• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

The Indian golden muga silkworm, Antheraea assamensis Helfer is an economically important wild silkworm endemic to Northeastern part of India. In recent years, climate change has posed a threat to muga silk production due to the requirement that larvae be reared outdoors. Since the muga silkworm larvae are exposed to the vagaries of nature, the changing climate has increased the incidence of microbial diseases in the rearing fields. Accurate diagnosis of the disease causing pathogens and its associated epidemiology are prerequisites to manage the diseases in the rearing field. Although conventional microbial culturing methods are widely used to identify pathogenic bacteria, they would not provide meaningful information on a wide variety of silkworm pathogens. The information on use of molecular diagnostic tools in detection of microbial pathogens of wild silk moths is very limited. A wide range of molecular and immunodiagnostic techniques including denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), random amplified polymorphism (RAPD), 16S rRNA/ITSA gene sequencing, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), immunofluorescence, and repetitive-element PCR (Rep-PCR), have been used for detecting and characterizing the pathogens of insects with economic significance. Nevertheless, the application of these molecular tools for detecting and typing entomopathogens in surveillance studies of muga silkworm rearing is very limited. Here, we discuss the possible application of these molecular techniques, their advantages and major limitations. These methods show promise in better management of diseases in muga ecosystem.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2005

Parthenogenesis in mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. acquires immense use in the development of outstanding homozygous lines with higher viability, hybrid vigour, combining ability and less phenotypic variability. It can serve as a powerful tool in controlling sex of the offsprings as well as a useful tool in selection. In fact India is the second largest silk producing country in the world next only to China and all the five types of natural silks viz., mulberry, oak tasar, tropical tasar, muga and eri are produced in India. However, little information is available on the role of artificial parthenogenesis in the development of superior silkworm breeds. This paper overviews some important studies carried out on artificial parthenogenesis, and outline of different types of parthenogenesis, methods of induction of artificial parthenogenesis, factors responsible for successful parthenogenetic development, cytogenetics of artificial parthenogenesis and role of artificial parthenogenesis in silkworm breeding. Besides, an attempt is made to describe briefly about parthenogenetic engineering which includes cloning in silkworm, artificial insemination, chimeras, hybridization, chromosomal substitution and recombinant DNA in silkworm.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2002

The protection of silkworm and its host plants from various kinds of pests parasite and predator is a chronic problem in sericulture. Silkworms and its primary food plants are heavily damaged by large number of pest. The major pests of primary tasar food plants (Terminalia arjuna and Terminalia tomentosa) are the gall insect (Trioza fletcheri minor). Various species of aphids (Eutrichosiphum sp.) have been recorded to damage oak tasar food plants whereas muga silkworm host plants (Machilus bombycina and Litsaea polyantha) are generally attacked by stem bores (Zeuzera multistrigata). Castor (Ricinus communis) is one of the primary host plant of eri silkworm and extensive damage is caused by the castor white fly (Trialeurodes ricini). Insects pests are major enemies of silkworms. Parasites (Blepharipa zebina, Exorista bombycis, Apateles glomeratus), predators (Canthecona furcellata, Sycanus collaris, Hierodulla bipapilla), wasps (Vespa orientalix) and ants (Oecophylla smargdina) continues to cause damage to silk industry. It is estimated that the losses due to parasites and predators are to an extent of 15-20 percent and varies from crop to crop. The complexities in the behaviour and life cycle of pest population existing in semi ecosystem warrant a special attention for their effective management specially in changing scenario for our modern sericulture. Though use of synthetic insecticides has provided us with effective control of almost all major pests and predators, yet their undesirable side effects limit their continued use. Biological control is one of the most important method which can be used to control the pests, parasites and predators population in sericulture. Various potential parasitoids, which can be utilized as an agent of biological control in sericulture have been screened. The natural enemies of the uzi fly (E. bombycis and B. zebina ) are already present in the nature. Nesolynx thymus, Trichria sp., Splangia endius, Dirhinus sp., Trichopria sp., Trichomalopsis apanteloctena and Pediobius sp. are the major parasitoids effective against uzi fly pupa. The scelionid Psix striaticeps and Trissolcus sp. are the Potential egg Parasitoids against stink bug (Canthecona furcellata). Various other native natural potential parasitoids have been screened and suitable strategies have been developed to check the population of pest insect in sericulture.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.165-168
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• 2008

The hybrid ($CSR2{\times}CSR4$) eggs treated with acid were taken up for the study with an objective to develop long-term preservation schedule. The hybrid eggs obtained with two mating duration (3 h and 6 h) and oviposition period (6 h and 24 h) with two age groups of eggs (24 h and 36 h) were treated with Hydrochloric acid. These eggs were subjected to preservation at $5^{\circ}C$ in single step refrigeration and at $5^{\circ}C$ and $2.5^{\circ}C$ under double step refrigeration from $10{\sim}120$ days. These eggs were released from the cold storage as per the specified durations and incubated at standard conditions and allowed 2 h for hatching at 450 lux light. Hatchability was found to be significantly higher or on par with the control in three treatments (T1, T2 and T4) where the eggs are preserved continuously at $5^{\circ}C$ up to 30 days. However under double step refrigeration, hatching was not significantly affected in 20+60 day's combination of T1 treatment up to 80 days. Bioassay studies of the promising treatment i.e.. T1 with (20+60) days indicated that early stage loss and cocoon yield was found to be on par with the control. Hence this treatment was recommended for preservation of acid treated new bivoltine hybrid layings. Details of the hatchability and rearing performance of long term preservation of acid treated eggs are discussed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.6-16
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• 2015

This study established the genetic characterisation of 10 microsporidian isolates infecting non-mulberry silkworms (Antheraea assamensis and Samia cynthia ricini) collected from biogeographical forest locations in the State of Assam, India, using PCR-based markers assays: inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). A Nosema type species (NIK-1s_mys) was used as control for comparison. The shape of mature microsporidian spores were observed oval to elongated, measuring 3.80 to $4.90{\mu}m$ in length and 2.60 to $3.05{\mu}m$ in width. Fourteen ISSR primers generated reproducible profiles and yielded 178 fragments, of which 175 were polymorphic (98%), while 16 RAPD primers generated reproducible profiles with 198 amplified fragments displaying 95% of polymorphism. Estimation of genetic distance coefficients based on dice coefficients method and clustering with un-weighted pair group method using arithmetic average (UPGMA) analysis was done to unravel the genetic diversity of microsporidians infecting Indian muga and eri silkworm. The similarity coefficients varied from 0.385 to 0.941 in ISSR and 0.083 to 0.938 in RAPD data. UPGMA analysis generated dendrograms with two microsporidian groups, which appear to be different from each other. Based on Euclidean distance matrix method, 2-dimensional distribution also revealed considerable variability among different identified microsporidians. Clustering of these microsporidian isolates was in accordance with their host and biogeographic origin. Both techniques represent a useful and efficient tool for taxonomical grouping as well as for phylogenetic classification of different microsporidians in general and genotyping of these pathogens in particular.