AN INVESTIGATION ON HETEROSIS AND INBREEDING DEPRESSION IN THE SILKWORM (Bombyx mori L.)

The aim of this study was to define heterosis and inbreeding depression in the four silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) races namely C108, NB4D2, Pure Mysore and Nistari for four important characters including larval weight, cocoon weight, shell weight and shell percentage. The traits of larval weight and cocoon weight showed highly significant heterosis in F1 hybrids ranging from 11 to 23% and 14 to 27 % respectively, while inbreeding depression in the F2 progeny ranged from 0.366 - 10.814% and 2.682 - 12.312% respectively. Shell weight showed low level of heterosis in F1 hybrids (14 to 20 %), whereas the effect of inbreeding depression in F2 progeny was -4.369 to 8.467% for this character. C108 × NB4D2 hybrids proved to be a good specific combiner by making higher contribution towards heterosis both in F1 hybrids and inbreeding at F2 generation.

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