Effect of Abiotic Stress Conditions on Mulberry Leaf Quality and Its Consequences on Silkworm Growth and Silk Yield

Abstract

Abiotic stress factors such as drought, temperature extremes, and salinity significantly influence plant growth and productivity, particularly in mulberry (Morus spp.), the sole food source of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of abiotic stress conditions on mulberry leaf quality and its subsequent effects on silkworm growth and silk yield. Mulberry plants were subjected to controlled stress conditions, including water deficit, high temperature, and salinity. Leaf samples were analyzed for nutritional and biochemical parameters such as protein, chlorophyll, moisture content, and total phenolics. Silkworm larvae were reared using leaves obtained from stressed and non-stressed plants, and growth and cocoon parameters were recorded. The results revealed that abiotic stress significantly reduced the nutritional quality of mulberry leaves, with notable declines in protein, chlorophyll, and moisture content. Conversely, an increase in phenolic compounds was observed under stress conditions. Silkworms fed with stressed leaves exhibited reduced larval weight, lower survival rates, and inferior cocoon characteristics, including decreased cocoon weight, shell weight, and silk productivity. Among the stress treatments, drought stress had the most pronounced negative effect. The study highlights the strong relationship between environmental stress, mulberry leaf quality, and sericulture productivity. Mitigating abiotic stress through improved cultivation practices is essential for sustaining silk production and ensuring the economic viability of sericulture.