The diapause and non diapause associated proteins of multivoltine silkworm eggs were analysed by two dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis. The study was made at 0 hr, 24 hrs and 48 hrs after oviposition. A total of four protein spots in diapause eggs at 24 hrs of oviposition and two protein spots in non diapause eggs at 0 hrs of oviposition were observed. All the six protein spots were considered to have association with diapause and non diapause characters. The molecular weight (MW) and isoelectric point (PI) of these 6 protein spots were calculated. The protein spots 1 and 2 observed in 0 hr of non diapause eggs were found to have the MW of 67 and 75 KDa and PI of 8.6 and 8.4 respectively. Similarly the four protein spots observed in diapause egg at 24 hrs of oviposition exhibited MW viz., 15, 17,20 and 25 KDa and PI of 5.3, 5.8, 6.5 and 6.0 respectively. All these 6 identified protein spots were subjected to in-gel digestion and resulted tryptic peptides were analyzed by Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF-MS). Databases searched based on experimentally determined molecular weights of peptides for the determination of the identities of proteins. The identified proteins indicated homology of 34% to 95%. The results indicate that the proteins may playa role in development of diapause and non diapause eggs.

A preliminary survey on the incidence and intensity of root disease complex (association of Meloidogyne incognita and root rot pathogens) was carried out in the sericultural areas of Karnataka. A total of 280 mulberry gardens were surveyed in 14 districts of Karnataka belonging to different types of soil (red sandy, red loamy and black cotton), farming systems (irrigated and rainfed), varieties (V-1, K-2, Local and S-13) and age of the plants (0-5, 5-10 and 10-15 years). It was observed that the association of M. incognita with Botryodiplodia theobromae and Fusarium solani causes the root disease complex in mulberry. Of the 280 gardens visited, 94 were infested with the disease complex and incidence was recorded as 33.6%. The higher intensity of root disease complex was observed when the root system had more than 100 galls/plant with infection of mixed population of B. theobromae and F. solani in sandy soil under irrigated farming. The 5-10 years old mulberry plantation with V-I variety was found to be most susceptible to root disease complex. Districts like Mysore, Kolar, Mandya, Tumkur, Chitradurga and Bangalore were observed as sensitive areas. Further, the wounds caused by M. incognita in mulberry roots favour the easy entry of root rot pathogens, which increased the severity of the disease very fast.

While searching for pancreatic lipase inhibitors, the active compound was found in a methanol extract of Apis mellifera venome. The active compound was isolated by Diaion HP-20 column chromatography, thin layer chromatography and HPLC. The active compound is stable to the extreme pH and heat. There is no loss of activity both in acidic and alkaline solution in the pH range of 2 to 11 by heating for 15 minutes at $90^{\circ}C$. The rf value of the compound was 0.51 at TLC with butanol : methanol: water (4:1:2) solvent system. The molecular weight of the compound was determined to be 293 by EI-MS.

In this paper, the regenerated silk fibroin (SF)/nylon 6 blend filaments were fabricated using wet spinning technique and the effect of coagulant on the post drawing and morphology of blend filaments was investigated. In the result of wet spinnability, methanol, acetone, DMF, and THF showed relatively good coagulation strength and fiber formation for the regenerated SF. On the contrary, they did not exhibit strong enough to produce a uniform nylon 6 filament due to the lack of coagulation strength. In the examination of post drawing performance, methanol showed the highest maximum draw ratio of the blend filament over all blend ratios. The maximum draw ratio of SF/nylon 6 blend filaments decreased with the reduction of SF content regardless of type of coagulant. SEM observation showed the consistent result with that of post-drawing performance. As SF content decreased, the uniform and regular structure was changed to irregular one. In particular, the severe macro-phase separation between SF and nylon 6 could be detected in the 50/50 SF/nylon 6 blend filaments coagulated in methanol and THF.

A line x tester analysis was carried out in mulberry (Morns spp.) under different salinity levels to determine the changes in the genetic interaction of various morpho-biochemical characters. Five mulberry genotypes, 3 females and 2 males, differing in salt tolerance were selected for the study. Clones of these parents along with clones of the F1 hybrids were planted in earthen pots and subjected to different levels of salinity (0.0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% and 1.00% NaCl). Data on morphological and biochemical characters were subjected to line x tester analysis. The result revealed significant variation among the parents studied. The prominence of non-additive gene effect under control condition suggests the need for well chalked out breeding program to exploit the non-fixable variance of components for improvement of plant height, leaf size and leaf yield, chlorophyll and photosynthesis in mulberry. However, under salinity stress a shift from non-additive gene effect to additive gene effect for the above said character further suggests the need for a change in breeding strategy. The general combining ability (GCA) analysis has identified English black as the best combiner among the parents and the specific combining ability analysis (SCA) found crosses of English black X C776 and Rotndiloba x Mandalaya were good for Plant height and leaf size and English black X C776 and Rotundiloba x C776 were good for biochemical proline and chlorophyll. From the performance of parents and their crosses under different salinity levels and also under normal cultural conditions it is concluded that in mulberry different approaches are required to develop varieties for the irrigated and saline conditions.

In order to understand geographic genetic variation and relationship among populations of the mason bee (Osmia cornifrons Radoszkowsky), which is used as pollinator for apple tree, we sequenced a portion of mitochondrial (mt) COI gene, which corresponds to "DNA Barcode" region (658 bp) from 81 O. cornifrons individuals collected over eight localities in Korea. The sequence data revealed overall moderate to low genetic diversity within species, with a maximum sequence divergence of 0.76%. Geographically, two haplotypes (BAROC01 and BAROC02) were widespread with a frequency of 82.7%, whereas several haplotypes were found in a locality as a single individual, suggesting that haplotype distribution can be summarized as coexistence of a few widespread haplotypes and several regionally restricted haplotypes. Overall, high rate of per generation female migration (Nm=$1.1{\sim}$infinite) and low level of geographic subdivision ($F_{ST}=0{\sim}0.315$) among localities were characteristic. Although two populations (p < 0.026) were genetically subdivided from the remaining localities, no clear polarity was observed. Taken together, the nature of genetic divergence of the mason bee populations is characterized as one that possessing moderate to low genetic diversity, high gene flow, and wide spread haplotypes with ahigh frequency, concordant with the capability of dispersal in connection with the lack of historical biogeographic barriers.

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) orf47 gene was characterized for the first time. The coding sequence of Bm47 was amplified and subcloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-30a(+) in order to produce His-tagged fusion protein in the BL21 (DE3) cells. The His-Bm47 fusion protein was expressed efficiently after induction with IPTG. The purified fusion protein was used to immunize New Zealand white rabbits to prepare polyclonal antibody. As the genome of BmNPV is available in GenBank and the EST database of BmNPV is expanding, identification of novel genes of BmNPV was conceivable by data-mining techniques and bioinformatics tools. Structural bioinformatics approach to analyze the properties of Bm47 encodes protein.

The turnip aphid is a worldwide pest, damaging mainly to crucifers. In order to understand the life parameters of Lipaphis erysimi for the eventual goal of control, the developmental periods, survival rates, lifespan, and fecundity of the species were investigated under five temperature regimes ($15^{\circ}C-35^{\circ}C$). Furthermore, the efficacy of several environment-friendly agricultural materials (EFAMs) that are on the market was subjected to test in order to obtain further accurate information. The developmental period of the turnip aphid nymph was longest at $15^{\circ}C$ as 16.9 days, shortened as temperature goes up to $25^{\circ}C$ (5.4 days), and then somewhat increased at $30^{\circ}C$ (5.9 days), suggesting that the most efficient temperature for nymphal development could be around $25^{\circ}C$. Mortality of the nymphal turnip aphid was obvious at $35^{\circ}C$, whereas it was minimal at other temperature schemes. The longevity of adults shortened as temperature goes up to $30^{\circ}C$. In particular, the maximum lifespan for adults continued for 55 days at $15^{\circ}C$, but shortened to 21 days at $30^{\circ}C$. The total fecundity was 35.7 at $15^{\circ}C$, 81 at $20^{\circ}C$, 64.2 at $25^{\circ}C$, and 6.6 individuals at $30^{\circ}C$, showing the highest fecundity at $20^{\circ}C$. After the turnip aphids were successfully stabilized in indoor environment the insecticidal activity was tested and mortality was determined 12, 24, 36, and 48 hrs after EFAMs are treated. Several on-the-market EFAMs showed more than 90% of insecticidal activity within 24 hrs or 48 hrs, but a few showed less than 90% activity, signifying importance of selection of proper EFAMs.

To improve mating rate of the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, temperature, photoperiod and illumination during mating periods favorable for B. terrestris were investigated. The mating rate of queen mated at $19^{\circ}C$ was 92.1%, which was 2.1-5.9% higher than that of $22^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$. $19^{\circ}C$ was more effective than at $22^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$ in death rate during mating periods. The survival rate after hibernation of queen mated at $19^{\circ}C$ was 3.0-17.7% higher than that of $22^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$. At the photoperiod regimes during mating periods, queen mated at 14 L was more effective than 12 L and 16 L in death rate during mating, survival rate after hibernation, and egg-characteristics. In case of illumination during mating periods, intensity of over 1000 lux was suitable for mating B. terrestris queen in colony development. Therefore, we supposed that mating temperature favorable for B. terrestris was $19^{\circ}C$ and photoperiod for mating was 14 L, and illumination was over 1000 lux.