Isolation and characterization of bacteria associated with silkworm gut under antibiotic-treated larval feeding

The impact of antibiotics on growth, cocoon production was assessed in addition to isolation and characterization of bacteria associated with silkworm gut of infected larvae. Larval rearing was maintained at recommended conditions of temperature and humidity. Silkworm larvae showing abnormal symptoms were collected from the control group and dissected for gut collection. Bacteria were isolated from the gut content by spreading on agar plates and incubated at 37 °C for 48 hrs. Bacterial identification and phylogenetic analysis were carried out by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The isolated bacteria were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test (disc diffusion methods) by using Penicillin (10 µg/mL), Tetracycline (30 µg/mL), Amoxicillin (25 µg/mL), Ampicillin (10 µg/mL), and Erythromycin (15 µg/mL). All isolated strains showed positive results for the catalase test. We isolated and identified bacterial strains (n = 06) from the gut of healthy and diseased silkworm larvae. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, isolated bacteria showed close relation with Serratia, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas spp. Notably, 83.3% of strains were resistant to Penicillin, Tetracycline, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, and Erythromycin but 16.6% showed antibiotic susceptibility to the above-mentioned commonly used antibiotics. Silkworm larvae fed on penicillin-treated leaves showed significant improvement in larval weight, larval length, and cocoon production. Significantly higher larval weight (6.88g), larval length (5.84cm), and cocoon weight (1.33g) were recorded for larvae fed on leaves treated with penicillin as compared to other antibiotics. Isolated bacterial strains showed close relation with Serratia spp., Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp.

Extreme learning machines for weather-based modelling of silk cocoon production

In spite of the immense popularity and sheer power of the neural network models, their application in sericulture is still very much limited. With this backdrop, this study evaluates the suitability of neural network models in comparison with the linear regression models in predicting silk cocoon production of the selected six districts (Kolar, Chikballapur, Ramanagara, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Mysuru) of Karnataka by utilising weather variables for ten consecutive years (2009-2018). As the weather variables are found to be correlated, principal components are obtained and fed into the linear (principal component regression) and non-linear models (back propagation-artificial neural network and extreme learning machine) as inputs. Outcomes emanated from this experiment have revealed the clear advantages of employing extreme learning machines (ELMs) for weather-based modelling of silk cocoon production. Application of ELM would be particularly useful, when the relation between production and its attributing characters is complex and non-linear.

A Study On The Sericulture in Turkey

Sericulture, or silk farming, is the cultivation of silkworms to produce silk. Although there are several commercial species of silkworms, Silk was believed to have first been produced in China as early as the Neolithic Period. Sericulture has become an important cottage industry in countries such as Brazil, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Russia. Today, China and India are the two main producers, with more than 60% of the world's annual production. In this case, the sericulture production in Turkey, as the export-oriented shows could increase in the future. Sericulture production was begun in Anatolia which is Asian part of Turkey in A.D. 552 during Byzantium Emperor of Justinianus. The city of Bursa became a textile city which was famous for silk and silk trade centre. In middle of 16th silk textile industry was developed. Apart from city of Bursa, cities of Istanbul, dirne, Amasya, Denizli, Izmir and Konya were important sericulture centers In addition; the increase of government support in sericult production is also hope for the future of sericulture production in Turkey. In this study, using the silkworm cocoon data between the years of 1991-2019, the future 5-year production is estimated. For this, estimates were tested in the MINITAB program using the ARIMA Model, which is widely used in agricultural production estimates. Unconscious use of pesticides in Turkey, problems with mulberry tree cultivation, technical problems and rural-urban migration results are known to be important issues of the sericulture sector.However, thanks to government subsidies and export-oriented policies, it has been determined that silkworm cocoon production will increase in the next 5 years.

The potential for increasing the productivity of Indonesian silk farmers

Natural silk is one of the sources of livelihood for rural Indonesians. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, natural silk production has been affected. During the pandemic, the community implements health protocols such as keeping physical distance and physical contact. Meanwhile, the natural silk business is a labor-intensive business that involves a lot of labor, so a strategy is needed in order that silk farmers could continue running their productive business to meet the necessities of life. This paper aims to provide information on the potential for the economic increase of Indonesian silk farmers through sericulture technological applications. The research used desk study, descriptive qualitative, and quantitative methods with the study locations in Sulawesi, Gorontalo, and Java Provinces. The results of the study show that the technology input through the mulberry hybrid and silkworm hybrids can increase farmers’ cocoon production by 21.4% - 36.4% with an increase of silk filament production by 75.4% -358.8% per silkworm box. In addition, the use of mulberry hybrids and standard silkworm rearing room is also a potential for silk farmers to increase the number of silkworms raised with the same resource capital in the form of land ownership area and number of family labor. The application of sericulture technology is indispensable as one of the solutions in increasing the productivity of silk farmers in the pandemic era hence a sustainable socialization of technology is needed.

Performa Cacing Lumbricus rubellus terhadap Penambahan Tepung Cangkang Telur sebagai Media

Lumbricus rubellus is one of earthworm species that has been cultivated because its utility as feed for livestock and fish. The culture media for earthworms are mainly manure and compost. The purpose of this research was to observe the performance of Lumbricus rubellus given eggshell powder in different types and levels. This study used commercial eggshell flour and homemade eggshell flour with different levels (10%, 20%, 30%) mixed with cow dung as a medium. The results of the study showed that the addition of eggshell flour (commercial and homemade) as much as 10% showed a higher earthworm weight gain than other treatments but the cocoon production of the treatment was lower than the control (0% eggshell flour).

IMAGE PROCESSING BASED SMART SERICULTURE SYSTEM USING IOT

Rearing of silkworm is highly dependent on environmental variations. To have a healthy cocoon production, it is necessary to have a proper temperature and humidity controlled house for silkworm rearing. Temperature, humidity and fresh air should be managed to get a wonderful silk product. An ideal temperature of 23°C to 28°C and humidity in between 65% to 85% is to be maintained. IoT based silkworm rearing house consists of sensors and actuators, which are interfaced with a low power controllers. The Sericulture unit can be equipped with a wireless sensor node to sense the real time Temperature and Humidity [1], also necessary actuators to control these environmental parameters. The color change in the body of the worms indicates the different stages and the light yellowish indicates that they have reached to the cocoon stage and the morphological changes in silkworm structure can be used to detect abnormal worms[2].The proposed framework introduces an Internet of Things (IoT) empowered Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) system. The received image is first segregated into two classes as diseased or healthy by analyzing the histogram of the background removed image based on thresholding. Again the diseased class will be sub classified into 2 diseases as either Flacherie or Pebrine by applying suitable mask for extracting worm and obtaining the histogram of the worm and analyzing it. The result will be sent to the farmer via E-mail. The proposed system could be a probable solution for productivity in silkworms.

Silk Cocoon Production in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu: A Profitability Analysis

Sericulture is a financially viable production and has enormous potential for employment opportunities. The present study attempted to investigate the profitability of the sericulture business in the Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. A proportionate random sampling approach was used to select 80 sample sericulture farmers. The results revealed that the total cost of producing silk cocoons was ?98,805.1 , with a net profit of ? 1,17,194.84. The benefit-cost ratio and break-even output estimated 6 were 2.19:1 and 140.72 kg of the silk cocoon. It depicted that the farmers were operating in the profit zone, as the average yield of sample farmers was substantially higher. Labour scarcity, pest and disease incidence, and income loss owing to COVID 19 pandemic were major constraints faced by sericulture farmers. Sericulture enterprise provided immense opportunity by means of profitable income and more employment opportunities. The young unemployed rural entrepreneurs and women SHGs of this region if appropriately trained and provided financial support to initiate this enterprise would lead to the development of the silk cluster and indeed top position in the Indian silk industry.

The Effects of rural income project on silk exports and livelihood of smallholder producers in Gatsibo District, Rwanda.

Sericulture has been seen in Rwanda as an opportunity for increasing raw materials for the textile industry. Therefore, it has provided a new source of income, reduced unemployment and most likely to improve the livelihood status of poor sericulture smallholder producers by increasing their income earnings. The high yield in silk production has been pleasing due to the favourable climatic conditions for mulberry cultivation, sericulture has been seen as a potential tool to reduce poverty and also to generate foreign exchanges from exportation. The broad objective of this paper focuses on the impact of the livelihood status of smallholder producers in Rwanda. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were employed in selecting 286 sericulture households’ farmers in Gatsibo district. Data for this study were analysed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, paired-samples t-test, cross-tabulation and chi-square test of independence. The results of this study showed clearly a significant improvement in the livelihood of the farmers. It was gathered that 82% asserted there are organized markets available for silk exportation. 77% affirmed an improvement in their income status. The average level of income per year from cocoon production among the farmers was estimated to be $227.59. It is of topmost priority for this program to continue because its effect has a very positive impact on the livelihood status of the beneficiaries. Farmers should be provided with continuous training, access to credits. If sustained properly it will resolve future challenges and springs more opportunities for farmers and likewise to the country through exports.