Review on Different Algorithms and Techniques Used in Classification of Gender in Silkworm

Abstract

Silkworm seed is the key factor for the success of sericulture industry. Silk seed production process at grain ages centre mainly involve procuration of seed cocoon, cutting of seed cocoon for pupae, separation of male and female pupae, emergence of moth, coupling of silk moth and further egg laying by female moth. Separation of male and female is very much crucial and vital step in silk seed production which usually occurs at pupal stage and requires highly skilled and trained workers with good eyesight, but there are chances of error which may lead to poor quality silk seed production. There is also wastage of silk due to cutting of cocoon for obtaining pupa. It is also a fact that male cocoon silk is of finer quality as compared to female cocoon silk, so it is of great importance to detect the sex of pupa without cutting of cocoon so as to minimize the damage caused to silk by cutting of cocoon. In this review study various techniques including both destructive and non-destructive methods regarding the gender detection are discussed with their future scope and limitations. A variety of techniques were investigated, including optical penetration techniques, fluorescence spectrometry, DNA, X-ray imaging, MRI, hyper spectral imaging, near infrared spectroscopy, physical observations, multisensory systems, and computer vision etc. According to recent studies, relatively few non-destructive techniques have been noticed to classify silkworm's gender which is very much essential in dealing with living material in connection to that present review study is conducted.