• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.109-112
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• 2006

The use of commercial silkworm hybrids resistant to important silkworm diseases is economical and better option particularly in tropical areas. This necessitated the evolution of productive bivoltine silkworm breeds non-susceptible to $BmDNV_1$. Non-susceptibility to $BmDNV_1$, infection was found to be controlled by a single recessive gene, nsd-l or a dominant gene, Nid-l. A major dominant/recessive gene confers resistance to $BmDNV_1$, from potent donor parents have been transferred to 10 productive but susceptible bivoltine silkworm strains through conventional breeding methods. By utilizing these breeds prepared 25 hybrids $(5{\times}5)$ and hybrid evaluation was carried out to identify most promising hybrids resistant to $BmDNV_1$. All these hybrids are inoculated with $BmDNV_1$ inoculum along with productive control hybrid $CSR2{\times}CSR4$ and reared under standard rearing procedure. Based on inoculated rearing and test reeling results, two most promising hybrids $(CSR18DR{\times}CSR29DR\;and\;CSR21DR{\times}CSR50DR)$ were selected for commercial exploitation. The selected hybrids have shown a survival rate of >85% with productive traits, where as control hybrid have shown 11.1% survival with inferior cocoon traits. The methodologies adopted were discussed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2006

Combining ability and hybrid vigour analysis was carried out in hybrids between newly developed non-susceptible lines to BmDNV1 and popular bivoltine breeds for certain quantitative traits viz. Pupation rate, Cocoon yield, Cocoon weight, Cocoon shell weight and Cocoon shell ratio, Survival rate against BmIFV and BmNPV. General combining ability (GCA) effects revealed that among the lines CSR2DR was found good general combiner exhibiting significant GCA effects for six characters, out of seven traits evaluated. Among testers CSR28DR was found as good combiner exhibiting significant GCA effects for six traits. Out of 36 hybrids made between $resistant{\times}resistant,\;resistant{\times}susceptible\;and\;susceptible{\times}susceptible$ breeds, one hybrid $CSR21DR{\times}CSR28DR$ exhibited significant SCA effects for six traits. The selected hybrid $CSR21DR{\times}CSR28DR$ also exhibited significant positive heterosis and heterobeltiosis expressions for maximum traits and could be exploited as commercial silkworm hybrid resistant to important viral diseases.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 2004

With the main objective to know the feasibility of exploitation of F$_1$ hybrids in semi arid and arid climatic conditions of India, the present study was carried out by utilising RD$_1$ as female parent and six bivoltine silkworm breeds viz., CSR$_2$, CSR$_4$, CSR$_{5}$, CSR$_{17}$, CSR$_{18}$ and CSR$_{19}$ along with NB$_4$D$_2$ as male parents. Different hybrids exhibited their superiority for various economic characters during different seasons. Among F$_1$ hybrids, RD$_1$${\times}$CSR$_{5}$ was adjudicated as the best hybrid in terms of expression of significant positive hybrid vigour over mid parental value for five economic characters namely hatching %, cocoon yield, cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight and filament size, highest multiple trait average evaluation index value of 56.77 and comparatively uniform cocoon size with coefficient of variation (CV%) of 3.80 and Standard Deviation (SD) of 7.99 during September - October 2003. Results of the present study revealed that the F$_1$ hybrid RD$_1$${\times}$CSR$_{5}$ can be successfully exploited on commercial in semi arid and arid climatic conditions in India. India.dia.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.215-220
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• 2005

Background: Transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) directs class switch recombination (CSR) to IgA isotype, which is a predominant antibody in mucosal surfaces. Although IgA is preferentially committed in mucosal lymphoid tissues, it is not definitely established whether hallmarks of IgA CSR such as IgA germ-line transcripts (GLT ${\alpha}$), post-switch transcripts (PST ${\alpha}$) and circle transcripts (CT ${\alpha}$) are readily expressed in such tissues. Therefore, we compared the expression of these transcripts among mouse Peyer's patches (PP), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), and spleen. Methods: Levels of GLTs, PSTs and CTs were measured by RT-PCR in isolated PPs, MLNs and spleen cells. Results: GLT ${\alpha}$ and PST ${\alpha}$ were well expressed in PP and MLN cells but in spleen cells. Similar patterns were observed in the expression of GL ${\gamma}$2b and PST ${\gamma}$2b. On the other hand, these transcripts were only inducible in spleen cells upon stimulated with LPS and TGF-${\beta}1$. In addition, CT${\alpha}$ and CT${\gamma}$2b were detected in PP cells. Conclusion: PP B cells readily express IgA GLT, PST, and CT. Overall expression patterns of these transcripts were similar in MLN cells. Thus, these results suggest that microenvironment of PP and MLN influences spontaneous IgA CSR, which lacks in systemic lymphoid tissues such as spleen.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2006

A breeding programme was initiated during 2001 utilizing two polyvoltine silkworm breeds viz. $BL_{69}$, an evolved breed tolerant to high temperature and MAR, comparatively resistant to Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) with the objective to develop robust polyvoltine breeds and hybrids. The breed $NP_1$ was developed by exposing the fifth instar larvae to high temperature $(36{\pm}1^{\circ}C)$, high Relative Humidity ($85{\pm}5%$ R.H.) and inoculating third instar larvae with BmNPV inoculum. At $F_{12}$, the breed was tested for hybrid forming ability utilizing six bivoltine silkworm breeds viz. $CSR_2,\;CSR_4,\;CSR_{17},\;CSR_{18},\;CSR_{19}\;and\;NB_4D_2$. The hybrid $'NP_1{\times}CSR_{17}'$ exhibited its superiority by recording 97.2% survival, 1.892 g cocoon weight, 0.406 g cocoon shell weight, 21.5% cocoon shell ratio, 16.6% raw silk percentage and 890 m filament length whereas the control $(PM{\times}CSR_2)$ has recorded 90.2% survival, 1.599 g cocoon weight, 0.304 g cocoon shell weight, 18.9% cocoon shell ratio, 13.1 % raw silk percentage and 768 m filament length. Commercial exploitation of the new $polyvoltine{\times}bivoltine$ hybrid in sericulture industry has been discussed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2002

Parthenogenetic development, hybrid vigour and cocoon shape variability were studied in bivoltine F1 hybrids of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Considerable breed differences were observed in parthenogenetic ability. Among the parental breeds, CSR18 exhibited maximum parthenogenetic development (79.65%) followed by CSR4 (67.90%). Among bivoltine F1 hybrids, CSR18 ${\times}$ CSR4 showed highest parthenogenetic development (73.32%) followed by CSR2 ${\times}$ CSR4 (55.43%). Study on hybrid vigour demonstrated that CSR18 ${\times}$ CSR19 expressed maximum significant hybrid vigour for all the seven economic characters over Mid Parent Value (MPV) followed by CSR2 ${\times}$ CSR4 and CSR18 ${\times}$ CSR4 exhibiting significant heterosis for six characters. Cocoon shape measurement study revealed that among ten bivoltine F1 hybrids, cocoons of three hybrids were found comparatively uniform. Importance of this study to know the level of paythenogenetic development, hybrid vigour and cocoon shape variability in different bivoltine F1 hybrids have been discussed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.209-219
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• 2003

An experiment was initiated to evaluate hybrid vigour in twelve F$_1$ hybrids and seven three-way crosses of multivoltine ${\times}$ bivoltine silkworm between newly evolved multivoltine breed BL67 with productive bivoltine CSR breeds and hybrids. Analysis of variances computed for different characters among F$_1$hybrids and three-way crosses showed highly significant differences among them indicating presence of both additive and non-additive gene actions for the expression of these characters. Among twelve F$_1$ hybrids, two F$_1$ hybrids viz., BL67${\times}$CSR$_4$and BL67${\times}$CSR$_{5}$ have expressed significant heterosis for nine characters and two hybrids viz., BL67${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$and PM${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ for eight characters whereas out of nine three-way crosses, three hybrids viz., BL67${\times}$ (CSR$_3$${\times}$CSR$_{6}$), BL67${\times}$(CSR$_{16}$${\times}$CRS$_{17}$) and BL67${\times}$(CSR$_{18}$ ${\times}$CSR$_{19}$) expressed significant heterosis for eight characters. In the present study, it is observed that the cocoons of two hybrids viz., BL67${\times}$CSR$_4$and BL67${\times}$CSR$_{19}$ were found to be uniform as these hybrids showed lowest CV％ (5.35 and 5.38) among twelve F$_1$ hybrids and seven three way crosses between multivoltine ${\times}$ bivoltine hybrids. Four F$_1$ hybrids viz., BL67${\times}$CSR$_4$, BL67${\times}$CSR$_{5}$, BL67${\times}$ (CSR$_3$${\times}$CSR$_{6}$), BL67${\times}$(CSR$_{16}$${\times}$CRS$_{17}$) and BL67${\times}$(CSR$_{18}$ ${\times}$CSR$_{19}$) showed superiority in expressing hybrid vigour and are considered as best heterotic hybrids for commercial exploitation.ion.ation.ion.ation.ion.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.131-135
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• 2004

Oral supplementation with potassium permanganate (30, 50 and 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$) to fifth instar larvae of the ${CSR_2}{\times}{CSR_4}$ race of the silkworm, B. mori resulted in a significant increase in the glycogen content of the fat body and haemolymph trehalose. The protein content of the fat body is also significantly increased in all the potassium permanganate treated groups where as that of the haemolymph is significantly increased only in the 30 ${\mu}g4 fed group. The total lipids content of the fat body increased significantly in all the potassium permanganate treated groups. This indicates that the potassium permanganate may stimulate metabolic activity, there by influencing the biochemical contents in the fat body and haemolymph of the silkworm, B. mori.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.129-133
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• 2004

The breeding work was initiated by utilizing two Japanese hybrids namely C135${\times}$N134 and N137${\times}$C146 along with two evolved Indian breeds, J14 and A24. The breed CSR16 which is characterized with marked larvae and white dumbbell cocoons was evolved from the Japanese hybrid C135${\times}$N134 by crossing with J14, while the breed CSR17 which is characterized with plain larvae and white oval cocoons was evolved from the Japanese hybrid N137${\times}$C146 by crossing with A24. The hybrid of these evolved breeds i.e., CSR16${\times}$CSR17 has shown superior over control hybrid $KA{\times}{NB_4}{D_2}$ and on par with the ruling hybrid of CSR2${\times}$CSR4. The hybrid CSR16${\times}$CSR17 was authorized during 1999 by Central Silk Board, Bangalore, Government of India for commercial exploitation during favourable months based on national level race authorization test.

• 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.