Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T07:19:42.323Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Insect food for astronauts: gas exchange in silkworms fed on mulberry and lettuce and the nutritional value of these insects for human consumption during deep space flights

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 May 2011

L. Tong ,
X. Yu  and
H. Liu
L. Tong
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
X. Yu
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
H. Liu*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
*
*Authors for correspondence Fax: +86-10-8233 9837 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In this study, silkworm moth (Bombyx mori L.) larvae were regarded as an animal protein source for astronauts in the bioregenerative life support system during long-term deep space exploration in the future. They were fed with mulberry and stem lettuce leaves during the first three instars and the last two instars, respectively. In addition, this kind of environmental approach, which utilised inedible biomass of plants to produce animal protein of high quality, can likewise be applied terrestrially to provide food for people living in extreme environments and/or impoverished agro-ecosystems, such as in polar regions, isolated military bases, ships, submarines, etc.

Respiration characteristics of the larvae during development under two main physiological conditions, namely eating and not-eating of leaves, were studied. Nutrient compositions of silkworm powder (SP), ground and freeze-dried silkworms on the 3rd day of the 5th instar larvae, including protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, were measured using international standard methods.

Silkworms’ respiration rates, measured when larvae were eating mulberry leaves, were higher than those of similar larvae that hadn't eaten such leaves. There was a significant difference between silkworms fed on mulberry leaves and those fed on stem lettuce in the 4th and 5th instars (P<0.01). Amounts of CO2 exhaled by the silkworms under the two physiological regimes differed from each other (P<0.01). There was also a significant difference between the amount of O2 inhaled when the insects were under the two physiological statuses (P<0.01). Moreover, silkworms’ respiration quotient under the eating regime was larger than when under the not-eating regime. The SP was found to be rich in protein and amino acids in total; 12 essential vitamins, nine minerals and twelve fatty acids were detected. Moreover, 359 kcal could be generated per 100 gram of SP (dry weight).

Keywords

Bombyx morisilkwormrespiration characteristicsnutrition of silkworm powder
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 101 , Issue 5 , October 2011 , pp. 613 - 622
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Berkovich, Y.A., Smolyanina, S.O., Krivobok, N.M., Erokhin, A.N., Agureev, A.N. & Shanturin, N.A. (2009) Vegetable production facility as a part of a closed life support system in a Russian Martian space fight scenario. Advances in Space Research 44, 170–176.Google Scholar
Bluem, V. & Paris, F. (2002) Novel aquatic modules for bioregenerative life support systems based on the closed equilibrated biological aquatic system (CEBAS). Acta Astronautica 50, 775–785.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bluem, V. & Paris, F. (2003) Possible applications of aquatic bioregenerative life support modules for food production in a Martian base. Advances in Space Research 1, 77–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bluem, V., Andriske, M., Paris, F. & Voeste, D. (2000) The CEBAS-minimodule: behaviour of an artificial aquatic ecological system during spaceflight. Advances in Space Research 26, 253–262.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blüm, V., Andriske, M., Kreuzberg, K. & Schreibman, M.P. (1995) Animal protein production modules in biological life support systems: Novel combined aquaculture techniques based on the closed equilibrated biological aquatic system (CEBAS). Acta Astronautica 36, 615–623.Google Scholar
Chen, Y.X., Zhang, J.G., Zhang, W., Zhang, Y. & Li, J.K. (1997) Analysis of nutrient composition in Achatina fulica. Academic Journal of Kunming Medical College 2, 23–25 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Drysdale, A.E., Ewert, M.K. & Hanford, A.J. (2003) Life support approaches for mars missions. Advances in Space Research 1, 51–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ensminger, A.H., Ensminger, M.E., Konlande, J.E. & Robson, J.R.K. (1994) Foods and Nutrition Encyclopedia. vol. 5. 2nd edn.Boca Raton, FL, USA, CRC Press.Google Scholar
FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) Energy and protein requirements. Report of a joint FAO/WHO/UNU expert consultation. WHO Technical Report, No. 724, WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
Gitelson, J.I. & Okladnikov, Y.N. (1996) Consistency of gas exchange of man and plants in a closed ecological system: lines of attack on the problem. Advances in Space Research 1/2, 205–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gitelson, J.I., Blüm, V., Grigoriev, A.I., Lisovsky, G.M., Manukovsky, N.S., Sinyak, Y.E. & Ushakova, S.A. (1995) Biological-physical-chemical aspects of a human life support system for a lunar base. Acta Astronautica 37, 385–394.Google Scholar
Gui, Z.Z., Dai, J.Y., Chen, J.J., Wang, D., Qian, F.F., Yang, L. & Zhuang, D.H. (2004) Studies on the edibility and therapeutic effects of the silkworm powder. Sericultural Sciences 1, 107–110 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Hao, P., Zhang, G.Y. & Tian, Y.M. (2003) Key technology of mulberry silkworm cultivation. Breeding Technology Consultant 7, 36–37 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Hu, Y.L., Cheng, B., Yu, D.L., Yuan, Q., Wang, C., Zhang, Y. & Lan, Z.Q. (2006) Nutritional component analysis towards sturgeon meat. Food Research and Development 4, 167–168 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Huang, Z.R., Yang, J. & Lü, X.J. (2006) The utilization and development of mulberry as animal forage. Sericultural Sciences 3, 377–385 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Jay, F.M., Eric, D.R., Stewart, A.W.D. & Bruce, G.F. (2010) Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK): ideas, inspiration, and designs for ecological engineering. Ecological Engineering 7, 839–849.Google Scholar
Lane, H.W. & Feedback, D.L. (2002) History of nutrition in space flight: overview. Nutrition 18, 797–804.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Li, L.D., Chen, B., Feng, S.J., Hao, K., Cai, J.X. & Fan, K. (2001) Analysis and evaluation in nutritive value of Rachycentron Canadum (Linnaeus). Journal of Tropical Oceanography 1, 76–82 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Liu, H., Yu, C.Y., Manukovsky, N.S., Kovalev, V.S., Gurevich, Y.L. & Wang, J. (2008) A conceptual configuration of the lunar base bioregenerative life support system including soil-like substrate for growing plants. Advances in Space Research 6, 1080–1088.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, L.H., Wang, S. & You, Y.A. (2010) The rudiment study on nutritive value and active substance for mulberry leaf. Journal of Tarim University 3, 25–28 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Mao, X.W., Zhang, H.L. & Mao, P. (2003) Analysis and compression of nutrient quality in the vegetable part of different lettuces. Gansu Agriculture Science and Technology 11, 37 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Midorikawa, Y., Fujii, T., Ohira, A. & Nitta, K. (1993) Celss nutrition system utilizing snails. Acta astronautica 8, 645–650.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olson, R.L., Oleson, M.W. & Slavin, T.J. (1988) CELSS for advanced manned mission. Hortscience 23, 275–286.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scott, D.B., Susan, M.B. & James, L.F. (2001) Design principles for ecological engineering. Ecological Engineering 2, 201–210.Google Scholar
Shimura, R., Ijiri, K., Mizuno, R. & Nagaoka, S. (2002) Aquatic animal research in space station and its issues-focus on support technology on nitrate toxicity. Advances in Space Research 30, 803–808.Google Scholar
Tian, S. (2002) Ecological agriculture in China: bridging the gap between rhetoric and practice of sustainability. Ecological Economics 42, 359–368.Google Scholar
Wang, D., Bai, Y.Y. & Zhang, C.X. (2004) A review on nutrient value of silkworm pupae and its exploitation. Entomological Knowledge 5, 418–421 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Wang, J.T., Jiang, E.H., Wang, X.G. & Zhao, X.R. (2006) Application of SPSS Technique in Demonstration Study Data for Statistics and Analysis. Computer Engineering and Applications 36, 201–203 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
WHO (2007) Protein and amino acid requirements in human nutrition. WHO Technical Report Series 935.Google Scholar
Xiao, S.X. & Li, W.H. (2009) Animal Biochemistry. 1st edn.Beijing, China, Tsinghua University Press (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Xu, C.X. & Liu, H. (2008) Crop candidates for the bioregenerative life support systems in China. Acta Astronautica 7–10, 1076–1080.Google Scholar
Yang, Y.N., Tang, L.M., Tong, L. & Liu, H. (2009) Silkworms culture as a source of protein for humans in space. Advances in Space Research 43, 1236–1242.Google Scholar
Yu, M., Mao, H.M. & Huang, B.Z. (2007) Evaluation index of beef quality and the influencing factors. China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine 2, 33–35 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Yu, X.H., Liu, H. & Tong, L. (2008) Feeding scenario of the silkworm (Bombyx Mori L.) in the BLSS. Acta Astronautica 7–10, 1086–1092.Google Scholar
Zhang, Y., Hu, B. & Zhang, Q. (2009) Advances in nutrition and function properties of chicken meat protein. Journal of Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering 1, 66–71 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zhu, H.Q., Wang, Q.K. & Yin, S.P. (2007) The comparison analysis of the boar Meat and pork in nourishment composition. Acta Agriculturae Boreali-occidentalis Sinica 3, 54–56 (in Chinese).Google Scholar