Bibliometric Trends and Patterns in Tasar Silkworm (Antheraea mylitta) Research: A Data Report (1980-2024)

J. Komal ^1* R. Gowrisankar ¹ Vishaka G.V ¹ H. Nadaf ¹ Ipsita Samal ² Pasumarthi Venkata Dinesh Kumar ³ C. Selvaraj ¹ B. Thirupam Reddy ¹ T. Selvakumar ¹ Deepak Kumar Mahanta ^4* Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi ^5*

• ¹ Basic Tasar Silkworm Seed Organisation, Central Silk Board, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India
• ² National Research Centre on Litchi (ICAR), Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India
• ³ Research Extension Centre, Central Silk Board,, Hoshangabad, India
• ⁴ Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, India
• ⁵ Arid Forest Research Institute (ICFRE), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

The Tasar silkworm (Antheraea mylitta) possesses considerable economic and ecological significance, especially in India, where it is essential for sustaining rural livelihoods and tribal communities (Chand et al., 2023). Tasar silk, characterized by its distinctive golden-brown color and coarse texture, is esteemed in both domestic and foreign markets. Tasar silkworms, in contrast to mulberry silk, are cultivated in their wild habitat, consuming a number of host plants primarily feeding on Terminalia arjuna (Arjun), Terminalia tomentosa (Asan) and Shorea robusta (Sal), thereby intertwining silk production with forest ecosystems (Bhatia and Yousuf, 2014). Tasar sericulture serves as both a source of income and a sustainable technique that fosters biodiversity protection and ecological equilibrium (Gangopadhyay, 2024). The inherent wildness of the silkworm and its reliance on forest resources guarantee that Tasar silk manufacturing is environmentally sustainable, offering a renewable, biodegradable substitute for synthetic fibers, which is more important in the contemporary movement towards sustainable textiles (Ranakoti et al., 2019).Current developments in Tasar silkworm research indicate progress in critical domains, including genetic improvement, disease management, and sustainable host plant cultivation (Reddy et al., 2010;Vishaka et al., 2019;Singh et al., 2021;Selvaraj et al., 2020;Nadaf et al., 2022A). Biotechnology has facilitated the development of silkworm lines with enhanced yield and disease resistance, while molecular research aims to elucidate the silkworm's immune system and refine disease management strategies (Alam et al., 2022).There is increasing interest in improving agroforestry systems to improve host plant cultivation and investigating the potential of Tasar silk for industrial and biomedical uses (Gangopadhyay, 2024;Jena et al., 2023;Srivastava et al., 2024;Naskar et al., 2021). Furthermore, since climate change impacts forest ecosystems, research on climate adaptation in Tasar sericulture is gaining significance (Gedam et al., 2023).These advancements are establishing Tasar silk as an essential element in sustainable economic development and ecological conservation, in accordance with the increasing worldwide demand for ecofriendly products.This study sought to conduct a bibliometric analysis of literature about the Tasar silkworm listed in the Scopus database. A quantitative methodology was employed to do a bibliometric study of published publications to attain this purpose. This bibliometric study seeks to deliver a thorough analysis of the research environment pertaining to Tasar silkworms, emphasizing the identification of publishing trends, research clusters, and emerging subjects. This study will analyze the volume and citation patterns of academic outputs to trace the historical development of research and identify present gaps and future trends in the area. This research enhances comprehension of the evolution of scientific investigation into Tasar silkworms and its significance in the larger framework of sustainable textiles, rural development, and conservation of biodiversity.It is noteworthy that, as of now, no bibliometric analysis of Tasar silkworm research exists. Consequently, this study holds significant relevance at this juncture. This study aimed to address the following inquiries regarding tasar silkworm research:1. What is the pace of increase for scientific production in tasar silkworm research every year? 2. What is the scientific output of authors? What are the most significant articles and sources, both internationally and locally, in tasar silkworm research? 3. Which themes are novel, emerging, developed, and underdeveloped in tasar silkworm research? 4. What is the country's scientific production like? What is the extent of the collaborative network among authors, institutions, and nations in tasar silkworm research?What are the top keywords, trends in topics, and co-occurrence network of keywords in tasar silkworm research?The study used a bibliometric approach for the identification, representation, visualization, and analysis of literary data. The bibliometric approach was developed by Allen Richard in 1969, building upon earlier contributions by Coles and Eales in 1917 (Liao et al., 2018). Bibliometric approaches are used to identify trends and developments across several scientific fields (Matandirotya, 2021;Du and Li, 2024;Purba et al., 2024;Wang et al., 2024). Bibliometric analysis and meta-analysis use quantitative methods to reduce bias, while systematic literature reviews mostly rely on qualitative techniques, which may be prone to interpretative bias from scholars with diverse academic backgrounds (Donthu et al., 2021). A range of databases is available for importing bibliographic data, such as Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), Dimensions, Cochrane Library, Lens, and PubMed, each possessing distinct features and functionalities. The Web of Science and Scopus are now the most extensively used literature databases across almost all fields (AlRyalat et al., 2019). This study used a document search in the Scopus database (https://www.scopus.com), which generates a significant volume of papers and provides more citation-rich data (Baas et al., 2020). The present analysis omits items not indexed by Scopus. Scopus is a comprehensive database that enables scholars to assess and analyze papers, patents, clinical trials, and policy documents. We analyzed article titles, abstracts, and authors' keywords. The present investigation included original articles, review papers, books, book chapters, conference proceedings, and brief surveys. We performed a comprehensive assessment of all available data to identify research specifically focused on tasar silkworm. Only English-language articles are selected for the investigation. The redundant articles (Duplicate/irrelevant articles) have been removed from the dataset.Utilizing these inclusion and exclusion criteria, we identified 741 relevant scientific publications. The dataset included 741 documents, which served as the basis for the bibliometric analysis conducted in this study. Supplementary Figure 1 illustrates the search algorithm used in this study to locate relevant publications from the Scopus database. The comprehensive bibliographic collection was acquired in .csv format from the Scopus database.The Bibliometrix R package (version R.4.4.1) was first installed and subsequently loaded in R Studio. The Biblioshiny program was started by inputting "Biblioshiny()" on the R command line. Biblioshiny is a web application that facilitates access to the Bibliometrix software in R. Bibliometrix offers many tools for comprehensive bibliometric analysis for scholars (Aria and Cuccurullo, 2017). Biblioshiny, a statistical software tool, was used for data mining in bibliometrics to ascertain the probability of simultaneous keyword occurrences in scientific works, therefore elucidating the complex interactions among keywords.A .csv Excel file has been submitted to the Biblioshiny platform. Comma-separated values files (.csv) and objectives. We used VOSviewer (version 1.6.20) (www.vosviewer.com) to illustrate extensive data on tasar silkworm (Moral-Muñoz et al., 2020; Ahmi, 2022). The VOSViewer program, designed for the generation and interpretation of bibliometric maps, was used to assess the worldwide publishing landscape. It allows users to construct and display a network or relationship via a text-mining technique when referencing an article. It may delineate comprehensive articles and publications using many display choices and features, like zooming, scrolling, and searching. Supplementary table 1 displays the fundamental bibliometric information on tasar silkworm, obtained by the Biblioshiny program. The dataset (Supplementary Table 2) provides insights into the research productivity and impact of authors in Tasar silkworm studies. Kundu S.C. leads with 71 publications, 28,274 citations (26,837 illustrates the leading authors and their output over time. articles per year, respectively. However, impact metrics (Supplementary Table 3) reveal that higher production does not always equate to greater scholarly influence. Among analyzed journals, Biomaterials 1.1, h-index: 137) hold moderate influence. These findings suggest that while research production has increased significantly, scholarly impact depends more on journal reputation, research scope, and citation influence rather than sheer volume. High-impact research is often concentrated in specialized, well-ranked journals rather than the most productive ones, reflecting the growing interest in textiles, biomaterials, and environmental biology.This study examined the published output of organizations or authors' affiliations involved in Tasar silkworm research, as seen in Figure 1 (D). Among all the institutions, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) ranked first, with 213 publications, showcasing its significant contribution to textile and sericulture research. Individually, the Central Tasar Research and Training Institute (CTRTI) secured the second position with 148 publications, emphasizing its dedicated focus on Tasar silkworm breeding, disease management, and sustainable silk production. Other notable contributors include IIT Kharagpur (99 publications), Karnatak University (23), and the Basic Seed Multiplication and Training Centre (21), a key unit under the Basic Tasar Silkworm Seed Organisation (BTSSO). Additionally, regional institutions such as Manipur University (16) and RTM Nagpur University (17) have played a vital role in advancing sericulture research, supporting localized scientific and industrial efforts. Figure 2(B) highlights key research themes in Tasar silkworm studies, emphasizing species, processes, and applications. Antheraea mylitta, a dominant species in non-mulberry silk production, appears 123 times in keyword analysis. Research focuses on fibroin (20 occurrences) and sericin (24 occurrences), valued for their roles in biomaterials and tissue engineering (15). The growing interest in non-mulberry silk (10) stems from its biodegradability, superior mechanical properties, and biomedical applications, including bone tissue engineering (12), wound healing (3), and regenerative medicine (3). Additionally, Tasar silk's biocompatibility (10), scaffold potential (6), and osteogenesis support (4) highlight its significance. Studies also examine sericulture health, focusing on diseases like Cytoplasmic Polyhedrosis Virus (8) and Pebrine (6). The presence of antioxidants (10) and antibacterial activity (6) enhances its use in drug delivery and antimicrobial wound dressings. Advances in genomic sequencing, proteomics, and imaging techniques are shaping the field, shifting from traditional sericulture to modern interdisciplinary research. The thematic evaluation of Antheraea mylitta research from 1980 to 2024 reveals a significant shift from fundamental silk characterization to advanced biomedical applications (Figure 2.D). Between 1980 and 2003, studies primarily focused on Tasar silkworm (Antheraea mylitta), silk properties, and fibroin composition, as reflected in the strong linkages between keywords such as "Tasar silk" and "fibroin." From 2004 to 2012, research expanded to include sericin and its potential applications, with growing connections to Terminalia arjuna, indicating interest in natural antioxidants and eco-friendly processing techniques. The period between 2013 and 2018 saw a shift toward biomedical applications, with increasing references to tissue engineering, antibacterial properties, and biocompatibility. Notably, keywords like "scaffolds," "osteogenesis," and "hydrogel" emerged, suggesting a growing interest in biomaterials for regenerative medicine. From 2019 to 2024, the research further advanced into biodegradation, oxidative stress, and hemolymph studies, with Antheraea mylitta being explored for its antioxidant potential. The inclusion of "bone tissue engineering" and "biodegradation" in recent years highlights the transition of Tasar silk from a textile fiber to a high-value biomaterial with applications in medicine and environmental sustainability. This timeline underscores the evolving role of Antheraea mylitta research, from traditional sericulture to cutting-edge biomaterial science.The bibliometric analysis of Tasar silkworm (Antheraea mylitta) research (1980-2024) reveals key trends and evolving scientific priorities. Early studies