Forest Research Institute

Bombyx mori, the domesticated silkworm, is one of the most economically significant and scientifically tractable insects. Since the publication of its draft genome sequence in 2004 and the subsequent production of a refined, consortium-level assembly in 2008, silkworm genomics has undergone a transformative evolution encompassing whole-genome resequencing, functional genomics, epigenomics, small RNA biology, and comparative and population genomics. These advances have not only illuminated the molecular mechanisms underlying silk production, development, immunity, and domestication, but have also catalysed a wide range of applications spanning biotechnology and biomedicine. This review synthesises current knowledge on silkworm genomics, tracing the progression from early sequencing initiatives to state-of-the-art genome editing strategies including the CRISPR/Cas9 system. A systematic literature search was conducted to identify peer-reviewed publications relevant to silkworm genomics and its applications. The primary databases consulted were Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The primary date range for inclusion was 2006 to 2026, with an exception for foundational studies published before 2006, which were included when they represented seminal contributions to the field. Special attention is given to the genomic architecture of silk protein genes, the regulatory roles of non-coding RNAs, epigenetic landscapes, and comparative genomics with related Lepidoptera. The biotechnological utility of the silkworm is explored in the context of silk-based biomaterials for tissue engineering, silk as a drug delivery scaffold, the production of chimeric spider silk fibres in transgenic silkworms, and the silkworm as an in vivo model for infectious disease research. The review further addresses the improvement of sericulture through molecular breeding, marker-assisted selection, and precision genome editing, as well as the genomic basis of innate immunity and disease resistance. Future directions in multi-omics integration, single-cell transcriptomics, synthetic biology, and pangenomics are discussed. Together, these developments affirm the central importance of silkworm genomics at the interface of fundamental biology and applied innovation.

Sericulture represents an important agro-based rural sector, particularly in North-East India where eri silk production is widely practiced. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of digestive enzyme-enriched castor leaves on the quality of eri spun yarn produced by the eri silkworm (Samia ricini Donovan) during the spring (March–April) and autumn (September–October) seasons of 2024–2025. Completely Randomised Design (CRD) were used to set up the experiment. Three α-amylase and lipase concentrations (1%, 3%, and 5%) as well as a combination treatment (1% α-amylase + 1% lipase) were assessed and evaluated with an untreated control. Twist per inch (T.P.I), yarn size, breaking load, tenacity, elongation %, and other aspects of yarn quality were examined. Among treatments, α-amylase at 3% concentration consistently recorded superior performance. In spring, it produced the highest yarn size (19.22 S), breaking load (0.72 kg), tenacity (0.81 g/d), elongation (18.38%), and TPI (18). Similar trends were observed in autumn, though overall values were comparatively lower than spring. The combination treatment also showed improvement over control, particularly in tenacity and elongation. Across all parameters, the control group recorded the lowest values, confirming the beneficial role of digestive enzymes in enhancing silk fibre characteristics. Seasonal comparison indicated that spring conditions were more favourable than autumn, resulting in better yarn quality traits. The study concludes that fortification of castor leaves with digestive enzymes, especially α-amylase at 3% concentration, significantly enhances eri spun yarn quality. This nutritional supplementation strategy offers a practical and effective approach for improving silk productivity and yarn performance under varying seasonal conditions.

Thrips (Pseudodentrothrips mori) infestation is an emerging constraint in mulberry cultivation, causing subtle yet significant deterioration in leaf quality that adversely affects silkworm growth and cocoon productivity. Early detection of thrips damage using conventional field scouting is difficult due to the inconspicuous nature of initial symptoms. The present study evaluated the potential of hyperspectral radiometry for non-destructive detection and quantification of thrips-induced stress in mulberry (Morus spp.). The present study evaluated the potential of hyperspectral radiometry for detection, discrimination, and quantification of thrips-induced stress in mulberry through band sensitivity analysis, vegetation index sensitivity analysis, regression analysis and linear correlation intensity analysis. Field experiments were conducted in a V1 mulberry garden using naturally infested and protected control plots in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2018. Spectral reflectance data were collected using a field-portable hyperspectral spectroradiometer (350–1050 nm) at different crop stages, and vegetation indices including NDVI, Simple Ratio (SR), and GRVI were derived. Thrips infestation resulted in increased reflectance in the visible region and reduced reflectance in the near-infrared region, indicating chlorophyll degradation and internal tissue disruption. Vegetation indices were consistently lower in damaged plants compared to healthy plants, with SR and NDVI showing higher sensitivity to thrips-induced stress. Linear regression analysis revealed strong negative relationships between percent leaf damage and NDVI (R² = 0.886) and SR (R² = 0.791), whereas GRVI exhibited poor predictive capability. Linear correlation intensity analysis identified diagnostically important wavelengths, with the highest positive correlation observed at 689.45 nm (r = 0.94) in the red region and the strongest negative correlation at 763.26 nm (r = −0.10) in the NIR region. Overall, the study demonstrates that hyperspectral radiometry combined with correlation intensity analysis and vegetation indices provides a robust, non-invasive approach for early detection and assessment of thrips damage in mulberry, supporting precision pest management in sericulture systems.

Fire is an important disturbance in European forests, particularly in the Mediterranean region. However, the effects of climate change on fuel availability and fire weather, combined with the widespread dominance of conifer monocultures, high population density, and the significance of human-caused ignition, support predictions of increasing fire risk in temperate Central Europe – a phenomenon likely to necessitate expanded post-fire forest restoration. The non-intervention approach based on ecological succession is often not favoured over active restoration due to economic considerations or legal requirements. Nevertheless, natural ecosystem recovery has been shown to enable successful tree establishment, support biodiversity, and provide microclimatic benefits. Here, we present data on early (2–5 years) natural tree regeneration following non-stand-replacing wildfires in lowland coniferous forests of Białowieża, northeastern Poland, in relation to burn depth and selected microsite characteristics, collected from sample plots along parallel transects within burnt and unburnt forest sections. Our results demonstrate that fire promoted the establishment of diverse tree taxa, including Pinus, Picea, Quercus, Betula, Populus, and Salix. A higher number of saplings was recorded in burnt plots across all sites, with Pinus and Betula benefiting most from both fire disturbance and burn depth. Furthermore, our findings confirm the importance of fire disturbance for the natural regeneration of Scots pine, which is currently nearly absent in the Białowieża Forest otherwise. Our study contributes to the discussion on fire regimes, post-fire ecosystem recovery, and forest restoration in Central Europe, highlighting the great potential for a non-intervention approach after fire. It also provides baseline information to inform conservation and management strategies in the region.

Drawing from the Millennium Ecosystem Services, planted forests have been increasingly important for provisioning services of wood fiber and commodity production, and have emerged as a unique regulating Nature-based solution (NBS) for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Forest plantations account now for at least 30% of global industrial roundwood production and their contribution can be further increased, while reducing pressures on natural forests. Planted forests have been proposed as one of the most efficient and cost-effective means to store more atmospheric carbon and reduce adverse impacts of climate change in the short- to medium-term, along with improved forest management and reduced emissions from forest area loss.Increasing the amount and productivity of planted forests is a crucial method to meet increasing timber and climate demands by capturing carbon in forests and subsequent wood products and providing short-run terrestrial energy. They also can help adapt to forest species migration by purposeful introduction of forest species adapted to new climate in a warmer planet, and provide additional forest biodiversity, soil health, and water quality and quantity benefits.Increases in planted forests to achieve their promise for economic provisioning and climate regulating services mandate that a host of technical, research, policy issues must be resolved quickly. These include technical questions such as (1) the trends and magnitude of planted forests extent needed to increase production and climate roles; (2) the relative benefits of plantations versus natural forest restoration or retention for carbon storage; (3) questions of where such plantings can occur and how to deploy well-performing species to new regions; (4) the technical capacity required to produce seedlings; (5) the rapid development of forest products research and development of engineered forest and mass timber products, and (6) the environmental benefits and impacts of planted forests.Massive expansion of planted forests must also resolve issues such as (7) rural land tenure status and rights in developed and developing countries, (8) regulations promoting or limiting intensive public forest land management, (9) infrastructure requirements and development; (10) cooperation, partnerships, and policy implementation, (11) investment opportunities, costs, returns, and incentives required to attract private landowners and outgrowers to plant forests, and (12) the effects on local and global timber markets.These substantial questions must be resolved or planted forests will not achieve their potential to produce desirable wood fiber and products supplies, realize bioenergy opportunities, or store and offset vast amounts of global carbon emissions. This research tackles these questions while assessing historical trends and current status of planted forests worldwide and identifying the best practices for the development of planted forests for landscape restoration, climate change mitigation, and range of environmental, social, and economic co-benefits.

Changing climatic conditions are amplifying the frequency and intensity of hydroclimatic extremes across Europe. Droughts, heatwaves, intense precipitation and floods increasingly co-occur and cascade, creating compound risks for ecosystems and societies. One of the most visible and severe consequences of these interconnected crises is the growing global threat of forest fires, which are more often facilitated by favorable weather conditions, as well as forest structure and fuel properties. However, the most important cause of fires is related to human pressure, resulting from intentional or unintentional activities that contribute to the outbreak of fires.Forests are an assemblage of diverse habitats, each of which may differ markedly in fire risk and fire behaviour. Here, we examine how fire occurrence in Poland varies among forest habitat types, land-use patterns and management functions, and how these relationships are shaped by interannual meteorological variability and regional context. We compile (i) forest fire records for Poland for 2019-2024, (ii) a 2024 state forest administration database of forest divisions (i.e., basic forest management units) including habitat type, dominant tree species and main forest function, (iii) a database of socio-economic indicators for country's administrative units, and (iv) annual meteorological characteristics relevant to fire weather. This enables a spatially explicit analysis of fire frequency and (where available) burnt area across heterogeneous forest landscapes, while accounting for administrative-region differences and socio-economic factors that may reflect contrasting management practices, accessibility, and human ignition pressure.We quantify fire occurrences in 2019-2024 for distinct forest area types (classified by habitat, dominant tree species and function) and evaluate their sensitivity to meteorological conditions across years. The analysis is designed to identify which combinations of forest habitat, tree species, forest function, and local socio-economic structure show consistently elevated fire incidence, whether observed changes between 2019 and 2024 are uniform or regionally differentiated across Poland, and to determine which meteorological characteristics best explain interannual variability in forest fire occurrence. By integrating ecological and forest management attributes with fire records and meteorological context, the study provides an empirical basis for stratified fire-risk assessment in Polish forests and supports targeted prevention and management measures. This research is conducted as part of the NCN project 2023/49/N/ST10/04035 "Fire, burnt area and charcoal - charcoal-data modeling of burnt area, cross-validation of fires and charcoal signal".

Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of hunting is essential for the management of protected areas, as well as for assessing its impacts on wildlife. This knowledge also allows patrols to be directed toward areas under greater hunting pressure. A promising approach to estimating hunting pressure is through the use of autonomous bioacoustic recorders combined with artificial intelligence tools. However, it is necessary to develop a process capable of accurately describing the spatial and temporal distribution of hunting and, in parallel with wildlife monitoring, understanding its ecological impacts. Therefore, our goal is to estimate hunting pressure across space and time and to assess its effects on forest ungulate species. We intend to evaluate the impact of hunting by testing its influence on the density, occupancy, and activity patterns of ungulates. To achieve this, we established a 1,500-ha sampling grid in Iguaçu National Park, where each of the 24 plots is equipped with one bioacoustic recorder and three camera traps, which will operate for two years. So far, we have completed four months of sampling. We also conducted a preliminary experiment to record gunshots from different types of firearms and ammunition at various distances from the recorders, aiming to model sound intensity as a function of distance. As a preliminary result, we found that gunshots from 12-gauge firearms can be detected with an intensity of 20 dB at distances of up to 900 meters, indicating this as an optimal spacing between recorders for triangulation of detected gunshots. uring the setup of the sampling grid, we already found seven clear pieces of evidence of poaching activity in different locations within the study area, including platforms used for poaching (2), campsites (2), artificial salt licks (1), and cartridges (2), and we recorded a poacher with a camera trap. In the coming months, hunting activity will be modeled spatially and temporally. The resulting database of bioacoustic recordings and camera-trap images will be made available to the scientific community to foster future collaborations and improve conservation strategies. Funded by FAPESP #2024/18433-5

Natural rewilding of abandoned agricultural land and proforestation (the practice of leaving existing, mature forests to grow undisturbed and unmanaged) are increasingly promoted as low-cost nature-based solutions for biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation. Yet their outcomes remain debated across scientific, policy, and societal domains. In particular, Europe lacks harmonized, large-scale evidence on how rewilding influences soil biodiversity and its relationship to forest recovery and carbon sequestration. Existing studies are fragmented across regions, methods, and disciplines, leaving, especially, belowground responses insufficiently understood and poorly integrated into environmental monitoring frameworks.The WILDCARD project, an EU Horizon 2020 initiative, addresses these gaps through a coordinated, cross-European assessment of forest ecosystems undergoing natural succession and proforestation. Using high-throughput DNA metabarcoding of bacterial and fungal ribosomal markers, we characterize soil microbial communities along rewilding gradients spanning from managed croplands to old secondary and primeval forests. Microbial datasets are combined with measurements of forest structure, soil properties, and carbon accumulation trajectories to identify microbial indicators that reflect ecosystem recovery processes.Among others, we expect to observe belowground recovery patterns along the rewilding gradient, including increases in microbial diversity and network connectivity, which are associated with higher functional complexity and overall ecosystem resilience. Reductions in agroecosystem-associated pathogens and increases in symbiotic and saprotrophic microorganisms are anticipated to enhance nutrient cycling, support forest regeneration capacity, and influence carbon persistence. Exploring these patterns will help determine whether and how rewilding shapes belowground biodiversity, and what implications this may have for long-term ecosystem functioning and carbon stabilization.By identifying robust microbial indicators linked to forest rewilding and soil carbon dynamics, this work provides a foundation for developing soil health metrics suitable for large-scale monitoring. The resulting bioindicators will strengthen the scientific basis needed to evaluate the contribution of rewilding to EU climate and biodiversity goals and further support evidence-based decision-making in ecological restoration.

A bstract The aim of the study was to assess the condition of forest soils in central and northern Poland in 2007–2017. The study areas were located in eight forest districts, namely, Białowieża, Chojnów, Łąck, Gdańsk, Krotoszyn, Krucz, Strzałowo and Suwałki. In 2007 and 2017, soil samples were taken from the organic layer (O) and five mineral layers (M): 0–5, 5–10, 10–20, 20–40 and 40–80 cm deep. Physicochemical analyses of the soil were carried out on the appropriately prepared samples (i.e., drying, sieving, grinding), that is, granulometric composition, pH CaCl2 in a solution of 0.01 mol CaCl 2 ·dm -3 , organic carbon content (TOC), total nitrogen content (TN), exchangeable acidity (H w ) and the content of basic and acidic cations in a solution of 0.1 M barium chloride at pH 8.1. In addition, the sum of cations (SBC), the cation exchange capacity (CEC), the saturation of the basic complex (BS%) and the sum of basic cations (SBC : Al) were determined. The soils analysed were characterised by an extreme and strong acid reaction (pH CaCl2 : 2.75–4.60). Regardless of time, the highest TOC content in the closed layer was found in the Krotoszyn forest area under the Quercus robur L. on the Stagnosol soil and the lowest in the Strzałowo forest area under the Pinus sylvestris L. stands on the Halpc Luvisol soil. The TOC content in the mineral layers was low regardless of the location and year of investigation and was similar in the analysed soils. Most of the forest soils analysed were poor sites and soils from sands with low alkaline cation content (SBC<5.0), sorption capacity (CEC) and saturation of the alkali-sorption complex (BS < 20%).