Studies on the Origin of wild Silkworms and on Their Relationship

(1)对蓖麻蚕(Samia Cynthia Ricini)、神州家蚕(Samia Cynthia)及其正反交家蚕的酯酶同工酶进行了研究。在刚孵化的幼虫中，两种幼虫的同工酶图谱不同。随后，比较了这两个物种和正反交后代成虫头部的同工酶图谱。对天蚕科天蚕幼虫的体液、中肠、马氏管、脂肪体、丝腺、睾丸、脑和皮下组织的酯酶酶谱进行了分析，发现不同器官和组织的活性条带不同。(3)对家蚕科白毛虫Romdotia menciana的蚕茧性质的测定表明，该虫比野桑蚕更原始。氨基酸组成分析表明，曼氏蚕茧和柑橘蚕茧的氨基酸组成差异不大。对103个家蚕品系的消化液淀粉酶同工酶图谱进行了分析，发现同工酶类型与淀粉酶活性有关。测定了IV型和V型等电点，部分阐明了同工酶的酶学性质。分子量为53,500。(5)对天蚕科野生桑蚕的命名和引进日本的文献进行了检索，并对天蚕科昆虫间的种间关系进行了探讨。

(1) Esterase isozymes were investigated using eri-silkworm (Samia cynthia ricini), shinju-silkworm (Samia cynthia) and their reciprocal hybrids, belonging to Saturniidae. In the newly hatched larvae the isozyme pattern was different between two species. Subsequently, isozyme patterns of adult heads were compared among these two species and reciprocal hybrids. Results indicated that patterns were different between two species, and were of intermediate type in the hybrids.(2) Larvae of Antheraea yamamai in Saturniidae were analyzed for esterase zymograms of body fluid, midgut, Malpighian tubule, fat body, silk gland, testis, brain, and hypodermis, and it was found that active bands were different according to the different organs and tissues. It was also found that zymogram patterns varied rather slightly according to the larval development.(3) The determination of cocoon property of the white caterpillar, Rondotia menciana, Bombycidae, suggested that this insect was more primitive than wild silkworm, Bombyx mandarina. Analyses of amino acid composition revealed that there existed little difference between menciana cocoon and mandarina cocoon. Thus, it is supposed that Rondotia might be an ancestor of the domesticated silkworm.(4) Amylase isozyme patterns of digestive juice were analyzed using 103 silkworm strains, and it was found that isozyme pattern types were related to the amylase activity. Isoelectric points of IV- and V-types were determined, and enzymatic properties of isozymes were clarified partly. Molecular weight was estimated to be 53,500.(5) The literature search was carried out on the nomenclature of wild silkworms in Saturniidae and on their introduction to Japan, and the species relationship among Saturniidae insects was considered.