Probiotics of Silkworm: Tiny Microbes, Big Impact
on Sericulture
Rajshree Verma1 
, Mounika Jarpla1* , Rajesh Kumar2 ,
Aftab Shabnam1 , Nadiya Ashraf1
Abstract. Probiotics are emerging as a promising and sustainable tool for improving silkworm health, productivity, and resilience in modern sericulture. The domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, has undergone long-term artificial selection, resulting in reduced genetic and microbial diversity, which has increased its vulnerability to environmental stress, pathogens, and chemical exposure. Beneficial gut microorganisms play essential roles in digestion, immunity, and detoxification, making the restoration of gut microbial balance a key strategy for sustainable silkworm rearing. Probiotics, particularly beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Bacillus, Enterococcus, and Weissella, have shown strong potential in enhancing digestion, improving nutrient absorption, stimulating immune responses, suppressing pathogens, and maintaining gut health. Their application has been associated with improved larval growth, reduced disease incidence, better adaptation to artificial diets, and enhanced cocoon and silk yield. As sericulture continues to support rural livelihoods and cottage-based economies, probiotics offer an eco-friendly alternative to antibiotics and chemical interventions. Future research on host–microbiota–pathogen interactions, probiotic consortia, and microbiome engineering will be crucial for developing effective probiotic-based strategies for next-generation sustainable sericulture.
Keywords: silkworm, probiotics, bacteria, digestion, microbes