• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2005

Genetic diversity within and between populations of Antheraea mylitta Drury was studied using thirty individuals from three ecoraces using 12 ISSR and 10 RAPD primers. Rally, Daba and Modal ecoraces were collected from Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa states of India respectively. The ISSR and RAPD primers generated $94.7\%$ and $95.6\%$ polymorphism among the 30 individuals. The cluster analysis grouped these individuals according to their ecorace. The intra-ecoracial heterozygosity estimated with ISSR markers were $0.123{\pm}0.18,\;0.169{\pm}0.17\;and\;0.214{\pm}0.17$ respectively for Modal, Raily and Daba ecoraces. Like wise, with RAPD markers the intraecoracial heterozygosity was $0.17{\pm}0.22$ in Modal, $0.229{\pm}0.17$ in Raily and $0.23{\pm}0.19$ in Daba ecoraces. However, the significantly low genetic differentiation (GST) (0.182 for ISSR and 0.161 for RAPD) and the high gene flow (Nm) (2.249 for ISSR and 2.60 for RAPD markers) among the ecoraces revealed that the amount of genetic diversity present among the ecoraces is not significant enough to make drastic genetic drifts among these ecoraces in the near future.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2010

The bivoltine tropical tasar ecoraces of Antheraea mylitta Drury produces cocoons for seed production under seed crop rearing (July-August with $22{\sim}30^{\circ}C$ temperature and 50~70% relative humidity) and for silk production under commercial crop rearing (September-December with $17{\sim}27^{\circ}C$ temperature and 60~80% relative humidity). To consider the impact of hybrid vigour on egg, larva, cocoon and silk related commercial traits, the $F_1$ hybrids made among Daba, Jata and Raily ecoraces were assessed successively for three years. The hybrid vigour in the $F_1$ hybrid of Daba$\times$Jata ($T_7$) was positive for egg fertility (+23.1%), shell weight (+25.6%), silk yield (+79.0%) and filament length (+68.1%), with filament of high denier (11.98d) and reduced larval span (-7.1%). The Jata$\times$Daba ($T_8$) hybrid has shown negative heterosis in egg fertility (-8.0%) compared to the other F1 hybrids, Daba$\times$Raily ($T_9$) and Raily$\times$Daba ($T_{10}$), when they rise simultaneously during the commercial crop season. The better performance of parental ecoraces ($T_4$ to $T_6$) in their commercial traits during commercial crop over parents of seed crop ($T_1$ to $T_3$) and the superior performance of $F_1$ hybrids ($T_7$ to $T_{10}$) over parents of commercial crop ($T_4$ to $T_6$) during commercial crop season indicates the apparent hybrid vigour in tasar $F_1$ hybrids. As the Daba$\times$Jata ($T_7$) and Jata$\times$Daba ($T_8$) $F_1$ hybrids have shown highest hybrid vigour, their rearing during commercial crop can optimize the silk productivity and commercial sustenance of the tasar silk industry.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2013

Antheraea mylitta Drury is basically a crossbreeding species, as such it seems to be potentially a good material for the exploitation of heterosis. In the present study F1 hybrid of wild ecorace Laria (L) and semi-domestic Daba (D) was raised and evaluated for various quantitative traits and biochemical parameters during larval stage. Improved fecundity ($+18{\pm}1.8%$ and higher egg hatching rate ($+10.96{\pm}1.3%$) was recorded in the F1hybrid ($L{\times}D$). Biochemical parameters studied in the hemolymph, midgut and fatbody of the larva showed significantly higher (P<0.05) total proteins and carbohydrate concentration besides digestive enzyme activity. Correspondingly SDS-PAGE revealed more number of protein bands in the hemolymph sample of F1s, ranging between 29 kDa to 66 kDa compared to parental lines. The present study demonstrates the positive heterosis effect in the F1 hybrid of Laria ${\times}$ Daba. Biochemical analysis indicates that, there is possibilities of exploitation of hybrids with specific parents targeted for desirable commercial traits (silk yield and fecundity). Moreover, most of these biochemical parameters can be used as markers to analyze the genetic improvement in the tasar silkworms.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.169-172
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• 2008

Indian tropical tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta D is reported to have forty four ecoraces by way of their adoption to different topographical and vegetational conditions. Of late, another ecorace 'JATA' - univoltine under in-situ condition has been explored which is localized in Thakurmunda area of the foot hills of Simlipal biosphere (Mayurbhanj district) of Orissa, India. The ecorace 'Jata' exhibits superior economic characters over widely commercialized ecoraces of Daba and Sukinda. The cocoon production of localized 'Jata' ecorace is depleting day by day in in-situ condition. In the present study, efforts were made to stabilize the ecorace 'Jata' under ex-situ condition at Ranchi (Jharkhand), where the 'Jata' ecorace silkworms were reared on Terminalia tomentosa for four successive generations during 2006 and 2007 and the cocoons were preserved in grainage house under prevailing climatic conditions. The results indicated change in voltinism behaviour of the 'Jata' ecorace from univoltine to bivoltine. The rearing performance and grainage efficiencies indicate the tendency of 'Jata' ecorace towards acclimatization and stabilization under Ranchi climatic conditions. The 'Jata' ecorace manifests the prospects for acclimatization, stabilization and commercial exploitation.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.187-192
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• 2009

Silk filament progression study applying backcross breeding with recipient parent Jata and donor parent Daba ecoraces of tropical tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta Drury conducted during 2006 to 2008, revealed introgression of filament denier (10.2 d) superior to both parents at BC4 level. Also, the silk waste (0.35%) and filament breaks (2.6 nos) were reduced compared to both parents, while the filament length (973 m) and non break filament (296 m) improved over donor and could attain closer to recipient parent. The best performance of Jata $\times$ Daba at F1 level, with highest silk filament length (1646 m) of 12.5 d denier, denotes heterosis impact on silk trait with parental heterogenousity, an advantage to exploit silk filament yield. The progression of quality in terms of finer filament denier, less silk waste and least number of filament breaks over both parents and improvement in filament length and non break filament over donor parent except for a marginal shortage against recipient at BC4 level indicates the prospects of Jata and Daba ecoraces as source of breeding material for qualitative improvement of tasar silk filament. The study suggests that the commercially important finer denier of tasar silk filament can be attained with minor reduction in silk yield of wild Jata ecorace by adopting repeated backcrossing for four generations with semi domesticated Daba ecorace.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2012

Tropical tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta Drury experiences extreme temperature stress conditions during its life cycle particularly during diapauses and first crop. The present study witnessed the impact of high temperature on some biochemical profiles and egg production (fecundity) of semi-domesticated Daba and Shorea robusta (Sal) based wild ecorace Laria during seed cocoon (pupa) preservation. Cocoons of Daba and Laria were treated with high temperature at $40^{\circ}C$ for 10 days in a BOD incubator. The protein profile and carbohydrate content in the hemolymph and fat body and total haemocyte count (THC) in the hemolymph of pupa were investigated. Further, the fecundity and fertility of egg was assessed. Significant increase in the protein concentration was observed in the hemolymph with reduction in the fat body (p<0.05). The difference in protein concentration was highly significant between the semidomesticated Daba and wild ecorace Laria (p<0.05). High pupal mortality (20%) and reduced fecundity (10-15%) in Daba was noticed compared to wild Laria. Also an increased THC (>28000) was recorded in Laria. The study infers the potentials of wild ecoraces in sustaining the extreme temperature conditions and need of adopting suitable package of practices for the preservation of diapause seed cocoons during extreme summer conditions. There is possibility to introgression thermal stress resistant traits in the semi-domesticated races of tasar silkworm by resorting to conventional breeding plans with wild races and keeping the thermal stress induced response as markers.