Artificial Diets for Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) Rearing: Current Status and Future Scope

Abstract

Artificial diets for silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) rearing have emerged as a significant technological advancement aimed at overcoming limitations associated with conventional mulberry leaf-based sericulture. Traditional rearing systems are constrained by seasonal leaf availability, labour intensity, geographical limitations, and increased risk of disease transmission through contaminated foliage. The development of artificial diets has enabled controlled, year-round rearing while providing standardized nutritional conditions that support both commercial silk production and experimental applications. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the historical development, nutritional requirements, formulation strategies, gut microbiome interactions, physiological responses, and commercial implications of artificial diet-based silkworm rearing. Protein quality and amino acid balance play a decisive role in larval growth and silk protein synthesis, while carbohydrates and lipids contribute to energy metabolism and physiological stability. Recent studies highlight the importance of gut microbiota in nutrient utilization and immune regulation, with probiotic and synbiotic approaches emerging as promising strategies to enhance performance under artificial feeding conditions (Xin et al., 2024). Although modern artificial diets can support complete silkworm development with performance approaching that of mulberry-fed systems, challenges remain in replicating the complex bioactive composition of natural leaves, maintaining microbial balance, and reducing production costs. Advances in metabolomics, microbiome research, precision nutrition, and sustainable ingredient sourcing provide new opportunities for optimizing artificial diet formulations. Future research should focus on improving nutritional efficiency, enhancing gut health, and integrating automated rearing technologies to ensure sustainable and economically viable sericulture systems. Artificial diet technology is therefore expected to play an increasingly important role in advancing modern sericulture and expanding silkworm applications in biotechnology and biomedical research.