Studies on improvement of quantitative traits of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. during autumn season under temperate climatic conditions of Kashmir
Shivkumar, Bharath Kumar N, Mir Nisar Ahmad, Shakeel Ahmad, Ravindra MA and MK Ghosh
The present investigation was carried out to improve the selected quantitative traits under uniform laboratory conditions utilizing twenty five breeding lines (BL) of silkworm Bombyx mori L. during autumn season, 2017 in temperate climatic conditions of Kashmir. The breeding lines were reared over five generations and data were recorded as per the standard procedure for the calculation of all the quantitative traits namely, Fecundity (no.), hatching percentage, yield by number & weight (kg)/ 10,000 larvae brushed, single cocoon weight (g), single shell weight (g), shell ratio (%) and pupation rate (%). The data generated were subjected to the multiple trait evaluation index and among all the breeding lines, eighteen lines viz., L-1, L-2, L-3, L-4, L-6, L-7, L-11, L-12, L-14, L-15, L-16, L-7, L-18, L-19, L-20, L-21, L-22 and L-24 exhibited better performance with >50 evaluation index values, L-4 & L-9 observed moderate and L-8, L-10, L-13, L-23 & L-25 recorded least evaluation index during autumn season.
Based on the results obtained from the study, the traits differences were observed between the twenty five breeding lines to be considered as the variable effects among the lines during autumn season. It is found that, the 18 lines with >50 evaluation index values have shown significant influence on the expression of quantitative traits and have economical importance under the study. Hence, obtained results from the study will conveniently be utilized for selecting best breeding lines for evolving suitable breeds during autumn season in temperate region of the Kashmir and will be helpful in the field of silkworm breeding and genetics programmes.
Shivkumar, Bharath Kumar N, Mir Nisar Ahmad, Shakeel Ahmad, Ravindra MA, MK Ghosh. Studies on improvement of quantitative traits of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. during autumn season under temperate climatic conditions of Kashmir. J Entomol Zool Stud 2018;6(4):677-682.