Marker-assisted selection in breeding silkworm strains with high tolerance to fluoride, scaleless wings, and high silk production

Abstract

ABSTRACT. In the silkworm (Bombyx mori), tolerance to fluoride and scaleless wings are controlled by the dominant gene Dtf (dominant tolerance to fluoride) and recessive gene nlw (no Lepidoptera wings), respectively, and these genes have been mapped by using simple sequence repeat and sequence tag site markers. Marker-assisted evaluation and selection of silkworms with fluoride tolerance and scaleless wings were used for predicting fluoride resistance and scaleless wings in backcrossed animals. A silkworm strain was bred using this method, and its economic characteristics were found to be similar to those of commercial silkworms. These methods will therefore be useful for silkworm breeding programs and in screening for two or more characteristics of interest for segregating populations.

Research Article Cytopathology of <i>Bombyx</i> <i>mori</i> (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) larva integument infected by <i>Bombyx</i> <i>mori</i> nucleopolyhedrovirus

“…However, in the present study, the symptomatic evolution was faster in comparison to that described by the authors. Different intervals of evolution of the disease are common in the infections caused by BmNPV, these variations may be related to: the inoculum, due to the differentiated virulence of viral isolates and amount of polyhedra ingested by the host (Zhang et al, 2012); the climate change of temperature, humidity and pollution (Li et al, 2015); the establishment of the caterpillars, by the diet, the quality and availability of the mulberry leaves offered and the number of individuals per box of breeding (UI-Haq et al, 2014;Thulasi and Sivaprasad, 2015); and the strains and hybrids used, which present differences in resistance and susceptibility to pathogens (Pereira et al, 2013;Zhou et al, 2013).…”

Role of microsatellites in genetic analysis of Bombyx mori silkworm: a review

“…Identification of SSR markers linked to genes was carried out in order to understand the molecular basis of characteristics of agronomic and scientific interest. The SSR loci identified by Miao et al 15 and Zhan et al 20 enabled the identification of genes related to characteristics such as thermotolerance, resistance to the Z strain of the virus of densonosis in B. mori, tolerance to fluorinated compounds, and absence of wing scales; studies that were used to develop improved lines with marker-assisted selection 9,65,66 . Genes related to pigmentation patterns were also identified, in cocoons and larvae, and in development processes such as the formation of extremities, thoracic segments, cell adhesion and regulation of molting (Table 3).…”

“…These molecular markers have been a useful tool in sericulture, especially in the management, characterization and conservation of materials in germplasm banks 7,8 and in the development of genetically improved materials 9 . They have been particularly difficult to apply, however, to genetic mapping, mainly due to the low frequency of loci suitable as molecular markers in the B. mori genome.…”

The effect of symbiosis between silkworm (Bombyx mori) andFirmicuteson silk production

“…Over-yielding and better nutrient uptake was found in silkworm/ firmicutes system compared to sole treatments 16–18 . While to date, the mechanism underlying the complementary of yield and nutrient acquisition derived from altruistic collaborations was still kept unknown 19 .…”