SERICULTURE, History and types of sericulture . silk production life cycle and rearing of silk worm , production , properties , diseases and pests of silk worm and importance of sericulture

SERICULTURE

DEFINITION 

Sericulture, also known as silk farming, is the rearing of silkworms for the production of silk. OR

Sericulture is the raising and rearing of silkworms for the production of silk.

Latin sericum'silk' + French culture 'cultivation' 

HISTORY

• HOSHOMIN, the Queen of China, was the first to introduce sericulture to China. Sericulture was long considered a Chinese national secret, and its industrial technique was unknown in other countries. It was later introduced into Europe and Japan by smuggled secrets from China via travelling monks.

• According to some sources, sericulture was introduced in India around 400 years ago and thrived as an agro-industry until 1857, with an annual production of one million kg of silk fiber.

• According to Chinese legend, the silk production technique using Bombyx mori was invented around 2,700 BC when prince Hoang-ti directed his wife Si-ling-chi to study the silkworm and investigate the feasibility of using its thread for textile. Si-ling-chi invented not only the silkworm culture technique, but also the method of reeling the silk and making garments out of it.

• Later, she was crowned "The Goddess of Silk Worm." Sericulture spread from China to other countries, and silk became a valuable commodity that was highly sought after in all countries. The world's longest highway, which stretched from Eastern China to the Mediterranean Sea and was known as the "Silk Route" due to the trade in silk, was opened in 139 BC.

Types

1) MULBERY SILK

silk type                    

Mulberry silk    

   silk worm(moth)  

      Bombyx mori

HOST PLANT

Morus alba (white mulberry) Morus indica (white mulberry) Morus serrata (white mulberry) Morus lattifolia (white mulberry)

DISTRIBUTION

Southeast Asia, Europe, USA. 

2)Tropical Tasar silk

silk type                 

Tropical tasar silk

    silk worm(moth)                

            Antheraea mylitta

HOST PLANT

Terminalia tomentosa (Indian Laurel) Terminalia arjuna (Indian Laurel) Shorea robusta (sarai)

DISTRIBUTION

India. Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Burma

3)Muga silk

silk type                 

Muga silk 

 silk worm(moth)           

         Antheraea Assama

HOST PLANT

Machilus bombycina (Assamese) Litsaea polyantha (Gwa)

DISTRIBUTION

China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Borneo, Philippines

4)Temperate tasar silk

silk type                     

Temperate tasar silk  

 silk worm(moth) 

   Antheraea proylei (Tussar moth) Antheraea roylei (Tussar moth)

HOST PLANT

Quercus serrata (oak)

DISTRIBUTION

Vietnam, Taiwan

5) Eri or errandi silk

silk type                       

Eri or errandi silk  

  silk worm(moth)

            Philosamia ricini

HOST PLANT

  Castor, Ricinus communis (kesseru)

DISTRIBUTION

NE India

SILK PRODUCTION

Silk is typically produced through two processes:

1. From the egg stage to the completion of the cocoon, take care of the silkworm.

2. Mulberry tree production, which provides leaves for the worms to feed on.

The silkworm caterpillar constructs its cocoon by producing and surrounding itself with a long, slender filament.

A filament is a continuous fibre. Two large glands within the insect produce liquid secretions.

A single exit tube in the head from the spinneret, hardening upon exposure to air and forming twin

Fibrin filaments are made of a protein material called fibroin.  A second set of glands secretes sericin, a hormone. . A second set of glands releases the chemical sericin.

that binds the two filaments together with a gooey material. Placing the to remove the sericin,

silk filaments from cocoons in hot water, releasing them and making them ready for reeling. This is recognized as

degumming procedure The pupa of the silk moth is similarly killed by immersion in hot water..

LIFE CYCLE

1. The female silk moth lays between 300 and 500 eggs.

2. Silkworms are larvae or caterpillars that hatch from silk moth eggs.

3. Mulberry leaves are consumed by the larvae.

4. After several moults, the silkworm extrudes a silk fibre and forms a cocoon.

net to keep itself in place

5. It swings from side to side, distributing the saliva that will eventually form silk.

6. When the silk comes into contact with air, it solidifies.

7. The silkworm spins about a mile of filament and completely encases itself in it.

a cocoon in two to three days Each cocoon contains a certain amount of usable quality silk.

small. As a result, it takes approximately 2,500 silkworms to produce one pound of raw silk.

8. The silkworm pupa is killed by boiling the intact cocoons.

9. Silk is obtained by brushing the undamaged cocoon to find the filament's outside end.

10. After that, the silk filaments are wound on a reel. A cocoon contains approximately 1,000 eggs.

yards of silk thread At this point, the silk is referred to as raw silk.

SILK

Silk is a continuous filament found within each cocoon with a usable length of 600 to 900 meters.

(2,000-3,000 feet) Softening the binding sericin and then locating the filament end frees it.

and simultaneously unwinding or reeling the filaments from several cocoons, sometimes with a single strand is formed by a slight twist. Several silk strands, each too thin for most applications, are twisted together.

In the throwing process, various yarns are combined to make thicker, stronger yarn.

varying according to the amount and direction of the twist.

Raw silk is silk that contains sericin. The gummy substance, which provides protection during processing is typically retained until the yarn or fabric stage and is removed by boiling the silk in soap and water, leaving it soft and lustrous and reducing weight by up to 30% Spun.

Short lengths of silk are obtained from damaged cocoons or broken off during processing.

yarn is made by twisting together The thickness of silk filament yarn is measured in denier.

the weight in grammes per 9,000 meters (9,846 yards) of length.

Rearing Of Silkworms

The female silk moth lays hundreds of eggs at first. These eggs are

are kept on a clean piece of paper or cloth These eggs are then purchased by silkworm farmers.

The eggs are then stored in a clean environment at the correct temperature and humidity. They

are warmed to the optimal temperature for hatching eggs and producing larvae or caterpillars This

When the mulberry trees have a new crop of leaves, the process is completed. This is consumed by the caterpillar.

Mulberry grows in size and leaves day and night. Bamboo trays are employed in

In the tray, keep these caterpillars and some freshly chopped mulberry leaves.

After 30-40

After a few days, the caterpillars stop eating the leaves and move inside the small hole.

chambers in bamboo trays for spinning cocoons These are produced as a result of the secretion of

Their salivary glands produce liquid protein. Small racks are provided in the trays to ensure the cocoons' safety.

connected to those racks Inside the cocoons, silk moths develop.

Processing of silk from cocoons

Silk threads are extracted from these cocoons. When the cocoons hatch

When exposed to the sun, steam, or boiling, the silk fiber separates. This silk production method

The process of reeling silk threads from cocoons for use as silk fabric is known as silk reeling. Special machines are used to reel in the silk. These machines unwind silk or wool fibres.

the cocoon's threads Silk fibers are then converted into silk threads, which are used to create a variety of fabrics.

Weavers create silk fabrics such as silk sarees.

Production

Sericulture has developed into a significant cottage industry in countries such as Brazil.

China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Russia are all represented. The two largest producers are China and India.

with more than 60% of global annual output.

Properties

Tenacity

Silk is a durable fibre. Its beta-configuration, linear structure, and high crystallinity are what give it its strength.

polymer. These two elements allow for a lot more regular formation of many more hydrogen bonds.

manner.

Elastic Nature

Silk is thought to have more plastic than elastic properties. Due to the fact that it is a crystalline polymer,

allowing for potential amorphous region polymer migration.

Hygroscopic Nature

Because it’s a crystalline polymer, its less absorbent than wool.

Thermal Properties

Silk is more sensitive to heat than wool. This due to the lack of covalent linkages in the polymer system. Silk is known as queen of textile and bio steel because of its strength.

DISEASES OF SILKWORM

There are 4 major diseases

1.PEBRINE

On the body of the protozoan (Nocema bombycis), the larvae develop into

flabby and sluggish, with wrinkled skin.

2.MUSCARDINE

In humid environments, Beauveria bassiana fungus causes white mustarding (powder).

green mustarding is caused by Spicaria parsina. Because of Iscaria farinose, yellow

muscardine. Intersegmental membrane of the larva's body produces hyphae all over it.

3.FLACHERIC

Putrefaction (rotting) of the body is caused by bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis sotto).

body turns green-black.

4.GLASSERIC

Borrelina virus cause swelling of segment and skin rupture.

PESTS OF SILK WORM

Predators and parasites listed below kill silkworms.

1.UZI FLIES

Tricholyga bombycis (diptera); silkworm bodies were penetrated by juvenile maggots, and

reside in the fat body for about a week, eating it, and killing it.

2. DERMESTID BEETLES

Larvae and adults of Dermestes cadeverinus consume cocoons.

Ants, lizards, rodents, squirrels, birds, and other predators are also present.

(family Dermestidae), any of the roughly 700 species of beetles (bug order Coleoptera), which once served as significant home pests due to the larvae's diet of hair, fur, skin, feathers, and horn. Although some have vivid colours or patterns, adults are typically brown or black and have easily removable scales or hairs covering them. They come in sizes between 1 and 12 mm (up to 1/2 inch), and their shapes range from elongated to oval. The only beetle larvae that have hair on them are those that resemble worms.

IMPORTANCE OF SERICULTURE

1.HIGH EMPLOYMENT POTENTIAL

Only sericulture has a high employment potential. This kind of revenue is unique to this industry.

employment. Consequently, it is a tool for rebuilding rural economies.

2. PROVIDE VIBRANCY TO RURAL ECONOMY

According to estimates, cocoon growers receive roughly 57% of the total gross value of silk products.

Generally speaking, rural residents' income distribution is as follows: 56.8% to cocoon

growers, 6.8% to reelers, 9.1% to twisters, 10.7% to weavers, and 16.6% to the industry. Thus,

An enormous amount of money from the silk business is returned from cities to rural.

3. LOW GESTATION ,HIGH RETURNS

Only Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 15,000 (excluding the cost of land and rearing space) to be invested for

In one acre of irrigated land, silkworm breeding and mulberry agriculture can produce a profit.

levels of Rs. 30,000 per acre each year.

Once planted, mulberry only needs six months to mature in order to begin raising silkworms.

five crops can be supported in a tropical environment in one year. In accordance with the management, raising at

Can be continued in the same land for at least 15 years.

4. WOMEN FRIENDLY OCCUPATION

many sericultural pursuits, beginning with mulberry garden maintenance, leaf harvesting, and

Women can labour efficiently to help the growing of silkworms as well as the reeling and weaving processes. In

In India, it has been discovered that women make up more than 60% of the sericulture workforce.

5. Ideal Program  for the Weaker Section of the Society

Even small landowners can begin sericulture. Growing silkworms in a 3/4-acre mulberry garden is possible.

support a three-person family without using external labour.

6.ECO. FRIENDLY PROPERTIES

SOIL PREVENTION;

Mulberry, a perennial plant with lush green foliage, aids in soil protection and gives

large green areas,

MANURE;

Manures made from silk worm waste can be used to prepare mulberry gardens.

FUEL SOURCE;

Farmers can utilise dried mulberry twigs and branches as fuel, which will help to minimise the

strain on the neighboring forest or vegetation,

POLUUTION CONTROL:

Because it is based on agriculture, it uses fuel-efficient machinery and decreases air pollution.

INTEGRATED FARMING:

Mulberry can be grown as an intercrop with other plantations, such as those of flowers and vegetables, thus the same

a variety of productions can be done on land,

USES OF LAND:

In addition to cultivated lands, unoccupied lands, steep slopes, water shadow areas, etc.

Mulberry trees with deep roots.

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