An analysis of oval cocoons strains of Iranian silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) germplasm

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) is an important economic insect which is used as experimental material for the evolution of economically important silkworm breeds. Breeds/strains thus evolved are maintained in germplasm stations for breeders and researchers to use. The Islamic Republic of Iran has valuable silkworm genetic resources which differ in cocoon shape. Fifty-four oval cocoon strains maintained by the Iran Silkworm Research Station (ISRC) were analyzed for the estimation of evaluation index to study their genetic divergence. Larval growth parameters revealed higher evaluation index and higher sub-ordinate function values for strains 104×110 (197.272 and 2.857), 1001 (193.268 and 2.780), BH-4 (186.365 and 2.647), 124-16-9[116] (183.023 and 2.602), and Shown (180.744 and 2.556). ANOVA indicated significant variations among the silkworm strains. Silkworm (Bombyx mori) is an important economic insect which is used as experimental material for the evolution of economically important silkworm breeds. Breeds/strains thus evolved are maintained in germplasm stations for breeders and researchers to use. The Islamic Republic of Iran has valuable silkworm genetic resources which differ in cocoon shape. Fifty-four oval cocoon strains maintained by the Iran Silkworm Research Station (ISRC) were analyzed for the estimation of evaluation index to study their genetic divergence. Larval growth parameters revealed higher evaluation index and higher sub-ordinate function values for strains 104×110 (197.272 and 2.857), 1001 (193.268 and 2.780), BH-4 (186.365 and 2.647), 124-16-9[116] (183.023 and 2.602), and Shown (180.744 and 2.556). ANOVA indicated significant variations among the silkworm strains. 1001 (193.268 and 2.780), BH-4 (186.365 and 2.647), 124-16-9[116] (183.023 and 2.602), and Shown (180.744 and 2.556). ANOVA indicated significant variations among the silkworm strains.