• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 2007

Precocious metamorphosis was induced in two popular bivoltine breeds i.e. YB and $NB_4D_2$ by an imidazole compound having anti-juvenile hormone activity. The chemical was administered by feeding treatment with mulberry leaf to freshly moulted (0-6 hrs) IV instar larvae. The dose of the chemical was found to be breed specific being 650 ppm for YB and 500 ppm for $NB_4D_2$. The chemical caused complete skipping up of the fifth instar larvae which is most susceptible to diseases. But IV instar was somewhat prolonged. As a result the total larval period was reduced by 4-5 days. However, some of the rearing and reeling parameters like cocoon yield, cocoon weight, shell weight, shell %, filament length and fecundity were reduced for that particular generation only. The effective rate of rearing (ERR %) was significantly increased in trimoulters during the most unfavourable August - September seed crop season. Number of cocoons / kg and number of male moth were significantly higher in trimoulters. These may be useful for preparation of $multi{\times}bi$ hybrid seed. Fine denier was also found in trimoulter cocoon which is the cause of getting fine silk filament from trimoulter cocoons. Normal mating behaviour and emergence pattern was recorded in trimoulters. Bivoltine trimoulter males also showed competence for mating with multivoltine females. These results suggest the possibility of getting trimoulter males during hot and humid seasons when rearing of bivoltine is almost impossible particularly in Eastern and North Eastern India.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 1997

Silkworm fed on mulgerry leaves with 1000 times diluted Insegar(main component : Fenoxycarb, ethyl-2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)ethylcarbmate) and its effects was investigated on increase of the 5th larval silkgland weight and silk quality. The oral application of fenoxycarb showed increase of the silkgland weight. The whole period of the silkgland weight falls on the 2nd instar treatment by 13%, the 3rd day of the 4th instar by 111%(3100 mg) and the whole period of the 5th instar treatment rather decreased it by 66%(497 mg), as compared to 1470mg of the control. Female and male both increased 15%(1779mg) and 12%(1554mg) of the silkgland weight with the 2nd instar treatment, as compared to 1548mg and 1391mg in control, respectively. 118%(3368mg) and 104%(2832mg) of increase in the silkgland weight were also showed with the 3rd day of the 4th instar treatment but 70%(463mg) and 61%(539mg) of decrease were shown with the 5th instar treatment. The maximum weight of the middle silkgland weight increased by 6%(1248mg) and 127%(2673mg) with the 2nd instar and with the 3rd day of the 4th instar, respectively but 67%(393mg) of decrease took place, as compared to 1175mg of the control. The maximum increase of the posterior silkgland weight with whole peried of the 2nd instar treatment increased 12%(419mg) and 75%(656mg) and 64%(135mg) of decrease was shown, as compared to 374mg of the control. The oral application of Insegar at the 2nd instar increased 26 m of cocoon length, 4.0 cg of the cocoon filament weight and 0.21d of the silk denier, as compared to 1147 m of the cocoon length, 38 cg of the cocoon filament, 2.99d of the silk denier, weight of cocoon filament and silk denier, respectively but denier variance narrowed to 0.33d, as compared to that of the control.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2006

A breeding programme was initiated during 2001 to introduce sex-limited larval markings to a productive multivoltine breed - BL67 from an inbred sex-limited line, MY1 (SL) maintained at Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Mysore. Introgressive hybridization, recurrent backcrossing for six generations followed by sib-mating resulted in synthesis of a new multivoltine silkworm breed BL67 (SL) with sex-limited larval markings. The new breed was studied for combining ability by crossing with eight bivoltine breeds viz., $NB_4D_2,\;CSR_2,\;CSR_2 (SL),\;CSR_2,\;CSR_4,\;CSR_8,\;CSR_{18}\;and\;CSR_{19}$. General combining ability effects of the new breed showed its superiority over the popular Pure Mysore by expressing significant GCA effects for six out of twelve characters whereas the results are on par with the original multivoltine breed. The hybrid $BL67(SL){\times}CSR2(SL)$ excelled in several quantitative characters such as pupation rate (90.2%), cocoon weight (1.97 g), cocoon shell weight (40 cg), cocoon shell ratio (20.3%), filament length (918 m), denier (2.96), raw silk percentage (14.96%) and neatness (90 p). Studies on cocoon size variability revealed that the cocoons of $BL67(SL){\times}CSR2(SL)$ were found comparatively uniform showing less standard deviation of 6.55 and co-efficient of variation of 3.91 %. The suitability of newly developed breed for easy grain age operation and commercial exploitation with promising hybrid have been discussed.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate active constituents of Bombysis corpus on the neurite outgrowth from PC 12 cells led to isolate three new and a known sphingolipids from the n-hexane soluble portion and five amines from the butanol soluble portion of its methanol extract. On the basis of spectroscopic data, their structures have been elucidated as (4E,6E,2S,3R)-2-N-eicosanoyl-4,6-tetradecasphingadienine, (4E,2S,3R)-2-N-eicosanoyl-4-tetradecasphingenine,(4E,6E,2S,3R)-2-N-docosanoyl-4,6-tetradecasphingadienine,(4E,6E,2S,3R)-2-N-docosanoyl-4,6-tetradecasphingadienine,(4E,2S,3R)-2-N-octadecanoyl-4-tetradecasphingenine, 1,7-dimethyl-xanthine, uracil, urea, betaine and tyrosine, respectively. The neurite outgrowth activities of these compounds were examined in PC12 cells by measuring the length of neurites. These compounds promoted neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells significantly.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2013

The reproductive performance of multivoltine breed 'Nistari' and bivoltine breeds as NB18, P5 and a bivoltine hybrid (NB18 ${\times}$ P5) of B. mori were studied in different seasons in terms of total number of eggs laid, unlaid and hatching efficiency of the laid eggs to critically assess the breeds / hybrid potentiality. The bivoltine hybrid showed better performance in all the seasons as compared to the breeds investigated, as expected due to possibility of hybrid vigour. Among the breeds, bivoltine P5 had a better egg laid performance in S1 (February - March), S2 (May - June) and S3 (September - October) seasons but with an increase in the number of unlaid eggs. The hatching percentage, although didn't show any definitive trend, still suggested a marginal better performance in the hybrid. Most importantly, egg laying rhythmicity was studied by mating the female moth at 6.00 a.m. for $3{\frac{1}{2}}$ hours, and subsequently allowing the laying of eggs both under BOD condition ($25{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and $85{\pm}5%$ RH) and at ambient temperature ($23-28^{\circ}C$ and $74.7{\pm}5%$) separately. Maximum (90%) egg laid occurred from 3.30 to 7.30 pm (i.e. 4 - 6 h after decoupling). Similar laying patterns were observed when females where mated at 12 noon and decoupled at 3.30 pm, revealing that late photoperiod and early scotoperiod were favourable for egg laying in case of multivoltine breed and bivoltine prefers late photoperiod for egg laying.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2002

Earlier breeding experiments undertaken at Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Mysore, India since a decade had resulted in the development of many productive and qualitatively superior bivoltine hybrids. However, the hot climatic conditions of tropics prevailing particularly in summer are not conducive to rear these high yielding bivoltine hybrids. This has necessitated breeding of compatible bivoltine hybrids for year-round rearing. Accordingly, the Japanese hybrid, B2Ol ${\times}$ BCS12 which was found to be tolerant to high temperature was used as breeding resource material. Following hybridization and selection rearing of silkworms was taken up in SERICATRON (Environmental chamber with precise and automatic control facilities for uniform maintenance of temperature and humidity) at high temperature of $36{\times}1^{\circ}C$ and 85${\times}$5% RH in fifth instar and the control batches at $25{\times}1^{\circ}C$ and 65{\times}$5% RH. Directional selection was resorted to the batches reared at 36$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$ till F$_{5}$ keeping pupation rate as important selection criteria. From $F_{2}% onwards the experiment was modified in such a way as to conduct normal rearing every alternate generation to regain the lost vitality due to continuous exposure to high temperature and high humidity stress. At $F_{2}$ , Oval and dumb-bell cocoons were separated out and designated as CSR18 and CSR19, respectively. By utilizing these lines at $F_{12}$, the hybrid CSR18$\times$CSR19 was prepared and studied for the thermotolerance by subjecting to stress condition at high temperature of 36$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$ and 85$\pm$5% RH in fifth instar and the control batches at $25{\times}1^{\circ}C$ and 65${\times}$5% RH. The better performance of CSR18${\times}$CSR19 (survival > 88%) at $36{\times}1^{\circ}C$ clearly indicates the general superiority of CSR18${\times}$CSR19 with regard to high temperature tolerance over the productive hybrids and CSR18$\times$CSR19 can perform well in varied agro-climatic conditions of the tropics with optimum qualitative and quantitative characteristics.s.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.20-27
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• 1985

This study was carried out to investigate the histological changes after the infection of nuclear and cytoplasmic polyhedrosis viruses(NPV, CPV) and the resistance to the viruses in various varieties of the silkworm fed on artificial diet. The results obtained were as follows; Among four varieties of silkworm tested, Jam 107$\times$Jam 108 was more resistant than the other varieties tested and Jam 119$\times$Jam 120 was the most resistant to CPV. In case of peroral infection with NPV, Jam 107$\times$Jam 108 showed lower mortality than the remained varieties in low concentration (104/ml). However, all varieties showed high mortality as the concentration of viruses was increased. With infection of CPV, the varieties showed high mortality at the concentration of 107 and 108/ml, while Jam 119$\times$Jam 120 showed the lowest mortality at virus concentration of 104/ml. The fat bodies, epidermal cells and tracheal epithelial cells showed high susceptibility to NPV to break the cells completely and liberate the debris to the body cavity. The CPV infected only the cylindrical cells of mid-gut and formed polyhedrons. In some cells, CPV was liberated to gastral cavity. In the electrophoretic pattern of hemolymph protein of silkworm larvae infected with NPV, bands were dimmed and disappeared as symptom aggravated after infection. Electrophoretic pattern of homolymph proteins of silkworm larvae infected with CPV showed no numerical difference at the later stage of infection, and one or two bands was observed along with lowering the concentrations.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 1989

Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed on the nine quantitative characters of the one hundred and forty eight silkworm genetic stocks. The six major quantitative characters such as cocoon yield, cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell percentage, larval period of the 5th instar silkworm, and total larval period showed significantly positive correlation between them. The first three principal components extracted form the initial nine variables by principal component analysis accounted for about eighty percent of original information. The first and second principal components were characterized as factors related to silk productivity, and cocoon productivity, respectively. On the basis of multivariate analysis using city block distance determined from the first three principal components to measure the phenotypic diversity, the one hundred and forty eight silkworm genetic stocks could be clustered into seven varietal groups, and the phenotypic diversity between the varietal groups was partly related to their geographical origins. Among 7 varietal group, group II and IV revealed higher silk and cocoon productivity.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.28-31
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• 1982

Flacherie virus (FV) is an important pathogen in the silkworm, which often gives serious damage to farmers for cocoon production. The inbred parents and F$_1$'s from an eight-parent diallel were examined to determine the inheritance of resistance to flacherie virus in the silkworm. Three resistant (R), two intermediate (M) and three susceptible (S) inbreds were used in the diallel with no reciprocals. Mean resistance was measured by survival rates of larvae which were fed on mulberry leaves sprayed with diluted mid-gut homogenate of FV infected larvae. Broad-sense heritability was obtained according to inbreds and F$_1$ family performance. Estimation of general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) was made according to Griffing's Model 1, Method 2. Mean FV resistance of F$_1$ family displayed additive effect of the major gene, while heterotic effect was not significant. Considerable variation in FV resistance within F$_1$ groups of R$\times$S and S$\times$S indicated that action of minor genes for FV resistance may have been involved. FV resistance of inbreds perse and predominant effect of the major gene over minor gene(s) satisfactorily predicted the FV resistance of the hybrids. Broadsense heritability value of FV resistance on the basis of F$_1$ family performance averaged 93%, which suggested that environmental effects might have not been important in this experiment. GCA was highly significant for FV resistant among inbreds. GCA effect of 13.1 in Jam 108 was highest and -17.7 in Gyeongchu lowest. Effective selection for high FV resistance would be possible, using inbreds with high GCA effect and low GCA variance. SCA was significant among hybrids. High SCA effect in the hybrid of Geumho$\times$Mudeung (13.7) and Hansaeng #4$\times$Jam 115 (11.6) indicated that the interaction effect of minor genes for resistance to FV in the silkworm could be exploited by standard silkworm breeding procedures.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.33-39
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• 2019

Freeze-dried silkworm powder has been approved as a functional ingredients for blood glucose control since 2009. Proximate and nutrient compositions of silkworm powder was summerized as bellow. Silkworm powder contained 4.7% moisture, 57.7% crude protein, 9.5% crude fat, 5.4% crude fiber, and 9.3% ash. The larval protein contained 18 known amino acid including glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Fat is composed of 3:7 ratio of saturated fatty acid to unsaturated fatty acid including various essential fatty acids. It contained 34.7 linolenic acid, 24.4% oleic acid, 20.2% palmitic acid, 9.2% stearic acid, and 7.7% linoleic acid. Five minerals, K, P, Ca, Mg, S were abundant in the silkworm powder with other minerals such as Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn.