Primary Food Plant Research Articles

Production parameters and yarn realization in eri silkworm Samia ricini as influenced by alternative host plants

Nagaland is a traditional state for ericulture, mostly practiced on the primary food plant Ricinus communis L., the castor for rearing of Samia ricini Donavans. However, this host is not sufficiently available during the dry season, for continuous rearing. Hence, the eri farmers use certain alternative food plants namely Heteropanax fragrans Seem (kesseru), Manihot utilissima Phol (tapioca) and Evodia fraxinifolia Hook (payam), of which the latter two plants are abundant in Nagaland. The present study evaluated during spring, summer and rainy seasons, and assessed the suitability of alternative food plants particularly tapioca and payam along with primary food plant for cocoon production and silk yield.

RELATIVE IMPACTS OF DIFFERENT DIETS ON THE QUALITIES OF ERI SILK COCOON AND ERI SILK YARN OF FOUR DIFFERENT MUTANTS STRAINS OF PHILOSAMIA RICINI Bsd.

The relative impact of different food plants (diets) namely foliages of castor, kesseru , payam and Topioca plants on the four different mutant strain viz; yellow plain, yellow zebra ,G.B Plain ,G.B Zebra in respect of qualities of their eri cocoon and eri silk yarn have been evaluated under the reeling parameters.Result indicate that among the four different food plants like foliages of castor followed by kesseru have been found evidently better than the foliages of payam and Topiocal in respect of average cocoon weight (gm)4.10,3.55,3.98,3.10,Average shell weight (gm) 0.55,0.45,0.52,0.41,Average shell ratio 13.91,12.0,13.0,11.55,Average lengt- h of silk yarn (mtrs) 2510,2350,2498,2285,Average size of erisilk(D)13D,11D,12D,19D,Average production of eri silk per hr(gm)13.70,12.50,13.10,11.95,Average tenacity of fibre (g/d) 14.0,11.0,12.0,10.0.As far as qualitative differences of all the four food plants in relation to qualities of eri cocoon and eri silk yarn are concerned the castor alongwith kesseru food plants have achieved the status of supremacy primary food plant and payam and tapioca the states of secondary food plants .These variation show that the qualities and production of eri silk cocoon and eri silk yarn depends on the different food plants.

Analysis of cultivable microbiota and diet intake pattern of the long-lived naked mole-rat.

BackgroundA variety of microbial communities exist throughout the human and animal body. Genetics, environmental factors and long-term dietary habit contribute to shaping the composition of the gut microbiota. For this reason the study of the gut microbiota of a mammal exhibiting an extraordinary life span is of great importance. The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is a eusocial mammal known for its longevity and cancer resistance.MethodsHere we analyzed its gut microbiota by cultivating the bacteria under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and identifying their species by mass spectrometry.ResultsAltogether, 29 species of microbes were identified, predominantly belonging to Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. The most frequent species were Bacillus megaterium (45.2 %), followed by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (19.4 %), Bacteroides ovatus, Staphylococcus sciuri and Paenibacillus spp., each with a frequency of 16.1 %.ConclusionOverall, the gut of the naked mole-rat is colonized by diverse, but low numbers of cultivable microbes compared with humans and mice. The primary food plants of the rodents are rich in polyphenols and related compounds, possessing anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative as well as anti-cancer activity which may contribute to their exceptionally healthy life.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13099-016-0107-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Genetic analysis of Indian tasar silkmoth (Antheraea mylitta) populations.

Indian tasar silkmoth, Antheraea mylitta is an economically important wild silkmoth species distributed across India. A number of morphologically and ethologically well-defined ecotypes are known for this species that differ in their primary food plant specificity. Most of these ecotypes do not interbreed in nature, but are able to produce offspring under captive conditions. Microsatellite markers were developed for A. mylitta, and out of these, ten well-behaved microsatellite loci were used to analyze the population structure of different ecoraces. A total of 154 individual moths belonging to eight different ecoraces, were screened at each locus. Hierarchical analysis of population structure using Analysis of MOlecular VAriance (AMOVA) revealed significant structuring (FST = 0.154) and considerable inbreeding (FIS = 0.505). A significant isolation by distance was also observed. The number of possible population clusters was investigated using distance method, Bayesian algorithm and self organization maps (SOM). The first two methods revealed two distinct clusters, whereas the SOM showed the different ecoraces not to be clearly differentiated. These results suggest that although there is a large degree of phenotypic variation among the different ecoraces of A. mylitta, genetically they are not very different, and the phenotypic differences may largely be a result of their respective ecology.

Plant-species diversity correlates with genetic variation of an oligophagous seed predator.

Several characteristics of habitats of herbivores and their food-plant communities, such as plant-species composition and plant quality, influence population genetics of both herbivores and their host plants. We investigated how different ecological and geographic factors affect genetic variation in and differentiation of 23 populations of the oligophagous seed predator Lygaeus equestris (Heteroptera) in southwestern Finland and in eastern Sweden. We tested whether genetic differentiation of the L. equestris populations was related to the similarity of vegetation, and whether there was more within-population genetic variation in habitats with a high number of plant species or in those with a large population of the primary food plant, Vincetoxicum hirundinaria. We also tested whether genetic differentiation of the populations was related to the geographic distance, and whether location of the populations on islands or on mainland, island size, or population size affected within-population genetic variation. Pairwise FST ranged from 0 to 0.1 indicating low to moderate genetic differentiation of populations. Differentiation increased with geographic distance between the populations, but was not related to the similarity of vegetation between the habitats. Genetic variation within the L. equestris populations did not increase with the population size of the primary food plant. However, the more diverse the plant community the higher was the level of genetic variation within the L. equestris population. Furthermore, the level of genetic variation did not vary significantly between island and mainland populations. The effect of the population size on within-population genetic variation was related to island size. Usually small populations are susceptible to loss of genetic variation, but small L. equestris populations on large islands seemed to maintain a relatively high level of within-population genetic variation. Our findings suggest that, in addition to geographic and species-specific ecological factors, the plant community affects population genetic structure of oligophagous herbivores.

EFFECT OF BOTANICAL INSECTICIDES ON THE GROWTH AND SILK PRODUCTION OF AMBAGOAN AND LAKHIMPUR STRAINS OF ERI SILKWORM, SAMIA CYNTHIA RICINI (BOISDUVAL)

ABSTRACT Castor, Ricinus communis L. (Malpighiales : Euphorbiaceae) is an important non-edible oilseed crop, the leaves of which also serve as primary food plant of eri silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of botanical insecticides viz., Neem oil and Karanj oil on the growth and silk production of plain white and brick red strains of eri silkworm during Kharif and Rabi, 2011-12 at Ericulture Laboratory of RARS, Palem. The experiment was conducted with 50 larvae per treatment with five treatments of botanicals and an untreated control. During fourth instar least larval weight of 0.38g was recorded in the plain white strain of eri silkworm larvae that were fed with karanj oil (5mL/lit) treated leaves followed by the larvae fed with 2 mL/lit karanj oil (0.46 g) and 10 mL/lit neem oil (0.5g). In brick red strain the weight of the larva was significantly higher compared to the plain white strains and this strain has shown some resistance to karanj oil treatment. Effective rate of rearing (ERR) varied from 76.84 to 89.9% in plain white strains, whereas in brick red strains it ranged from 79.88% to 91.46%. Comparatively shorter larval duration was recorded in brick red strains than plain white strains. In plain white strains, significantly higher weight was recorded in the cocoons formed out of worms fed with 3mL/lit neem oil (1.89g) and 2 mL/lit karanj oil (1.82g) treated leaves. In brick red strains, higher shell weight of 0.64g was recorded with control treatment closely followed by 2 ml/lit karanj oil (0.50g) treatment showing its loss of efficacy. The treatmental differences were significant with respect to fecundity and non significant differences were noticed with hatching percent.

Pathogenic Effects of the Microsporidian Nosema sp., on Larval and Post-cocoon Parameters in Tasar Silkworm, Antheraea mylitta Drury (Daba TV)

The commercial rearing of polyphagous Indian tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta Drury being practiced on naturally grown primary food plants like Terminalia arjuna, (Arjun) Terminalia tomentosa (Asan), and Shorea robusta (Sal) available in the tropical forests of central India , at times, is seriously affected by the disease- Pebrine, caused by Nosema sp., a microsporidian pathogen. The present investigation on comparative larval, silk gland weight and also cocoon parameters in Pebrine-free and Pebrine- infected ecorace of tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta Drury (Daba TV), illustrates the tasar silkworm larvae infected with pebrine disease causing heavy losses to the economy of the silk industry.

History and active pharmacokinetic principles of mulberry: a review

Mulberry, Morus spp. of the family Moraceae being the primary food plant for the monophagous insect Bombyx which has special significance in sericulture industry. Due to its chemical composition and pharmacological functions it is being utilized as a medicinal plant. Many active compounds isolated from the mulberry plants which used as medicines. Biochemical compounds such as Moranolin (DNJ), Moran (glycopeptides), hydrophobic flavonoids (flavones and flavonone), 2- Arylbenzofuran, and Ethanolic extract, Flavonoids, Polyphenols, Carotenoids, Vitamins A, C, E, Ethyl acetate, γ -aminobutyric acid, Flavanics are isolated from different parts of mulberry plants which play a vital role in Hypoglycemic activity, Anti-obesity action, Lipid-lowering action, Antioxidants action, Anti- inflammatory actions, Antiallergic action, Vasoactive action, Neuroprotective action, Anticancer action. Mulberry plants are identified for their profitable health consequences and therefore attracted the attention of the pharmaceutical industry. The main objective of presentreviewis to provide the active principlesof Mulberry plants.

Variability In The Ecoraces Of Tropical Tasar Sillkworm Antheraea Mylitta Drury

AbstractTropical tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta Drury is exploited in countries for commercial silk production and improved varieties of these silkworms can be evolved by employing various breeding techniques. As the insect has established itself in various forms of ecological populations (Commonly called as ecoraces) in different geographical niches of the country depending on food plants and micro-environmental conditions available to them, the species exists in the form of nearly 44 ecoraces (Singh and Srivastava,1997, Srivastava,2002 and Srivastava et at. 2007) distributed over different states. However, due to free interbreeding in nature for centuries, the fauna is highly heterogeneous.Tasar culture is a forest based industry being practiced as tradition, since time immemorial by the tribes of Central India, extending from West Bengal in the East to Karnataka in South. The species A. mylitta D. is polyphagous in nature. The present study comprises the ecoraces of tropical tasar silkworm of A. mylitta D. These ecoraces are mainly restricted in the tropical moist deciduous forest area where the average rainfall varies between 1200-2000 mm and the deciduous zone of the dry tropical forest area where the average rainfall has been observed to be about 1000 mm. The Primary food plants of the insects are Terminalia tomentosa, Terminalia arjuna and Shorea robusta and secondary food plants are Terminalia chebula, T. bellerica, T. peniculata, Zizyphus jujuba etc. The phenotypic and genotypic variability is very much prominent. The present review paper comprises the extent and degree of natural variation in tropical tasar silkworm A. mylitta D.

Evaluation of promising castor genotype in terms of agronomical and yield attributing traits, biochemical properties and rearing performance of eri silkworm, Samia ricini (Donovan)

Castor ( Ricinus communis L.) is an economically important plant for production of industrial oil as well as used as primary food plant for rearing of eri silkworm, Samia ricini (Donovan). The biomass yield of eight selected castor accessions were studied to find out a promising castor genotype in terms of growth and biomass yield, nutrient status, disease and pest resistant together with eri silkworm rearing performance. Among the selected accessions, Ac03 and Ac04 yielded an average of 344.70 g (±88.05) and 334.50 g (±60.62) of leaf biomass/plant respectively (mean 324.62 g; n = 8) and the yield was stable over the years (2007–10). However, in late winter, leaf blight and leaf spot disease were reported in all the castor accessions together with the infestation of hairy caterpillar (4.00–5.33%). The silkworm rearing performances were also better in Ac03 in terms of shell weight (0.50 ± 0.07 g; mean 0.42 g; n = 8), shell ratio (15.5%) and effective rate of rearing i.e. ERR (85.67). ERR of eri silkworm was influenced by biochemical compositions of leaves of different castor accessions. The weight of larvae and cocoons were significantly influenced by nitrogen and crude protein content of the foliages. Altogether, Ac03 and Ac04 castor genotypes were found to be better in terms of agronomical and yield attributing traits together with silkworm rearing performance.

Factors affecting sporulation of Pestalotiopsis disseminata causing grey blight disease of Persea bombycina Kost., the primary food plant of muga silkworm

The effect of inoculum concentrations, temperature, relative humidity (RH), incubation period and leaf age on sporulation of Pestalotiopsis disseminata and the development of grey blight disease on som ( Persea bombycina Kost.) were studied in controlled environmental conditions. These factors had a significant role on spore germination and germ tube development of P. disseminata, the causal organism of the disease. The optimum inoculum concentration of the pathogen were found to be 1 × 10 7 spores ml −1 for maximum infection percentage. A nonlinear relationship was found between temperature and germination percentage of spores at a given relative humidity (RH). However, 25 °C (±2) temperature and 70% RH were the optimum parameters for better spore germination of the pathogen. Young leaves (leaf no. 1–4 from the top) were more susceptible for development of the diseases in a controlled environment than the older leaves. The germination of spores started at 8 h of incubation and gradually increased up to 20 h (maximum). The disease severity was favoured in the optimum range of temperature (25 ± 2 °C) and RH (70%) which had a combined effect. These epidemiological parameters could help in the management practices of the disease.

Variability and genetic diversity in rooting parameters of Persea bombycina Kost

Persea bombycina Kost is a primary food plant of Muga silkworm, Antheraea assama Ww. Phenotypic and genotypic variability were studied in eight genotypes of Persea bombycina Kost for rooting percentage and their five contributing characters. A wide range of phenotypic variability was observed for rooting percentage, number of primary roots, number of secondary roots, length of the longest root, average length of the root and survivability. In different genotypes number of secondary roots gave highest estimate of genetic coefficient of variation followed by number of primary roots. Estimate of heritability was high in all the traits. Estimate of genetic advance was high in number of secondary roots, survival percentage and number of primary roots. Rooting was significantly correlated with number of primary and secondary roots, length of the longest root and survival percentage both at the phenotypic and genotypic level. The other characters were also significantly correlated to each other.

Can late summer Landsat data be used for locating Asian migratory locust, Locusta migratoria migratoria, oviposition sites in the Amudarya River delta, Uzbekistan?

AbstractExisting survey methods for assessing the Asian migratory locust, Locusta migratoria migratoria L. (Orthoptera: Acrididae), infestation risk in the Amudarya River delta, Uzbekistan, are largely constrained by economic resources and site accessibility. The surveys are restricted to a few easily accessible areas, which leads to a misinterpretation of the threat of locust infestation. This often results in indiscriminate blanket treatments of vast areas of wetlands with broad‐spectrum insecticides, which may adversely impact non‐target fauna and flora. In order to minimize the bias during surveys, one approach would be to allocate the sampling locations based on the distribution of the primary food and shelter plant of the locusts, the common reed, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud (Poaceae). In this study, we evaluated the utility of satellite‐based remotely sensed data (Landsat TM) acquired in August 2006 to characterize reed distribution in the delta and identify potential locust oviposition sites. The overall accuracy of the Landsat data to map land cover classes in the delta was 84%. The Landsat TM data identified 90% of the reeds, but it was less useful in identifying areas where other vegetations (shrubs and grasses) were mixed with reeds. During the following summer field survey in June 2007, we identified 37 sites that were infested with early‐instar locusts. The low migration capacity of young nymphs in dense reed vegetation allowed us to presume that these sites were used for oviposition in the previous summer. Twenty‐eight (74%) of these 37 sites had reeds in the previous year. Results from these studies demonstrate that reed distribution maps derived from satellite data could be used for targeting locust egg‐pod survey locations, in order to minimize sampling bias while predicting locust infestation risks for the following season.

THE GEOGRAPHICAL MOSAIC OF COEVOLUTION IN A PLANT-POLLINATOR MUTUALISM

Although coevolution is widely accepted as a concept, its importance as a driving factor in biological diversification is still being debated. Because coevolution operates mainly at the population level, reciprocal coadaptations should result in trait covariation among populations of strongly interacting species. A long-tongued fly (Prosoeca ganglbaueri) and its primary floral food plant (Zaluzianskya microsiphon) were studied across both of their geographical ranges. The dimensions of the fly's proboscis and the flower's corolla tube length varied significantly among sites and were strongly correlated with each other. In addition, the match between tube length of flowers and tongue length of flies was found to affect plant fitness. The relationship between flower tube length and fly proboscis length remained significant in models that included various alternative environmental (altitude, longitude, latitude) and allometric (fly body size, flower diameter) predictor variables. We conclude that coevolution is a compelling explanation for the geographical covariation in flower depth and fly proboscis length.

Staging of Pacific flyway brant in relation to eelgrass abundance and site isolation, with special consideration of Humboldt Bay, California

Spring distributions of black brant ( Branta bernicla nigricans) are closely related to that of their primary food plant, eelgrass ( Zostera marina). Using historical (1931–2001) brant data from Humboldt Bay, California, we show that proportional use of two main feeding areas in the bay strongly reflects food abundance. We used multiple regression to investigate whether the spatial relationship between brant and eelgrass holds at the flyway level. We related peak brant numbers at 11 staging areas in the Pacific flyway to the sites' Z. marina abundance and isolation from other important staging areas. We explained 90% of the variation in peak brant numbers across sites with these variables; isolated bays with high eelgrass abundance supported the most brant. Our results emphasize the importance of protecting large eelgrass habitats along the Pacific Coast, particularly in bays that are geographically isolated from other large staging areas.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers from Zale galbanata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and amplification in other members of the genus

AbstractThe noctuid moth Zale galbanata is described as feeding on maples (Acer sp.) in general, but its primary food plant is box elder (Acer negundo). We isolated five microsatellite loci to investigate the association of food plant use and the genetic similarity of populations in these moths. These markers are polymorphic to various degrees (5–13 alleles), and are presented here. Our initial tests show that some of these loci also work on other Zale species.

Lipid and fatty acid composition of muga silkworm, Antheraea assama, host plants in relation to silkworm growth

The lipid and fatty acid composition of the leaves (tender, medium and mature) of muga host plants, Machilus bombycina, Litsaea monopetala (primary food plants) and L. cubeba and L. salicifolia (family: Lauraceae) (secondary food plants) was investigated by standard procedures, gas chromatography after saponification and esterification. The total lipid content of M. bombycina and L. monopetala leaves was recorded to be higher (16 and 18 g%), respectively, than that of L. cubeba (10 g%) and L. salicifolia (12 g%). GC analysis identified the presence of eight fatty acids (C14 to C22) and the concentration varied from 0.0297 to 8.1572 g% dry leaf powder. Among the fatty acids, (C14 to C22), polyunsaturated fatty acids were recorded to be highest in concentration in mature leaves of the primary host plants. The concentrations of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were found to be at a minimum level in all the types of leaves of secondary muga host plants.

Phytolith and charcoal evidence for prehistoric slash-and-burn agriculture in the Darien rain forest of Panama

Darien province, Panama, forming the landbridge between Central and South America, is an expanse of lowland tropical forest over 300 miles long and 100 miles wide about which little is known of its human or environmental history. The first palaeobotanical data from the region indicate a minimum date of 4000BP for the beginning of prolonged human habitation and prehistoric agriculture. Early systems of slash-and-burn cultivation included maize as a primary food plant and appear to have resulted in significant forest modification. An episode of forest regeneration shortly after 350 BP indicates indigenous population decline in the face of European influence, and suggests that the extant forest near the site is recent regrowth after long-term prehistoric occupation and agriculture.

The effect of different foodplants on cocoon crop performance in the Indian tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta Drury (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Cocoon crop performance through seasonal rearings of Antheraea Mylitta Drury larva on three primary foodplants Asan (Terminalia tomentosa W. & A.), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna W. & A.), Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.) and three secondary foodplants, Ber (Ziziphus jujuba Gaertn.), Sidha (Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxb.) and Dha (Anoegeissus latifolia Wall.) indicate better performance in winter crops than those of a rainy and autumn season. Sal, among primary foodplants, appeared uneconomical in terms of total cocoon shell (raw silk) production in spite of a superior cocoon formation Overall performance was superior in Asan than all other foodplants during all the seasons. Performance on Ber was higher than Sal and other secondary foodplants, a situation not heretofore documented. The grada- tion of foodplant with regard to performance (total raw silk production) was, in decreasing order of productivity: Asan, Arjun, Ber, Sal, Sidha, Dha. At the State Tasar Research Farm (Area 20 ha) Durgapur, Orissa, a number of foodplants were selected at random for rearing of A. mylitta larva. The three Combretaceae foodplants chosen were Asan (T. tomentosa), Arjun (T. arjuna), and Dha (Anoegeissus latifolia Wall.). One foodplant from the Dipterocarpaceae, Sal (S. robusta) was selected as well as one Melostomaceae, Ber (Ziziphus jujuba Gaertn.), and one Lythraceae, Sidha (Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxb.). For each foodplant species, 10000 freshly hatched healthy hatchlings were separated into five groups of equal size and brushed onto a number of plants for each of three seasons. The cocoon crop performance was evaluated by effective rate of rearing (ERR% = 100 total cocoons yielded / total larvae brushed), cocoon weight, pupa weight, and shell weight. These

Long-Term Decline in Body Size in a Snow Goose Population: Evidence of Environmental Degradation?

(1) The effect of environmental factors on annual body size variation was investigated in a breeding population of lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens caerulescens L.) La Perouse Bay, Manitoba, using data from 1969 to the present. The population size has increased from approximately 2000 to 10 000 pairs during this period (Cooch et al. 1989). (2) Annual mean gosling body mass, tarsus and culmen length (measured at fledging) declined significantly by approximately 16% (240 g), 4% (3.4 mm), and 2% (0.93 mm) respectively in cohorts hatching between 1976 and 1988. The decline in gosling size has led to a significant decline in size of locally bred adults. Annual mean adult female body mass, tarsus and culmen lengths declined by approximately 15% (270 g), 6% (5.4 mm), and 4% (2.3 mm), respectively, in cohorts hatching between 1969 and 1986. (3) Gosling growth and subsequent adult size was also reduced in years with cold, wet weather after hatch. (4) The decline in gosling size was not dependent on the pattern of annual variation in egg or hatch mass, nor systematic changes in annual mean hatch date or post-hatch weather. Goslings reared by individual adult females showed a decline in size over time, suggesting that the general decline reflects a non-genetic change in gosling growth rates during the fledging period. The most probable non-genetic factor is a long-term reduction in food available to the geese at La Perouse Bay. This reduction in food availability may reflect over-exploitation of primary food plants by the geese.