Fungal Enzymes Offer a Sustainable Breakthrough Against Mulberry Mealybugs

Introduction
A team of Indian scientists from the Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Berhampore, and the College of Agriculture, Gangavathi, has introduced a sustainable approach for managing mulberry mealybugs (Maconellicoccus hirsutus), a persistent pest responsible for “Tukra disease” and significant silk yield losses.

The Study
The researchers isolated enzymes from three fungal species—Aspergillus fumigatus, A. terreus, and A. glaucus—and separated their enzyme fractions using silica gel chromatography. These fungal extracts were sprayed on different developmental stages of mealybugs to assess their biocontrol efficiency.

Key Findings

• Complete mortality was recorded in mealybug eggs and first-instar larvae within 24 hours of enzyme treatment.
• 68.9% mortality occurred in the second instar larvae treated with A. fumigatus SF-22 extract.
• The fungal enzymes degraded mealybug wax within 7 days, effectively reducing larval and wax weight.
• A. fumigatus strains demonstrated the strongest enzymatic activity, offering a safer, pesticide-free solution for pest control in sericulture.

Significance
This pioneering study establishes the potential of fungal lipases as eco-friendly biocontrol tools. The enzymes act by bioscouring the protective wax coat of mealybugs, thereby weakening their defense mechanisms. The approach aligns with sustainable agricultural goals and minimizes pesticide residues that can harm silkworms.

Future Outlook
The authors recommend scaling up enzyme production, field-level validation, and formulation development for large-scale biocontrol use in mulberry cultivation.

Reference

Nagaraju, Y., Kikon, S., Reshma, R. et al. Bioscouring of mealybug wax using fungal enzymes for sustainable management of mealybugs in mulberry. Discov Agric 3, 219 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00341-1

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