Studies on the origin of silkworm, Bonbyxmori, and an evaluation of its genetic differentiation

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Our investigation was carried out in China and India on the origin of silkworm and its genetic differentiation. In 1995 we visited to Zhejiang in China and to Mysore in India for preliminary investigation. Our main works were planned to make clear the some genetic traits of silkworm strains to compare the relationship among these strains preserved at each institute of both countries. It is not permitted to take out abroad the materials as living silkworm eggs, larvae, pupae and moths because it is evaluated as important genetic resources at any countries. At present it is very difficult to do such a research work as cytogenetical one at any institutes of these countries. Then, our works were obliged to be limited to observe the genetic traits of domesticated strains maintained at institute and wild silkworm strains collected there. In 1996 the more detailed investigation was carriered out along the "Silkroad" in China and southern and eastern parts in India. As a result of observation on local silkworm strains at each country adapted to such different environments as the tropical or temperate zone, dried or high humitity area, we could have confirmed on the difference in genetic and physiological properties between these strains. The informations may help to estimate the presence of special genes, their genefrequency, physiological difference in larval development and so on. In addition to that, I have collected many cocoon samples and taken them out to Japan, because it is not a living body, so that I could measure their cocoon shape by use of image processing system which I had developed recentrly. The data were analyzed statistically by cluster analysis mainly, and I have succeeded to separate them into some groups according to area strain and its similariy of cocoon shape variables.