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Sericulture - Definition, Process, FAQs

Sericulture - Definition, Process, FAQs

Team Careers360Updated on 02 Jul 2025, 05:06 PM IST

Define Sericulture:

Sericulture is the practise of raising silkworms for the purpose of producing silk. It is a type of agriculture. It requires raising silkworms for the purpose of producing raw silk, which is a material made from cocoons spun by specific insect species. Sericulture means in operations include cultivating silkworms that spin silk cocoons and reeling the cocoons to unwind the silk filament for value added benefits such as processing and weaving.

silk cocoons and silk

Sericulture images: silk cocoons and silk

Domestic silk moth caterpillars (also known as ‘Bombyx mori') are the widely used silkworm species in sericulture in India. For the manufacture of ‘wild silks,' other varieties of silkworms (such as Eri, Muga, and Tasar) are also reared.

Sericulture in India:

The lives and culture of the Indians have been linked with silk. Sericulture meaning is a very old profession in India. After China, India is the world's second largest producer of silk, with Karnataka being the country's top producer. Due to its high employment centric, low capital intensive, and remunerative character, it represents a livelihood option for millions of people. A significant number of these employees, including females, come from the economically backward sections of society. India's historic and culture-bound home market, as well as a huge range of silk garments that reflect geographic uniqueness, have aided the country's rise to the top of the silk industry.

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Define Silk:

Silk is a protein fibre made up of two proteins: sericin and fibroin. Fibroin, which is concentrated at the centre of silk fibre, makes up around 80% of it. A coating of sericin surrounds this core (which makes up the remaining 20 percent of silk). Colour is imparted to silk via pigments (such as xanthophyll) in the sericin layer of the fibre.

Type of silk
Quality
Types of silkworm
Colour
Mulberry
Top quality, shining fibre.
Bombyx mori
Yellow, Green
Eri
Moderate quality with less shining
Attacus rinci
Creamy-white Brick-red
Muga
Slightly tough fibre, moderate quality
Anthraea assama
Light yellowish
Tasar
Lowest quality
Anthraea mytilla; A. paphia; A. royeli
Copper brown

Source: MS word (self-made)

Silk Production Process Steps:

Silkworm rearing and cocoon harvesting: A female silkworm lays its eggs on a mulberry tree leaf. It takes around 10 days for eggs to hatch once they are deposited. When the eggs hatch, the larvae resemble worms. The silkworm's life cycle lasts around 24-33 days during this stage. The silkworm's appearance will alter between the ages of 20 and 33 days, turning yellowish and transparent. This means they're getting ready to make a silk net around themselves, which is a liquid protein released by the silk moth or caterpillar's head.

The worm uses this silk as an anchor, swinging back and forth to pull a long continuous thread and create the cocoon. The fibre may be up to 1 kilometre long. Silkworms may construct a cocoon in as little as 48 hours. Silkworms are placed in a circular bamboo tray at this stage to produce evenly formed cocoons that are easier to harvest.

Circular bamboo with cocoons

Circular bamboo with cocoons

  1. Extraction of Silk: These new cocoons are now ready to be placed in the reeling pot. Each cocoon is made up of hundreds of yards of silk thread. It's critical to keep the silk thread's length. To destroy the chrysalis and make the fragile thread unravel easier, the cocoons are put in boiling water.
  2. Dyeing process: Before dying, the silk thread is cleaned and sericin (a kind of gum) is removed. Silk thread bundles are immersed in dye pots with a heated combination of indigo leaves for many days to achieve the desired colour and quality in the traditional process of dyeing Silk thread. Silk strands are dyed using contemporary commercial processes nowadays.
  3. Spinning process: Silk thread is spun after it has been dyed. Spinning wheels have been used for this purpose since an earlier period. Although numerous innovative ways for spinning silk threads have been invented, still the coloured silk strands are unwound using spinning wheels
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  1. Weaving: Following the spinning of silk thread, the weaving of silk thread takes place. Weaving is the process of making a fabric out of a wrap by interlacing threads at correct angles. This is accomplished with the help of a loom. There are several types of machinery available now for weaving silk strands.

Weaving


  1. Binding (ikat): Silk cloth is dyed in a variety of designs and used to manufacture sarees, shawls, and other items. Wrap ikat, weft ikat, double ikat, and pasapalli ikat are all examples of ikat.

Moriculture:

Moriculture is the cultivation of mulberry plants for the purpose of feeding silkworms. These plants are important in the sericulture process. The most widely utilised method for mulberry cultivation is stem grafting. Cuttings from the stem of a mature mulberry plant are removed, measuring around 22 centimetres in length, and having at least three buds. These cuttings can be planted right once or maintained in nurseries for a while before being transplanted.

silkworms

The following methods can be used to harvest mulberry leaves from the plants:

  1. Leaf plucking is the manual removal of individual leaves.
  2. Branch cutting is the complete removal of a branch.
  3. Mulberry shoot tops are removed during top shoot harvesting.

It's worth noting that one kilogram of mulberry leaves may feed about 50 silkworms

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Life Cycle of Silkworm:

  1. Egg: The egg is the initial stage in the silkworm's life cycle (stage 1 in the fig.). A female moth lays the egg, which is typically the size of a tiny dot. At any given moment, a female moth may deposit more than 350 eggs. The eggs hatch in the spring because the air is warmer. This treatment takes place once a year.
  2. Silkworm: After the eggs hatch, a hairy silkworm emerges (stage 2-6 in the fig.). The growth of silkworms occurs at this stage. They feed on mulberry leaves and eat a lot of them for around 30 days before moving on to the next stage.

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3. Cocoon: Silkworms form a protective cocoon around themselves at this stage. It's about the size of a tiny cotton ball and is fashioned with a single silk thread.

4. Pupa: The pupa stage is characterised by its lack of movement. People destroy the pupa at this stage by immersing the cocoon in boiling water and unwinding the silk thread.

  1. Moth: The pupa transforms into an adult moth at this stage. After mating, the female moth lays eggs, and the silkworm's life cycle begins all over again.

Challenges in Sericulture:

Silk farmers who practice sericulture face a variety of issues that might adversely affect their crop. They are also vulnerable to a variety of health risks. Pebrine and flacherie are two illnesses that silkworms are prone to. Several pests can be harmful to silkworm larvae's growth and development. The following are some of the most significant problems addressed by sericulture

  1. The pebrine illness can infect the eggs and cause them to die before the larvae emerge. This illness causes black patches on the larvae and causes them to become sluggish.
  2. Infections with viruses can cause the larvae's bodies to shrink. They may also begin to emit an unpleasant odour.
  3. Other viral diseases, such as cytoplasmic polyhedrosis, might make the larvae eat less.
  4. The muscardine infection, which is caused by fungus, can make the larvae exceedingly weak and finally kill them.
  5. Dermestid beetle larvae can dig into silkworm cocoons and consume the pupae. These damaged cocoons can't be reeled in for silk.
  6. Silkworms are killed by a poisonous chemical produced by certain mites.

NCERT Chemistry Notes:

Importance of Sericulture:

  1. It has a high employment potential. It is astounding to learn that the sericulture sector employs 60 lakh people in our country on a yearly basis.
  2. Sericulture is a significant agro-based enterprise that adds value to villages
  3. Women-Friendly Occupation: Sericulture tasks such as mulberry garden maintenance, leaf harvesting, and silkworm rearing are better carried out by women.
  4. Mulberry (plant used for sericulture) is an environmentally beneficial crop that offers green cover and aids to soil conservation as a perennial crop with strong leaf and root-spread.
  5. Silkworm waste may be recycled and used as fertiliser in the mulberry garden.

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Commonly Asked Questions

Q: What is sericulture?
A:
Sericulture is the process of cultivating silkworms to produce silk. It involves rearing silkworms, growing mulberry plants as food for the silkworms, and extracting silk from their cocoons. This practice is also known as silk farming and has been an important industry for thousands of years.
Q: Which species of silkworm is most commonly used in sericulture?
A:
The most commonly used species in sericulture is Bombyx mori, also known as the domesticated silkworm. This species has been selectively bred for centuries to maximize silk production and is entirely dependent on humans for survival and reproduction.
Q: What are the main stages in the sericulture process?
A:
The main stages in sericulture are: 1) Mulberry cultivation, 2) Silkworm egg production and incubation, 3) Silkworm rearing, 4) Cocoon formation, 5) Cocoon harvesting, 6) Silk reeling and processing.
Q: What is the difference between mulberry silk and wild silk?
A:
Mulberry silk comes from domesticated silkworms (Bombyx mori) fed exclusively on mulberry leaves, resulting in fine, uniform, and lustrous silk. Wild silk, such as tussar or muga, comes from silkworms that feed on various forest leaves, producing coarser, less uniform silk with a different texture and color.
Q: What is the composition of silk fiber?
A:
Silk fiber is primarily composed of two proteins: fibroin and sericin. Fibroin forms the core of the silk fiber and gives it strength and luster, while sericin acts as a glue to hold the fibroin fibers together.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the role of sericulture in preserving traditional knowledge and cultural practices?
A:
Sericulture plays a significant role in preserving traditional knowledge and cultural practices in many regions. It often involves traditional techniques passed down through generations, including specific methods of silkworm rearing, cocoon harvesting, and silk weaving. These practices are often intertwined with local customs, festivals, and artisanal traditions, contributing to cultural heritage preservation.
Q: What is the significance of the pupal stage in the silkworm life cycle?
A:
The pupal stage is a critical phase in the silkworm life cycle where the larva transforms into an adult moth inside the cocoon. During this stage, the pupa undergoes complex physiological changes. In sericulture, this stage is usually terminated by killing the pupa to preserve the continuous silk filament of the cocoon.
Q: How does the sex of the silkworm affect silk production?
A:
Female silkworms generally produce larger cocoons with more silk than males. However, male silk is often finer and more uniform. In commercial sericulture, both male and female silkworms are used for silk production, but understanding these differences is important for breeding programs and quality control.
Q: How does crossbreeding affect silk production?
A:
Crossbreeding in sericulture involves mating silkworms of different strains or races to produce offspring with desired traits. This can result in hybrid vigor, leading to increased silk yield, better disease resistance, or improved adaptability to different environmental conditions.
Q: How do different species of silkworms produce different types of silk?
A:
Different silkworm species produce silk with varying characteristics. For example, Bombyx mori produces fine, uniform silk, while Antheraea pernyi (tussar silkworm) produces a coarser, stronger silk. The differences arise from variations in the protein composition and structure of the silk fibers.
Q: What is sericulture's role in sustainable fashion?
A:
Sericulture plays a role in sustainable fashion as silk is a renewable, biodegradable fiber. However, its sustainability depends on production methods. Organic sericulture, which avoids synthetic pesticides and promotes biodiversity, is gaining popularity in the sustainable fashion movement.
Q: How does the amino acid composition of silk proteins contribute to silk properties?
A:
The amino acid composition of silk proteins, primarily fibroin, determines many of silk's unique properties. Fibroin is rich in glycine, alanine, and serine, which allow for tight packing of protein chains into strong, flexible structures. The repetitive sequences
Q: How does genetic diversity in silkworm populations affect sericulture?
A:
Genetic diversity in silkworm populations is crucial for the long-term sustainability of sericulture. It provides a pool of traits that can be selected for disease resistance, adaptability to different environments, and improved silk quality. Maintaining genetic diversity helps in developing new silkworm strains and in responding to changing environmental conditions or market demands.
Q: How does water quality affect silk production?
A:
Water quality is important in several stages of silk production. In silkworm rearing, clean water is essential for maintaining hygiene and preventing diseases. In silk processing, water quality affects the efficiency of degumming and dyeing processes. Hard water or water with high mineral content can negatively impact silk quality and color.
Q: What are the challenges in organic sericulture?
A:
Organic sericulture faces challenges such as: 1) Controlling pests and diseases without synthetic pesticides, 2) Maintaining soil fertility without chemical fertilizers, 3) Ensuring consistent silk quality and yield, 4) Meeting certification requirements, and 5) Competing with conventional silk production in terms of cost and scale.
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