Propagación in vitro de callos de morera (Morus alba L.) como alternativa alimenticia para larvas de gusanos de seda (Bombyx mori)

In vitro, propagation of plants is an attractive approach to multiply improved genotypes throughout the year in a disease-free manner. White mulberry (Morus alba L.) is a highly adaptable plant and its farming may rely on in vitro propagation under specific scenarios. Silk farming depends on white mulberry forage and such supply would benefit from in vitro propagation as a backup strategy to circumvent environmental challenges and plant diseases or pests. This study aimed to first compare the in vitro propagation of two varieties of white mulberry (SLP3 and SLP5) in a modified MS medium under four auxin supplementations in a completely randomize design (with 1.0 and 3.0 mgL-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.0 and 3.0 mgL-1 thidiazuron (TDZ)) in the dark room for 60 days. Secondly, in vitro-grown calluses of white mulberry were tested as supplementary feed of silkworm (Bombyx mori) larvae for 35 days. The statistical analysis relied on analysis of variance and Tukey’s mean test, with a significance level of 5%. The variety SLP5 produced calluses with greater weight and volume than SLP3, while 3.0 mgL-1 2,4-D provided the best performance of in vitro-grown calluses, irrespective of variety and portion of the leaf used for propagation. Feeding silkworm larvae with in vitro-grown calluses did not affect their development (length and weight), irrespective of variety and auxin supplementation. In conclusion, in vitro propagation of white mulberry depends on interactions between variety and auxin supplementation, and in vitro grown calluses of white mulberry are attractive for feeding silkworm larvae.