Performance of Bivoltine Silkworm Germplasm under High Temperature and High Humidity of Jammu Region
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Author:M. Muthulakshmi, N. Balachandran, S.K. Raina, Pankaj Tewary, G.K.S. Babu and C.K. Kamble
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:98, Issue:jan-mar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.100252
Abstract
Autumn silkworm crop is distinguished by high temperature and high humidity in Jammu
and there is an urgent need to develop hardy bivoltine breeds/hybrids, which can withstand
the autumn conditions of Jammu region to make sericulture activity profitable in the traditional
sericultural state of Jammu and Kashmir. Though mulberry leaves are available in plenty
during this season the silkworm crop during autumn season is generally a failure in Northern
India. In order to identify suitable silkworm races, selected bivoltine silkworm germplasm
were evaluated under abiotic stress conditions of high temperature and high humidity
prevailing during autumn season in Northern India. Ten test accessions out of 230 bivoltine
silkworm accessions were selected based on economically important rearing and post cocoon
parameters and evaluated in the RSRS, Jammu conditions. The accessions were BBE-0173,
BBE-0174, BBE-0178, BBE-0186, BBE-0189, BBE-0192, BBE-0198, BBE-0226, BBI-0239 and BBE-0266
with two control accessions (one local, ie., BBI-0116 for Jammu) and one common national
control ie., BBI-0290). Six trials were conducted in the location in both the favourable (Spring)
and unfavourable (Autumn) seasons. Test accessions BBE-0178 and BBE-0266 performed
better during both spring and autumn seasons not only for rearing traits but also for post
cocoon parameters. These accessions can be used to evolve suitable silk worm breeds or
breed combinations through breeding programmes to stabilize autumn crop rearing.
Key words : Germplasm, Abiotic stress, Bivoltine Accessions, Spring, Autumn