Breeding and Preservation Methods for Silkworm Eggs
Silkworm seed multiplication and breeding are two sequentially linked yet distinct and interrelated components of domestic silkworm breed management. Silkworm seed multiplication is, in essence, a continuation of the domestic silkworm breeding program. The primary task of seed multiplication is to produce high-quality silkworm seeds in accordance with cocoon-production requirements and seed-multiplication plans, thereby supplying rural sericulture operations with superior seed stock while maintaining the genetic integrity of established and newly developed varieties at an appropriate level through controlled breeding environments at all levels of the seed-multiplication process.
The selection and promotion of superior silkworm strains is only the prerequisite for comprehensive yield increases in cocoon production; it also requires the coordinated implementation of other rearing and management practices. Therefore, during the breeding process, it is essential to prioritize feed quality, maintain a properly sanitized rearing environment, and conduct rigorous strain selection—measures that can fully exploit the desirable traits of superior silkworm varieties. However, because the various traits of any given variety are interrelated and mutually influential, no single superior strain can achieve optimal performance across all traits; thus, it is imperative to accurately evaluate and identify truly superior strains. Moreover, as socio-economic conditions evolve and market demands change, different periods call for silkworm strains with distinct sets of desirable characteristics.
From the time silkworm eggs are laid until they hatch in the following spring, the period for spring-produced, spring-used seed spans just over ten months, while that for autumn-produced, spring-used seed lasts about six months. During this time, all physiological activities within the eggs are influenced by external environmental conditions. Even if superior silkworm seed is obtained at the time of production, improper storage can compromise seed quality, leading to an increase in dead eggs or the emergence of degenerate eggs, which in turn result in uneven embryonic development, poor hatching, and weak, less vigorous larvae. Therefore, dedicated personnel must be assigned to maintain round-the-clock vigilance, regularly record indoor and outdoor temperature, carefully regulate appropriate storage temperature and humidity, and implement effective measures to prevent insect infestation, rodent damage, and mold growth. The key to successful silkworm seed preservation lies in providing appropriate protection at each stage of egg development, ensuring that the cumulative number of days during diapause and the post-diapause cold-tolerance period exceeds the total duration from egg-laying to the next year’s larval harvest, thereby producing high-quality seed with uniform hatching and healthy larvae.
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