The book introduces readers to the latest developments in biotechnological methods used for improving the cultivation of silkworms. The text focuses on implementing biotechnological approaches, ranging from basic to advanced techniques, on enhancing silk production, increasing abiotic stress resilience, improving disease tolerance, and developing resistance in silkworm crops. With the current climate crisis and growing demand for high-quality silk, biotechnological applications have become essential in addressing the urgent need to increase silk production. The field of sericulture has made significant breakthroughs, such as identifying DNA markers, linkage association, genome-wide association studies, generating mutants, and introducing transgenic silkworms. Developing silkworms with improved cocoon yield and disease resistance is crucial to boost silk production.

The book covers fundamental principles and recent advancements and delves into various methodologies employed inseri-biotechnology for improving silkworm crops. These methodologies include next-generation sequencing for DNA sequencing, using molecular markers to enhance abiotic stress tolerance (specifically high temperature and humidity conditions), expression analysis, RNA interference, gene knockout approaches to bolster disease resistance, and transcriptomics to enhance economically significant parameters such as silk content. The book explains these topics in detail and includes contemporary research appraisals, extensive discussions, and an evaluation of the benefits and risks associated with the use of biotechnological tools.

This book serves as an invaluable reference for researchers and academics in biotechnology, molecular biology, and sericulture while also serving as an informative starting point for budding researchers.

Autorentext

Dr.Raviraj V Suresh, a distinguished scientist in Central Silk Board, has a decade of experience in genomics and biotechnology; he is an expert in silkworm biotechnology, having spent five years specializing in this field. He has been a faculty member at the prestigious Department of Genetics and Genomics at the University of Mysore, India. Dr.Raviraj's expertise includes a range of cutting-edge techniques, such as next-generation sequencing, marker-assisted selection, micromanipulation in mice and human embryos, and gene expression studies in various model organisms. Currently, as a scientist at the Central Sericultural Research Training Institute, he focuses on developing silkworm breeds that are tolerant to abiotic stress through genomics approaches. Dr.Raviraj has successfully identified genetic markers in human and insect model systems, which have helped in the development of diseases and abiotic stress tolerant silkworm breeds and hybrids. With numerous research articles published in international journals with high impact factors, he is a life member of the Indian Science Congress and the National Academy of Sericultural Sciences, India. Dr.Raviraj is also serving as an associate editor in the Journal of Sericulture Science, India, and has acted as a referee in many international journals. His primary interest lies in identifying candidate genes and their molecular mechanism at the transcript level, which is crucial for developing new silkworm breeds and hybrids.

Dr.Soumen Saha is an assistant professor of Sericulture at Raiganj University, Raiganj, India. He obtained his M.Sc. from the University of Mysore, India, and his Ph.D. from the University of Kalyani, India. He has received a prestigious UGC National Fellowship from Govt. of India during his Ph.D. and Post Doc. program. Dr.Saha has successfully guided 3 research scholar to a Ph.D. degree, 4students continuing their Ph.D. degree, and has published more than 50 articles in international and national journals. He has also successfully completed one minor research project. His specializations include molecular biology, silkworm breeding, genome sequencing, plant tissue culture, bioinformatics, secondary metabolites, and marker-assisted breeding research. He is also a reviewer of several national and international journals.

Dr.Khasru Alam a highly esteemed Scientist-C at the Central Silk Board, a prominent branch of the Ministry of Textiles in the Government of India. Dr.Alam holds a prestigious post-graduate degree in Sericulture from the University of Mysore and completed his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) thesis on Tasar silkworm (Antheraea mylitta D.) molecular diversity from the University of Raiganj, West Bengal, India. Currently, he is a vital scientist member of the crop protection section and has expertise in the field at the Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, a top-tier R&D organization of the Central Silk Board, Government of India.Dr.KhasruAlam has made significant contributions through his research papers and book chapters published in both national and international books and journals. Additionally, he has been an active participant in various national and international conferences and symposiums. Furthermore, his exceptional contributions to the field of sericulture have earned him a coveted membership in the esteemed National Academy of Sericulture Sciences, India. In recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of Sericulture, Dr.Alam was sponsored by the International Sericultural Commission to present his groundbreaking paper on the application of deep learning in Sericulture at the University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj, Napoca, Romania, in 2022. Aside from his research and development work, Mr. Alam is also an esteemed scientist who provides guidance to post-graduate diploma students in sericultural sciences. His extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of sericulture make him a valuable asset to the Central Silk Board and the Ministry of Textiles.