Improvement of host plants of Muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis) for higher productivity and better adaptation - A Review

摘要

Muga culture is an art and science dealing with rearing of the wild silkworm Antheraea assamensis. It is believed that muga culture originated in the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, India. Muga silkworm is a wild silk producing insect feeding on the leaves of som (Persea bombycina), soalu (Litsea monopetala) and dighloti (Litsea salicifolia). The quality and quantity of the leaf affect significantly the growth and development of the silkworm. Since being left in the wilderness, these host plants received little attention from the scientific community. Consequently, agronomic, biochemical and morphological traits of these plants have not been studied well to formulate strategies necessary to improve the leaf productivity as well as adaptability to make muga silk production adequate enough to meet even the domestic demand of India especially in view of the confinement of muga culture to the northeastern states of India and to a small extent to the Coochbehar district of West Bengal. Thus, this article aims to present a comprehensive view on various aspects of the muga host plants and the need for improving the important morphological, biochemical and agronomical traits to make muga culture a sustainable agriculturally important activity in the north-Eastern region of India.