• 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.9 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2004

Studies on heterotic expression in the silk productivity of 66 thermo-tolerant bivoltine hybrids reared under high temperature $(36{\times}1^{\circ}C)$ and low humidity (60${\times}$5%) conditions revealed that manifestation of heterosis was highly significant for majority of the quantitative traits contributing to more cocoon productivity. Observations were made on 8 economically important traits such as fecundity, pupation rate, cocoon yield, cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell ratio, cocoon filament length and raw silk. Analysis of variance results revealed great deal of variability indicating significant (P < 0.001) variations. Out of 66 hybrids, 7 hybrids exhibited positive heterosis for seven traits and 4 hybrids expressed significant hetero-beltiosis for 6 traits, out of 8 traits evaluated. Based on results, the hybrids ${SR_1} {\times} {SR_5}and {CSR_2} {\times} {SR_5}$ are adjudged as most promising ones and can be exploited commercially in tropical climates to increase the cocoon productivity.

• 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.9 no.2
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• pp.273-277
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• 2004

Variation in the size of the silk filament will determine the uniformity and quality of the silk reeled. In the present study, an attempt has been made to study the filament size variation in 6 multivoltine parental breeds and 9 multivoltine ${\times}$ bivoltine hybrids in all three seasons of a year. All multivoltine breeds and multivoltine ${\times}$ bivoltine hybrids showed variation in filament size throughout its length from the outer layer to inner layer. Results of the present study indicated that the size of the filament decreased from outer to inner layer. The decrease in filament size was sudden in some breeds/hybrids whereas it was gradual in other. Relationship between filament length to that of slope, average filament size to slope, and maximum filament size to slope was determined based on regression analysis. Regression analysis revealed significant positive correlation between slope vs average filament length (r=0.92$^{**}$) in multivoltine${\times}$bivoltine hybrids. Among parental breeds, 96C showed lowest slope of the curve (b-value: -0.00428) and 96A showed highest slope of the curve (b-value: -0.00269). Among 9 hybrids, PM${\times}$N $B_4$ $D_2$ recorded lowest slope value (b-value: -0.00328) and BL24${\times}$N $B_4$ $D_2$ showed highest value for slope of the curve (b-value: -0.00234). The breed 96C, which showed lowest slope value can be utilized for future breeding programmes to breed strains with less size deviation. Three multivoltine${\times}$bivoltine hybrids viz., PM${\times}$N $B_4$ $D_2$, 96E${\times}$CSR19 and BL67${\times}$CS $R_{101}$ , which showed less slope values (b-values: -0.00328, -0.00300 and -0.00297 respectively) can be utilized for commercial exploitation to produce uniform silk.k.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.205-209
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• 1997

In a line X tester crossing programme (24 lines 2 testers) the general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were analyzed for five economic characters in the bivoltine silkworm, Bombyx mori L. The results showed desired GCA effects in 934D1 (9500), 934B (9789) and 934A1 (9855) for cocoon yield per 10,000 larvae brushed by number. Likewise, the lines found to be superior based on GCA effects for other characters were as follows; 931D (14.040 Kgs), 935E (17.023 Kga.), 934D1 (15.643 Kgs.) and 934B (15.687 Kgs.) for cocoon yield by weight: 931D (1.717 g) and 930E (1.796 g) for single cocoon weight; 932B (0.330 g) for single shell weight: 931D (1.717 g) and 930e (1.796 g) for single cocoon weight; 932B (0.330 g) for single shell weight; 932B (18.7%), 933A (18.86%) and 935A (19.89%) for shell ratio. SCA effects showed the superiority of 932D$\times$KA (9822 cocoon yield per 10,000 larvae brushed by number); 932A$\times$NB4D2 (16.933 Kgs. cocoon yield per 10,000 larvae brushed by weight); 931C$\times$KA (1.911 g single cocoon weight); 934$\times$NB4D2 (0.371 g single shell weight and 21.0% shell ratio). The analysis indicated non-additive gene action for all the five characters.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

In order to find out the appropriate parents for the breeding programme, twelve bivoltine and three multivoltine silkworm breeds were evaluated on the basis of multivariate selection index and isozyme analysis. Of which, four [CSR2, D6 (P), SK3, SK4] bivoltine and two multivoltine (Nistari, Cambodge) breeds were selected and breeding initiated to develop higher survival bivoltine silkworm breed suitable for tropical conditions. Among two isozyme (Esterase and acid phosphatase) analyzed, only esterase exhibited polymorphism among the bivoltine breeds. No polymorphism was observed among multivoltine in respect of esterase as well as acid phosphatase.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 2002

Induction of non-diapause eggs and manifestation of quantitative characters were studied in different seasons by low temperature incubation of eggs of a low yielding diapause with coloured cocoons silkworm breed, RDI of Bombyx mori. Hundred percent of nandiapause eggs were induced when the egg incubation was carried out at 15$^{\circ}C$ followed by incubation initially at $25^{\circ}C$ and then at $15^{\circ}C$. The diapause-nondia-pause relation was found to be reversible. Analysis of variance study demonstrated significant variation in all the quantitative characters whereas significant variation due to different incubation treatments was observed for larval span, fifth instar larval span, cocoon yield/10,000 larvae by weight, cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, and cocoon shell ratio. study on hybrid vigour skewed significant heterosis over mid parent value for four economic characters viz., cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell ratio and filament length in a Fl hybrid between RD1 with diapause eggs and Japanese type bivoltine $NB_{4} D_{2}$.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

At present, multivoltine silkworm races reared five times per year involving huge manpower and rearing expenditure. Egg diapausing behavior is facultative in multivoltine and egg diapause was induced in selected multivoltine races by regulating temperature at $18^{\circ}C$, relative humidity 80% and photoperiod (6L:18D) in the late stage silkworm rearing. The maximum percentage of egg diapause induction was recorded in Rong Diazo, Diazo and MW13 showed 94%, 93% and 92% respectively, whereas the races A14DY and OS-616 showed minimum diapause induction 15% and 18% respectively. The diapause induced multivoltine eggs were preserved up to six months by cold preservation schedule normally adopted for bivoltine. After three and six months egg preservation, the diapause induced layings were released and observed for hatching percentage, all races showed above 82 % of hatching except the race AP12, which showed only 78 % of hatching. This methods reduce the crop cycle, gives strong safety backup and preventing the genetic erosion. This study helps formulating a new conservation method for multivoltine silkworm germplasm.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.79-82
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• 2003

To study the effect of mounting fully ripe and unripe silkworms at different maturation percentage, the ripe and unripe silkworms were mounted separately and observed the cocoon and reeling characters. The significant difference in the cocoon and reeling parameters was observed between all ripe and unripe batches except for summer season. The silkworms collecting together and mounting at a time can be recommended only in summer season and at certain level during rainy season.

• 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.