Abstract

Silkworm larvae, Bombyx mori (L), is an important economic insect and also a tool to convert leaf protein into silk. The industrial and commercial use of silk, the historical and economic importance of production and its application in all over the world finely contributed to the silkworm promotion as a powerful laboratory model for the basic research in biology. The development and economic production of sericulture largely and greatly depends on the metabolic modulations and molecular mechanism of silkworm, besides its genetic composition and immunological resistance. One of the main reasons for decreased cocoon production is the loss due to diseases which account for about 30%. The collection of information on investigations related to disease prevalence in Silkworm in different parts of the country and (or) different seasons is highly helpful to monitor, prevent and control them. However, such collection of data on various diseases of silkworm in general and viral infection in particular in world wide is very limited. Pathological status of the diseased animal can be evaluated in terms of symptoms resulting from the interactions between host and pathogen which in turn depends on the degree of attack, progress of diseases, metabolic modulations, physiological adjustments, molecular mechanisms, and the defence immune system of the silkworm. Such symptoms are manifested in terms of morphological, physiological and biochemical variations in the host body. Hence, there is a dire need to suggest alternative remedial measures for the restoration of sericulture output even during grasserie infection, in order to safe guard the interest of the Seri culturists involved in sericulture practices. An attempt has been made in the present study to provide the relevant information related to the intricate mechanisms involved in metabolic alterations in silkworm larvae on grasserie infection.

Key words: Grasserie infection, silkworm, metabolic modulations, nuclear polyhedrosis.