Inheritance of Resistance to Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus in Silkworm, Bombyx mori

Inheritance pattern of resistance to Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) was studied in an Indian silkworm stock TX by single back-cross test method. The resistant parent ［TX］, susceptible parent ［HM］, their Fl, F2, and Fl progeny back-crossed to TX [BC(R)] and HM [BC(S)] were inoculated per os with a fixed concentration of BmNPV($0.5{\times}10^{th} PIB/ml$) on the first day of second stadium. The cumulative mortality was recorded until day $10^{\times}$ post-inoculation. The results show that the resistance to BmNPV in TX fellow mono Mendelian inheritance pattern. The resistance dominated over the susceptibility at Fl. At F2, the resistant and susceptible offspring segregated in 3:1 ratio whereas at BC(S), the resistant and susceptible offspring segregated in 1:1 ratio. The response of BC(R) was more or less like the resistant parent TX which confirms the involvement of a major dominant gene conferring resistance to BmNPV in TX. The possible mechanism of inheritance of resistance in TX is discussed.