Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Dietary Selenium Supplementation on Growth and Reproduction of Silkworm Bombyx mori L.

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of selenium (Se) on the growth and reproduction of the Lepidoptera insect, the silkworm, Bombyx mori L were investigated. Initially, the silkworms were divided into eight groups (150 larvae/group) on the basis of feeding with mulberry leaves saturated with different concentrations of Se (25, 50, 100, 125, 150, 175, and 200 μM) and control from the first day of the fourth instar larvae. After feeding, growth and reproductive performance of B. mori L. were investigated with standard techniques used in sericulture. After the data analysis, 50 μM of Se was recognized as the optimal level which positively influenced the growth and production, with prolonged stage of larvae, increased larval, cocoon, and pupal weights, and enhanced number of eggs laid by the female moth as compared to the control group. On the contrary, 200 μM of Se treatment displayed toxic to silkworm and induced significant decrease in the growth, cocoon production, and reproduction. The weight of the cocoon shell, the cocoon shell ratio, number of eggs produced, and fertilization ratio in all the Se-treated groups were lower than the control group. The present study indicated that lower levels of (50 μM) of Se can promote the larval and pupal growth of the B. mori L. resulting in the higher yield of cocoon crop and significantly influencing the fecundity, while high concentration was toxic to silkworm. Our data supply the novel application of Se which could be highly beneficial to sericulture farmers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Li YP, Xia RX, Wang H, LI YQ, Wei ZJ, Lu C, Xiang ZH (2009) Construction of a full-length cDNA library from Chinese oak silkworm pupa and identification of a KK-42-binding protein gene in relation to pupa diapause termination. Int J Biol Sci 5:451–457

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Hu XQ, Jiang L, Zhang JG, Deng W, Wang HL, Wei ZJ (2013) Quantitative determination of 1-deoxynojirimycin in mulberry leaves from 132 varieties. Ind Crop Prod 49:782–784

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Smith S, Rao AVB (2010) Effects of selenium on the physiology of heart beat, oxygen consumption and growth in silkworm Bombyx mori L. American-Eurasian. J Toxicol Sci 2:215–219

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Laz R (2010) Effects of methionine and tryptophan on some quantitative traits of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). Univ J Zool Rajshahi Univ 28:15–19

    Google Scholar 

  5. Etebari K, Matindoost L (2005) Application of multi-vitamins as supplementary nutrients on biological and economical characteristics of silkworm Bombyx mori L. J Asia-Pacific Entomol 8:107–112

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Cappellozza L, Cappellozza S, Saviane A, Sbrenna G (2005) Artificial diet rearing system for the silkworm Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae): effect of vitamin C deprivation on larval growth and cocoon production. Appl Entomol Zool 40:405–412

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rahmathulla VK, Das P, Ramesh M, Rajan RK (2007) Growth rate pattern and economic traits of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. under the influence of folic acid administration. J Appl Sci Environ Manag 11:81–84

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ashfaq M, Rehman MA, Ali A (2000) The impact of optimum dosages of mineral in various combinations on larval development and silk production of Bombx mori L. Park J Biol Sci 3:1391–1392

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wang KR, Gong H, Wang Y, van der Zee SEATM (2004) Toxic effects of cadmium on Morus alba L. and Bombyx moril L. Plant Soil 261:171–180

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Khan MA, Akram W, Ashfaq M, Khan HAA, Kim YK, Lee JJ (2010) Effects of optimum doses of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium on silkworm, Bombyx mori L. growth and yield. Entomol Res 40:285–289

    Google Scholar 

  11. Bentea M, Sara A, Mǎrghitas LA, Gabor E, Dezmirean D, Vlaic B, Creta C (2012) The effect of zinc supplementation on the production parameters of Bombyx mori L. species. Anim Sci Biotechnol 45:24–27

    Google Scholar 

  12. Abedi J, Saatloo MV, Nejati V, Hobbenaghi R, Khosroushahi AY (2018) Selenium-enriched saccharomyces cerevisiae reduces the progression of colorectal cancer. Biol Trace Elem Res 185:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  13. Daniels LA (1996) Selenium metabolism and bioavailability. Biol Trace Elem Res 54:185–199

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hefnawy AEG, Tórtora-Pérez JL (2010) The importance of selenium and the effects of its deficiency in animal health. Small Rumin Res 89:185–192

    Google Scholar 

  15. Rayman MP (2012) Selenium and human health. Lancet 379:1256–1268

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Freeman JL, Quinn CF, Marcus MA, Fakra S, Pilon-Smits EAH (2006) Selenium-tolerant diamondback moth disarms hyperaccumulator plant defense. Curr Biol 16:2181–2192

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Wang Y, Jiang L, Li Y, Luo X, He J (2016) Effect of different selenium supplementation levels on oxidative stress, cytokines, and immunotoxicity in chicken thymus. Biol Trace Elem Res 172:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  18. Zhu K, Jiang L, Chu Y, Zhang YS (2016) Protective effect of selenium against cisplatin-induced nasopharyngeal cancer in male albino rats. Oncol Lett 12:5068–5074

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Hu D, Liu Q, Cui H, Wang H, Han D, Xu H (2005) Effects of amino acids from selenium-rich silkworm pupas on human hepatoma cells. Life Sci 77:2089–2110

    Google Scholar 

  20. Bakhshalinejad R, Akbari Moghaddam Kakhki R, Zoidis E (2018) Effects of different dietary sources and levels of selenium supplements on growth performance, antioxidant status and immune parameters in Ross 308 broiler chickens. Br Poult Sci 59:81–91

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Yuan D, Zhan X, Wang Y (2011) Effects of selenium sources and levels on reproductive performance and selenium retention in broiler breeder, egg, developing embryo, and 1-day-old chick. Biol Trace Elem Res 144:705–714

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Boostani A, Asghar Sadeghi A, Naser Mousavi S, Chamani M, Kashan N (2015) The effects of organic, inorganic, and nano-selenium on blood attributes in broiler chickens exposed to oxidative stress. Acta Sci Vet 43:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  23. Wang Y, Jiang L, Li Y, Luo X, He J (2016) Excessive selenium supplementation induced oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in chicken spleen. Biol Trace Elem Res 172:481–487

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Hassan A, Amir F, Reza A, Hossein DA (2018) The effect of maternal supplementation of zinc, selenium, and cobalt as slow-release ruminal bolus in late pregnancy on some blood metabolites and performance of ewes and their lambs. Biol Trace Elem Res 187:403–410

    Google Scholar 

  25. Langlands JP, Donald GE, Bowles JE, Smith AJ (1994) Selenium concentration in the blood of ruminants grazing in northern New South Wales IV relationship with tissue concentrations and wool production of merino sheep. Astra J Agric Res 45:1701–1714

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Martin-Romero FJ, Kryukov GV, Lobanov AV, Carlson BA, Lee BJ, Gladyshev VN, Hatfield DL (2001) Selenium metabolism in Drosophila selenoproteins, selenoproteins mRNA expression, fertility, and mortality. J Biol Chem 276:29789–29804

    Google Scholar 

  27. Popham HJ, Shelby KS, Popham TW (2005) Effect of dietary selenium supplementation on resistance to baculovirus infection. Biol Ctrl 32:419–426

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Shelby KS, Popham HJ (2007) Increased plasma selenium levels correlate with elevated resistance of Heliothis virescens larvae against baculovirus infection. J Invertebr Pathol 95:77–83

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Conley JM, Funk DH, Cariello NJ, Buchwalter DB (2011) Food rationing affects dietary selenium bioaccumulation and life cycle performance in the mayfly Centroptilum Triangulifer. Ecotoxicol 20:1840–1851

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Han XX, Zheng LX, Wei HY, Wang GL (2015) Effects of selenium on the development of Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée). Chin J Appl Entomol 52:1265–1271

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Han XX, Zheng LX, Wei HY, Wang GL (2017) Effects of selenium on the development and reproductive behavior of Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée). J Plant Protec 44:400–405

    Google Scholar 

  32. Hladun KR, Smith BH, Mustard JA, Morton RR, Trumble JT (2012) Selenium toxicity to honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) pollinators: effects on behaviors and survival. PLoS One 7:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  33. Hladun KR, Kaftanoglu O, Parker DR, Tran KD, Trumble JT (2013) Effects of selenium on development, survival, and accumulation in the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.). Environ Toxicol Chem 32:2584–2592

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Mysarla DK, Yerra A, Siripurapu P, Mamillapalli A (2016) Effect of oral supplementation with polyamines on testicular development and egg production in Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). Appl Entomol Zool 51:527–537

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Smitha S, Kumar KA, Rao AVB (2006) Efficacy of selenium on silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) cocoon characters. Int J Indust Entomol 13:119–122

    Google Scholar 

  36. Zhang H, Ni M, Li F, Xu K, Wang B, Hong F, Shen W, Li B (2014) Effects of feeding silkworm with Nanoparticulate Anatase TiO2 (TiO2NPs) on its feed efficiency. Biol Trace Elem Res 159:224–232

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Rateb SH, Abdel-Rahman YA (2015) Effects of some extracts on growth characters of mulberry silkworm “Bombyx mori L.”. Assiut J Agric Sci 46:58–71

    Google Scholar 

  38. Iqbal T, Inayatullah M, Sadozai A, Khan IA (2008) Effect of light and dark exposure on the different life parameters of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Bombycidae: Lepidoptera). Sarhad J Agric 24:75–78

    Google Scholar 

  39. Ashfaq M, Afzal W, Hanif MA (2010) Effect of Zn(II) deposition in soil on mulberry silkworm food chain. Afr J Biotechnol 9:1665–1672

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Banu NA, Islam MR (2004) Effect of salt, nickel chloride supplementation on the growth of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). J Biol Sci 4:170–172

    Google Scholar 

  41. Li Y, Ni M, Li F, Zhang H, Xu K, Zhao XM, Jiang HT, Hu JS, Wang BB, Shen WD, Li B (2016) Effects of TiO2NPs on silkworm growth and feed efficiency. Biol Trace Elem Res 169:382–386

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Prabu PG, Sabhanayakam S, Mathivanan V, Balasundaram D (2011) Studies on the growth rate of silkworm Bombyx mori (L.) (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) fed with control and silver nanoparticles (AgNps) treated MR2 mulberry leaves. Int J Indust Entomol 22:39–44

    Google Scholar 

  43. Xia Q, Dan J, Zhu W, Liao Y, Yu G, Cheng Y (2013) Effects of zinc on the growth and development of black soldier fly Hermetia illucens L. (Dipetra: Stratiomyidae). J Environ Entomol 35:294–299

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31772680, 31072091, 31272111, and 31371947).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, People’s Republic of China

    Li Jiang, Li-Li Peng, Yu-Yao Cao, Kiran Thakur, Fei Hu & Zhao-Jun Wei

  2. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212003, China

    Shun-Ming Tang

  3. Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, 212018, China

    Shun-Ming Tang

Authors
  1. Li Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Li-Li Peng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yu-Yao Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kiran Thakur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Fei Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Shun-Ming Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Zhao-Jun Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Shun-Ming Tang or Zhao-Jun Wei.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jiang, L., Peng, LL., Cao, YY. et al. Effect of Dietary Selenium Supplementation on Growth and Reproduction of Silkworm Bombyx mori L.. Biol Trace Elem Res 193, 271–281 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01690-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01690-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation