Post on 09-Jun-2020
BioQuest | Vol. 2, No. 1 (July 2018)
31
Muga silk fabric are an indispensable part of
Assamese culture from time immemorial and has been
bestowed as the guardian of Assamese ethnic weaver’s
pride. Muga silk has witnessed the affection of 600-year
sovereign Ahom kingdom. Due to its unique golden
yellow luster, durability and toughness, muga silk has
gained popularity throughout the world. This variety of
silk moth is endemic to the Brahmaputra valley of
Assam and the adjoining hilly areas of North-east India
and was assigned Geographical indication (GI) tag in
2007.
Muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis Helfer)
broods 5-6 times a year. It feeds on a wide range of host
plants. Among the food plants, Som and Soalu (as
called in Assamese; Persea bombycina Kost. and Litsea
monopetala Roxb. as per scientific naming) are the
primary host plants. When these are unavailable, muga
silkworm can also feed on secondary food plants-
Dighloti (Litsea salicifolia Roxb.), Mejankori (Litsea
cubaba Lour.), Jati-sum (Persea odoratissima Kost.),
Phutuka (Melastoma malabathricum L), Kordoi
(Averrhoa carambola L.), Kotkora (Meyna laxiflora
Robyns) and Hijal (Barringtonia acutangula L). The
avenue is highly employment oriented and requires low
capital-input. One of the striking features about Muga
silkworm is its outdoor mode of rearing unlike other
silk moth varieties (viz. Mulberry, Eri etc.). This is also
one of the reasons for it being highly prone to diseases.
Shifting in the agro-climatic conditions and pollutions
easily affect muga cultivation. The normal multivoltine
strain of Muga silkworm undergoes inbreeding
depression due to continuous inbreeding for long years
in the region.
Much of the yield loss is caused by bacterial
and viral infection (more specifically called ‘flacherie’
and ‘viriosis’ respectively). The severity of these
diseases is such that, in a group of 100 moths, under the
typical condition, 70 moths get infected by Flacherie
(called the ‘percent disease prevalence’). There are also
other comparatively less severe forms of Muga silk
diseases viz. ‘Muscardine’ etc.. Each of these diseases
is not caused by a specific microorganism, but by a
combination of them. With gradual changes in
agricultural practices (use of pesticides, felling of forest
areas), shifting of agro-climatic conditions, increase in
temperature, there has been increasing cases of crop
failures. Such a situation is very discouraging for the
farmers with limited means.
It has long been suggested that healthy & clean
leaves are sustainable way of protecting the silk worms.
However, in out-door rearing sericulture practices, such
condition cannot be maintained. From the studies into
silkworm gut, it has been observed that the intestinal
linings of silkworm support a diverse group of micro-
flora. These bacteria perform a range of activities
mainly food digestion, assistance to pheromone
production, supply of essential nutrients, prevention of
pathogen colonization and detoxification of harmful
chemicals. The necessity of beneficial gut-flora has
already been established in mammals. Thus we
hypothesized that maintaining a healthy gut might help
increase silk productivity.
With this in mind, we started research on
studying the population of bacteria in healthy
silkworms. The idea was to assess bacterial population
present in the gut of healthy Muga silkworm. After
studying the activity of the beneficial bacteria, they
were to mix with suitable carrier solutions to be sprayed
onto host plant. These bacteria, when entered in the
worms alimentary canal while feeding on the host-
plant, will harbor the gut of silk worms, thus will
protect them from harmful bacteria.
Healthy silkworms were collected from
different areas of Muga growing regions (also
Improving the health of the Muga Silkworm: A probiotic approach
Bhuyan PM
Central Muga Eri Research and Training Institute (CMER&TI), Central Silk Board, Lahdoigarh-785008, Jorhat
Email: pinkybhuyan2323@gmail.com
BioQuest | Vol. 2, No. 1 (July 2018)
neighboring states of Assam). Upon vigorous screening,
we observed that bacterial population belonging to a
particular species (Bacillus species) was common in the
healthy silkworms gut. It was found that the bacteria
produced several enzymes that are usefu
host plant-leaves (enzymes - Cellulase, Lipase
Pectinase). The healthy bacteria that we isolated also
prevented some pathogenic bacteria of Muga
from growing (called antibiosis). This property was due
to secretion of some chemicals (antibiotics) that kill the
disease-causing bacteria. Thus, we here understood that
some bacteria present in the gut of healthy silk moth
help in digesting different components of food
(carbohydrate, lipid etc.) while some prevent harmful
bacteria from getting access to the gut-linings.
The next goal of our study was to make use of
these good-bacteria to enhance Muga silk production.
Only after ascertaining compatibility among the
bacteria, they were incorporated together in the
formulation. We made liquid formulations of these
bacteria with certain additives and sprayed onto the host
plants periodically. The idea was to observe different
vital parameters (larval weight, cocoon weight, shell
weight, silk ratio percentage and effective rate of
rearing etc.) of the silkworms fed on normal leaf diet
and those reared on leaf sprayed with bacterial
formulation.
Our study signifies that there was an
enhancement in the vital parameters in
reared on formulation containing diet. The concept of
probiotic incorporation in the diet of silkworm
been studied; yet, these have not been recommended for
standard package and practices for the farmers
Muga silkworm, application of microbial consortia for
enhancing productivity has not yet been repor
have worked out some of the possible combinations of
potential beneficial-bacterial consortia that can help
Muga silkworm to maintain a healthy gut lining. This
will help silkworm survive the quantum of pathogenic
attacks in the field and increase the productivity.
-------x-------
states of Assam). Upon vigorous screening,
population belonging to a
common in the
gut. It was found that the bacteria
produced several enzymes that are useful for digesting
Cellulase, Lipase
Pectinase). The healthy bacteria that we isolated also
Muga silkworm
from growing (called antibiosis). This property was due
(antibiotics) that kill the
bacteria. Thus, we here understood that
some bacteria present in the gut of healthy silk moth
help in digesting different components of food
(carbohydrate, lipid etc.) while some prevent harmful
linings.
The next goal of our study was to make use of
silk production.
Only after ascertaining compatibility among the good-
, they were incorporated together in the
iquid formulations of these
bacteria with certain additives and sprayed onto the host
plants periodically. The idea was to observe different
vital parameters (larval weight, cocoon weight, shell
weight, silk ratio percentage and effective rate of
fed on normal leaf diet
and those reared on leaf sprayed with bacterial
Our study signifies that there was an
in the vital parameters in silkworms
reared on formulation containing diet. The concept of
silkworm has long
been studied; yet, these have not been recommended for
practices for the farmers. For
silkworm, application of microbial consortia for
enhancing productivity has not yet been reported. We
have worked out some of the possible combinations of
bacterial consortia that can help
silkworm to maintain a healthy gut lining. This
will help silkworm survive the quantum of pathogenic
the productivity.
Homemade Probiotic
loss and is great for gut
make it Probiotics are beneficial for nutrient absorption,
digestion and gut health, weight loss, strong
immunity, healthy skin and much more
Probiotics aid in weight loss and reduce
belly fat because it helps in burning extra
calories and storing less fat. We can get
probiotics from fermented dairy products like
milk and yoghurt and other foods like pickled
vegetables, kefir, miso, and tempeh.
Other than gut health, probiotics have
been linked to the strengthened immunity due to
inhibited growth of harmful gut bacteria. At last,
may also aid in weight loss
fat because it helps in burning extra calories and
storing less fat."
Further, we can even make ce
at home easily -
This can be easily made at home by two
easily available ingredients. All you need is
cooked cold white rice and water. Simply put
cooked white rice in a clay or mud pot and
cover it with water. You can leave it for a few
hours or overnight. You can have a couple of
tablespoons of this early morning. For better
results, you should have it empty stomach. It
can help treat leaky gut syndrome and other gut
issues. It can also have a positive impact on
your workouts and sleep. You can easily
some other healthy
home with green bananas and potato Source: DoctorNDTV (Jan 30, 2019)
32
robiotic for quick weight
loss and is great for gut: Learn how to
Probiotics are beneficial for nutrient absorption,
digestion and gut health, weight loss, strong
ity, healthy skin and much more
Probiotics aid in weight loss and reduce
because it helps in burning extra
calories and storing less fat. We can get
probiotics from fermented dairy products like
milk and yoghurt and other foods like pickled
vegetables, kefir, miso, and tempeh.
Other than gut health, probiotics have
en linked to the strengthened immunity due to
inhibited growth of harmful gut bacteria. At last,
weight loss and reduce belly
because it helps in burning extra calories and
Further, we can even make certain probiotics
This can be easily made at home by two
easily available ingredients. All you need is
and water. Simply put
cooked white rice in a clay or mud pot and
cover it with water. You can leave it for a few
ight. You can have a couple of
tablespoons of this early morning. For better
results, you should have it empty stomach. It
can help treat leaky gut syndrome and other gut
issues. It can also have a positive impact on
your workouts and sleep. You can easily make
some other healthy probiotics at
green bananas and potato starch.
DoctorNDTV (Jan 30, 2019)