Comparison of hemolymph biochemical parameters, productive performance and structural properties of silk fibers of silkworm,<i> Bombyx</i><i> mori</i> L., 1758 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) by dietary diversification

ÖZİŞ ALTINÇEKİÇ Ş., ÇELİK A.

TURKIYE ENTOMOLOJI DERGISI-TURKISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, cilt.50, sa.3, ss.327-340, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus, TRDizin)

Özet

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dietary diversification of Bombyx mori L., 1758 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) larvae on hemolymph biochemical parameters, larval growth parameters, and cocoon and silk morphological and structural properties. The newly hatched silkworm larvae of a hybrid line (M & times; N) were randomly separated into two feeding groups: (1) mulberry leaves (ML), (2) artificial diet (AD). The experiment was conducted at Kozabirlik (Bursa, T & uuml;rkiye) in May 2025 under controlled rearing conditions. The larval period was shorter, and larval weight and silk gland weight were higher in the ML group compared with the AD group (p<0.001). The silk gland pH was determined to be lower in the ML group. The amylase activity was significantly higher in the ML group than in the AD group (p=0.002), whereas urease activity was higher in the AD group than in the ML group (p<0.001). The pupal, cocoon and filament characteristics were found to be significantly higher in the ML group (p<0.001). Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed a larger cocoon and silk fiber diameters in larvae fed with ML (p<0.01). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed differences in the transmittance characteristics of cocoon shell and silk fibers between the feeding groups.