CSB-CSR&TI, BERHAMPORE, WEST BENGAL
HIGHLIGHTS FROM CONCLUDED RESEARCH PROJECTS (2024-25)

1. PIB02007SI: Improvement of mulberry leaf longevity in Eastern &North eastern states of India

PI: Dr. Deepika K. U. 

Objectives:

• To understand hormonal regulation of senescence in mulberry genotypes
• To determine stay-green traits for improved mulberry leaf longevity

Outcome:

• The newly developed multi-hormonal formulation, “Haryali” delays leaf senescence, reduces leaf fall, improves leaf quality and plant growth increasing the yield under the adverse climatic conditions of Eastern and North-Eastern India
• Application of Haryali will help farmers to increase their income by providing them more amount of greener and quality leaf especially under stress conditions

2. AIB02006MI: Improvement of Nistari lines for survival and silk productivity

PI: Dr. Th. Ranjita Devi

Objectives:

• To develop Nistari lines for improved survival and silk productivity
• To evaluate improved Nistari crossbreeds for productivity traits

Outcome:

• Improved Nistari lines and its crossbreed with improved survival, higher tolerance to BmNPV, with presence of biomarkers of thermo-tolerant, high humidity, improved economic traits and silk characteristics in comparison with field Nistari lines.

3. AIT02008SI: Identification of high humidity tolerant silkworm breeds/hybrids for Eastern & North-Eastern India

PI: Dr. Raviraj VS

Objectives:

• To identify gene markers linked to humidity-tolerance
• To develop silkworm breeds/hybrids tolerant to high temperature and high humidity

Outcome:

• Developed high temperature and high humidity-tolerant silkworm lines
• The pure lines and hybrids we have developed, along with the identification of genetic markers and understanding of stress-related gene expression, provide a strong foundation for future breeding programs
• These achievements will undoubtedly contribute to the sustainability and productivity of sericulture in climate-stressed regions
• The parental lines are already used as source material for developing double hybrids and enhance the survival in commercial crops of FC1 X FC2

4. AIT02012CI: Characterization of mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. mutants for tolerance to flacherie syndrome through genome editing tools (DST-JSPS project)

PI: Dr. Pooja Makwana

Objectives:

• To develop silkworm site-directed mutants exhibiting tolerance to flacherie syndrome by genome editing
• To evaluate developed mutants for cocoon crop improvement in E & NE India and Japan

Outcome:

• Successful implementation of Genome Editing (CRISPR/Cas9) technology in silkworms in India
• Development of Nistari mutant line exhibiting 86% survival and ~77% in SK7 mutant line in response to BmBDV infection
• BmBDV mutant line developed may be utilized for future breeding programs

5. PIB02010SI: Evaluation of promising high yielding mulberry genotypes for Eastern and North-Eastern India

PI: Dr. Suresh K

Objectives:

• To evaluate improved mulberry genotypes for growth traits and leaf productivity
• To assess the leaf quality by biochemical and silkworm bioassay

Outcome:

• Evaluated seven test genotypes and two checks for leaf productivity and its attributes in different seasons for three years under both irrigated and rainfed center zones
• Identified three high yielding genotypes (PP10, PP8 & PD1) with >10% yield advantage over check variety C-2038 (45.06 t/ha/y) under irrigated condition. Two genotypes (PD27 & PP8) were high yielding (14-19 %) over check variety C-2038(23.01 t/ha/y)
• Assessed leaf quality of test genotypes through biochemical and silkworm bioassay with multi× Bi (N×SK6.7) and Bi×Bi (B.Con1×B.Con4) hybrids revealed desirable nutritive and superior cocoon yield parameters among the top three genotypes compared to check C2038
• Developed two high yielding genotypes for both irrigated zone (PP10, PD1) and rainfed zone (PD27 & PP8) of East & NE region

6. PIE02013SI: Final yield trial (FYT) of newly identified mulberry genotypes for leaf productivity and quality

PI: Dr. YallappaHarijan

Objectives:

• To evaluate selected mulberry genotypes for leaf yield & quality traits
• To assess silk productivity by silkworms with test genotypes

Outcome:

• Seven test genotypes with two checks (S1635 & C2038) were evaluated for growth, leaf yield, leaf nutritional quality, incidence of pests & diseases for three years at CSB-CSRTI, Berhampore
• Preliminary analysis indicates that three test genotypes (E-13, C-252 & C-174) recorded >10% higher leaf yield over C-2038 along with low incidence of pest & diseases and better leaf quality i.e. total soluble sugar & protein content
• The performance of Silkworm bioassay with Bcon1×Bcon4 hybrid and post cocoon analysis were significantly higher in test genotypes compared to check varieties
• Test genotype C174 for sprouting, vigour index & leaf area,  B-30 for survivability & rooting ability, C-252 for chlorophyll content & number of roots, C-105 for number of leaves & shoots were found to be significantly superior. Evaluation index revealed that four test genotypes (C-131, C105, A-3 & E-13) outperformed in nursery propagation traits compared to check varieties (C2038 & S1635)

7. AIE2018SI: Identification of superior bivoltine foundation cross as a male component to improve cross-breed productivity in E & NE India

PI: Dr.SatadalChakrabarty

Objectives:

• To identify and evaluate the superior bivoltine Foundation Crosses (FC) with high shell content in E & NE India
• To identify and evaluate the superior crossbreed produced by utilizing the identified bivoltine FCs as male component in E & NE India

Outcome:

• Development of a bivoltine Foundation Crosses (FC) with high shell content for E & NE India.
• The bivoltine male component/parent NFC 18M x 12M is suitable with any of the female component / parent (Nistari/ M6DPC/ 12Y) for preparation of crossbreed dfls based on “”On Station Trial / On Farm Trial study

8. CSB-BER-RCN-250 (Pilot Study): Development of anti-microbial sheet for use in mulberry silkworm rearing

PI: Dr.Mihir Rabha

Objectives:

• To develop a low cost anti-microbial sheet for use on silkworm rearing bed
• To evaluate efficacy of the antimicrobial sheet against silkworm pathogens

Outcome:

• A 2% bicarbonate salt solution effectively controlled major silkworm pathogens and was successfully impregnated into sustainable, durable mulberry paper sheets made from discarded bark, offering a recyclable and eco-friendly solution for silkworm rearing.

9. MOE02014SI: Popularization of improved technologies developed in the field of mulberry sector for Eastern & North-Eastern India

Objective:

• To popularize and promote the adoption of improved mulberry varieties, eco-friendly pest management practices, advanced silkworm rearing technologies, and productivity-enhancing formulations among sericulture farmers in Eastern and North-Eastern India, with the aim of increasing cocoon yield, improving farm-level sustainability, and enhancing livelihoods through technology transfer and impact assessment.

 Outcome:

• The project successfully popularized four new high-yielding mulberry varieties (C-2038, Tr-23, C-2028, C-776), eco-friendly biocontrol agents (Chrysoperla sp. and Scymnus sp.) for pest management, eco-friendly rearing room disinfectant NIRMOOL, improved chawki and shoot rearing with collapsible mountages, and the phytoecdysteroid formulation "Sampoorna" to achieve synchronized cocoon maturity and enhanced productivity among sericulture farmers in Eastern and North-Eastern India.

10. MOE02015MI: Evaluation of improved technologies developed in the field of mulberry sector for Eastern & North Eastern India

Objective:

• To evaluate and validate region-specific, improved mulberry-based technologiesincluding high-yielding and stress-tolerant mulberry varieties, low-cost drip fertigation systems, and eco-friendly silkworm rearing inputs like bed disinfectantsacross Eastern and North-Eastern India, with a focus on enhancing productivity, resilience to climate challenges, and sustainability in sericulture practices.

Outcome:

• The project validated mulberry varieties C-2070 (BLS resistant), C-2060 and C-2065 (low-temperature stress tolerant), along with low-cost drip fertigation systems and eco-friendly disinfectant Seri-Win, demonstrating their effectiveness in enhancing leaf yield, cocoon productivity, and sustainability in Eastern and North-Eastern India.