Abstract
This work evaluated the effect of different concentrations (5, 10, and 20%) of Bordeaux mixture (Bm) in the diet of the silkworm caterpillars in order to improve the cocoon production and structural and mechanical properties of the ensuing silk. The cocoon yield, tensile properties, and microstructure (X-ray diffraction, surface fracture, and qualitative composition) of the obtained silk fiber threads were determined. The mortality levels of caterpillars fed on mulberry leaves with Bm were up to 80% higher than the rates observed on caterpillars fed on non-treated leaves. The consumption of leaves decreased as the amount of Bm introduced to the caterpillars’ diets was increased. However, the lower demand of leaves by caterpillars fed on leaves treated with 5 and 10% of Bm did not imply in obtaining lower cocoon productivity, as the raw silk rates were not different in comparison to the control group. The tensile strength and maximum strain of the fiber were greatly improved, whereas the toughness was not statistically improved by the presence of Bm in the diet. There was an increase in the concentration of Ca and Cu in the silk fiber threads treated with Bm, leading to higher crystallinity. If the cocoon producers were rewarded with an increase in cocoon quality, the application of Bm could be interesting, despite the increase in caterpillars’ mortality.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sabbag OJ, Nicodemo D, Oliveira JEM (2013) Custos e viabilidade econômica da produção de casulos do bicho-da-seda. Pesquisa Agropecuária Trop 43:187–194
Takahashi R, Takahashi KM, Takahashi LS (2009) Sericicultura: uma promissora exploracão agropecuária. Funep, Jaboticabal
Singh A et al (2015) Sericulture helpline series. Bionano Frontier, Mumbai
Lawrence B et al (2008) Processing methods to control silk fibroin film biomaterial features. J Mater Sci 43(21):6967–6985. doi:10.1007/s10853-008-2961-y
Kameda T, Hashimoto T, Tamada Y (2011) Effects of supercooling and organic solvent on the formation of a silk sponge with porous 3-D structure, and its dynamical and structural characterization using solid-state NMR. J Mater Sci 46(24):7923–7930. doi:10.1007/s10853-011-5925-6
Zhang Y-C et al (2012) Conductive network formation during annealing of an oriented polyethylene-based composite. J Mater Sci 47(8):3713–3719. doi:10.1007/s10853-011-6220-2
Purohit KM, Kumar P (1996) Influence of various agronomical practices in India on the leaf quality in mulberry, a review. Sericologia 36:27–41
Okamoto F, Rodella RA (2006) Características morfo-anatômicas e bromatológicas de folhas de amoreira em relação às preferências do bicho-da-seda. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira 41:195–203
Taniai K et al (2014) Starvation-responsive glycine-rich protein gene in the silkworm Bombyx mori. J Comp Physiol 184(7):827–834
Takano K, Arai N (1978) Studies on food value on the bases of feeding and cocoon productivity in the silkworm, Bombyx mori the amount of food intake and cocoon productivity. J Seric Sci Jpn 47(2):134–142
Ki C, Park Y (2013) Effect of sericin blending on molecular orientation of regenerated silk fiber. Fibers Polym 14(9):1460–1467
Perea GB et al (2013) The variability and interdependence of spider viscid line tensile properties. J Exp Biol 216(24):4722–4728
Zhou L et al (2003) Copper in the silk formation process of Bombyx mori silkworm. FEBS Lett 554(3):337–341
Vollrath F, Knight DP (2001) Liquid crystalline spinning of spider silk. Nature 410(29):541–548
Cai L et al (2015) Reinforced and ultraviolet resistant silks from silkworms fed with titanium dioxide nanoparticles. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 3:2551–2557
Peruch LAM, Bruna ED (2008) Relação entre doses de calda bordalesa e de fosfito potássico na intensidade do míldio e na produtividade da videira cv. ‘Goethe’. Ciência Rural 38:2413–2418
Polycarpo GV et al (2012) Enriquecimento da dieta do bicho-da-seda com extrato hidrossolúvel de soja. Ciência Rural 42(9):1669–1774
International, A. (2014) Standard test method for tensile strength and young’s modulus of fibers. ASTM International, West Conshohocken
Tonoli GDH et al (2011) Hybrid reinforcement of sisal and polypropylene fibers in cement-based composites. J Mater Civ Eng 23:177–187
Milanese AC, Cioffi MOH, Voorwald HJC (2011) Mechanical behavior of natural fiber composites. Proc Eng 10:2022–2027
Silva FDA, Chawla N, de Toledo Filho RD (2009) An experimental investigation of the fatigue behavior of sisal fibers. Mater Sci Eng 516(1–2):90–95
Silva FDA, Chawla N, de Toledo Filho RD (2008) Tensile behavior of high performance natural (sisal) fibers. Comp Sci Technol 68(15–16):3438–3443
Chen X et al (2002) Conformation transition in silk protein films monitored by time-resolved fourier transform infrared spectroscopy: effect of potassium ions on nephila spidroin films. Biochemistry 50(41):1944–1950
Sappington TW, Oishi K, Raikhel AS (2002) Structural characteristics of insect vitellogenins. In: Raikhel AS, Sappington TW (eds) Reproductive biology of invertebrates: progress in vitellogenesis. Science Publishers, Enfield
Vepari C, Kaplan DL (2007) Silk as a biomaterial. Prog Polym Sci 32(89):991–1007
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP—process nº 12/24430-1) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fernandes, J., Nicodemo, D., Oliveira, J.E. et al. Enhanced silk performance by enriching the silkworm diet with bordeaux mixture. J Mater Sci 52, 2684–2693 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0559-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0559-3