Abstract: The functional genomics of silkworm, Bombyx mori has become the research hotspot after the genomic project of the silkworm was successfully completed. Since mutants may play important roles in functional genomics research, obtaining a large of mutant strains with manually induced mutations is a very important strategy. Some mutants such as non-diapausing red eggs, long tube-shaped cocoons, small cocoons, sericin cocoons, flossy cocoons, lethal mutants and no adult wing hairs mutants were screened and obtained in this study via inducing standard strain of silkworm C108 with chemical mutagens including ENU, MNU, DES, 5-BU and EMS. We found that MNU and DES were more efficient than other mutagens. Injecting wing disc of silkworm was more convenient and effective method than injecting abdomen. Mutations could be more efficiently induced by chemical mutagens in male than in female. Injecting pupa and adult were both feasible. Most of the mutants mentioned above were lethal mutations, which may be associated with lethal genes. This study also provided effective materials for screening more mutants of the target genes in silkworm by TILLING technology.

Key words: Bombyx mori, chemical mutagen, mutant, screening, TILLING technology