Impact of temperature on heat shock protein expression of Bombyx mori cross-breed and effect on commercial traits

The present study investigated the effect of increasing temperature stress on the thermotolerance of B. mori cross-breed PM x CSR2 and tissue specific differential expression of heat shock proteins at IVth and Vth instars. The larvae reared at 25 +/-1 degrees C and 70 +/- 5% relative humidity were treated as control. Larvae were subjected to heat shock temperatures of 34, 38 and 42 degrees C for 3 hr followed by 3 hr recovery. Expression of Heat shock protein 72 were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and confirmed by western blotting analysis. The impact of heat shock on commercial traits of cocoons was analyzed by following different strategies in terms of acquired thermotolerance over control. Resistance to heat shock was increased as larval development proceeds and increased thermotolerance is achieved with the induction of Heat shock protein 72 in the Vth instar larval haemolymph. Relative influence of heat shock temperatures on commercial traits corresponding to the generation of heat shock protein 72 was significantly improved over control. In PM x CSR2, cocoon and shell weight significantly increased to 9.90 and 11.90% over control respectively.