In the current scenario, it is estimated that by 2050, there will be an additional 2.5 billion people and a 70% increase in food demand. Crop yields are not increasing fast enough to support global needs, and world agriculture is facing several serious challenges. Therefore, insects can be a nutritious alternative to meet the ever-increasing food demand in the present and future. The majority of insect consumption occurs in developing countries, with approximately 1,900 insect species consumed worldwide. Food and feed derived from them are of high quality, have a high feed conversion ratio and emit a low level of greenhouse gases. Among insects silkworms are beneficial to humans, not only because of their high nutritional value, but also because of their several pharmacological properties. Silkworm eggs, larvae, and pupae contains high amount of proteins, oils, minerals, vitamins, and several other beneficial components which are nutritious as well as have positive effect on human health. Studies have shown that silkworm pupae protect the liver, enhance immunity, inhibit apoptosis, inhibit cancer, inhibit tumor growth, inhibit microbial growth, regulate blood glucose and blood lipids, and lower blood pressure. This review paper summerized the nutritional value of different life stages of silkworm, nutritional comparison of silkworm with the major human foods, and the effects of silkworm consumption on human health, thus ittargets to generate interest toward in sericulture and improve human health by using silkworm as a nutritious food and attain sustainability in food and nutritional security.

Allelopathic impacts of Mikania micrantha Kunth were investigated on the rate of seed germination, growth, biomass, photosynthetic pigments, total soluble protein, phenolics and proline content of Macrotylama uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. The extracts inhibited germination, growth, biomass, chlorophyll, carotenoid and protein contents. The protein content of M. uniflorum decreased to 8.48 mg/g at 200 mg/ml. Similarly shoot length, root length also decreased up to 5.11 cm, 0.85 cm respectively and water content increased with increasing concentration of weed extracts. The leaf extracts resulted in an increase in the phenolics (19.66 mg) and proline (24.49 mg) content of the crop plant. The aqueous extracts of leaves caused detrimental impact on growth and physiology of the crop plant and this might be due to release of secondary metabolites. This present investigation may further lead to identification of certain secondary metabolites or allelo-chemicals for agricultural application and might enhance the level of crop protection against several other harmful plant species.

Brassica juncea is the most important oilseed crop in India, and Lipaphis erysimi is a major pest of this crop. The study aimed at knowing the role of photosynthetic pigments in host preference and population build‐up by L. erysimi on diverse B. juncea genotypes. We found significant differences among test genotypes for aphid preference, multiplication rate and population build‐up, and chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B, total chlorophyll, total carotenoids and Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) chlorophyll and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values in healthy and aphid damaged flowers, immature siliquae and grain filled siliquae. The L. erysimi damage reduced all the photosynthetic pigments across plant parts of test B. juncea genotypes. The aphid damage resulted in change in chlorophyll B in flowers and total chlorophyll in immature siliquae showed positive association with leaf preference, while total carotenoids in flowers and grain filled siliquae had negative association with leaf and bud preference by L. erysimi. Chlorophylls A and B in the siliquae showed significant and positive association with multiplication rate and population build‐up of L. erysimi on B. juncea. Change in chlorophyll A, total chlorophyll and total carotenoids because of aphid damage contributed to 38.6% variation in host preference and 21.9% variation in multiplication rate and population build‐up of L. erysimi on different B. juncea genotypes. Genotypes PM 30, RH 749, PDZ 6, Pusa 119‐1‐3, Pusa 119‐1‐1 and Kranti were found with least leaf and bud preference, lower aphid multiplication rate and population build‐up, and higher amounts of different chlorophylls and total carotenoids, suggesting their use in aphid resistance breeding programme.

Potato, the world's most popular crop is reported to provide a food source for nearly a billion people. It is prone to a number of biotic stressors that affect yield and quality, out of which Potato Virus Y (PVY) occupies the top position. PVY can be transmitted mechanically and by sap-feeding aphid vectors. The application of insecticide causes an increase in the resistant vector population along with detrimental effects on the environment; genetic resistance and vector-virus control are the two core components for controlling the deadly PVY. Using transcriptomic tools together with differential gene expression and gene discovery, several loci and genes associated with PVY resistance have been widely identified. To combat this virus we must increase our understanding on the molecular response of the PVY-potato plant-aphid interaction and knowledge of genome organization, as well as the function of PVY encoded proteins, genetic diversity, the molecular aspects of PVY transmission by aphids, and transcriptome profiling of PVY infected potato cultivars. Techniques such as molecular and bioinformatics tools can identify and monitor virus transmission. Several studies have been conducted to understand the molecular basis of PVY resistance/susceptibility interactions and their impact on PVY epidemiology by studying the interrelationship between the virus, its vector, and the host plant. This review presents current knowledge of PVY transmission, epidemiology, genome organization, molecular to bioinformatics responses, and its effective management.

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