• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.205-208
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• 2012

Antheraea pernyi silkworm is a well known wild silkworm to produce a valuable silk fiber. A. pernyi silkworm was reared in Korean oak field and examined the cocoon characteristics, such as cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, and percentage of cocoon shell weight. Degumming loss was also measured after alkali degumming process. A. pernyi silkworm spins tawny color cocoon in oval shape. Cocoon shell weight of A. pernyi silkworm, 0.78 g, was heavier than that of B. mori silkworm, 0.51 to 0.63 g. Cocoon shell percentage of A. pernyi silkworm, 32.8%, was higher than that of B. mori silkworm, 23.4 to 25.2%. Degumming loss percentage of A. pernyi silkworm, 17.1%, was lower than that of B. mori silkworm, 25.0%. SEM showed that the surface of the cocoon filament was coarse and oriented with longitudinal direction.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 2004

With the main objective to know the feasibility of exploitation of F$_1$ hybrids in semi arid and arid climatic conditions of India, the present study was carried out by utilising RD$_1$ as female parent and six bivoltine silkworm breeds viz., CSR$_2$, CSR$_4$, CSR$_{5}$, CSR$_{17}$, CSR$_{18}$ and CSR$_{19}$ along with NB$_4$D$_2$ as male parents. Different hybrids exhibited their superiority for various economic characters during different seasons. Among F$_1$ hybrids, RD$_1$${\times}$CSR$_{5}$ was adjudicated as the best hybrid in terms of expression of significant positive hybrid vigour over mid parental value for five economic characters namely hatching %, cocoon yield, cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight and filament size, highest multiple trait average evaluation index value of 56.77 and comparatively uniform cocoon size with coefficient of variation (CV%) of 3.80 and Standard Deviation (SD) of 7.99 during September - October 2003. Results of the present study revealed that the F$_1$ hybrid RD$_1$${\times}$CSR$_{5}$ can be successfully exploited on commercial in semi arid and arid climatic conditions in India. India.dia.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2003

In the present study, hybrid vigour in terms of heterosis and over dominance of newly evolved bivoltine hybrids and their reciprocals raised from the promising newly evolved bivoltine breeds were calculated for the important parameters like pupation, cocoon yield, cocoon weight, shell weight, shell ratio, raw silk percentage, filament length and neatness. Through there was no significant difference among the hybrids for the characters pupation, cocoon yield and cocoon weight, the magnitude of heterosis and over dominance were varied significantly for these characters. However, significant differences were observed between new hybrids and control hybrid for the characters like cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell ratio, filament length and raw silk percentage. The results indicate that majority of new hybrids have shown higher heterosis and over dominance than control hybrid. The data also indicate that highest mean heterosis of all new hybrids was recorded for cocoon yield followed by filament length. Whereas highest mean over dominance was recorded for cocoon yield followed by cocoon weight. Negative mean heterosis and over dominance were recorded for the trait cocoon shell ratio. Based on the results, the importance of three hybrids viz., CSR2 ${\times}$ CSR4, CSR2 ${\times}$ CSR5 and CSR3 ${\times}$ CSR6 and their reciprocals (CSR4 ${\times}$ CSR2, CSR5 ${\times}$ CSR2 and CSR6 ${\times}$ CSR3) which exhibited significant heterosis and over dominance, for commercial exploitation was discussed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2003

Four thermo-tolerant lines of silkworm, Bombyx mori, (L.) viz., A HT, B HT (Chinese type) and F HT, G HT (Japanese type) were evolved by utilizing the breeding resource material (identified from initial screening at a temperature of 31 ${\pm} 1^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity 85 ${\pm}$ 5%) through conventional breeding. These tolerant lines were crossed with productive breeds and forty four hybrids were evaluated on eight economic traits by the Multiple Trait Evaluation Index Method. Ten hybrids were short-listed based on the average evaluation index value larger than 50 for eight economic traits studied. The identified ten hybrids recorded higher index values (＞ 50) for most of the traits studied. Single hybrid G ${\times}$ CSR12 indicated average index value larger than 50 for six traits viz., pupation number (58), cocoon weight (67), shell weight (65), average filament length (74), raw silk % (69), reelability % (51) except for shell ratio % (41). The standard deviation of the cocoons in the above hybrid was 8.41 in the hybrid cocoon length and width measurement. However, two selected hybrids viz., A ${\times}$ CSR5 and G ${\times}$ CSR13 recorded average index value larger than 50 for all the traits viz., pupation number (57, 60), cocoon weight (50, 54), shell weight (56, 57), shell ratio percentage (59, 53), average filament length (55, 60), raw silk percentage (63, 67) and reelability percentage (53, 53). The standard deviation of the cocoons in the two selected hybrids viz., A ${\times}$ CSR5 and G ${\times}$ CSR13 was 8.41 and 8.06 respectively in the cocoon length and width measurement.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.45-49
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• 2011

The performance of five newly evolved cross breeds were evaluated across seasons to understand the genotype and environment interactions and their stability under fluctuating tropical environmental conditions along with control hybrids $PM{\times}CSR2$ and $APM1{\times}APS8$. The data was collected on eight economic traits namely fecundity, yield per 10,000 larvae by number, yield per 10,000 larvae by weight, survival rate, cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell ratio and filament length. The data was subjected for Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and relevant statistical methods. The performance data obtained was further subjected for multiple trait evaluation index method. The ranks were adjudicated based on the index values. The two hybrids viz., $MSO3{\times}APS45$ and $MSO1{\times}APS12$ performed well under diversified environmental conditions indicating their overall stability and superiority. These hybrids revealed highly significant (p < 0.01) improvement for the majority of the traits over the control hybrids.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2001

Screening of fifteen bivoltine silkworm breeds of Bombyx mori Linn at a temperature of $31{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity of 85${\pm}$5% resulted in the identification of eight thermo-tolerant breeds. The survival and cocoon shell ratio of the tolerant breeds ranged from 72.7 to 78.7% and 20.0 to 20.1% respectively. The tolerant breeds comprised of four oval breeds and four dumb-bell breeds. Eight foundation crosses prepared by crossing the oval and dumb-bell parents among themselves were screened at a temperature of $31{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity of 85{\pm}5%. The performance of the foundation crosses on 11 economic characters were analysed by employing Multipie Trait Evaluation Index method. Four foundation crosses which scored average index value > 50 were selected as breeding parents and breeding initiated for the evolution of thermo-tolerant bivoltine silkworm breeds. The methodology and the results of the foundation crosses reared both at 31{\pm}1$^{\circ}C$ and at $25{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ temperatures, are discussed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2009

Daba ecorace of Antheraea mylitta Drury (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), the semi domesticated Indian tropical tasar silkworm being reared outdoor; the egg and silk yields are dependent of genotype environment interaction. The insufficient maintenance and multiplication of its P4 seed stock need a coherent as well as scientific strategy to safeguard breed potential, being commercially applied ecorace. The sort-out lines of P4 stock studied over five generations highlighting on commercial trait up gradation suits for a tropical crop season, revealed enhanced performance. The line with high pupal parents (T2) shown improved fecundity (12.9%) and the line with high shell parents (T3) recorded higher shell weight (40.0%) and silk ratio (24.1%). While, the line of high pupal female and high shell male (T4) reveal enhancement in fecundity (9.0%), egg hatching (14.1%), shell weight (50.0%), silk ratio (35.2%) and absolute silk yield (52.0%) indicating the need and role of varied basic seed stock lines. The approach could improve economically vital egg fecundity and cocoon shell weights besides balancing them in same line for commercial operation. The progressive show of lines (T1 to T4) along successive generations (G1 to G5), in spite of passing through seed crop (Jul-Aug) and commercial crop (Sep-Nov) seasons emphasize their compatibility. The study infers that the strategic plan of combining preferred parental phenotypes, methodical selection for desired commercial trait(s) through generations with best possible genotype environment interaction has enriched P4 stock with elevation in needy trait(s) besides assuring choice of suitable lines for seasons and regions and timely replenishment of basic seed of Daba ecorace.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2007

The success of rearing with presently available conventional bivoltine is unpredictable in some seasons of the tropical regions due to highly fluctuating adverse climatic conditions. Thus, in order to popularize bivoltine breeds in tropical parts of India, it is very much essential to have a bivoltine breed(s), which can give stable cocoon crop under variable environments. With this objective a breeding programme was undertaken to improve the survival trait in bivoltine silkworm by introducing multivoltine genes into bivoltine through back crossing. Resultant bivoltine lines showed significantly higher survival in compared to the receptor (Bivoltine) parent and control bivoltine breed. Esterase isozyme analysis revealed similar banding pattern in the developed bivoltine and in the donor multivoltine, which predicts the introgression of multivoltine character into evolved bivoltine.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2008

Under the all India programme of evaluation of mulberry and silkworm genotypes, twelve bivoltine silkworm breeds obtained from Central Silkworm Germplasm Resource Centre, Hosur (CSGRC) were evaluated at the bivoltine silkworm breeding laboratory, Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute, Mysore (CSR&TI). These breeds were tested during September-October 2003, August-September 2004 and February-March 2005. The average temperature and humidity during September-October 2003 was $26.5^{\circ}C$ and 72.6% RH, while during August-September 2004, it was $26.5^{\circ}C$ and 75.2% RH and during February-March 2005 it was $24^{\circ}C$ and 48% RH respectively. The performance of the breeds in respect of 21 traits was studied and statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (Singh and Choudhary, 1985). Silkworm breeds were short-listed using multiple trait evaluation index method as suggested by Mano et at., (1993). Evaluation Index values were calculated for all the 11 traits of economic importance and six breeds were short-listed based on average index value 50 and above 50. Two breed viz., BV 183 (SMGS-1) have recorded average E.I. >50 in 10 traits (except in neatness) and ranked first and the breed BV 262 (SMGS9) with E.I. value >50 in nine traits except in cocoon weight and neatness ranked second, in the order of merit. These two breeds may be selected as resource material for evolving region specific silkworm breeds.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 2004

The process of removal of gummy proteinous material sericin from silk is commonly called as degumming loss or boil-off loss ratio. In the present study, the boil-off loss ratio in the cocoon shells of twelve multivoltine${\times}$bivoltine hybrids and their parents were analysed. Inheritance pattern of boil-off loss ratio was analysed in crosses involving high and low boil-off loss parents, F$_1$s, F$_2$s and back-crosses by parent off spring regression analysis. Heterosis and heterobeltiosis was also analysed for this character, Highly significant (P＞0.01) variations were observed in eight out of ten multivoltine and two out of five bivoltine parents indicating the presence of genetic variation in the expression of boil-off loss ratio. Among F$_1$ hybrids, ten hybrids expressed significant (P＞0.01) variations when compared with control hybrid PM${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$. Significant negative heterosis was expressed in three multi ${\times}$ bi hybrids viz., BL67${\times}$CSR$_{101}$, 96A${\times}$CSR$_{19}$ and 96C${\times}$CSR$_{19}$, which is desirable for this character, whereas expression of heterobeltiosis was significant only with one hybrid, 96C${\times}$CSR$_{18}$ in desired direction. Studies on inheritance pattern showed that the character is heritable and contribution percentage of female and male in the ratio of 50.9: 49.1 and it appears that both the parents are influencing in the expression of boil-on loss ratio in silkworm. Based on the overall performance and evaluation by multiple trait evaluation index and also considering the expression of the boil-off loss ratio three hybrids vix., BL67 ${\times}$ CSR$_{101}$, 96A${\times}$CSR$_{19}$ and 96C${\times}$CSR$_{18}$ were found superior and recommended for commercial exploitation.n.ion.n.