• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2003

Oviposition and egg laying is an important physiological and behavioural event in the life cycle of the silkworm, Bombyx mori (L). Oviposition and egg laying is dependent on a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors viz., neural, hormonal, environmental, physical, behavioral etc for the perpetuation of population. Although, the virgin female moths have fully developed embryos but active egg laying begins under the influence of mating which provides essential copulation stimulus for oviposition. After mating drastic biochemical changes occurred that incites egg laying under the influence of optimum environmental conditions. Weight of pupae as well as larval density has significant role on oviposition and egg laying behaviour in the silkworm wherein high pupal weight and inadequate rearing space affects not only the biology, morphology and physiology but also the oviposition and egg laying. Surface topography, plane of inclination, mating length, age of male moth, temperature and photoperiod etc has significant effect on reproductive physiology of silkworm. An attempt has been made in this review article to elucidate briefly the works carried out on mating behaviour, direct and indirect copulation stimulus, vitellogenesis, influence of environmental factors besides effect of weight of pupae and or pharate adult and larval density on oviposition and egg laying behavior in the silkworm, B. mori and its significance in silkworm seed production.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2003

Analysis of combining ability is a widely used biometrical tool to select promising parents and hybrids, to determine the kinds and relative magnitudes of genetic variability among hybrids as well as to forecast yield attributes in early breeding generations both in plants and animals. Various statistical approaches like Jinks and Hayman (1953), Griffing (1956), Kempthorne (1957) etc. have been extensively applied in plants. These approaches have also been tried in the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. In the present review, an attempt has been made to collect most of the studies carried out on combining ability in silkworm at one place and make it available to the scientists engaged in sericultural research.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.231-233
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• 2003

To understand the physical method for induction of anti-bacterial substances from the silkworm larvae, Bombyx mori, three physical methods, i.e., infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation and ultrasonic wave, have been used in this study. The results have shown that ultrasonic wave can induce anti-bacterial sub-stances effectively than radiations in the B. mori larva. The induction of anti-bacterial substances was different from silkworm race to race. Summer-autumn silkworm race (Qiufeng${\times}$Baiyu) was easy to induce antibacterial substances. It is suggested that the ultrasonic wave is a simple and easy method for induction.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.217-219
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• 2004

Stimulation of fecundity following female antennal amputation has been reported for the first time in silkworm. Antennal amputation caused significant increase in fecundity in two newly evolved multivoltine silkworm breeds viz., BL 67 and 96A. This study indicated better chances for increasing egg yield and the increase in fecundity may be attributed to the action of some neurohormones. Significance of antennal amputation in silkworm has been discussed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.235-239
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• 2003

The silkworm Bombyx mori L. was studied as the potential “host” of popular in Uzbekistan biocontrol ectoparasite, entomophagous Bracon hebetor Say. Being one of representatives of economic-beneficial insects, the silkworm (larvae, pupae and imago) can be used as highly sensitive test organism for revealing of neuro toxic effects of insects venom as well as of their purified components in screening assays. In comparative aspect, except a mulberry silkworm, representatives of Uzbekistan pests cotton-boll worm Helycoverpa armigera Hbn., lesser mulberry pyralid Glyphodes pyloalis Wlk., codling moth Corpocapsa pomonella L., malaria mosquito Anopheles claviger and Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say have been subjected to insect toxic test of bracon venom gland extract (VGE) and its fractions which were obtained by gel-chromatography on Sephadex G-100. The paralyzing effect of the VGE and its fractions was shown in a various degree on the pests.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2005

The implications of temperature (25, 30 and $35^{\circ}C$) and relative humidity (RH; 60, 70 and $80\%$) on the hatching rhythmicity and hatching parameters (percentage and duration) were studied in the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. under natural photoperiod (LD 12 : 12). Disease free layings (DFLs) of two pure silkworm breeds, Pure Mysore (PM, a multivoltine breed) and $NB_4D_2$ (a bivoltine breed), and their hybrid, $PM{\times}NB_4D_2$ were introduced into the experimental conditions on the $3^{rd}$ day of oviposition till completion of hatching. The hatching rhythm was predominantly diurnal under all temperature and humidity conditions, with peaks just after 'lights-on' phase (6 hrs). Extreme temperature and humidity conditions did not alter the hatching rhythmicity, but prolonged the hatching durations, extending it to the next day, coupled with reduced hatching percentage in PM and $PM{\times}NB_4D_2{\cdot}In\;NB_4D_2$, on the other hand, hatching did not extend to the next day. Hatching percentage in this breed, however, reduced below the economic level under high temperature and low humidity conditions. The high temperature and low humidity together, though did not alter the rhythmicity, seems to exert synergetic effect on the hatching percentage and its duration in the silkworm, B. mori.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2007

The response of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. to phytoecdysteroid (PE) when administered at different ages of $5^{th}$ instar was studied in the popular bivoltine ($CSR2{\times}CSR4$) and multi${\times}$bivoltine ($PM{\times}CSR2$) silkworm hybrids, reared on the Victory-1 variety of mulberry leaves. PE was administered to $5^{th}$ instar silkworm per os at a rate of $250{\mu}g$ per 100 larvae to different batches of silkworm at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 hrs and at the onset of cocoon spinning when a few larvae were ripe. The larval and mounting duration, cocoon yield and cocoon characters were influenced by PE. The intensity of influence was dependent on the time of application. The larvae treated at the beginning of the instar, improved the economic traits significantly with a marginal increase in larval duration. In the larvae treated at the middle of the instar, larval duration was shortened remarkably but the economic traits were adversely affected. This particular treatment can become a good management strategy in the case of mulberry leaf shortage or disease incidence. In the larvae treated at the onset of cocoon spinning, the mounting duration was substantially reduced without much effect on the cocoon traits which would be a big benefit in commercial sericulture. The physiological significance of varied response of silkworm to PE administration is discussed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2005

Studies on extended egg preservation schedule from 120 days to 180 days was taken up with 20 germplasm accessions of mutant silkworm genetic stocks of Bombyx mori L. Statistical analyses of the data collected over three trials revealed no significant changes both in the qualitative and quantitative traits of the genetic stocks between treatment (6 months egg preservation) and control (4 months egg preservation), except for fifth instar larval duration in TMS-61, TMS-62, TMS64, TMS-31 and TMS-34 shell weight in TMS-62, TMS-64 and TMS-66. Thus, the results indicate that extended schedule of 6 months egg preservation can safely be adopted, which will reduce the cost of conservation and minimize the genetic erosion owing to reduced crop cycle.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.119-122
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• 2006

As the Selenium is known to be growth promoter in sheep and cattle, the efficacy of selenium has been tested in silkworm Bombyx mori L. The V instar larvae were fed with lethal and sub-lethal doses of selenium treated leaves. The larvae fed with lethal dose showed a significant decrease in growth and Cocoon commercial characters. The treatment with sub lethal dose exhibited a significant increase in the growth of the silkworm. Correspondingly, the cocoon commercial characters on exposure to the lethal dose showed significant decrease and sub lethal dose showed a significant increase. In the light of similar findings reported earlier in other cocoon crops and vertebrates, it can be inferred that selenium at lower doses acts as a growth stimulator, resulting in the higher yield of cocoon crop.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2002

Ecophysiologically diapause represents a syndrome of physiological and biochemical characteristics, all of which ensure survival during a long period of dormancy. Since, silkworm enters diapause as embryo at the early embryonic stage, the duration of egg life depends on the duration of embryonic diapause. The nature of diapause in silkworm, Bombyx mori, is primarily determined by genetic characters and endocrinologicnl mechanisms, mediated by environmental factors such as temperature and photoperiod. Hibernating potency value besides nucleic acid and carbohydrate metabolism, production and utilization of sorbitol are also equally responsible for induction, initiation, determination, maintenance and termination of diapause. Embryonic diapause in Bombyx moir, induced by active secretion of sub-oesophageal ganglion is attributed to hormonal system and metabolic adjustment, which serves to bring about a new physiological state. Metabolic conversion of trehalose to glycogen at induction, glycogen to sorbitol at initiation and sorbitol to glycogen at termination of diapause is correlated and in each metabolic shift a key enzyme becomes active in response to hormonal and environmental stimulation. An attempt has been made in this review article to discuss briefly the nature of embryonic diapause, influence of various factors on diapause nature, hormonal mechanism of diapause besides biochemical composition of egg, nucleic acid and carbohydrate metabolism, production and utilization of sorbitol in relation to induction, determination, maintenance, initiation and termination of diapause in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.