Studies on Suitable Hybrid Crosses of Mulberry Silkworm (Bombyx Mori Linn.) for Western Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Sericulture is the science that deals with the production of silk by rearing of silkworm. Silk is called the queen of textiles due to its glittering luster, softness, elegance, durability and tensile properties. This is a labour intensive, agro-based cottage industry, ideally suited not only to India also to all developing countries of tropical region. Mulberry silk worm (Bombyx mori Linn.) is a monophagous insect feed on mulberry plant leaves. The Present study entitled "Studies on suitable hybrid crosses of mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori Linn.) for Western Uttar Pradesh" was carried out on Sericulture Research, Demonstration and Training Unit Lab, Department of Entomology, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology Modipuram, Meerut (U.P.) during 2013-14. Investigations were undertaken to record the .data on their life span three types of life-table constructed i.e. Construction of age specific life table, Construction of stage specific life table and Construction of life and fertility table for female. The age specific life table revealed that the age specific survivorship of two mulberry silkworm hybrid cross viz. NistarixNistari and NB4D2xSHs almost same with little differences. The Bombyx mori l. hybrid cross NistarixNistari and NE4D2xSHe took the shortest time 39 and 41 days at control temperature to complete its generation respectively, while hybrid cross NistarixNistari and NS..D2xSHs required the maximum time, 42 and 43 days at room temperature respectively. The highest apparent mortality was recorded on NistarixNistari and NB4D2xSH6 15% and 14% at room temperature respectively, whereas lowest 13% on NistarixNistari and NB4D2xSH6 at control temperature. The highest potential fecundity 338.00 on NE4D2xSH6 at control temperature followed by 325.00, 292.00 and 288.00 on NistarixNistari at control temperature, NB4D2xSH6 at room temperature and NistarixNistari at room temperature respectively. Based on the results obtained from the present study, it may be concluded that among the hybrids cross of mulberry silkworm NistrixNistari was the most suitable hybrid cross of mulberry silkworm for the sericulture growers of U.P.