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Simple Summary: The silkworm has fascinated people all around the world for centuries due to numerous applications of by-products resulting from its metamorphosis. A decline has been noticed due to industrialization and some disease concerns; however, several reasons strengthen compelling arguments for keeping up this species. The most prevalent nutrients identified along silkworm rearing, from mulberry leaves up to larvae, pupae, and silk, are proteins. The biological value of protein is based on amino acids. The presence of other nutrients, especially fatty acids (n-3 family), vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols, along with the profile in amino acids, which are taken from mulberry leaves and metabolized by larvae and then transferred to pupae, strengthen the conviction according to which silkworm by-products have a great nutritional potential that is either comparable with fish meal or better than other aquaculture-specific feedstuffs. This paper aims to present deep knowledge about amino acids (classification, metabolism, occurrence, mechanisms, and potential functions) for silkworms and fish to further understand these species. The silkworm Bombyx mori, the second most varied group of insects, is a fascinating insect that belongs to the Lepidoptera species. We aimed to deepen our knowledge about the composition and significance of amino acids (AA) from the sericulture chain to fish. AAs are the most prevalent molecules throughout the growth process of silkworms. We described AAs classification, occurrence, metabolism, and functions. Online datasets revealed that the essential AAs (EAA) level in fish meal and silkworm pupae (SWP) is comparable. SWP have a high content of methionine and lysine, which are the principal limiting AAs in fish diets, indicating that SWP have nutritional potential to be added to fish diets. Additionally, an overview of the data analyzed displays that SWP have a higher protein efficiency ratio than fish meal, the classical protein-rich source (>1.19 times), and compared to soybean meal, the second-most preferred source of protein in aquaculture (>2.08 times), indicating that SWP can be considered effective for animal feeding. In this study, we provide an overview of the current knowledge concerning AAs, paying special emphasis to EAAs and explaining, to some extent, certain mechanisms and functions of these compounds, from mulberry leaves to larvae–pupae and fish diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the characteristics and associative impact of the compounds from mulberry leaves and yeast (S. cerevisae). Nutritional characteristics of the mulberry leaves, yeast properties and metabolism, as well as the effects on silkworms, were described. The online English databases used were MDPI, PubMed, Research Gate, Google Scholar, and Elsevier. The nutrition and health of silkworms B. mori depend on protein and amino acids, fats, vitamins, and minerals, all abundant in mulberry leaves. Furthermore, mulberry leaves contain bioactive phytochemicals offering health benefits. Many dietary supplements were investigated for their potential to enhance nutritional, technical, and health benefits, even though mulberry leaves are considered a complete feed for B. mori silkworm. Yeast is a good source of proteins, amino acids, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins that can contribute to the fortification of mulberry leave characteristics. S. cerevisiae species also produce several secondary metabolites: polyketides, phenolics, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive effects of yeast dietary addition on economic indicators and health status in silkworm fifth instar. Yeast can act as a probiotic, release digestive enzymes and influence gut microbiota. Alterations in the gut microbiota improve immunological resistance and nutrition metabolism, ameliorating silkworm performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the importance, characteristics, mechanisms, and effects of probiotics added to silkworm B. mori feed. Scientific databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, MDPI, Elsevier) were screened. We are searching for alternative solutions to improve the nutritional quality of the mulberry leaves. Probiotics present properties such as non-pathogenetic or non-toxicity, adhere to epithelial cells, can be reproduced, stimulate immune response, have a positive influence on the host, can survive in intestinal mucosal surface, etc., and perform various functions that recommend them as natural feed supplements in silkworm nutrition. Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, Streptococcus, and Saccharomyces species are the most evaluated probiotics used in insects. In addition to producing lactic acid, probiotics also lower intestinal pH, inhibit pathogen populations, alleviate inflammation in the gut, boost immunity, and improve overall intestinal health. Silkworm gut contains various bacterial phylotypes (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes) that are crucial in nutrients metabolism and exhibit metabolites and enzymes indispensable for growth. This review highlighted that supplementing mulberry leaves with probiotics represents an eco-friendly strategy to improve the silkworm's performance, economic traits, and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conservation of sericultural vegetative genetic resources is a permanent concern in the sericulture field, being known that the mulberry leaf is the only source of food for the silkworm Bombyx mori L. These sericultural vegetal genetic resources are mainly used to obtain planting material used for establishment the mulberry plantations, but also for the mulberry improvement program and the establishing of the phytoremediation potential of mulberry plants. The research carried out for the preliminary testing in laboratory of in vitro multiplication potential of some mulberry varieties have highlighted the possibility of using the biotechnologies of tissue cultures, meristems and organs for testing the phytoremediation potential of mulberry plants with sericultural destination. Thus, a planting material was produced, consisting of mulberry vitroplants colonized with vesicular-arbuscular endomycorrhizae, which keep the genetic characteristics of parental forms, but present superior bioproductive parameters and physiological tolerance on soils contaminated with lead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main concerns and challenges of raising silkworms include economic value, mulberry management, biodiversity conservation of genetic resources, and developing highly productive breeds for genetic variety. This study investigated the relationship between the economic relevance of the products generated throughout the value chain, limitations, and opportunities to generate incomes for sericulture farmers, trends, and perspectives worldwide, particularly in Romania. Seventy-seven publications were considered from online databases. The diversification of products generated at each level of the value chain of silkworm rearing and their multipurpose applications impact social and economic life. Hence, silk is well known as a valuable biomaterial for industry, suitable for textile and medicine. There are several arguments to use silkworms in human food even though they are not yet authorized as edible insects at the European level. Thus, as a nutrient-rich by-product, silkworm pupae (extract, cakes, and oil) have medicinal properties and can be used for human and animal nutrition. Sericin, silk fibroin, and chitin are bioactive compounds in cocoons and pupae with pharmacological implications and drug composition, while biomass is suitable for biodiesel and excreta for compost. The farmers' attitudes and mentality associated with political circumstances influence the perspectives for the sericulture field. Due to the high likelihood of using their products, small-medium-scale farmers might benefit sericulture by identifying new sales marketplaces and finding new beneficiaries for directing their multiple products. The funds allotted by government subventions for supporting this fascinating activity and opportunities for jobs may aid in encouraging to start of a new sericulture business or to contribute developing the existing one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) is an important monophagous insect in the sericulture industry. The mulberry leaves (Morus alba L.) are known as valuable plants rich in nutrients and nutraceuticals due to the presence of chemo-factors (morin, β-sitosterol) and antioxidants (flavonoids, anthocyanin and alkaloids), the traditional feed in the rearing of silkworm larvae. The mulberry is also used in pharmaceutical, food, beverage and healthcare industries, being considered a suitable plant for sustainable development. Over time, research on using the artificial diet in silkworms has been focused on different topics: i) rearing silkworms in the season when mulberry leaves are insufficient or not available and ii) as an organism model for human diseases (i.e., tumour, degenerative and metabolic diseases) due to the low breeding cost, short generation time, genetic background, large progeny size and numerous genes homologous to humans. This review aimed to summarize the literature information about the impact of nutrition as a key factor in silkworm rearing and the effectiveness of using an artificial diet based on different ingredients in silkworm productivity and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the objectives of the sericultural research is the reducing of research field was the reducing of chemical fertilizers quantity by applying some ecological agricultural practices, among which it can be mentioned, next to using extraradicular fertilizing, also the biofertilizers of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhize (VAM) type, in the form of commercial products obtained by biotechnologies of high biological performance. The biofertilization of VAM type aims to reduce or eliminate the chemical fertilization, the mulberry being a plant with a high consumption of mineral elements. Also, this type of mycorrhize stimulates the plants growing and development, having a role in soil remediation and nutrition improvement from soil-plant system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]