DIVERSITY IN WILD TASAR (ANTHERAEA MYLITTA D.) ECORACES OF SIMLIPAL BIOSPHERE RESERVE WITH RESPECT TO COCOON AND ASSOCIATED PARAMETERS.

Tropical tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta is represented by 44 different ecoraces in India. Due to urbanisation, mining and other anthropogenic reasons, many of the wild Tasarecoraces either lost or in the process of extinction which warrants their conservation. Similipal Biosphere Reserve in Mayurbhanj, Odisha is considered to be the natural habitat for many economically important tropical Tasar silkworm namely Modal, Nalia, Jata and Bogai etc. All these wild ecoraces are genetic treasures for Vanya sericulture industry, unfortunately, genetic base of all these ecoraces are depleting day by day. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to ascertain the genetic varability between these ecoraces particularly with reference to cocoon and associated parameters. The study indicated that the ecorace Modal is one of the best with highest average Cocoon length 5.40 (5.23-5.48 cm), breadth 3.47 (3.42-3.50 cm), Cocoon volume 30.03 (29.20-31.10 cc), Single cocoon weight 15.57 (13.48-18.48 g), Single shell weight 3.22 (2.90-3.52 g) and Silk ratio 20.80 (19.11-21.52%) when compared to all other ecoraces. However, result depicted that there was considerable statistically significant variation exists with respect to the different cocoon and associated characters amongst the evaluated ecoraces. Further variation in voltinism and choice of food plants were also evident among the studied ecoraces. The range of variation exists among these ecoraces can effectively be utilized in formulating conservation plan and selective breeding programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]