Comparison of Phenotypic and Genetic Performance of Local Silkworm Groups and Two Commercial Lines

ABSTRACT

Five Iranian native silkworm groups Baghdad, Khorasan Orange, Guilan Orange, Khorasan Pink, Khorasan Lemon, and 107 and 110 commercial lines (12 families from each breed) were randomly selected and reared during 2003-2005 (five generations in spring and autumn). In each family, 30 male and 30 female cocoons were individually recorded for weight, shell weight and shell ratio. From among the native groups, the highest average in all three traits belonged to Baghdad and Khorasan Pink, and the lowest to Khorasan Orange and Khorasan Lemon. From among the commercial lines, the highest average in all three traits belonged to 107. In comparing heritabihty for cocoon weight in native groups, the highest heritabihty belonged to Guilan Orange (0.5147) and Khorasan Orange (0.5036) and the lowest heritabihty belonged to Khorasan Pink (0.0967). In the two other traits, the highest heritabihty belonged to Khorasan Orange and Baghdad and the lowest to Khorasan Pink. In the commercial lines, linellO had higher heritabihty than linel07 for cocoon weight and cocoon shell weight. In all the groups, genetic correlations between cocoon weight and cocoon shell weight were high, expect for the Baghdad group. There was médium or low genetic correlation among cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight and cocoon shell ratio.