Journal of Environmental Biology

Characterization of bacterial pathogens in Muga silkworm, Antheraea assamensis Helfer (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

G. Subrahmanyam¹*, R. Das², R. Debnath¹, M. Chutia³, K.M. Ponnuvel¹ and K. Sathyanarayana⁴

¹Seri-biotech Research Laboratory, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles: Govt. of India, Bangalore-560 035, India

²Central MugaEri Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, Lahdoigarh, 785 700, India

³MugaEri Silkworm Seed Organization (MESSO), Central Silk Board, Guwahati-781 028, India

⁴Central Tasar Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles: Govt. of India, Ranchi- 835 303, India

*Corresponding Author Email : subrahmanyamg.csb@gov.in                    *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0297-5675

Received: 31.01.2023                                                                                             Revised: 20.02.2023                                                                             Accepted: 03.04.2023

Abstract

Aim: To identify and characterize the bacterial pathogens associated with bacteriosis in muga silkworm, A. assamensis.

Methodology: The mid gut of diseased silkworm, A. assamensis was dissected and bacterial pathogens were cultured. Bacterial pathogens were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Insect bioassay studies were conducted to understand the pathogenicity of bacterial isolates.

Results: Bacterial pathogens were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus mycoids. Under laboratory conditions, approximately 70% mortality of A. assamensis larvae was due to P. aeruginosa, while 50% larval mortality was due to B. mycoids.  

Interpretation: P. aeruginosa was relatively more pathogenic to A. assamensis than B. mycoids. Further, a graph on disease progression was developed to understand the trajectory of bacteriosis in A. assamensis.

Key words: Bacteriosis, Disease progression, Muga silkworm, Pseudomonas sp., 16S rRNA sequencing

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