STUDIES OF DISEASE OUTBREAK IN SILKWORM REARING IN SUB-TROPICAL REGION OF POONCH DISTRICT

Abstract

Due to prolong domestication, silkworm develops less immunity and less adaptability for
which they are often attacked by different agents and is vulnerable to various pathogens resulting in
disease that causes loss of almost 20% of the total cocoon production every year. Any abnormal
condition of a part, organ or system of an organism from various causes such as infection
inflammation environmental factors or genetic defect and characterized by an identifiable group of
signs symptoms or both. Diseases of silkworm are big challenge to the rearers.. Grasserie,
Muscardine, Pebrine, Flacherie, and Cytoplasmic polymerasic are the major diseases observed in
cocoon culture. caused by Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus (BmNPV). Generally, bivoltine silkworms are
more susceptible to diseases as compared to multivoltine silkworm breed. The factors responsible for
disease incidence are higher pathogen load, wider fluctuation of temperature between day and night,
higher humidity in the later stage of rearing and poor quality of mulberry leaves available for rearing
in North West Indian condition. The most popular methods of disease control in silkworm are
prophylactic. There is no race of B. mori, totally resistant or immune to diseases and pests. Hence,
proper disinfection is required to kill all the pathogens present in the rearing environment and to
eliminate risk of disease transmission as "Prevention is better than cure" is best in silkworm rearing.
The present study deals with pathogen and pathogenesis of silkworm along with their prevention and
control measures