Silk Filament Progression with Backcross Breeding Generations in Tropical Tasar Silkworm, Antheraea mylitta D

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.