• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2001

This study was conducted to elucidate phylogenetic relationships and genetic characterization of silkworms that might be recognized as the Korean native strains. Genetic characterization in isozymes and the proteins of larval hemolymph of 17 silkworms were observed by acrylamide gel eletrophoresis, on 12 genes; Bph, Bes, les, Amy-hc, Ict-A, -B, -D,-E,-H, Pfl, Pst, Lp. Gene frequencies in each locus were compared other geographic strains. Korean native strains were remarkably different from others considered as the genetic characterization of Korean native strains. Phylogenetic relationships in Korean native strains were analysed using RAPD-PCR markers. A total of 40 primers were used and 346 bands of amplified DNA were generated from geographic strains. Genetic similarity based on the RAPD bands was used to construct phylogenetic dendrogram based on analysis of bard sharing data of amplified markers. Genetic similarity ranged from 0.595 to 0.860. In the genetic relationship based on dendrogram, they were classified into Bombyx mori group (including 16 domesticated silkworm strains) and B. mandarina group. The Bombyx mori group was separated into three sub-groups at the genetic similarity of 0.6930, including Korean, Japanese and Chinese groups. According to this result, the Korean native variety can be considered as a clearly different variety from other geographic strains. It may be concluded that the Korean native strains are also one of original geographic variety such as Japanese, Chinese, etc.