Impact of microsporidian infection on growth and development of silkworm Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)

Authors

  • Sunil Kumar Gupta P2 Basic SeedFarm, National Silkworm Seed Organization, Central Silk Board, Purnea 854 301, Bihar, India
  • Zakir Hossain Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Berhampore 742 101, West Bengal, India
  • Madana Mohanan Nanu Silkworm Seed Production Centre, Central Silk Board, Palakkad 678 551, Kerala, India
  • Kalidas Mondal Zonal Silkworm Seed Organization, Central Silk Board, Malda 732101, West Bengal, India

Keywords:

Bombyx mori, Microsporidia, Nosema bombycis, Impact, Isolate

Abstract

Several species and strains of microsporidia have been isolated from infected silkworms among which pebrine caused by Nosema bombycis Nageli is the most important. Infection from this disease causes severe economic loss in sericulture. Reduction of larval and pupal development and reduced weights in silkworms due to infection has been reported. In the present study, five microsporidian (Nosema) isolates from mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. collected from different locations in West Bengal, India were sampled to study the impact of their infection on the growth and development of B. mori. The study revealed significant differences among the isolates in their ability to cause a reduction in the larval and pupal development of silkworm. Healthy larvae showed better body and tissue weights which were significantly higher than in infected lots. Among the isolates, M5 registered the maximum reduction in relative growth rate, larval silk gland tissue somatic index, larval male and female gonad tissue somatic index (GTSI) and pupal female GTSI compared to the healthy control. Male and female pupa treated with M5 spores died before emergence, suggesting that the M5 isolate was the most virulent.

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Published

2016-10-31

How to Cite

Gupta, Sunil Kumar, Zakir Hossain, Madana Mohanan Nanu, and Kalidas Mondal. 2016. “Impact of Microsporidian Infection on Growth and Development of Silkworm Bombyx Mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)”. Agriculture and Natural Resources 50 (5). Bangkok, Thailand:388-95. https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/anres/article/view/244122.

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Section

Research Article