Antheraea Mylitta Research Articles

Tasar Silkworm Pupae oil: A potential therapeutic and edible lipid source to mitigate the oxidative stress and cholesterol complications associated with diabetes

The anti-oxidant and cholesterol-lowering activity of tasar pupae oil (TPO), loaded with α-linolenic acid in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats was studied. The suitability of TPO as an edible oil was investigated through characterizations including refractive index, specific gravity, rheological profile, and NMR spectroscopy. The in vitro radical-scavenging activity of TPO was tested using ABTS assay. The diabetic rats were orally supplemented with two different doses of TPO (high or low) for seven days. The physical parameters, including a refractive index, a specific gravity, and a rheological profile are indicated as favorable attributes of TPO as edible oil. The NMR analysis suggested that TPO contains stearic acid and linolenyl chain compounds. TPO exhibited robust in vitro radical-scavenging activity, with an IC50 of 1.33 µl/ml. In vivo study showed that the total serum lipid content was significantly lower in the TPO treated groups compared to other groups. However, blood glucose level did not reduced in TPO treated groups. The levels of anti-oxidant enzymes CAT and SOD were enhanced by both doses of TPO in diabetic rats indicating the significant anti-oxidant activity of TPO. In addition, Histopathological evaluations indicated no signs of toxicity in hepatic and renal tissues of TPO-treated diabetic rats. Hence, taking into consideration these activities, the tasar pupae oil can be further investigated for its therapeutic and edible properties.

Wild silk insect of Simlipal biosphere and its molecular genetic diversity for conservation.

Designated silkworms (Antheraea mylitta D.) are found in the Smilipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) and consist of four ecological groups. This study examined the genetics of eight ethnic groups from four ecological groups (Modal, Nalia, Bogai and Jata) using RAPD and ISSR markers. The RAPD primer produced 127 bands, of which 41 out of 116 polymorphic regions had a PIC value above 0.45. ISSR markers assigned PIC data values to 57 of 127 polymorphic sites. Cluster analysis revealed genetic differences between ecological populations, with markers separating ecological populations into groups. Low testicles and high genetic diversity indicate that these individuals are at different levels. If adequate protection is not provided, the risk of extinction of ecospecies designed in SBR increases. This study shows that the combined use of RAPD + ISSR markers can improve the results of the technology in identifying different diseases in situations where genomic information is limited.

Complete characterization and comparative analysis of the mitochondrial genome of Indian tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) and phylogenetic implications

The Indian tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta (A. mylitta) is an economically important silkmoth and is native to tropical India. Our current research has deciphered the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of A. mylitta by recovering the complete genome sequence from the NCBI-SRA database and comparing it with other mitogenomes from the order Lepidoptera. The mitogenome is a double-stranded circular molecule spanning 15,354 bp with an A + T content of roughly 80.4%. It consists of a total of 37 genes, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), along with a 337 bp long control region. The arrangement of PCGs is similar to other Lepidoptera mitogenomes, with the exception of Cox1 and Cox2, which have different initiation codons. The control region of A. mylitta contains a conserved five bp ATAGA motif as seen in other Antheraea species. Phylogenetic analysis supports previous morphological hypotheses that Bombycoidea, Noctuoidea, Geometroidea, Papilionoidea, and Torticoidea are monophyletic. The divergence time analysis of 13 protein-coding genes reported that A. mylitta diverged from the last common ancestor ∼ 23 million years ago. As per our knowledge, this is the first documented record of the entire mitogenome of A. mylitta.

Effect of photoperiod on the DNA, RNA and protein concentration in the silkgland of tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta (D) (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae)

In Antheraea mylitta (D) (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae), the effect of photoperiod on total DNA, RNA, and protein concentration in the middle silk gland (MSG) and posterior silk gland (PSG) was studied. The photoperiod caused enhancement in the secretory activity and stimulates the sericogenesis process in MSG and PSG. The total nucleic acids and protein concentration of MSG and PSG under 24L:00D condition reached maximum level and then it decreased. Maximum nucleic acids and protein concentration were observed during long-day period and the minimum during short-day period. The photoperiod activated or inhibited the biological clock which acted upon the respective endocrine glands accordingly and control the process of sericogenesis. The larvae underwent significant changes with high DNA, RNA and protein concentration under 24L:00D, which is highly suitable for the silk protein synthesis.

Molecular markers for genetic analysis of Indian tropical tasar ecoraces and hybrid populations (Antheraea mylitta.d)

The tropical tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta D., a wild sericigenous and polyphagous insect is cultivated in the dense, humid, tropical forests of eastern, central and southern India. Its primary food plants are Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia tomentosa and Shorea robusta. The improved varieties of these silkworms can be evolved by hybridization through backcross method, to improve the traits in the upcoming generation by selective parental selection. The present studies of genetic relations between Andhra local and Daba TV ecoraces is identified by DNA markers viz., simple sequence repeats (SSRs), most of which have produced polymorphic bands and based on phylogeny of tasar ecoraces using SSR markers, which further provides molecular evidence of the fact that climatic factors, the changes at DNA level and its wide range of distribution in varied geographic conditions would lead to genetic divergence ultimately leading to the formation of new ecorace.. KEYWORDS :Antheraea mylitta, tasar ecorace, microsatellites, phylogeny, genetic diversity, Breeding, Backcross

Cytochrome b gene as a potential DNA barcoding marker in ecoraces of tropical Tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta Drury

BackgroundTropical Tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta Drury plays a very crucial role in the economic development of the country employing around 9.76 million people in rural and semi-urban areas. Since the population of this species has spread over many states with varying environmental factors, the population has been isolated into many pockets, specifically adapted to that niche, and are called as “ecoraces”. Even though phenotypically these ecoraces may look similar to some level but the intra-generic genotypic variability between them is correlated to the economically important yield traits of their cocoons. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene of mitochondrial genome as a potential DNA barcoding marker for identification of these ecoraces as to are they really ecoraces, and attempts to establish the first country report of DNA barcode reference library of this silkworm species. Methods and resultsDNA was extracted from pupae of pure ecoraces collected from core ecozones. PCR amplicon was bead purified and further subjected to Sanger Sequencing. The parsimony tree was also created using the MEGA 11 software. The genetic distance, gene flow and relation among the ecoraces was evaluated. The conserved regions of Cyt b gene were identified along with the documentation of the mode and tempo of nucleotide variation and evolution. ConclusionThe present study confirms the efficiency of Cyt b gene as a potential DNA marker for identification of ecoraces of Tasar silkworm and is the first country report on barcoding of A. mylitta Drury. Apart from being used as an early-warning system for ecological degradation, this knowledge will help in assessing the evolutionary relationship of these economically important ecoraces and identify their position in the process of evolution aiding in the assessment of conservation priorities.

TAR: A Highly Accurate Machine-Learning Model to Predict the Cocoon Shell Weight of Tasar Silkworm Antheraea Mylitta

TAR: A Highly Accurate Machine-Learning Model to Predict the Cocoon Shell Weight of Tasar Silkworm Antheraea Mylitta

Taxonomy and feeding of Forcipomyia (Microhelea) fuliginosa Meigen and Forcipomyia (Microhelea) esakiana Tokunaga (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) on Antheraea mylitta Drury (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae).

Taxonomic equivocality and complexity exist in the two species of Ceratopogonids, Forcipomyia (Microhelea) fuliginosa Meigen and Forcipomyia (Microhelea) esakiana Tokunaga. Incongruencies and inaccuracies in species identification restrict further biological and ecological studies on the host-ectoparasite association. Preferential landing and hemolymphophagy of F. fuliginosa and F. esakiana on Antheraea mylitta Drury larva were studied under field conditions. The silkworm A. mylitta is reared in the tasar sericulture industry, contributing 1466 metric tons (202122) of indigenous raw silk in India. Ectoparasitic behavior of the biting midges, F. fuliginosa, and F. esakiana is an increasing threat to the silkworm, necessitating proper identification. Intra and inter-variations of these two closely related species have been stated. Morphological-based identification of these species has been substantiated with COX1 molecular data. A Bayesian-modeled approach to reconstruct the dendrogram of the two species based on the COX1 sequences generated has been presented along with the referred sequences of F. fuliginosa from Genebank. The species F. esakiana is being reported for the first time from India, along with its ectoparasitic hemolymphophagous nature. The role of these insectivorous species in transmitting pathogens to the larvae of tasar silk needs further investigation.

Functionalising silk hydrogels with hetero- and homotypic nanoparticles.

Despite many reports detailing silk hydrogels, the development of composite silk hydrogels with homotypic and heterotypic silk nanoparticles and their impact on material mechanics and biology have remained largely unexplored. We hypothesise that the inclusion of nanoparticles into silk-based hydrogels enables the formation of homotropic and heterotropic material assemblies. The aim was to explore how well these systems allow tuning of mechanics and cell adhesion to ultimately control the cell-material interface. We utilised nonporous silica nanoparticles as a standard reference and compared them to nanoparticles derived from Bombyx mori silk and Antheraea mylitta (tasar) silk (approximately 100-150 nm in size). Initially, physically cross-linked B. mori silk hydrogels were prepared containing silica, B. mori silk nanoparticles, or tasar silk nanoparticles at concentrations of either 0.05% or 0.5% (w/v). The initial modulus (stiffness) of these nanoparticle-functionalised silk hydrogels was similar. Stress relaxation was substantially faster for nanoparticle-modified silk hydrogels than for unmodified control hydrogels. Increasing the concentrations of B. mori silk and silica nanoparticles slowed stress relaxation, while the opposite trend was observed for hydrogels modified with tasar nanoparticles. Cell attachment was similar for all hydrogels, but proliferation during the initial 24 h was significantly improved with the nanoparticle-modified hydrogels. Overall, this study demonstrates the manufacture and utilisation of homotropic and heterotropic silk hydrogels.

GC MS – Analysis of Bio Active Compounds from Propolis and Antibacterial Activity against B.cereus Isolated from Tasar Silkworm Cadavers

Propolis is a sticky, non toxic, soft resinous substance produced by honey bees. The chemical composition of propolis depends upon the collecting time, location and plant source resulting in the biological activity variation. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of propolis by using Gas chromatography – Mass spectrometer. Bee propolis is a natural medication applied topically and is considered to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antibiotic, antioxidant properties and is used for treatment of many infections. Propolis was found to be rich in alkaloids, saponins, tannins and resins. The chemical characterization revealed the presence of 9 distinct phytochemical compounds using GC – MS and the most predominant compound were S Methyl – L – Cysteine (62.36%) followed by Cis – 2,3 – Epoxyoctane (31.78%). The different concentrations of methanolic extracts of propolis showed varied antibacterial activities against B. cereus with highest zone of inhibition (19.0 mm).

Microfibre-Functionalised Silk Hydrogels.

Silk hydrogels have shown potential for tissue engineering applications, but several gaps and challenges, such as a restricted ability to form hydrogels with tuned mechanics and structural features, still limit their utilisation. Here, Bombyx mori and Antheraea mylitta (Tasar) silk microfibres were embedded within self-assembling B. mori silk hydrogels to modify the bulk hydrogel mechanical properties. This approach is particularly attractive because it creates structured silk hydrogels. First, B. mori and Tasar microfibres were prepared with lengths between 250 and 500 μm. Secondary structure analyses showed high beta-sheet contents of 61% and 63% for B. mori and Tasar microfibres, respectively. Mixing either microfibre type, at either 2% or 10% (w/v) concentrations, into 3% (w/v) silk solutions during the solution-gel transition increased the initial stiffness of the resulting silk hydrogels, with the 10% (w/v) addition giving a greater increase. Microfibre addition also altered hydrogel stress relaxation, with the fastest stress relaxation observed with a rank order of 2% (w/v) > 10% (w/v) > unmodified hydrogels for either fibre type, although B. mori fibres showed a greater effect. The resulting data sets are interesting because they suggest that the presence of microfibres provided potential 'flow points' within these hydrogels. Assessment of the biological responses by monitoring cell attachment onto these two-dimensional hydrogel substrates revealed greater numbers of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iPSC-MSCs) attached to the hydrogels containing 10% (w/v) B. mori microfibres as well as 2% (w/v) and 10% (w/v) Tasar microfibres at 24 h after seeding. Cytoskeleton staining revealed a more elongated and stretched morphology for the cells growing on hydrogels containing Tasar microfibres. Overall, these findings illustrate that hydrogel stiffness, stress relaxation and the iPSC-MSC responses towards silk hydrogels can be tuned using microfibres.

Identification of cocoonase and cocoonase like protein using polyclonal antibody of Antheraea mylitta cocoonase.

Cocoonase is a proteolytic enzyme released by silk moths during pupal adult emergence. Without damaging the silk fibroin, this enzyme dissolves the shell of the tasar cocoon by exclusively targeting the protein sericin. Prior to this study, there was no available antibody against Antheraea mylitta cocoonase to identify or screen out similar variants or cocoonase like protein. In the present study, naturally secreted A. mylitta cocoonase was purified and used to immunize New Zealand white rabbits. The developed polyclonal antibody of cocoonase was purified and its specific interaction with cocoonase was determined using Indirect ELISA. The confirmation of its specificity and immuno-reactivity was evaluated by western blot using native cocoonase of tasar silkworm A. mylitta. The efficacy and specificity of the polyclonal antibody were further verified and confirmed by western blot which was performed to detect ten different ecotypes of A. mylitta cocoonase. The developed antibody successfully detected the cocoonase of different ecotypes. Thus, in future this antibody can serve as one of the molecular detection method for cocoonase and cocoonase-like proteins.

Insights into the characterization and therapeutic potential of Tasar silkworm pupal oil

Oil extracted from various species of silkworm pupae emerged as an alternative source of edible oil with great therapeutic value. However, the Tasar silkworm, is mainly known for producing more textured silk than the applications of its pupal oil. The current study aimed to extract characterize and investigate edible and therapeutic properties of Tasar Pupal Oil (TPO).TPO was extracted by Soxhlet extraction method. Characterization of TPO was conducted by GC/MS and FTIR. The Total phenolic content of TPO was evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The safety evaluation of TPO was checked on healthy HEK293 (human embryonic kidney cells) using MTT assay. Whereas, therapeutic properties of TPO were analyzed through DPPH, FRAP, SRB assay and agar-well diffusion method. GC/MS study revealed that α-linolenic acid (ALA) (38%) was the major component of TPO followed by n-hexadecanoic acid (25.64%), and other minor compounds were detected in small amounts. The functional groups of TPO shown by FTIR analysis correspond with similar peaks of edible oils. The TPO was reported to be low in phenolic content. The DPPH and FRAP radical scavenging assays demonstrate that TPO exhibits significant antioxidant capabilities. Further, TPO revealed a substantial dose-dependent anticancer activity against colon cancer cells, with a GI50 value of ≤20 μg/ml. Interestingly, TPO was safe and non-toxic on HEK293 cells. Further, TPO exhibited antibacterial activity against S. typhi and S. mutans at various dilutions. Our findings clearly reveal the potentiality of TPO by displaying the characteristics of edible oil and therapeutic properties including antioxidant, anticancer, and antibacterial.

Biomolecular characterization of Antheraea mylitta cocoonase: A secreted protease

Cocoonase is a protease secreted during the emergence of silk moths. In the present study cocoonase of Antheraea mylitta was collected, purified and secondary structure was determined using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy which revealed the presence of α-helix 4.3%, β-sheet 55%, turn 8% and random coil 32.7%. The thermal stability of cocoonase was studied using CD spectroscopy while the thermal property was observed using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Furthermore, MALDI-TOF peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) was performed for similar protein identification using the MASCOT server. Using casein as the substrate, the kinetic constants Km and Vmax were 13 × 103 mg/ml and 15.09 × 10−2 μg/mg.s1 respectively. The specific activity of cocoonase was observed to be maximum at temperature 40 °C, pH-8.0. The effect of heavy metals Hg2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Pb2+ showed inhibitory activity at higher concentrations, while few metals like Mn2+, Fe3+ enhanced the activity while the effect of Ca2+ was not much on the activity. Soybean trypsin inhibitor and PMSF showed an inhibitory effect on the activity of cocoonase. Additionally, antioxidant scavenging and fibrinolytic properties were also observed. Furthermore, the imperative information generated through the present study will serve to explore cocoonase for its prospective pharmaceutical applications.

Impact of Adoption of Improved Tasar Silkworm Rearing Technologies on Cocoons Production of Tasar Silkworm Anthereae mylitta D in Maharashtra

Tasar culture is being practiced in Maharashtra since last 200 years by the tribal folks of four eastern districts of the state. However, the productivity of tasar cocoons in the state is hovering around average of 2000-4000 cocoons/100 Dfls (Disease Free layings) throughout the year against the norm of 6000 cocoons which might be due to the non-adoption or low adoption of improved tasar rearing technologies by the tasar silkworm rearers. Thus, present study was conducted to investigate the impact of adoption of improved tasar silkworm rearing technologies as a strategy for improving tasar cocoon production in the state. For the study, an “Ex Post Facto” research designed was used and 50 adopted seed cocoon rearers and 50 non-adopted seed cocoon rearers were selected through random sampling method. The results of the study showed that, during the Ist Crop of Daba TV rearing, the average cocoon yield of the farmers who have adopted the tasar silkworm rearing technologies ranged from 2907 to 3612 cocoons per 100 dfls while in case of non-adopter it ranged from 2316 to 2616 cocoons per 100 dfls. The overall improvement in cocoon yield in the technology adopted lots over that of control lot was ranged from 26.58 to 32.08 per cent. Similarly, during IInd crop rearing of Daba TV, the cocoon yield of the farmers who adopted the technology ranged from 3126 to 4123 cocoons per 100 dfls while in the control, it ranged from 2639 to 3493 cocoons per 100 dfls with the overall improvement ranged from 11.80 to 20.29 per cent. Moreover, during IIIrd crop rearing of Daba TV, the cocoon yield of the farmers who adopted the technology ranged from 5322 to 6487 cocoons per 100 dfls compared to non- adopted of technologies which ranged from 4006 to 5213 per 100 dfls. The paired t test showed that there was a significant improvement in cocoon yield due to the adoption of the improved tasar silkworm rearing technology by the adopted seed cocoon rearers in all three crops of Daba TV eco-race. Also, a significant improvement was noticed in the cocoon and shell weight in all the three crops of Daba TV. The study suggests that the effective technology transfer strategies should be developed and implemented in the state coupled with the suitable training programs so as to convince farmers about the benefits of adoption improved tasar silkworm rearing technologies.

Enhanced bone regeneration using Antheraea mylitta silk fibroin and chitosan based scaffold: in-vivo and in-vitro study

In this study, highly interconnected porous scaffolds from Antheraea mylitta silk fibroin (SF) and chitosan (CH) were fabricated using the freeze-drying method. The weight ratios of SF to CH were varied from 90:10 (SF90/CH10) to 50:50 (SF50/CH50) to prepare the scaffolds from the aqueous suspension of the protein-polysaccharide mix. From the initial optimization of scaffold composition with respect to their microstructure, porosity, and mechanical properties, the SF80/CH20 scaffold exhibited the most suitable properties for bone tissue engineering application as compared to others compositions. Hence in-vitro hemocompatibility, protein adsorption, and MG-63 cell culture studies were carried out for SF80/CH20 scaffold. The fabricated SF80/CH20 scaffold showed a more controlled swelling percentage of 42.8%, with high BSA protein adsorption of 0.39 mg of BSA per gm of the scaffold at 24 h incubation period. Furthermore, in-vitro MG-63 cell culture study onto the fabricated SF80/CH20 scaffold elicited excellent MG-63 cell attachment with better biocompatibility and cell viability with increased F-action production from day 3 to day 7 of the cell culture period. In vivo bone defect healing in a rabbit tibia model revealed excellent bone healing capacity in SF80/CH20 scaffold implanted specimens compared to control ones, as evident from histology and fluorochrome labeling analysis.

Study of Gaps in Adoption of Improved Tasar Silkworm (Antheraea mylitta D) Rearing Technologies

Maharashtra contributes paltry 0.76 per cent of the total production of tasar silk in the country, with 23 MT but the production of tasar silk in the state is found to be dwindling which might be due to the gaps in knowledge and adoption of improved tasar silkworm rearing technologies. Therefore, present investigation was undertaken to assess the gaps in adoption of tasar silkworm rearing technologies and constraints faced by the tasar farmers in adopting the recommended technologies. The study was conducted in Bhandara, Gondia and Gadchiroli districts of Maharashtra. The “Ex-post facto” research design was used for the study. A total 120 tasar silkworm rearing farmers were randomly selected for the study from those selected districts. The data was analyzed using SPSS software. The results showed that the major gaps in adoption were seen the practices such as Integrated Pest Management for the control of gall disease (91.67%), application of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) or vermi-compost @4 kg/plant or 2kg/plans twice in a year (87.50%) and foliar spraying of 1.5% urea twice @ 15 days’ interval before 30 days of rearing (78.33%) and these were ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively. The average gaps in adoption were 52.71 per cent. Similarly, non-availability of quality seeds/Dfls for rearing, non availability of disease resistance/tolerant silkworm races, non-enhancement of seed cocoon/reelable cocoon prices due to non-availability of formal and fair market, no hand holding support during the crop failure from the government, outbreak of diseases due to weather fluctuation and difficulty in adoption of recommended package of practices due to insufficient fund were the major constraints experienced by the tasar silkworm rearers. Thus, proper research, extension, communication and training strategies are needed to be formulated so that the constraints faced in adoption will be removed and the gaps in adoption could be bridged in order to accelerate the rate of adoption of modern tasar silkworm technologies in state and, thus, increasing the scope for boosting the tasar silk production of the state in the years to come.

Synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles from Tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta pupae and its antioxidant efficacy and antibacterial activity against fish pathogens

Aim: To synthesize and characterize chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) from the pupae of tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta. The antioxidant and antibacterial activities of CNPs against different strains of selected bacterial fish pathogens were also evaluated. Methodology: CNPs were prepared using sodium tripolyphosphate anions. Characterization of nanoparticles was done by FTIR, Zeta potential analysis and Particle size distribution analysis. The antibacterial activity of chitosan and CNPs against Aeromonas hydrophila (ATCC-7966), Escherichia coli (ATCC-25922), and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC-25923) was evaluated by disc diffusion method. Results: CNPs inhibited the growth of selected bacteria and the maximum zone of inhibition (14 mm) was observed against E. coli and A. hydrophila. Chitosan and CNPs had free radical scavenging effects on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Interpretation: CNPs obtained from silkworm pupae have potential antibacterial as well as antioxidant activities and can be incorporated in aquafeed to prevent fish diseases. Key words: Aeromonas hydrophila, Antheraea mylitta, Antibacterial activity, Antioxidant activity, Chitosan nanoparticles

Antheraea mylitta cocoonase: An explorable protease

Aim: The study was conducted to explore the insect secreted protease Antheraea mylitta cocoonase. Methodology: The cocoons of eleven ecoraces were collected followed by observation of cocoonase secretion behaviour, cocoonase collection, purification, and its quantification. In addition, the thermal stability of cocoonase and gel diffusion assay were investigated. Results: Antheraea mylitta cocoons of eleven ecoraces were collected from different eco-pockets of India. Subsequently, the cocoonase secretion behaviour of different ecoraces during emergence was studied. It was observed that the quantity and concentration of cocoonase secreted depends upon various factors such as cocoon size, cocoon stiffness, and the habitat in which silkworm is reared. To observe the proteolytic specificity of A. mylitta cocoonase, a gel diffusion assay was conducted using casein and gelatin as probable substrates. The presence of hydrolytic ring confirmed protease activity. In addition, the thermal stability of cocoonase was also observed by protease activity. Interpretation: The present study concludes that Antheraea mylitta cocoonase is an explorable protease that needs further exploration to unveil the unspecified properties of this insect-secreted protease, which can find beneficial applications in silk and other industries. Key words: Antheraea mylitta, Cocoonase, Ecoraces, Gel diffusion assay, Temperature stability

Influence of abiotic factors on seasonal and non-seasonal emergence of Tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta Drury

Aim: The present study was carried out to introspect the effect of temperature, humidity and rainfall on the emergence of Antheraea mylitta Drury. Methodology: An experiment on seasonal and non-seasonal emergence was carried out in 2019 and 2020 at Kathikund and Kharsawan of Jhakhand, India. Meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity and rainfall) were noted twice daily. Similarly number of adult moths emerged were age-graded and segregated as male and female. They were counted twice in a day within the grainage buildings (preservatory of seed cocoons). Results: The emergence of Antheraea mylitta varied month wise following: June to September, March to May, and November to February. Although the emergence of male individuals was more compared to females, no significant difference was observed statistically. Further increase in rainfall (57%) – humidity (15%) triggered more non-seasonal emergence of females. A strong positive correlation between humidity and rainfall with the emergence of adult moths compared to temperature throughout the year across both the seasonal (June-October) and non-seasonal (November-May) months was observed. The erratic/non-seasonal emergence was strongly correlated with humidity (0.75) compared to rainfall (0.32) and temperature (0.19). Daily emergence differed significantly (p<0.01) between the seasonal and non-seasonal months. Interpretation: During seasonal months, the number of adult moths emerged remained almost constant; however in non-seasonal months, the pattern of adult emergence exhibited a non-linear interrupted by sudden intervals of zero emergence. The intervals corresponded significantly to the effect of humidity and rainfall (p<0.001), however, no significant effect of temperature (p>0.05) was observed. Key words: Abiotic factors, Antheraea mylitta, Seasonal emergence, Tasar silkworm