Evaluation of Polyvoltine Hybrids Based on Silk Productivity in Silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

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.