The Application of Biostatistical Techniques in Silkworm Breeding and Improvement

Abstract

Statistical techniques hold a pivotal position in the realm of silkworm breeding and enhancement, encompassing both traditional and molecular methodologies. Despite the prevalence of various biostatistical tools, their utilization tends to be fragmented across different sources. The objective of this chapter is to elucidate the application of biostatistical methods, bridging theory and practice, with pertinent illustrations employing statistical software like Excel or R. Encompassing a diverse array of subjects, it addresses the conduct of experiments (design of experiments), assessment of data variability, identification of optimal genetic resources/germplasm, selection of requisite parental stock, assurance of breed/hybrid adaptability, determination of the most suitable breed/hybrid for commercialization, and the significance of statistical software in silkworm genomics. This chapter furnishes a lucid and thorough overview of employing statistical tools (univariate/multivariate and parametric/nonparametric) in the domain of silkworm breeding and enhancement.