• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2008

The expression of heat shock protein genes (Hsp 70, Hsp 40, Hsp 20.8 and Hsp 20.4) against thermal stress in silkworm Bombyx mori was performed through semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Upon exposure of silkworm to two temperature regimes ($38^{\circ}C$ and $42^{\circ}C$), significant change in the expression of Hsp gene was observed as compared to the control. Hsp 70 and Hsp 40 showed increased expression than the small heat shock protein genes Hsp 20.8 and Hsp 20.4. The Hsp 70 showed increased expression during the recovery period as compared to 1 hr thermal treatments ($38^{\circ}C$/1 hr and $42^{\circ}C$/1 hr). Whereas, Hsp 40, Hsp 20.8 and Hsp 20.4 genes showed higher expression level at initial stages that later gradually decrease during recovery period. Tissue specific expression of Hsp 70 showed variation in the level of expression amongst the tissues. The mid gut and fat body tissues showed higher expression than the cuticle and silk gland tissue. The Hsp 70, Hsp 40 gene expression was analyzed in thermotolerant (Nistari) and thermo susceptible silk worm strain (NB4D2) and results showed significant variation in their expression level. The Nistari showed higher expression of Hsp 70 and Hsp 40 genes than the NB4D2. These findings provide a better understanding of cellular protection mechanisms against environmental stress such as heat shock, as these Hsps are involved in an organism thermotolerance.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2006

A breeding programme was initiated during 2001 utilizing two polyvoltine silkworm breeds viz. $BL_{69}$, an evolved breed tolerant to high temperature and MAR, comparatively resistant to Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) with the objective to develop robust polyvoltine breeds and hybrids. The breed $NP_1$ was developed by exposing the fifth instar larvae to high temperature $(36{\pm}1^{\circ}C)$, high Relative Humidity ($85{\pm}5%$ R.H.) and inoculating third instar larvae with BmNPV inoculum. At $F_{12}$, the breed was tested for hybrid forming ability utilizing six bivoltine silkworm breeds viz. $CSR_2,\;CSR_4,\;CSR_{17},\;CSR_{18},\;CSR_{19}\;and\;NB_4D_2$. The hybrid $'NP_1{\times}CSR_{17}'$ exhibited its superiority by recording 97.2% survival, 1.892 g cocoon weight, 0.406 g cocoon shell weight, 21.5% cocoon shell ratio, 16.6% raw silk percentage and 890 m filament length whereas the control $(PM{\times}CSR_2)$ has recorded 90.2% survival, 1.599 g cocoon weight, 0.304 g cocoon shell weight, 18.9% cocoon shell ratio, 13.1 % raw silk percentage and 768 m filament length. Commercial exploitation of the new $polyvoltine{\times}bivoltine$ hybrid in sericulture industry has been discussed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.39-44
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• 2011

To evaluate the growth rate of larval and pupal parameters of silkworm Bombyx mori fed with Silver Nanoparticles (AgNps) treated $MR_2$ mulberry leaves, the following works have been considered. The AgNp was synthesized by chemical reduction method, it was diluted by different concentrations such as 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% (without dilution). Fresh mulberry leaves (Morus alba L.) were sprayed by each concentration and were fed to silkworms, from $3^{rd}$, $4^{th}$ and $5^{th}$ instar, five feedings/day. Group $T_1$ larvae received $MR_2$ mulberry leaves sprayed with distilled water and served as control, group $T_2$, $T_3$, $T_4$ and $T_5$ larvae received 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% AgNps sprayed mulberry leaves, respectively. Silkworm larvae fed on M. alba ($MR_2$) leaves sprayed with 25% concentration of AgNps (group $T_2$) was significantly increased the larvae and cocoon length, width and weight as compared to those fed on control (group $T_1$) $MR_2$ mulberry leaves and other groups ($T_3$, $T_4$ and $T_5$). Hence, 25% AgNps dose was fixed as an effective dose. It has been observed from the present study that 25% AgNps treated (group $T_2$) leaves fed by silkworms have enhanced the larval and pupal growth and quantity of silk production than control.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.78-79
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• 2003

To further understanding of the role of calreticulin in insects, we have isolated a cDNA of calreticulin from silkworm, Bombyx mori. The cDNA encodes a 398 amino acid residues of B. mori calreticulin with endoplasmic reticulum retentional HDEL motif at its C-terminus, and a predicted molecular mass of 45801 Da. The B. mori calreticulin shows high protein homology with those of G mellonella (88%), A. aegypti (71%) and H. sapiens (63%). (omitted)

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.26-31
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• 1992

Flacherie virus (FV) and Densonucleosis virus (DNV) of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, which give the most severest damage to the silk production in korea, were fed on the mulberry wild silkworm, Bombyx mori mandarina, the mulberry pyralid, Gryphodes phyloalis, and the American fall webworm, Hypantria cunea, to investigate cross infectivity by serological and histopathological at observation. By the Ouchterlony's double difusion test the mulberry wild silkworm was infected with both FV and DNV type 1 (DNV-1) and the mulberry pyralid with DNV-1, so those were confirmed the cross infection. But the American fall webworm was not recognized the cross infection by the same method. The infection and multiplication of the FV in the mulberry wild silkworm was observed in the cytoplasm of the goblet cell with the appearance of the virus-specific vesicle. In DNV-1 infection to the mulberry wild silkworm and the mulberry pyralid, the nuclei of columnar cell in the midgut of both insects was hypertrophied and the nuclei of midgut cell of the mulberry pyralid positively stained with the feulgen stain. Multiplication of DNV-1 in the midgut cell of the mulberry wild silkworm was replicated in two different patterens as linear arrays and large masses, while that of DNV-1 in the muberry pyralid was multiplied as virus masses in several portion of the nuclei of the midgut cell.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2006

Of all factors that govern productivity in sericulture, the role of silkworm egg is of prime importance. The production of silkworm seed involves a long chain of interdependent and highly specialized conditions. Female moths of Bombyx mori L. commence egg deposition immediately when the moths were decoupled. More than 60% of eggs are deposited within 4 hrs after decoupling i.e. 62.33% in CSR-3, 61.67% in CSR-6, 62.50% in CSR-16 and 63.28% in CSR-17. Almost 90% of eggs were laid in the first 12 hrs (93.13% in CSR-3, 90.81% in CSR-6, 89.71% in CSR-16 and 93.17% eggs in CSR-17) after decoupling. Almost 8 to 10% of more eggs were laid when oviposition period was prolonged upto 48 hrs instead of 24 hrs. The present investigation showed that a significant increase of 45 (8.34%), 50 (9.98%), 41 (8.26%) and 45 (8.30%) (P < 0.01) numbers of more eggs were found between 24 to 48 hrs (T6 to T9) in CSR-3, CSR-6, CSR-16 and CSR-17 races respectively. The findings of present investigation is very important for sericulture industry while producing layings to keep for different hibernation schedule especially for autumn/late autumn crop, female may be allowed for prolonged oviposition to get 8 -10% more eggs and farmer may fetch 8 -10 kg. more cocoon yield/l00 dfls with more income.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.243-248
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• 2009

The Larval critical weight is the minimal mass at which further growth in not necessary for a normal time course to pupation. Larval critical weight (Lcw), pupal critical weight (Pcw) and adult critical weight (Acw) of different breeds of Bombyx mori L. were determined through starvation (food deprivation). The Lcw was found to be about 938.46, 2397.26, 2283.57 and 2220.97 mg in males and 1118.15, 2681.04, 2604.9 and 2455.88 mg in females of the multivoltine breed (Nistari), Bivoltine breeds (P5 & NB18) and their hybrid (P5$\times$NB18) respectively. Bivoltine breed P5 took more time (3.35 days) followed by NB18 (3.13 days) & P5$\times$NB18 (3.02 days) to attain larval critical weight (In $5^{th}$ Instar) than the multivoltine breed Nistari (2.42 days). Decrease in weight from larval maximal weight to pupal weight and to adult weight was also observed more in multivoltine than bivoltines, which may be due to more latent feeding period in bivoltines. Since Lcw is a stable character and independent of environment, it could be utilized for characterization of silkworm breeds to assess the quality of an insect.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.154-160
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• 1997

Present experiment designed for the review of theoretical basis for the inspection system of infected insects by Nosema bombycis. A microporidian N. bombycis, known as the high virulence, produced at the average of 7$\times$108 spores per female moth of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, enabled transovarial tranmission. Detectability of N. bombycis spores in the mass inspection was varied by dillution level, the higher limit of dillution with healthy moths was 1:140 for 100% detection, 1:160 for 99.5%, 1:200 for 99.0%. For an efficient inspection under the microscopic observation (600$\times$), the lower limit of spore concentration was determined as 1, 000, 000 spores/ml, 60-80 moths could be applicable for a maximum sample unit of a lot. Following the present inspection unit conditioned 35 to 40 moths for a lot. N. bombycis spores were easily detectable from the preparation of crude homogenate with 2% KOH, even the step of contrifuge was omitted. The results suggested a new basis of rational mass inspection system of silkworm female moths to save the facilities, labor, and time.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.157-163
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• 2008

Infection of pathogenic microsporidia, Nosema bombycis and Nosema mylitta (Chakrabarti and Manna, 2006) decreased egg production, fecundity, hatching % and increased sterile eggs in heavily infected mulberry silkmoth, Bombyx mori L. On an average a disease free moth laid upto 442.67 eggs with high hatching % (99.53) and less sterile eggs ($0.47{\sim}2.00%$). While an infected moth laid less number of eggs ($7.00{\sim}412.00$) with low hatching % ($32.437{\sim}98.643$) and high sterile eggs ($2.143{\sim}129.571$). Fecundity of disease free laying was highest (468.714) during season-1 then gradually decreased during season- 2 (414.000) to season- 3 (404.285). But fecundity of an infected laying was highest during season-2 and hatched eggs were lowest during season-2. Higher inoculums concentration of N. mylitta infected to 5th stage larva of mulberry silkworm drastically decreased the fecundity in season - 3 and lower inoculums concentration of N. bombycis decreased the fecundity in season-1 and 3. Season-3 was most effective season to decrease the fecundity and increase sterile eggs when both temperature and humidity were fluctuated from the optimum level.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.77-80
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate infection process, symptoms and $LD_{50}$ values of the entomopathogenic fungus cordyceps, Paecillomyces japonica, on the domestic silkworm, Bombyx mori. Susceptibility of infection in the silkworms by cordyceps, Paecillomyces japonica, was 100% in $10^{7}$ block, 96% in $10^{6}$ block, 76% in $10^{5}$ block, 44% in $10^{4}$ block, 28% in $10^{3}$ block and 8% in $10^{2}$ block. Cordyceps, Paecillomyces japonica, was highly infectious to the silkworms. A pathogenicities of cordyceps, Paecillomyces japonica, may be highly virulent because of the low resistance or high susceptibility of the silkworms. Dosage of the pathogen of $LD_{50}$ was $3.78{\times}10^{3}\;spores/mm^{3}$.