Pebrine-A Silent Threat to Indian Sericulture

Indian culture is deeply rooted in sericulture, with different regions having a track record for supporting distinct populations of silkworms. For example, the North-Eastern region of the country is home to a diverse range of Muga (Antheraea assamensis Helfer), Eri (Samia ricini Donovan), and Oak Tasar (Antheraea proyleiJolly) silkworms. The eastern region, which includes Jharkhand and Odisha, is well-known for its tropical tasar (Antheraea mylitta Drury) while the southern region, comprising Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, is the primary source of India's yearly output of raw silk made from Mulberry silkworms (Bombyx mori Linnaeus). As an agro-based industry, sericulture is vulnerable to a number of pests and diseases, the most destructive of which is pebrine. The disease is particularly dangerous since it spreads transovarially from one generation to the next, therefore it's critical to monitor its spread constantly in order to produce disease-free layings (DFLs), which will support the industry's continued expansion. This article provides a thorough overview of the current state of pebrine disease, including its mode of transmission, symptoms, and advancements in diagnosis techniques. By doing so, the reader will be able to comprehend the disease more easily and develop a sense of awareness.