Author Description

Silk is the queen of textiles. The Asian region supplies silk to the world market. China accounts for the bulk of silk exports to the world. Japan realized the importance of silkworm breeding and contributed a lot to the development of sericulture. However, till recently this development of technology was not given out and was kept as a secret. The language also acted as a barrier in this respect. The breeding techniques developed by Japanese were for temperate regions. At present due to electronic revolution the silk producing countries of the Asian region are experiencing changes in their production patterns. Advanced sericulture countries like Japan and Korea are showing some decline in their silk output levels. Other developing countries like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka etc. that belong to the tropical belt have realized the potential benefits, such as alleviating rural poverty through employment and income generating activities.The main aim of writing this book is to make basic techniques of silkworm breeding more comprehensive it includes fundamental principles which are most common and directly applicable to breeders. The basic techniques are emphasized to stress practical applications in order to achieve breeding aims under various environmental conditions.The data given in the text is mostly for bivoltine breeds. This publication, therefore, intends to serve as a hint book for researchers who are planning to organize or initiate a breeding plan in silkworm breeding.The purpose of silkworm breeding is to improve economic characters. The breeding and popularization of good varieties of silkworms not only enhances farmer's income, but also improves cocoon qualities and reeling process. The silkworm cocoon and raw silk production is primarily based on successful breeding of good silkworm varieties. The improvement of silkworm varieties for higher cocoon yields is an efficient way to achieve good quality raw silk. The breeders have to aim at improving the o