DefinePK

Abstract

Mulberry Morus spp. foliage forms a sole food to silkworms, Bombyx mori L. Its quality plays a pivotal role in superior silk fiber production. Like any other plants, mulberry is susceptible to detrimental diseases and infested by insect pests. It was found that feeding behavior and intensity of herbivorous insect pests interrupts the normal metabolic activities. The information regarding the major pests and their influence on nutritional status on mulberry is very scanty or not much consolidated. An overview about the changes in biochemical constituents, nutritional macro and micro elements and photosynthetic pigments due to pest infestation leads to inferior mulberry leaves was provided in this review. It is also reviewed that the impact of feeding such inferior quality leaves to the silkworm larvae and found a hindrance in their good growth and development, which results in low quality and poor yield of natural silk fiber.