Bacterial diversity associated with the Hatay yellow strain silkworm (Bombyx mori L.): Isolation, identification and characterization

The Hatay yellow strain silkworm (Bombyx mori L.), which is in danger of extinction, is one of the most important local cultural heritages of Türkiye. Bacterial pathogens of silkworm are highly destructive and cause mostly acute diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the bacterial diversity and potential pathogenic bacterial species in infected and dead larvae of Hatay yellow race. A total of 16 bacterial isolates from Hatay yellow race were identified according to their morphological, biochemical and molecular characteristics. The bacterial isolates isolated from infected and dead larvae of Hatay yellow race were Staphylococcus sp. (BM-1), Staphylococcus xylosus (BM-5), Staphylococcus succinus (BM-7), Bacillus thuringiensis (BM-8), Bacillus subtilis (BM-9), Bacillus sp. (BM-10), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (BM-16, BM-19), Klebsiella sp. (BM-17), Staphylococcus arlettae (BM-18), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (BM-20), Enterococcus mundtii (BM-21), Pantoea agglomerans (BM-22), Kluyvera intermedia (BM-23), Serratia sp. (BM-24), Mammaliicoccus sciuri (BM-25). The high bacterial density and number of species indicate that Hatay yellow race is highly susceptible to bacterial diseases. Insecticidal activity studies revealed that species belonging to Bacillus and Staphylococcus genera are important pathogens of hybrid silkworm culture and Hatay yellow race.