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Wild cocoons, a reservoir of calcium oxalate; function and constraints

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Abstract

Calcium oxalate (CaOx) is a minor constituent that is predominant in wild silk cocoons. While CaOx is abundantly accumulated in wild silkworm cocoons, domesticated silkworms have acquired and acclimated to less CaOx crystal deposition. Although CaOx is thought to be counterproductive in the cocoon, it plays a vital role in the protection, water resistance, CO2 gating, reflection, thermal insulation, etc. of the cocoon. In this review, recent advances in our understanding of CaOx function in wild silk cocoons, CaOx biosynthesis in host plants, and CaOx transport and deposition to cocoons are discussed. The constraints of CaOx in reeling wild silk cocoons are also discussed with the aspect of demineralization for commercial exploitation of wild silk fibres. This review presents a summary of reliable findings as well as potential research avenues for biologists interested in the commercialization of wild cocoons.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank their Ph.D guide Dr. R.Siva, Professor, School of BioSciences and Biotechnology, VIT University, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India and Muga Eri Silkworm Seed Organisation, Central Silk Board, Guwahati, Assam, India for their constant support and motivation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scientist-C, Muga Eri Silkworm Seed Organisation, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Guwahati, Assam, India

    Hridya Hemachandran

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Sri Padmavathi Mahila Visvavidyalayam (Women’s University), Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Sankari Mohan

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  1. Hridya Hemachandran
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  2. Sankari Mohan
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HH conceived the depicted idea. SM contributed to design and implementation of review. HH and SM equally contributed for the review.

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Correspondence to Hridya Hemachandran.

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Hemachandran, H., Mohan, S. Wild cocoons, a reservoir of calcium oxalate; function and constraints. Int J Trop Insect Sci 43, 313–319 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-023-00961-4

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