• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.61-64
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• 2005

General and specific combining ability effects of six bivoltine breeds of silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) were evaluated for six quantitative characters through diallel method wherein parents, $F_{1}s$ and reciprocals are involved. The breeds $APS_{11}\;and\;APS_{2}$ were found to be the best general combiners for most of the traits studied. The high estimates of specific combining ability (sca) variance (${\sigma}^{2}s$) compared to general combining ability (gca) variance (${\sigma}^{2}g$) indicated the predominant role of non-additive gene action in the control of all the characters. Positive sca effects for majority of the traits were expressed by the combinations $APS_{13}{\times}APS_6,\;APS_{13}{\times}APS_2,\;APS_{11}{\times}APS_6\;and\;APS_5{\times}APS_2$ out of 15 crosses. Among the 15 reciprocal crosses studied, the combination $APS_8{\times}APS_{13}$ showed positive reciprocal effects for all the six traits. With both the parents $APS_5\;and\;APS_2$ being good general combiners the hybrid $APS_5{\times}APS_2$ showing high sca effects is recommended for commercial use.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2002

Breeding programme was initiated during November, 1995 with the main objective to breed productive multivoltine breeds/ hybrids with suitable genetic constitution to suit the fluctuating tropical climate prevailed in India. Two multivoltine breeds viz., BL-24 and BL-27 selected were as breeding resource materials from the silkworm germplasm maintained at Central Sericul-tural Research and Training Institute, Mysore. By adopting hybridization, backcrossing inbreeding and selection, a new multivoltine breed namely BL-67. This breed spins light greenish yellow cocoons and cocoon shape is oval with medium to coarse grains. The evolved breed was crossed with five tropical bivoltine breeds viz., NB4D2, CSR2, CSR5, CSR18 and CSR101 to study the combining ability, and identified a superior hybrid, BL67 ${\times}$ CSR101, named as CAUVERY, The hybrid is characterized by high pupation rate (>95%), high shell weight (> 35 cg), high cocoon shell ratio (> 20%), longer filament length (> 900 m) and high neatness (93) with a renditta of 6.5 producing 2A-3A grade silk. The hybrid is selected for Race Autho-rization test of Central Silk Board.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.149-152
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• 2001

Effect of topical application with 10, 20 and 30 ${\mu}g$/ml testosterone propionate and estradiol -17${\beta}$ on the fourth and fifth instar bivoltine NB18 silkworm larvae Bombyx mori, on the glycogen and protein contents of the Fat body and trehalose and protein contents of the haemolymph has been studied. Glycogen content of the fat body was significantly decreased in both testosterone propionate and estradiol -17${\beta}$ treatment groups except in the group treated with 30 ${\mu}g$ testosterone propionate where the increase was not significant when compared with those of carrier controls. The increase/decrease in haemolymph trehalose content did not show any significant difference in all the treated groups. Protein content of the fat body significantly increased in 10 and 20 mg testosterone propionate and estradiol -l7${\beta}$ treated groups but in 30 mg treated groups the increase was not significant when compared with those of carrier controls. There was no significant change in the haemolymph protein content in all the testosterone propionate and estradiol -17${\beta}$ treated groups except in group treated with 10 ${\mu}g$ estradiol -17${\beta}$ where it showed a significant decrease when compared with that of carrier control.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.113-115
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• 2004

Six generations (P$_1$, P$_2$, F$_1$, BC$_1$, BC$_2$ and F$_2$) of four bivoltine silkworm crosses (SKAU-R-1 ${\times}$ Yakwei, SKAU-R-6 ${\times}$ Yakwei, CSR$_2$ ${\times}$ CSR$_4$ and SH$_{6}$${\times}$ NB$_4$D$_2$) were evaluated in a completely randomized block design with 5 replications for each treatment. The generation mean 2 in respect of 3 metric traits (single cocoon weight, single shell weight, and shell ratio ％), were subjected to Cavallis joint scaling test. Additive dominance model was found to be adequate in CSR$_2$${\times}$CSR$_4$ and SH$_{6}$${\times}$ NB$_4$D$_2$ for single cocoon weight and shell weight and SKAU-R-6 ${\times}$ Yakwei for shell ratio(％). Whereas, in rest of the crosses epistasis was evident in the traits under investigation. Magnitude of additive gene effect (d) was greater than dominance(h) in SH$_{6}$${\times}$NB$_4$D$_2$ and SKUA-R-6${\times}$Yakwei for shell ratio (％) and in CSR$_2$${\times}$ CSR$_4$ for shell weight. Thus selection for these traits in early segregating generations of these crosses would be effective for obtaining considerable genetic gain. gain.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.165-168
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• 2008

The hybrid ($CSR2{\times}CSR4$) eggs treated with acid were taken up for the study with an objective to develop long-term preservation schedule. The hybrid eggs obtained with two mating duration (3 h and 6 h) and oviposition period (6 h and 24 h) with two age groups of eggs (24 h and 36 h) were treated with Hydrochloric acid. These eggs were subjected to preservation at $5^{\circ}C$ in single step refrigeration and at $5^{\circ}C$ and $2.5^{\circ}C$ under double step refrigeration from $10{\sim}120$ days. These eggs were released from the cold storage as per the specified durations and incubated at standard conditions and allowed 2 h for hatching at 450 lux light. Hatchability was found to be significantly higher or on par with the control in three treatments (T1, T2 and T4) where the eggs are preserved continuously at $5^{\circ}C$ up to 30 days. However under double step refrigeration, hatching was not significantly affected in 20+60 day's combination of T1 treatment up to 80 days. Bioassay studies of the promising treatment i.e.. T1 with (20+60) days indicated that early stage loss and cocoon yield was found to be on par with the control. Hence this treatment was recommended for preservation of acid treated new bivoltine hybrid layings. Details of the hatchability and rearing performance of long term preservation of acid treated eggs are discussed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2002

The qualitative and quantitative changes of bacterial flora associated with the Pure Mysore (Multivoltine) and NB$_4$D$_2$ (Bivoltine) silkworm (Bombyx modi L.) midgut during third, fourth and fifth instars were studied. Larvae reared on mulberry leaves were dissected and their midgut bacterial populations were enumerated through serial dilution technique and after 72 hrs of incubation period at 28 $\pm$ 1$^{\circ}C$, the bacterial population was estimated. The results showed a highest mean value of 15$\times$10/ sup 6/ sup 6/ CFU/g and 28$\times$10/ sup 6/ CFU/g in Pure Mysore and NB$_4$D$_2$races, respectively, in midgut tissue of fifth instar larvae. The natural epiphytic microflora of mulberry leaves fed during the respective instars was also studied and found maximum 14$\times$10$^3$ CFU/g in leaves fed in third instars, followed by 5.3$\times$10$^3$ CFU/g and 2.1$\times$10$^3$ CFU/g in leaves fed during fourth and fifth instars, respectively. The bacterial flora colonized in midgut was found to be elaborating amylase, caseinase, gelatinase, lipase and urease enzymes. The highest percentages of isolates were amylase producers followed by protein and lipid splitters in Pure Mysore, whereas in NB$_4$D$_2$ protein splitter were dominated followed by lipase and amylase producers in NB$_4$D$_2$. The results indicate that the natural microflora may play a vital role in the digestion of ingested food materials in silkworms.

• 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.4 no.2
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• pp.169-173
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• 2002

A practical technology for silkworm disease management at farmer\\`s level was suggested and test verified for its efficacy and adaptability. The technology consisted of disinfection of rearing house and appliances, early disease diagnosis, personal and rearing hygiene and silkworm body and rearing seat disinfection. Besides, the supportive techniques associated in disease management are cited. The validation trials of the technology involving 845 farmers crops with 147,530 disease free layings (dfls) of CSR bivoltine hybrids confirmed the effectiveness of the technology which resulted an average yield of 68.98 kg cocoons/100 dfls.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.153-155
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• 2001

Eight new three-way cross heterozygotic hybrid genotypes of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori, resulted from hybridization of multivoltine as female and bivoltine Fl hybrid as male component, have been evaluated for the cumulative effect of nine traits of commercial economic importance with the objective of selecting out the most prospective ones for their exploitation as an intermediate technology during unfavorable season. Five of them namely, G(P5${\times}$NBl8) (E.I. =57.23); S(NB18${\times}$P5) (E.I. : 55.48); S(P5${\times}$NBl8) (E.I. = 52.44); S(KBN${\times}$B7) (E.I. = 50.42) and S(NB7${\times}$KB) (E.I. : 50.16) have scored higher values of the Evaluation Index (E.I.) and could be selected in the same order for exploitation during unfavorable seasons in tropical climates.

• 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.