“누에品種 育成의 現況과 改善方向”

The present situation and improvement trend of silkworm breeding in Korea

The improvement process of silkworm varieties in Korea can be devided into 4 stages, viz, the era of native varieties(before 1900) the era of introduced inbred strains(1900 -1919), the era of introduced hybrid varieties(1920-1945), and the era of independently bred hybrid varieties(since 1945) Prominent evolution was obtained in silkworm breeding work during recent two decades, owing to the endeavors of silkworm breeders in Korea. Baegokjam, a newly bred silkworm varieties showed highest raw silk yielding ability,55 to 58% higher than that of varieties in 1960s. A sex-limited larval marking race was bred to save silkworom egg production labor and a double cross hybrid was made to improve egg productivity and tolerance of parental strains. Silkworm breedcrs should consider all requirements from each part of sericulture, such as silkworm egg production, silkworm rearing, cocoon reeling and silk weaving. In order to satisty these different requirements, various silkworn varieties with specific characteristics should be bred by means of introduction of new breeding sources.