The translocation of lead (Pb) in the soil–mulberry–silkworm food chain and the process of Pb detoxifi-
cation in the mulberry–silkworm chain were investigated. The amount of Pb in mulberry, silkworm, feces
and silk increased in a dose-responsive manner to the Pb contents in the soils. Mulberry roots sequestered
most of the Pb, ranging from 230.78 to 1209.25 mg kg1
. Over 92% of the Pb in the mulberry leaves
was deposited in the cell wall, and 95.29–95.57% of the Pb in the mulberry leaves was integrated with
oxalic acid, pectates and protein, and it had low bioavailability. The Pb concentrations in the silkworm
feces were 4.50–4.64 times higher than those in the leaves. The synthesis of metallothioneins in three
tissues of the silkworms was induced to achieve Pb homeostasis under Pb stress. These results indicated
the mechanism involved in Pb transfer along the food chain was controlled by the detoxification of Pb in
different trophic levels. Planting mulberry and rearing silkworm could be a promising approach for the
remediation of Pb-polluted soils due to the Pb tolerance of mulberry and silkworm.