The silkworm, Bombyx mori being domesticated insect is susceptible to various diseases namely protozoan, viral, bacterial and fungal which causes heavy losses to the silkworm farmers by reduction of the cocoon yield. The silkworm diseases cannot be controlled but can be prevented to curb the secondary contamination in the rearing bed to other healthy silkworms. In order to prevent the silkworm diseases, the use of various bed disinfectants in recommended schedule is suggested to ensure the healthy growth of larva and bumper cocoon production. Many bed disinfectants viz., Labex, Resham keetoushad (RKO), Sanjeevini, Suraksha, Resham jyothi, Vijetha etc. are currently being used to thwart different disease causing pathogens during silkworm rearing which is proving to be helpful for farmers to boost the silk production

Silkworm, Pathogen, grasserie disease, bed disinfectant, Labex, Vijetha

The silkworm larvae like other living organisms also suffer from many threating diseases during rearing which effects their growth and incur losses to silkworm farmers in the form of poor cocoon production. The feeding of poor-quality mulberry leaves, fluctuation in temperature and relative humidity, poor ventilation in the rearing environment deteriorates the situation more which finally leads to the outbreak of various kinds of diseases likegrasserie, muscardine, flacherie etc. In order to prevent the secondary contamination caused by these diseases, the dusting of different bed disinfectants as per recommended schedule is ensured which maximizes the cocoon yield thereby enhancing the profitability of silkworm rearers. Although the chemical-based disinfectants have their shortcomings as they leave residual effects in the rearing area but still, they are very much effective to keep check on silkworm pathogens and enhance the healthy growth and development of larvae. In future more research on the development of efficient bed disinfectants, mostly herbal based should be carried out as they are eco friendly and will suffice our needs for carrying out sustainable silkworm rearing

Tajamul Islam and Jasmeena Qadir (2024). Use of Bed Disinfectants in Sericulture Against Different Silkworm Pathogens of Bombyx mori L. International Journal on Emerging Technologies, 15(2): 56–61