• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 1997

Ultraviolet weavelength (UV) of 366 nm produced clearer fluorescent dolor than that of 254 nm for the inspection of silkworm cocoons. Fluorescent color of silkworm cocoons varied in color, appears no relationship with the natural color under the normal light. Uniformity of fluorescent color was improved by selection of blue or yellow line from wild types. Blue and yellow, located at the opposite poles on the color solid and L*a*b* color system, confirmed as pure standard of fluorescent color in the silkworm races for commercial white cocoons. the cocoons with blue fluorescence occupied as high as 1.7 to 8.6 times than those with yellow in the Japanese silkworm races. Fluorescence of silkworm cocoon was not affected by forced flow dry at 70$^{\circ}C$ for 6 hrs. While the Japanese races revealed no sexual difference in fluorescent color, sex-dependence of the color was common in the Chinese races for commercial white cocoon. The fluorescence of cocoon shell of Chinese races showed clear separation of blue of median color. Silkworm strain of Dc20 and Fc24 were sexualy segregated 98.8${\pm}$1.20%, 99.0${\pm}$1.00% by cocoon fluorescence, as that of 99.3${\pm}$0.44% by typical larval marking of sex-limited inheritance. Specific expression of cocoon fluorescence, applicable to breeding of simple discrimination of sex for Chinese races, inspected thoroughly on the surface and inner layer of cocoon shell.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2012

A newly developed silkworm variety, GoldenSilk makes bright yellow cocoon. In this article, the basic characteristics of GoldenSilk cocoon were examined through color analysis, degumming characteristics and UV spectrophotometer. The colorant of GoldenSilk cocoon was not distributed evenly throughout the cocoon layer but existed in the outer layer of the cocoon. The colorant has not good resistance against sunlight. The degumming loss percentage of GoldenSilk cocoon was 29.2%, which is relatively higher than that of the authorized one. UV spectrophotometer showed specific absorption band around 400 to 500 nm, which is the specific yellow colorant of the GoldenSilk cocoon extracted to the degumming solution during the degumming process.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2017

The cocoon's color of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. is usually white. But some are yellow, flesh and green colors because of modified characteristics. The yellow and flesh cocoons depend on carotenoid pigments, green cocoons are determined by flavonoid pigments. The cocoon's color is affected by the genes controlling penetration process from midgut to coelom and silk gland. Y (Yellow blood, 2-25.6) and I (Yellow-inhibitor, 9-16.2) genes are involved in the penetration process of carotenoid pigments from midgut to coelom, C (Outer-layer yellow cocoon, 12-7.2) and F (Flesh, 6-13.6) genes from coelom to silk gland. Therefore, the carotenoid cocoon's color depends on the genotype Y, I, C and F genes and their combination. Among them, C gene is sympathetic gene, which are known as C, CI and CD. C (Outer-layer yellow cocoon) genes make yellow cocoons on outer-layer and white cocoons on inter-layer, and CI (Inner-layer yellow cocoon) genes do yellow cocoons on inter-layer and dilute yellow cocoons on outer-layer. CD gene is known as making dilute yellow cocoons all layer. In this study, we have checked the dominance relation of C sympathetic genes among carotenoid genes for color cocoons by using strains related to the genes for color cocoons and investigated the aspect that pigments were penetrated in silk gland by action of each gene.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 2004

A new silkworm variety, Kumhwangjam, with a sex-limited cocoon color for spring rearing season is F$_1$ hybrid between Jam 309, a Japanese race bred from Y1/9153, and Jam 310, a Chinese race from Y1/8586. In the local adaptability test performed at 8 local areas in spring rearing season of 2003, major characteristics of Kumhwangjam were mainly similar to those of the check variety Kumokjam. The new silkworm variety, Kumhwangjam, showed a sex-limited cocoon color: yellow for female and white for male with elliptical cocoon shape. This sex-limited cocoon color can be used as a valuable marker for discrimination between female and male for various purposes.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.66-69
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• 1995

Traditional Antheraea pernyi silkworm cocoon is tawny color. The white Antheraea pernyi silkworm cocoons studied here by IR and UV are new breeds of recent breeding. We discovered that the main body of the first grade structure of silk protein in the new white is as same as the one in the traditional tawny Antheraea pernyi silkworm cocoon, yet there are small quantities of cross-linked polymer of gentisic acid and silk protein in the white silkworm cocoons. In spite of the least surviving quantity of the polymer, the white silkworm cocoons are most white and its white color is similar to white Bombyx mori silkworm cocoon.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 1999

Color qualities investigated on the basis of Munsell code and Korean standard color code for the cocoons from various strain of mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori. 16 of different color qualities were identified from 21 of original silworm strains, and determinated international name with the revision of Korean color name for cocoon. The various cocoon color confirmed on the sphere from 567 to 593 nm wavelength, 78% of those located at the region about 580 nm (575~584) of sensitive "color difference limen". Y gene engaged broad ranges of wavelength (575~593 nm) in the color expression, by contrast with other genes of Pk (593 nm), F (584~593), Grc and relative G group (567~570 nm), on the transmission of carotenoid or flavonoid color substance. YC gene expression by original silk worm strain was also distinguished by those variation of specific yellow than other colors from Grc, GaGb, Gc, and YPkF. Appearance of chrome yellow cocoon was dominant than other yellow in the cross among vivid yellow group. F1 of pin${\times}$green produced the cocoon of yellow such as "additive mixture" as color light, however, most of the hybrid between yellow cocoon showed the color similar to "subtractive mixture" as a mixture of dyestuff. Hybrid cocoons among yellow or green colors were decreased their hue, value, and chroma, than those of parent. Diallel cross among the strain of various green cocoon suggest the existence of Grc, Ga, Gb, Gc genes. Cream colored cocoon of B. mandarina was differed from other yellow cocoon of Bobyx mori B. mori. Y$^A$ with Ymc showed the similar role of Y with C, therefore, segregated yellow cocoon from the B. mori${\times}$B. mandarina (+$^YC/Y^AYmc$). YC expression of $Y^AY$mc genes might be suppressed by deficiency of outer layer sericin on the middle division of silk giand in the B. mandarina.

• 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.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.71-73
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• 2007

In order to produce color cocoon, 3 rd day 5 th instar silkworm was cultivated with dye mixed artificial diet. Silkworm fed by artificial diet mixed with gardenia pigment spun blue colored cocoon, by Orange II orange cocoon, by methyl orange yellowish cocoon, and by Acid blue R bluish cocoon. Cocoon weight and cocoon shell weight ratio of silkworm fed by colored artificial diet were lower than those of normal silkworm.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.101-103
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• 2001

The wild silkmoth, Samia cynthia pryeri, was firstly collected at Miryang, Korea. The development and quantitative characters of S. cynthia preyri in the laboratory condition were analysed. The larval body color of dark yellow green or light yellow green of the S. cynthia pryeri was changed into white color during the molting period, and the yellowish bristles in younger larvae were changed into fade green color in advanced stage larvae. Aralia elata and Zanthoxylum piperitum were newly identified as host plants to S. cynthia pryeri. Cocoon weight and cocoon shell percentage were average 2.14 g and 12.3 %, respectively. In addition, the morphology of the silkgland was different from that of the domestic silkworm,Bombyx mori, but was identical with that of the wild silkmoth, Antheraea yamamai.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 2002

The wild silkmoth, Actias gnoma was firstly collected at Suwon located in the middle part of Korea. The developmental and morphological characteristics of A. gnoma reared under the laboratory conditions were analysed. The egg shape was shorter elliptic. The major and minor diameter of the eggs were 2.04 mm and 1.83 mm, respectively. White mucous material was remained inside the eggs after hatching. Also, the body color of the larvae was completely changed from dark brown to light yellowish-green at the 3rd instar, but it did not occur until pupation. In the feeding test on several plants, the oak tree, Quercus acutissima, was newly identified as a host plant. The final larval instar was mostly 6th, but in some larvae it was 7th. A few of larvae ate their own casts just after ecdysis. The whole larval duration ranged from 45 to 59 days. The single cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight and cocoon shell percentage were 1.65 g,31.3 cg and 18.9%, respectively, The cocoon shape and color were spindle and light brown, respectively. The morphology of the silk gland was greatly different from those of Bombyx mori, Antheraea yamamai and Antheraea peryi: the thickness of the middle and posterior silk glands was almost identical.