Side-effects of Beauvericin Nano-Chitosan formulation on some economic and physiological characteristics of Bombyx mori L

Beauvericin is a cyclic hexadepsipeptide mycotoxin produced mainly by Beauveria bassiana and Fusarium spp. This mycotoxin has insecticidal, antimicrobial, antiviral, and cytotoxic properties hence it may be potentially used as pesticide and medicine in some specific areas. Following our previous study on production a chitosan-based nano-formulation of beauvericin to control mulberry snout moth, the current study was designed to determine whether the nano-formulation may affect physiological mechanisms and economic characteristics of Bombyx mori L. Results showed the statistical decrease of nutritional indices except for approximate digestibility. Statistical decrease was also recorded in the activity of digestive enzymes except for lipase and amino-peptidase that were in accordance of findings on the nutritional indices. In contrast, chitosan-based nano-formulation of beauvericin significantly induced the activity of antioxidant enzymes except for superoxide dismutase. The chitosan-based nano-formulation of beauvericin statistically decreased the weight of pupae and cocoon compared to control. Since we used LC 50 concentration of beauvericin in nano-formulation, it may be concluded that beauvericin had a severe effect on B. mori so there should be a reasonable period among leave spraying against G. pyloalis and utilization of leaves by B. mori .