materials that will have to be evaluated for the possible elimination of redundant resources in the germplasm bank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper was to highlight the importance and relevance of the proactive approach of microscopic laboratory techniques for prevention and control of major silkworm diseases thus contributing to the improvement of silkworm health and to augmentation of the sericulture production. The examinations were carried out by direct microscopy and laboratory diagnostic methods for specific diseases (bacterial, parasitic, mycotic and viral) according to the methodology of the OIE Manual, adapted to the conditions of the Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Pathology of Silkworms of S.C.S. Baneasa, Bucharest. Direct microscopical and bacterioscopic examinations were carried out to exclude the risk of the presence of pathogens in future generations selected for the conservation of the genetic background. Samples collected from the 84 breeds under conservation were subjected to direct microscopy and bacterioscopic examinations on two developmental stages of silkworms - egg and larval stage (L3). The results of the laboratory examinations required the elimination of inappropriate biological material from the reproduction, that allowed obtaining disease-free reproductive material of the best quality. In the present research paper, we demonstrated the importance of the proactive approach of microscopic laboratory techniques for prevention and control of major silkworm diseases in order to select breeds, lines and hybrids of silkworms with resistance to diseases owned by S.C.S. Baneasa, Bucharest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]