Evaluation of Selected Silkworm Hybrid (FC1XFC2 and FC2XFC1) for Rearing Performance under Sub-Temperate Conditions of Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

Sericulture is an integral part of Indian textile sector contributing significantly for economy combining both farm and industrial aspects. Silkworm Bombyx mori (L.) is one of the insects known for production of most versatile silk protein. The growth pattern showed considerable variation from first to last day of the entire larval period for the trail conducted for the study. Evaluation was made for morphological characters of cocoon and results were recorded with phenotypic variation in cocoon colour, shape, shell weight, grains, shell ratio, pupal percentage and pupal weight. Study revealed exponential increase in the larval weight and length until the 5th instar with maximum value on 7th day as 8.5cm & 7.4 cm in FC1xFC2 and FC2xFC1. The maximum and minimum evaluation for larval weight for single and 10 larvae ranged from 45.20g to 0.52g and 36.91g to 0.12g in case of   FC1xFC2 and FC2xFC1 respectively. Similarly, maximum single cocoon weight was recorded as 1.46g for FC1xFC2 and 1.30g for FC2xFC1. Thus, the current study holds potential for screening of region and season specific breeds aided with future breeding programmes.