The Mulberry-Silkworm Nexus: Nutritional Ecology, Stress Responses, and Their Impact on Silk Production

Silk production in Bombyx mori is intricately linked to the nutritional quality of mulberry leaves and the stressors encountered during larval development. This review examines the mulberry-silkworm nexus, focusing on how leaf composition, including proteins, amino acids, sugars, vitamins, and secondary metabolites, affects silkworm physiology, silk protein synthesis, and cocoon traits. It also explores the impacts of abiotic, such as temperature, humidity, and drought, and biotic, such as pathogens, pests, and pesticides stressors on digestion, nutrient absorption, gut microbiota, metabolic signalling, and molecular stress responses, highlighting the trade-offs between resilience and productivity. Mechanistic insights into digestive efficiency, nutrient transport, microbiome interactions, and metabolic pathways demonstrate how targeted interventions, ranging from leaf selection and nutrient management to microbial supplementation and strain optimization, can improve silk quality and yield. Future directions emphasize integrated strategies combining breeding, biotechnology, and farm-level practices to stabilize nutrition, mitigate stress effects, and produce consistent, high-quality silk.