Abstract

The DNA marker use in assisting selection are safe method in breeding process and it is an important tool for authentication of new gene cascade in genome. In mulberry silkworm, the major economic and nutrigenomic traits are polygenic in nature. In the present study, we have utilized ten PCR-SSR microsatellite markers to gain better understanding on genotyping of certain nutrigenomic gene loci in nutritionally efficient silkworm breeds / hybrids. Results showed that  a single yet varying size amplified band in all four parental silkworm strains (RMG₄, RMW₂, RBD₁ and RBO₂) and two clear amplified bands in the hybrids (RMG₄ × RBD₁ and RMW₂ × RBO₂) with different molecular weight from three PCR-SSR primers loci viz., F11139, F10429 and F10705. The PCR-SSR results demonstrated that homozygosity in newly evaluated nutritionally efficient parental silkworm strains and heterozygosity in hybrid. These investigations authentically confirmed the previous findings of heterotic nutritionally efficient silkworm hybrids with superior nutrigenomic traits. The developed molecular analysis in silkworm could be utilized for the benefit of the farmers in sericulture industry. In conclusion, these results would be useful in identification of nutrigenomic cascade of genes in silkworm and also emphasize the future prospects of silkworm functional mechanism in nutrigenomic studies.

Key words: Silkworm, breed, hybrid, nutrigenomics, PCR-SSR marker, homozygosity, heterozygosity, cascade of genes.