Effects of 60Co Gamma Rays on the Eri Silkworm (Philosamia ricini Hutt.)

The eggs and different instars of domesticated Eri silkworm (Philosamia recini Hutt.) were irradiated with 40 Gy (4000 rads) of 60Co gamma rays. The 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days old of 5th instar larvae exposed to gamma rays and significantly shows that hatchability and moulting period are longer than in the control. The nature of the Synaptonemal Complex (SC) aberration (ring chromosome and fragmentation) subsequently increases from day 2 to day 8. From day 10 the frequencies of aberration become less. The overall observation showed the mutagenic and teratogenic activity of gamma rays on gonadal cells.