Document Type : review article
Authors
1
iran silk research center, rasht, iran
2
Iran Silk Research Center (ISRC), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rasht, Iran
10.22092/rhsj.2026.371319.1138
Abstract
Sericulture, the rearing of silkworms (Bombyx mori L.), is an industry entirely reliant on the mulberry tree, whose leaves serve as the sole food source for the larvae. The quality and quantity of mulberry leaves directly influence larval health, cocoon quality, and overall silk production. Primary compounds, such as mulberry leaf protein with excellent nutritional value (containing amino acids and superior functional properties like high water-holding capacity), and secondary metabolites—including phenolics, flavonoids (e.g., rutin and quercetin), alkaloids (e.g., DNJ), and GABA—play dual roles. They enhance the plant’s resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses while profoundly affecting silkworm physiology and nutrition. Through millennia of co-evolution, the domesticated silkworm has developed sophisticated molecular mechanisms to overcome mulberry’s chemical defenses, including inactive proteases to neutralize protease inhibitors, DNJ-resistant sucrose hydrolysis, uptake of beneficial mulberry proteins, and cross-kingdom gene regulation via plant microRNAs. These adaptations underscore the need for balanced secondary metabolites. Mulberry leaves also hold great promise as sustainable protein-rich livestock forage. Selecting cultivars with optimal nutrient and metabolite profiles, combined with targeted breeding, is key to sustainable sericulture advancement. This review explores the molecular significance of mulberry leaves, the dual role of secondary metabolites, cultivar comparisons, challenges, and innovative breeding strategies for superior, multi-purpose leaf varieties.
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