Click here for the original journal page (in Acrobat pdf format).

The text below is grayed out because it is not intended to be read. It is a necessarily imperfect OCR of the original and is only used by a search engine.

Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 47(4), 1993, 331-337

DIFFERENCES IN SEASONAL PERFORMANCE OF TWENTY-SIX STRAINS OF SILKWORM, BOMBYX MORI (BOMBYCIDAE)

Additional key words: sericulture, cocoon yield, silk production.

Commercial exploitation of the mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L., Bombycidae) results in the production of 10,000 metric tons of raw silk in India annually (Thomas 1991). There are approximately 2000 different strains of Bombyx mori used in silk production (Reddy 1986). Twenty-one characters of this species are recognized as contributing to silk yield quantitatively or qualitatively (Chatterjee et al. 1990). These are: 1) fecundity; 2) hatching percentage; 3) missing percentage of young age larvae (i.e., early larval survival); 4) missing percentage of late age larvae (late larval survival); 5) total larval duration (i.e., rearing period); 6) fifth instar duration; 7) cocoon yield number per 10,000 larvae brushed [Silkworm eggs will be either on an egg sheet or in loose form. Brushing is the process of carefully separating the newly hatched larvae from the empty egg shells or egg sheets, and transferring them to the rearing trays with the help of a smooth brush.]; 8) cocoon yield (weight per 10,000 larvae brushed); 9) pupation rate; 10) single cocoon weight; 11) single shell weight; 12) shell ratio (i.e., ratio of single shell weight to single cocoon weight expressed in percentage); 13) mature larval body weight; 14) floss percentage [Floss is the foundation layer of the cocoon with entangled filaments from which a continuous silk filament cannot be obtained.]; 15) single cocoon filament length; 16) single cocoon filament weight; 17) filament size; 18) reelability percentage; 19) raw silk percentage; 20) neatness; and 21) boil-off ratio [Silk thread is reeled from the cocoons by boiling them in water so that the gummy materials are dissolved and the silk filament can be reeled without any breaks. The term is used in silk industry to classify the grade of raw silk with respect to reeling and weaving.]. While some of these characters are heritable, others are determined by environmental factors.

The domestic and international demand for silk always has been greater than can be met. In India, the average silk yield from indigenous strains of silkworms is around 30 kg/100 dfl (dfl = disease-free laying; one dfl equals approximately 500 eggs with an average 80% hatching, i.e., 400 worms). By contrast, in Japan the average yield is 60 kg/ dfl. If the yield in India could be increased to 45 kg/dfl, overall silk production would increase by 50% (Thiagarajan et al. 1991). This may be achieved by rearing silkworm strains most suited for particular seasons. However, in India this practice is not employed. As a result, failures in rearings frequently lead to crop losses and frustration among farmers. To solve this problem and achieve maximal harvest, it is essential to select a few superior strains of silkworm in relation to seasonal performance. In Japan, there are 19 strains suitable for spring rearing (May-June) and 22 strains suitable for summer (July-August) and autumn (September-October) rearings (Shimizu & Tajima 1972). The purpose of our study was to evaluate the performance of different strains of silkworm available to us in relation to their performance in spring, summer, and autumn.

Materials and methods. Rearing experiments were conducted in the spring, summer, and autumn for three years (1989-1991) at the Regional Sericultural Research Station, Coonoor, in the Nilgiri Hills of Western Ghats, India. All of the twenty-six strains of silkworm available to us (Table 1) were reared in a randomized block design. Each group evaluated consisted of the larvae from a single laying by an individual female moth. All the larvae were retained until spinning. Each experimental tray was placed in a rearing stand; the positions of the trays were changed regularly three to four times a day to reduce effects of environmental factors. Standard techniques for rearing silkworms (i.e., temperature 23-28°C, relatively humidity 79-90%, and 12/12 h dark/light ratio) were applied (Krishnaswami 1978). Duration of experimental rearings was 26 days for summer, 27 days for spring, and 28 days for autumn, with three replications of each strain.

Observations were made on five characters of economic importance: 1) cocoon yield (number per 10,000 larvae brushed); 2) single cocoon weight; 3) single shell weight; 4) shell ratio; and 5) filament length. Data were analyzed according to Lush (1954) and Kempthorne (1957).

Table 1. Salient characteristics of twenty-six silkworm str

Geographical origin

Larval marking

Volume 47, Number 4

333

Analysis of variance of the five characters for twenty-six strains in three seasons and the strains/season interaction were evaluated as described by Pershad et al. (1986). A simple method for making a decision on each character based on least significant difference as described by Thiagarajan et al. (1993) was followed for each character for ranking of the races. The population means were arranged in groups based on £-test (and l.s.d.). The topmost group containing populations with the highest means was given a score 1, the next best a score of 2, and so on. If 'k' is the number of groups for a particular character, the populations in group 1 were given a score = 1/k, those in group 2 a score = 2/k, and so on to obtain standardized scores across the characters. The individual scores for each character were added up to provide a total score for each population. The populations then were ranked in descending order of the numerical values of total scores. The method consists of the following steps:

1.   The performance of each character as demonstrated by its mean value in the particular entry or season and a score (actual score) is allotted to that character. A high mean value will get a score of 1; moderate value 2; low value 3 and so on.

2.   The actual score assigned for a particular character is converted into a standard score by dividing actual score obtained with the number of scores applied. For example, in ERR character we used a total of 4 scores. Hence, the standard score will be "actual score/4."

3.   A score or rank Si is obtained for each entry [there are 4 entries in each race, which stand for (i) summer, (ii) spring, (iii) autumn and (iv) the average of three seasons] by multiplying standard score with the number of characters (which is 5 in this study).

Si = sij (where j = number of characters)

To demonstrate this method, here are the performance scores for 14 M in the spring season:

Character                           Actual score                 Standard score

ERR                                                      1                                    1/4

Single cocoon weight                          4                                   4/4

Single shell weight                               1                                    1/4

Shell ratio                                             1                                    1/4

Filament length                                   4                                   4/4

Out of 5 characters, race 14 M received score 1 in 3 characters.

Results and discussion. The average rearing performance together with the least significant difference values of each character of the twenty-six strains of silkworm in spring, summer, and autumn seasons during three years is shown in Table 2. Analysis of variance, i.e., the mean squares for all the five characters, are given in Table 3.

Based on least significant difference values, the following strains are found to be most suitable to rear during particular seasons: European and 14 M (spring), JC2P (summer), M2 (autumn). These strains performed well for most of the characters of economic importance, especially cocoon yield. However, as illustrated in Table 2, the remaining strains also are useful for one or more characters.

The results of season specific performance of different strains with respect to characters like cocoon yield, single cocoon weight, single shell weight, shell ratio, and filament length noted in this study are in agreement with earlier reports on this subject (Venugopala Pillai 1979, Pershad et al. 1986, Thiagarajan et al. 1993). The results of the analysis of variance showed significant difference at the 1% level between the three seasons, twenty-six strains, and strains/seasons interaction for all the five characters studied. This indicates

3

bo

n

> CT> OO > OO OO > OO OO > OO OO > OO OO

p e >3 £e >a £ e >a £e >a £e >a

?3

3

3

CD

I 3^

c 3 5 c D 3 gtjQ 3

3 QTQ

&3

> OO OO   > OO OO   > OO OO   > OO OO   > OO OO   > OO OO

S- a ^    5-3 2    &g 2    &g ^    & g ^    5-3 2

£ a 3"   g § a*   g § a'   g § a"   g a a'   g § a

aaorq    g 3 oq    g poq    3 5 oq    g poq    3 djq

a o>            « o>            3, cr>            a o>            a o>            3 o>

c35

- QTQ

a ^

CDOOCD    Cn © O    © 00 <l    CDOOCD    CDOO-1    CDCDCD OOCDOO    OOCDCD CDCDOO    CO 00 00

cnooo    O^oo    ooa^bo    © oo cn    booocD    <l cn cn oooocn    cnboa^ bocnoi    h 01 ^

Cnoo^l    O5O5O0    © © <l    OOOO    Cn Cn cn    cni—'bo oo i—' Cn    Cn i—■ -^ © © Cn    Oi CX vi

© 03 Cn    <i <i oo    OOCn    o WO    OOO    © <l Cn oo <l ©    OMCn OOO    © <l Cn

*                      *                  *   *          **** ***

CD 00 00 QOliI^ 0 05-4 © <l Cn

~J CO <1    © 4^ ©    © <l <l    OOOOi    © -4 Cn    © © J^    k- ~q <l    O O -J    -*1 -*1 CO    <l 00 <l    Q5 M O)

~J Cn ©    K) m oi    ooboo    oooocn    boooo    OOCn    oo <i cn    h CD Oi    i—■ oo bo    OCDO    OO^bo

ppp    OOO    OOO    OOO    OOO    OOO    Opp    ppp    OOO    ppp    ppp

00 CO 00    00 bO 00    OOOOOO    OOOOOO    bO 00 00    j^OObO    000000    "^ 00 00    OOOOOO    OOOOOO    OOOOOO

l—' l—' bO    OOOOO    vlOlO    l—'OO    OOOO    OOOOCD    © ^ <l    bO <l ©    bO © 00    ^ 00 <1    K) 03 H

l—' l—> I—' bO ^--10100 00 CD 00

tObO H bo © ^

I—' H- bO bO I—' bO h-K-bO bObObO I— I—'I—' I—' h-* fcO bO I—' t—

pCDOO H H P O CO O OOp M © J— © 00 © CO (D^H OOOp

^-v»> /-^k ^—^ /• »\ ►.»-> i__■ <-r+* /~+\ rn _ 1 rv\ _ l r.i .K _ l /—s rr\ i___

cncol— o^boh- ^1000 o bi f-4 boooo boooo bobok- cDoocn i—'OOO OOOO OCncn bo^ioo oo^O <100O ^ i—' 0^ O CD ^1 *          *                                  *                 * * *

cd bo bi ^bo<i boo^'^i 1 - Cn CD bO O <l

O CD O^J^

CDCDCD bOOCD    K-CDCD    H GO O    H CD O    I—'OO    OO^    (— I— ©    CDOO©    00©©    © t—'CD

rf^OObO bOO©    MbOO    bO-JOO    ©©O    ©<1©    Cn<l©    ©©<l    0©0    00 I—'00    00©bO

ooooo ©<i^    ~^oooo    cnbo©    bo©oo    i—'©oo    ©©*.    bobo^i    <i©©    booocn    -4 oo oo

*                                             *                 * * *

Volume 47, Number 4

Table 2. Continued.

that not only heredity but also environmental factors influence the performance of a given strain for the characters studied.

In addition to the leaf quality of mulberry in different seasons, physical factors such as temperature and relative humidity (RH) also greatly influence the growth of silkworms (Gabriel & Rapusas 1976). First and second instars reared at 26-28°C temperature and 80-90% RH are healthier in later stages (third, fourth and fifth instars). Temperature, RH, and ventilation during the spinning of silkworms influence the quality of cocoon. The length of silk filament also may vary in the given strain in different seasons (Ueda et al. 1969). Recent experiments have shown that physical properties such as cocoon

336

Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society

Table 3. Mean squares for five characters in Bombyx mori L.

Source of variation

df

Cocoon yield

Single cocoon weight

Single shell weight

Shell ratio

Filament length

weight, shell weight, and filament length will be optimal when mature Bombyx mori are kept at 21-24°C temperature and 67% RH.

Since domestication of silkworm, mankind has been interested in breeding silkworm varieties that produce greater quantities of silk. Silkworm breeders in sericulturally advanced countries like Japan and South Korea have always utilized season specific silkworm strains. Mano et al. (1991) recommended the hybrid N147 x C145, with high cocoon shell weight and long filament length, as a suitable silkworm race for the spring season. Similarly, Sohn et al. (1990) have produced a hybrid silkworm variety named Samkwang-jam suitable for summer and autumn rearings with high silk yielding ability.

To obtain the best cocoon crop quantitatively and qualitatively, a particular strain should be reared during the season in which the environmental conditions are most favorable for its genotype. Knowing that variation caused by the environment can be produced in the offspring by repeating the environmental treatments, which produced them in the parent, we can exploit successfully the cocoon crops from 14 M and European in spring, JC2P in summer, and M2 in autumn seasons.

The authors express their deepest gratitude to R. K. Datta, Director, Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Mysore, India, for constant encouragement and interest in the present study. Thanks are also due to Mr. S. Sekar, stenographer of this station, for typing the manuscript.

Literature Cited

Chatterjee, S. N., C. S. Nagaraj & K. Giridhar. 1990. An approach to silkworm breeding, pp. 11-16. In Datta, R. K. (ed.), Workshop on biometrical genetics proceedings. Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Mysore, India.

Gabriel, B. P. & H. R. Rapusas. 1976. The growth and development of Bombyx mori (L.) at different leaf maturity and variety of mulberry. Philippines Agricul. 60:130-146.

Kempthorne, O. 1957. An introduction to genetic statistics. Wiley, New York. 264 pp.

Krishnaswami, S. 1978. New technology of silkworm rearing. Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute Bulletin 2:1-10.

Lush, J. L. 1954. Chapter 8. Heredity and environment, pp. 90-102. In Lush, J. L. (ed.), Animal breeding plans. Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames.

Mano, Y., M. Ohyanagi, K. Nagyasu & A. Murakami. 1991. Breeding of sex limited larval marking silkworm race, N147 x C145. Bull. Natl. Inst. Seri. Entomol. Sci. 2:1-29.

Pershad, G. D., R. K. Datta, H. V. Vijayakumar, S. K. Bhargava & M. S. Jolly. 1986. Performance of some multivoltine races of Bombyx mori L. Sericologia 26: 295-301.

Reddy, G. S. 1986. Genetics and breeding of silkworm, Bombyx mori L., pp. 70-80. In Boraiah, G. (ed.), Lectures on sericulture. Suramya Publ., Bangalore, India.

Shimizu, M. & Y. Tajima. 1972. Silkworm races suitable for spring, summer and autumn

Volume 47, Number 4                                                                            337

rearing, pp. 304-307. In Shimizu, M. & Y. Tajima (eds.), Handbook of silkworm

rearing. Agric. Tech. Man. 1. Fuji Publ. Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. Sohn, K. W., K. W. Hong, S. J. Hwang, K. S. Ryu, K. M. Kim, S. R. Choi, K. Y. Kim

& S. P. Lee. 1990. Breeding of Samkwangjam, a Fl hybrid silkworm variety suitable

for summer-autumn rearing with the high silk yielding ability and a sex-limited

parent. Res. Rep. Rural Dev. Adm. 32:1-16. Thiagarajan, V., S. S. Sindagi, S. Amarnath & N. N. Nagabhusana Rao. 1991. Need

for a study on silkworm hybrids in different seasons. Indian Silk 30:43-45. Thiagarajan, V., S. K. Bhargava, M. Ramesh Babu & B. Nagaraj. 1993. Performance

of bivoltine breeds of silkworm (Bombyx mori) under high altitude conditions. Ser-

icologia. In press. Thomas, P. S. S. 1991. Sericulture may revolutionise Indian economy. A report from

the United News of India. N.S.P. Newsletter l(9):4-5. Central Silk Board, Bangalore,

India. Ueda, S., R. Kimura & K. Suzuki. 1969. Studies on the growth of silkworm, Bombyx

mori (L). II. The influence of the rearing conditions upon larval growth, productivity

of silk substances, eggs and boiled off loss in the cocoon shell. Bull. Seri. Expt. Stn.

Japan 23:290-293. Venugopala Pillai, S. 1979. Growth studies in silkworm Bombyx mori (L.) with

special reference to its economic characters. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Kerala, India,

pp. 41-56.

V. Thiagarajan, S. K. Bhargava, M. Ramesh Babu, and B. Nagaraj, Regional Sericultural-Research Station, P.O. Box 21, Coonoor 643 101, India.

Received for publication 1 July 1992; revised and accepted 1 May 1993.