Abstract

HERNANDEZ-ROJAS, Alma Rosa et al. In vitro propagation of Morus alba L. calli as an alternative feed for silkworm (Bombyx mori) larvae. Polibotánica [online]. 2026, n.61, pp.193-204.  Epub May 18, 2026. ISSN 1405-2768.  https://doi.org/10.18387/polibotanica.61.11.

Mulberry Morus alba L. is a deciduous tree which leaves yield is a feeding source with high nutrients content and digestibility. The in vitro culture allows the vegetal tissue proliferation from young explants and the addition of growth regulators. The subject of the present research is to promote the undifferentiation cellular in leave tissue and origin callogenesis in plants of Morus alba, L. var. SLP5 and SLP3 supplemented with plant growth regulators 2,4-D and TDZ and evidence the acceptability of in vitro cultured mulberry calli in the feeding of the first silkworm larvae stages (Bombyx mori). The three portions of mulberry leaves var. SLP5 and SLP3 were cultured in MS modified medium supplemented with 7.0 g L-1 agar, 3% sucrose, 0.4 mg L-1 thiamine and 100 mg L-1 myo-inositol with 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D, 1 and 3 mg L-1) combine with thidiazuron (TDZ, 1 and 3 mg L-1), in a completed randomized design (1:1; 1:3; 3:1 and 3:3 mg L-1) with 5 replicates among two months. The SLP5 variety displayed a bigger weight 2.49±0.48 g and volume 2.83±0.86 cm3 than SLP3 variety. The calli obtained in treatment 4 (3 mg L-1 of 2,4-D and 3 mg L-1 TDZ) displayed a bigger volume 3.39±0.80 cm3 and weight 2.93±0.33 g (p≤0.05). In regard to the leaves sections, the explants growth calli do not show significantly differences (p≤0.05). The silkworm larvae growth was bigger for treatment 4 weight 2.66±1.87 g and length de 2.62±2.10 cm (p≤0.05). It is worth to mention that the in vitro cultured mulberry calli as food acceptance was similar for all treatments. In this research the in vitro propagation of white mulberry calli was independent from the plant variety. The calli white mulberry propagated in vitro were accepted in the feeding of silkworm larvae under laboratory conditions.

Keywords : Morus sp; plant growth regulators; calli; Bombyx mori.

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