Evaluation of Thermo Tolerance of 'Nistari' an Indigenous Strain of Multivoltine Silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

An indigenous multivoltine silkworm, Nistari was evaluated for their thermo tolerance by exposing the larvae to various temperature regimes for eight hours. Among different temperature exposed, this strain has significant tolerance at . Analysis of heat shock protein revealed the expression of 70 kDa and 64 kDa polypeptides in fat body and midgut tissues. Interestingly esterase isozyme pattern in midgut showed characteristic expression of Est-1 and Est-3 at different temperatures signifying role in heat and cold shock.