VOL 68_2016/081
BIOLOGY OF SILKWORM (BOMBYX MORİ) IN TURKEY
O. Yilmaz1*, Y.E. Erturk2, F. Coskun3, M. Ertugrul4
1Vocational High School of Technical Sciences, Ardahan University, Ardahan, Turkey.
2Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Igdir University, Igdir, Turkey.
3Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Ahi Evran University, Kirsehir, Turkey
4Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
*corresponding author: zileliorhan@gmail.com
Abstract
According to oldest records the first time silkworm was cultivated and silk was obtained from cocoonat China. Silkworm eggs and mulberry seeds was brought to Istanbul illegally the year 552 at age of Byzantine Empire although China kept it as a secret. It started to spread Marmara regione specially Bursa and It’s neighbourhood. Then it was spreaded to allover the world. Sericulture have been economical, cultural and traditional cultivating sector at Turkey for 1500 years. Silkworm is cultivated at about 30 countries that include Turkey. Silk fiber is superior to other fibers in terms of stability, flexibility and brightness. Amount of need is approximately twice the amount of cultivating. In whole world Turkish silk fiber quality is at second rank after japanese silk. Silkworm is a general term that includes a range from worm to the butterfly. Silkworm is a kind of night butterflies. Butterflies are light cream colour have chubby bodies and have soft feathers. Wingspan is about 4-5 cm. Butterfly have lost flying ability because of domestication also have 2 or 3 days life and at that period doesn’t feed and doesn’t fly. Silkworm is fed with mulberry leaves. One cocoon is made from a single silk fiber it’slenght is 800 meters. Real silkworm named “Bombyx Mori L” is bred at mulberry tree which is cultivated at China is white breed. Bombyx Mori L silkworm producesbest silk fiber amoung other genus and it is most special genus cultivated.
Key words: Sericulture, native breed, genetic resource, Silk Road, cocoon.
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