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Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level. Genesis of AAU - The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati. Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.

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Subject: Agricultural Entomology × Author: Singha, Th. Aruna × End date: 2023 × Start date: 2023 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    NUTRITIONAL PROFILING OF SOME EDIBLE SERICIGENOUS INSECTS OF MANIPUR
    (2023) Singha, Th. Aruna; Bhattacharyya, Badal
    Laboratory experiments were carried out to assess the nutritive value of four edible sericigenous insect species viz., Bombyx mori L., Anthrerea proylei J., Antherea frithi M. and Cricula trifenestrata H. based on their proximate & elemental content, amino & fatty acid profiles, antioxidant & anti-nutritional properties as well as their microbial aspects in the Soil Arthropod Pests Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Post Graduate Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry, Department of Plant Pathology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during 2019-2022. Edible sericigenous insect species cocoons were collected from various locations covering five districts of Manipur. The powdered samples of the pupae were considered for biochemical and microbial analysis. The proximate analysis of four edible sericigenous insect species had significant variation. The moisture content ranged from 2.038-6.075 per cent and the highest moisture content was observed in A. proylei (6.075%) and A. frithi registered the least moisture content (2.038%) indicating that suitability of sericigenous pupal powder for preservation for a reasonable period of time without any probable risk of any microbial deterioration. The carbohydrate content of the studied species was found maximum (12.130%) in C. trifenestrata and the lowest (2.250%) was recorded in A. proylei. Appreciable amounts of crude protein content were estimated in all the studied species which ranged from 59.315- 69.418 per cent. The highest (69.418%) crude protein was registered in A. frithi and it was found to be significantly superior over the rest of the species. The estimated crude protein content of A. proylei, C. trifenestrata and B. mori were 65.383, 61.463 and 59.315 per cent, respectively. Crude fat content registered in the studied species varied significantly and ranged from 19.213-30.725 per cent. The highest (30.725%) crude fat content was recorded in B. mori followed by A. proylei (29.750%) and C. trifenestrata (28.738%), whereas A. frithi recorded the lowest (19.213%) amount of crude fat content. The crude fibre content varied from 2.213-8.450 per cent and C. trifenestrata registered a significantly high amount of crude fibre (8.450%), whereas the lowest was found in B. mori (2.213%). The highest (5.275%) ash content was observed in A. proylei, whereas the lowest (4.175%) was registered in C. trifenestrata. The ash content of mulberry silkworm B. mori (5.150%) was statistically at par with the A. frithi (5.150%). While analyzing the energy content (kcal/100 g) of all the four species, the maximum energy content (560.205) was estimated in A. proylei followed by C. trifenestrata (556.035) and B. mori (534.885), whereas A. frithi detected the lowest energy content of 465.453 kcal/100 g. Altogether 9 minerals as elemental composition were estimated in all the studied species. The mineral analysis indicated that the concentration of macro elements viz., potassium, calcium and magnesium were significantly higher in A. frithi (70.295, 13.993 & 25.889 mg/100 g), whereas the lowest amount (65.663, 8.790 & 23.526 mg/100 g) potassium, calcium and magnesium were observed in C. trifenestrata. However, the highest sodium and phosphorus content (36.026 & 22.429 mg/100 g) were recorded in B. mori and the least amount of sodium (26.489 mg/100 g) and phosphorus (16.062 mg/100 g) were found in C. trifenestrata. Considerable amounts of micro elements like iron was recorded the highest (26.639 mg/100 g) in B. mori. The lowest iron content was observed in A. proylei (8.315 mg/100 g). Zinc, manganese and copper content (mg/100 g) was estimated to be the highest (21.709, 5.445 and 3.123) in A. frithi which showed statistical superiority over other species whereas C. trifenestrata registered with the lowest zinc (15.381 mg/100 g), manganese (1.209 mg/100 g) and copper (0.997 mg/100 g) content. Among all the amino acids 19 common amino acids, 8 were found essential. Glutamic acid was found to be the most abundant (8.88-7.25%) in all the four species followed by aspartic acid (7.83-5.95%). Among the species, the concentration of glutamic and aspartic content was found to be highest in the A. frithi (8.88 & 7.83%). The range of Essential Amino Acids (EAAs) viz., leucine (3.95-5.76%), valine (3.11-4.22%), isoleucine (2.29-3.29%), lysine (3.65-4.40%), threonine (2.63-3.71%) and phenylalanine (2.90-4.40%) are found in significant amounts. Both the sulphur containing amino acids (methionine and cysteine) were found in relatively low amounts and varied from 1.27-1.95 and 0.35-0.48 per cent. Glycine, alanine and serine were also available in appreciable amounts with values ranging from 3.09-5.87, 3.87-5.48 and 4.52-4.99 per cent, respectively. In case of sweet amino acids (i.e., alanine & glycine), the highest amount was recorded in B. mori (5.48 & 5.87%) but lowest (3.87 & 3.09%) in A. frithi. Most of the amino acid concentration was found to be the highest in A. frithi followed by A. proylei, C. trifenetrata and B. mori, respectively. Total fatty acid analysis revealed that the highest amount of Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA) and Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA) were recorded in C. trifenestrata (6.69 & 5.26%) followed by A. proylei (4.43 & 4.28%), B. mori (2.38 & 2.70%) while the lowest SFA and MUFA was registered in A. frithi (0.80 & 0.35%). On the contrary, the highest (8.36%) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) was evaluated in A. proylei followed by C. trifenestrata (7.90%), B. mori (4.36%) and the least amount (0.39%) was recorded in A. frithi. Altogether, 18 fatty acids were registered in A. frithi which was followed by A. proylei and C. trifenestrata (9 nos.) and B. mori (6 nos.). Linoleic and alpha linolenic acid content (2.48 & 5.88%) were found maximum in the A. proylei followed by C. trifenestrata (2.07 & 5.83%) and B. mori (0.78 & 3.58%) while the least linoleic and alpha linoleic acid (0.25 & 0.14%) was observed in A. frithi. In regards of antioxidant properties, phenol (mg catechol equivalent/g), flavonoid (mg quercetin equivalent/100 g) and antioxidant activity (% DPPH inhibition) were found in all the species and varied from 37.261-92.400, 27.223-35.489 and 35.914-74.587, respectively. Cricula trifenestrata showed the highest phenol and flavonoid content (92.400 mg catechol equivalent/g & 35.489 mg quercetin equivalent/100 g) and which was found to be significantly superior over rest of the species. Antioxidant activity was observed to be the highest in A. frithi (74.587% DPPH inhibition) and least in the C. trifenestrata (35.914% DPPH inhibition). The variability in the concentration of tannin, phytic acid and oxalic acid were ranged from 3.280-6.201 mg tannic acid equivalent/100 g, 2.780-5.238 mg/100 g, 1.762-4.138 mg/100 g, respectively. As regards to anti-nutritional compounds, the highest tannin (mg tannic acid equivalent/100 g), phytic acid (mg/100 g) and oxalic acid (mg/100 g) were observed in B. mori (6.201, 5.238 & 4.138) followed by A. proylei (5.702, 4.510 & 3.572), C. trifenestrata (5.468, 3.304 & 2.819) and A. frithi (3.280, 2.780 & 1.762), respectively. However, the presence of anti-nutritional properties in all four edible insect species were detected much more below the recommended range of 250-500 mg/100 g. Microbial enumeration revealed that total viable counts of B. mori, A. proylei and A. frithi silkworm pupal powders stored under ambient temperature (28 to 32°C) had higher bacterial population (3.331, 3.073 & 3.095 log cfu/g), whereas the least bacterial counts (2.639, 2.520 and 2.564 log cfu/g) of B. mori, A. proylei and A. frithi silkworm were observed when they stored under temperature (-16 to -21°C). Cricula trifenestrata recorded the highest population of bacteria (2.870 log cfu/g) under the temperature (15 to 20°C) and least (2.075 log cfu/g) under the temperature (-16 to -21°C). The highest yeast and mould population (3.102, 3.069, 2.855 & 2.714 log cfu/g) was observed when B. mori, A. proylei A. frithi and C. trifenestrata pupal powder were stored at -16 to -21°C. Microbial enumeration showed that B. mori pupal powder had the highest microbial contamination among the other studied sample. Total viable counts were under the advised limit of fresh minced meat (< 6 log cfu/g, TAC). Through microbial test kits, it was further confirmed the absence of two most common food borne pathogens i.e., Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp. in all the studied sericigenous insect samples.