Development of a polyvoltine breed of the Mulberry Silkworm, Bombyx mori L. by means of dispermic androgenesis

Abstract :

A polyvoltine silkworm breed “AGL3” was evolved by using dispermic androgenesis. The breed was developed by crossing F2 males derived from a polyvoltine hybrid BL68 × BL69 with another polyvoltine race “Nistari” and exposing the eggs at 38 ºC for 200 minutes. Androgenetic larvae expressed paternal characters. Repeated backcrosses were adopted with androgenetic males for several generations. The line was evaluated utilizing five productive bivoltine silkworm breeds. Laboratory evaluation showed superiority of the hybrid AGL3 × CSR2 in terms of higher fecundity, pupation rate, yield/10,000 larvae by weight, cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell percentage, filament length and neatness. The hybrid exhibited maximum average evaluation index value and manifested high hybrid vigour for several characters. The possibility of application of androgenesis as a breeding tool in silkworm breeding for the evolution of superior silkworm breeds and hybrids has been discussed


Keyword :

Androgenesis, Bombyx mori L., Development, Polyvoltine breed


Author(s) : Singh, R., Nirupama, R., Debaraj, Y.
Downloads : 2093
Published Issue : 2011 Vol. 6 Number 2


2011 Vol. 6 Number 2