Studies on the Genetic Variability in the Ecoraces of Anthereae Mylitta Drury in Relation to the Environmental Factors

Antheraea mylitta produces tasar silk and is an endemic species of the Indian subcontinent. Populations of this species show a certain degree of phenotypic variability for which they are designated as ‘ecoraces’. Inorder to study the genetic variability in relation to the environment among Daba T.V and Andhra local the life history of two ecorace from hatching to egg laying stage and the cocoon characters were enumerated. Andhra local ecorace has exhibited superior qualities in fecundity, shell ratio,silkyield,filament length,reelability and denier whereas mothemergence, larvalweight, cocoonweight,shell weightand effective rate of rearing have been encouraging in Daba T.V.Thus the variations in the above characters could be attributed to the genetic variability between the two ecoraces rather than the environment influence as they are reared under similar environment.