Nonsteaming method improves the nutritional value and utilization efficiency of silkworm artificial diets.

Area of Science:

• Agriculture
• Entomology
• Animal Nutrition

Background:

• Traditional silkworm rearing relies on fresh mulberry leaves, facing seasonal limitations.
• Current wet artificial diets require high-temperature steaming, reducing silkworm palatability and posing preservation challenges.
• These issues hinder the development of artificial diet-based sericulture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the nutritional value and developmental impact of non-steamed artificial diets for silkworms.
• To compare the efficacy of non-steamed versus steamed artificial diets in silkworm rearing.
• To assess the effects on silkworm gut microbiota and overall vitality.

Main Methods:

• Dry powder silkworm diets were disinfected via radiation and hydrated with distilled water without steaming.
• Nutritional content (l-ascorbic acid, B vitamins, urease) of non-steamed and steamed diets was analyzed.
• Fifth-instar silkworms were fed non-steamed diets to assess growth, cocoon quality, and gut microbial changes.

Main Results:

• Non-steamed diets exhibited higher levels of essential nutrients like l-ascorbic acid, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and urease.
• Silkworms fed non-steamed diets showed improved ammonia utilization, a 5.9% increase in cocoon shell rate, and a 13.3% increase in diet/silk protein conversion efficiency.
• Feeding with non-steamed diets led to increased aerobic microorganisms, decreased pathogenic bacteria in the gut, and a 16.90% improvement in the dead worm cocoon rate.

Conclusions:

• Preparing sterile wet silkworm diets without high-temperature steaming is a viable and effective method.
• This approach significantly enhances the nutritional quality of artificial diets.
• The non-steaming method promotes better silkworm growth, development, and overall health, boosting sericulture productivity.