Breeding of Productive Bivoltine Hybrid, CSR16${\times}$CSR17 of Silkworm Bombyx mori L.

The breeding work was initiated by utilizing two Japanese hybrids namely C135N134 and N137C146 along with two evolved Indian breeds, J14 and A24. The breed CSR16 which is characterized with marked larvae and white dumbbell cocoons was evolved from the Japanese hybrid C135N134 by crossing with J14, while the breed CSR17 which is characterized with plain larvae and white oval cocoons was evolved from the Japanese hybrid N137C146 by crossing with A24. The hybrid of these evolved breeds i.e., CSR16CSR17 has shown superior over control hybrid and on par with the ruling hybrid of CSR2CSR4. The hybrid CSR16CSR17 was authorized during 1999 by Central Silk Board, Bangalore, Government of India for commercial exploitation during favourable months based on national level race authorization test.