Prevention of Diapause in Bivoltine Eggs of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori, L., through a Cross with the Race KS-10 as Male Parent

The present investigation reports a phenomenon hitherto unknown in tropical sericulture, wherein dia-pause nature of bivoltine eggs is overcome through a cross with a non-diapausing race of silkworm, Bombyx mori, L. Eggs of bivoltine silkworm Bombyx mori, L. generally do not hatch under tropical conditions. To prevent diapause, they are subjected to acid treatment or low temperature hibernation scheduled. A race developed at KSSRDI is found to prevent the diapause nature of bivoltine eggs when crossed as male parent, without any acid treatment or hibernation schedule. This phenomenon is reported for the first time, being unique, opens up interesting area of research in silkworm genetics of commercial implications in the industry.