• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.63-72
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• 2006

Parthenogenesis, the development of unfertilized ovum opens new perspectives in silkworm breeding in the development of homozygous breeds. In order to improve induction of artificial parthenogenesis in the excised unfertilized eggs of different breeds of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L., a new method was devised and the results were compared with the routine method. General and specific combining abilities and hybrid vigour of newly developed bivoltine breeds were analyzed utilizing bivoltine breeds viz., $CSR_2,\;CSR_4,\;CSR_{17}\;and\;NB_4D_2$ Estimation of GCA revealed superiority of the breeds, $DNB_1$ for eight characters followed by $DNB_4$ for five characters. Among the testers, $CSR_2$ was found good general combiner for seven characters followed by $CSR_{17}$ for four characters. A great deal of variations was observed among the hybrids studied. Five hybrids namely, $DNB_1{\times}CSR_2,\;DNB_4{\times}CSR_4,\;DNB_4{\times}NB_4D_2,\;DNB_6{\times}CSR_2\;and\;DNB_7{\times}CSR_2$ showed significant SCA effects for 5-6 characters. The hybrid, $DNB_4{\times}CSR_4$ showed its superiority by expressing significant hybrid vigour over BPV for 7 characters. Majority of the hybrids exhibited significant hybrid vigour for survival rate, yield/10,000 larvae by weight, cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, filament length and denier.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 1998

Mainly due to limited genetic resources available and also urgent need for hybrids suitable to local conditions, conventional theories and regular methods for bivoltine silkworm breeding are not easily applicable in such a tropical country as Sri Lanka which is recently planning to scale-up the silk industry. A simplified but practical methodology was introduced to overcome such constraints. Through application of such modified informal breeding methods, two hybrids named DP0308 and DP0314 were selected for cocoon production. Details of the altered method of germplasm improvement in the silkworm are presented, along with combining ability and heritability estimates for six parental pure lines in a half-diallel cross.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 2004

Seasonal effects of the newly evolved bivoltine hybrid namely CSR$_2$${\times}$SR$_{5}$, SR$_1$ ${\times}$SR$_4$ and control hybrid KA${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ along with their parents SR$_1$, SR$_4$, SR$_{5}$, CSR$_2$ KA and NB$_4$D$_2$ were evaluated during different seasons of the year to understand genotype and environment interactions. Data were collected on five economic importance namely, pupation rate, cocoon yield, cocoon weight, cocoon shell ratio and filament length of the lines, hybrids and the control breeds/hybrid in three different seasons i.e., Pre-Monsoon, Monsoon and post-monsoon and subjected to relevant statistical methods. Seasonal performance of CSR$_2$, SR$_1$, SR$_4$ and SR$_{5}$ revealed superiority over control breeds KA and NB$_4$D$_2$. Both the hybrids i.e., CSR$_2$${\times}$SR$_{5}$ and SR$_1$${\times}$SR$_4$ performed well under diversified environmental conditions of tropical climate in a year indicating overall stability. These hybrids revealed highly significant (P < 0.01) variations for majority of the traits studied over the control hybrid KA${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$.$.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2006

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Mysore have evolved several highly productive bivoltine hybrids which can produce international grade raw silk. Among them $CSR2{\times}CSR4,\;CSR2{\times}CSR5,\;CSR3{\times}CSR6,\;CSR17{\times}CSR16,\;CSR18{\times}CSR19$ and $CSR12{\times}CSR6$ are being popularized in the field. There is a minimum difference in their economic characters but they appear to differ in survival. Though they are productive under high input management conditions, they are very susceptible to different diseases under normal rearing practices. No systematic attempts have been made to test their susceptibility status / resistance. Thus the present study is a modest attempt to screen the above six productive bivoltine hybrids to two important pathogens viz., Bombyx mori Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (BmNPV) and Bombyx mori Infectious Flacherie Virus (BmIFV) along with existing hybrid, $KA{\times}NB4D2$ to assess their susceptibility / resistance. The results shows that the productive hybrid $CSR2{\times}CSR4$ is the most resistant to BmNPV and it is suggested by its highest $LC_{50}$ value followed by $CSR12{\times}CSR6,\;KA{\times}NB4D2,\;CSR3{\times}CSR6,\;CSR17{\times}CSR16,\;CSR18{\times}CSR19,\;CSR2{\times}CSR5$. Based on the $LC_{50}$ value and $LT_{50}$ values for BmIFV, the hybrid $KA{\times}NB4D2$ was found to be the most resistant (1st position) one followed by $CSR3{\times}CSR6$ (2nd position) $CSR2{\times}CSR$ (3rd position) and $CSR12{\times}CSR6$ (4th position) $CSR17{\times}CSR16$, $CSR18{\times}CSR19$ (5th position) and $CSR2{\times}CSR5$ being the least. The response of 7 bivoltine hybrids to both the pathogens BmNPV and BmIFV indicates that, the hybrids $CSR2{\times}CSR4$, $CSR12{\times}CSR6$ and $KA{\times}NB4D2$ were found to be the most resistant when compared to others. Further, $KA{\times}NB4D2$ being less productive hybrid with a shell ratio of 20.08%, the other two hybrids $CSR2{\times}CSR4$ (Cocoon shell ratio, 21.44%) and $CSR12{\times}CSR6$ (cocoon shell ratio, 23.45%) can be considered to be most productive with superior quality cocoon and resistant to both BmNPV and BmIFV pathogens. The overall study indicated that the hybrid $CSR2{\times}CSR5$ is the most susceptible hybrid to both the pathogens.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 2001

In order to introduce bivoltine races in a tropical country like India, it is necessary to have stability in cocoon crop under high temperature environments. Unlike any temperate country like Japan, the rearing conditions/environment, climatic conditions, quality of mulberry leaf and incidence of diseases are unpredictable in India. Geneticists and breeders of all the sericultural countries have experienced the influence of environment during the process of breeding. in order to select efficiently the breeds with high temperature tolerance, it is verb important to analyse clearly the heritability nature of high temperature tolerance. In light of the above, the present study was undertaken to determine the effect of high temperature treatment of (A) $35{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and 85${\pm}$5% RH for 24 hrs continuously, (B) $35{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and 85${\pm}$5% RH for 48 hrs continuously and (C) the control (25${\pm}1^{\circ}$ and 65${\pm}$5% RH in the normal rearing condition from the $3^{rd}of5^{th}$ instar on the pure races such as Moria, Nl37 and Cl46 as well as their Fl hybrids. The overall performance indicate that the hybrids are mare tolerant than the pure races. it was also observed that the overall performance declined in those batches where 48 hrs treatment was given. The most interesting observation noticed in this study was that there was maternal effect regarding temperature tolerance as evident from the better performance of those hybrids where the female parent used was more tolerant as pure race.

• 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.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.181-187
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• 2004

Polyvoltine silkworm breeds/hybrids play an important role in tropical sericulture. In the process of synthesizing more potential polyvoltine hybrids(polyvoltine${\times}$bivoltine) of superior quantity and quality, the Andhra Pradesh State Sericulture Research and Development Institute (APSSRDI) has developed 8 promising polyvoltine breeding lines (SDMG2, APM16, APM15, APM14, APM5, RM2, APM3, APM13). In order to study their hybrid vigour and performance, these breeds were crossed with 4 potential bivoltine testers (SDD1, SDD2, SDD3, APS8), and 32 different hybrid combinations were prepared and evaluated for their mid parent heterosis (MPH) and better parent heterosis (BPH) of silk productivity. Since silk is the ultimate product required for commercial purpose, based on silk productivity and its heterosis, three superior polyvoltine hybrid combinations namely RM2${\times}$APS8 (24.3%), APM3${\times}$APS8 (12.4%) and APM15${\times}$SDD2 (10.8%) were adjudicated as potential heterotic hybrid combinations of superior silk yield and hence recommended for further large scale field trails and commercial exploitation.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2004

A breeding programme was initiated by utilizing a robust bivoltine breed CSR$_{18}$ and a polyvoltine breed Cambodge with the main objective of developing robust polyvoltine silkworm breeds/hybrids. At F$_1$ and F$_2$, parthenogenetic development was induced following warm water treatment of eggs at 46$^{\circ}C$ for 18 min followed by two backcrosses with Bl$_{67}$, an evolved polyvoltine breed. The newly developed breed was subjected for hybrid study using eight hybrid combinations in the laboratory at F$_{8}$ generation. F$_1$ hybrids between newly developed breed Bl$_{67}$ (Pg) and promising bivoltine breeds exhibited their superiority by expressing significant hybrid vigour for several economic characters like cocoon yield/10,000 larvae, cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell ratio and denier. Study on cocoon shape variability revealed that cocoons of all the F$_1$ hybrids except BL$_{67}$ (Pg)${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ were found comparatively uniform in shape.pe.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2012

To meet the local requirement i.e. the tropical stress of Andhra Pradesh and marginal farmers, twenty four new hybrid combinations were tested in Line x Tester method involving eight newly developed polyvoltine oval lines viz., MSO1, MSO2, MSO3, MSO4, MSO5, MSO6, MSO7 and MSO8 and three bivoltine silkworm breeds viz., APS12, APS45 and APS8 as testers. These hybrids were reared to evaluate their performance. Data for eight economically important metric traits viz., fecundity, cocoon yield per 10,000 larvae by number, cocoon yield per 10,000 larvae by weight, survival rate, cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell ratio and filament length was recorded. General combining ability (gca), specific combining ability (sca) and heterosis were analyzed. Further, the relative merit of the hybrids for all the traits under study was also assessed adopting Evaluation Index method. Based on combining ability effects, heterosis and evaluation index, five hybrid combinations viz., MSO3 $\times$ APS45, MSO1 $\times$ APS12, MSO7 $\times$ APS8, MSO2 $\times$ APS45 and MSO1 $\times$ APS45 were selected for further evaluation in different seasons.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.221-229
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• 2003

Ten multivoltine female parental lines were crossed with popular bivoltine male silkworm breed NB$_4$D$_2$. Three types of heterosis parameters viz., heterosis over mid-parental value (hybrid vigour), heterobeltiosis (useful heterosis) and standard heterosis (standard check) were estimated for 15 economically important quantitative traits. The interaction among the hybrids and parents indicated significant effect for maximum characters. The heterotic effect of new hybrid combination was compared with popular hybrids viz., Pure Mysore${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ and Nistari${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$. Varied heterotic effect was observed for different traits for different hybrid combination. The results inferred that the crosses viz., BL$_{23}$${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ ranked top for 14 traits followed by Hosa Mysore${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ for 11 traits; PA$_{12}$${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ for 9 traits; BL$_{24}$${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ for 8 traits; Kolar Gold${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ for 7 traits; WAI$_1$${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ for 6 traits and MU$_{11}$${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ for 5 traits. Among these, the best hybrids Kolar Gold${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ and MU$_{11}$${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ were identified for longer filament length and fine denier. Similarly for higher cocoon yield and silk productivity BL$_{223}$${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ and BL$_{24}$${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ were found to be superior. These hybrid combinations are suitable for commercial exploitation at large scale.e.e.e.