The effect of ecological factors on cocoon productivity of silkworm breeds and hybrids in different regions

Abstract

This study investigated the productivity of silkworms and their cocoons (cocoon weight, shell weight, and silk content) of various breeds and hybrids reared in the Tashkent, Syrdarya, Jizzakh, and Samarkand regions. The results showed that local breeds and hybrids have higher cocoon weight, heavier shells, and greater silk content compared to foreign hybrids ("Japanese × Chinese"). Foreign hybrids more frequently exhibited incomplete cocoon spinning due to poor adaptation to local climatic conditions. The findings indicate that using local breeds and hybrids, along with rearing them according to ecological and agrotechnical requirements, is crucial for increasing silkworm productivity.