BREEDING OF NEW POTENTIAL CROSSBREED (Bombyx mori L.), MSO3 x APS45 ForTROPICAL REGIONS

Keeping the various objectives of the industry in view, silkworm breeders are contributed significantly for the development of new strains through inbreeding coupled with appropriate selection procedures. Continuous renewal and change of existing breeds/hybrids with superior varieties and their commercialization is the need of the hour to increase silk quality and quantity. In this direction an attempt has been made at Andhra Pradesh State Sericulture Research and Development Institute (APSSRDI), Hindupur, India and contributed for the development of potential cross breed, MSO3 x APS45. Twenty four hybrid combinations were prepared in Line x Tester method involving eight newly developed polyvoltine lines with the three testers. The relative merit of the hybrids over multiple traits was assessed adopting Evaluation Index method. Based on the evaluation methods and performance, the hybrid MSO3 x APS45 were adjudicated as promising and chosen for further laboratory evaluation during different seasons. The performance data obtained was further subjected for multiple trait evaluation index method and the ranks were adjudicated based on the index values. The hybrid MSO3 x APS45 performed well under diversified environmental conditions indicating their overall stability and superiority which could be exploited at field level for the benefit of the sericulture farmers.