The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) has announced that four new silkworm hybrids have been developed in Northern Mindanao and are expected to be officially launched for commercial use by the end of this year.
The new silkworm hybrids have been identified as "PTRI SW 107, 108, 109, and 110," and are from DOST-PTRI’s Silk Research and Innovation Center (SRIC) in Misamis Oriental.
The Institute said the silkworm hybrids which have “higher productivity” and have better cocoon and shell weight, have been successfully reared by the pioneering Silk Cocoon Production Hubs (Silk Hubs).
“The presence of various hybrid silkworms means new strains of cocoon production for silk yarns and fabrics,” the DOST-PTRI said in a statement.
“As compared to the parent lines, these hybrids have higher productivity as they are mostly healthier, able to adapt to their environment and have better cocoon and shell weight.”
The silkworm hybrids were developed through the silk hybridization of Philippine Silkworm parent lines from the 85 lines in the PTRI Silk Germplasm, also in the DOST-PTRI SRIC.
“Significantly, these performed better in terms of larval characteristics to cocoon properties in the lab-scale trials, which is why they were rolled out into the Silk Hubs to verify their performances,” the Institute explained.
The pioneering Silk Hubs include Tinipigan Agro-forestry Association, Inc. (TAFA Inc.) in Barangay Tagpangi, and Cagayan de Oro (CDO) Resettlement and Socialized Housing Project IV (CDORSHP-IV) in Barangay Balubal. They were joined by two other hubs manned by two silk cocoon producers, namely Florisa Docuyan of Barangay Ane-i and Alfredo A. Ampo of Barangay Panampan (1,000 masl).
"The control set was reared at the PhilSilk Center serving as the fifth location. Generally, they are located in four different locations in Northern Mindanao, specifically in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental. These locations established the performance of the hybrids as a function of altitude,” the DOST-PTRI said.
It said the hybrids completed the first out of three cycles of rearing in the field-verification stage.
“These cycles are important in order to have reliable data as to the consistency, grading, and classification of cocoons per location at different times.”
Among the parameters set as bases for silk cocoons to be graded as Class AA, A, B, or C are the following: single cocoon weight, cocoon shell percentage, and the live pupa ratio.
“For the first cycle, the group of women-silk rearers under CDORSHP-IV produced cocoons with 21 percent cocoon shell percentage and 1.62 g (gram) average cocoon weight. With only two parameters considered, it could have been classified as Class A, with the highest class of cocoon,” the DOST-PTRI said.
"However, the third parameter being the live pupae percentage, unfortunately dragged the rating to Class B. Considering that these Silk Hubs have just started, their succeeding live pupae percentage is expected to improve with proper management and experience.”
The Institute noted that Grade A cocoons can be sold at P350 per kilogram (kg), while Grade AA will cost P400/kg providing a mechanism to foster good rearing practices to maximize cocoon quality and productivity.
The DOST-PTRI announced that two more rearing activities will be conducted in 2021 using the same hybrids in the same locations.
The activities will provide additional information on the effect of the rearing climate and will complete the field-verification activity before the hybrids will be officially launched for commercial use by the end of the year, it said.
The DOST-PTRI together with DOST-Misamis Orienta forged partnership with the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO) Misamis Oriental, and CDO City Housing Urban Development Division of the CDO local government to carry out the silk innovation activities in Northern Mindanao.