Evaluation of indigenous bivoltine silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) Hybrids under sub-tropical conditions
Mokshe Sajgotra and Vikas Gupta
The investigation was carried out to evaluate ten silkworm bivoltine hybrids raised by involving half (5 × 5) diallel set of bivoltine breeds including five hypersericigenous (NSO, SPO, SPDL, Z and ZZ) breeds along with ruling bivoltine hybrid, SH6 × NB4D2 in order to identify the adaptable, high yielding hybrids suited for sub-tropical conditions. Observations were made on twelve economically important traits namely; larval weight, larval survival, cocoon yield per 10,000 larvae (by weight and by number), good cocoon, pupation, single cocoon weight, single shell weight, shell ratio, average filament length, non-breakable filament length and denier. The data was analyzed using Evaluation index (E.I.) method. Six hybrid combinations recorded mean evaluation index (E.I.) values of >50 ranging from 51.63 to 57.51, whereas, control scored E.I. value of 31.38 only. Three hybrid combinations, Z × SPO (57.51), SPDL × NSP (56.89) and SPO × NSP (56.84) recorded Average E.I. value >56 for all the characters under sub-tropical conditions.