This document describes new sericulture technologies developed in India, including mulberry variety improvements, disease and pest control methods, and machinery. Over 500 technologies have been developed. The technologies section provides details on high-yielding mulberry varieties for different conditions, disease management practices, and machinery for tasks like pruning, leaf chopping, and cocoon deflossing. A technology for exclusive chawki mulberry gardens is also summarized, which allows for high leaf yields and regular harvests to facilitate frequent silkworm rearing. Adopting this technology enables continuous chawki leaf production and rearing throughout the year.

2. Sericulture New Technologies
There are more than 500 sericulture technologies developed in
India.
Some of the Technologies are listed below:
1.MULBERRY IMPROVEMENT :
a.Varieties for Irrigated conditions
i. S-36 - This variety was referred in 1986. It yields 45 MT/ha/yr.
ii. V-1 - The variety was released during 1997. It produces about 60
MT/ha/year.
iii. Genotype No. 2 - The genotype is appropriate for raising a garden
exclusively for rearing young age silkworms. It produces 35 per cent
more chawki leaf as compared to S-36.
iv. Genotype No. 4 - Developed for cultivation in an irrigated
environment. It is most suitable for late age rearing of silkworms.
v. Vishwa, Vihala, Suvarna-1, Suvarna-2, Suvarna-3.

3. i. S-13 and S-34 - It was released during 1990
and yields10-12 MT/ha/yr.
ii. AR-10 - It was developed in 2001 and produces
9.28 MT/ha/yr.
Varieties for Alkaline conditions.
Kanva-2 x Kosen - Developed during 2001, it yields about 44
MT of leaf yield /ha/ year compared to Kanva-2, which yields
only around 28.5 MT/ha/year.
Varieties for Rain fed conditions:

4. Chawki garden technology :
• 32 batches of chawki rearing could be
conducted in a year under a four-plot module.
This makes possible a harvest of eight crops
annually from each plot of half acre size @
5000 dfls per batch.

5. Management of foliar diseases of mulberry :
i. Leaf spot (Cercospora moricola) - Foliar spray of 0.2 per cent
Bavistin (Carbendazim 50 per cent WP)
• ii. Powdery mildew (Phyllactinia corylea) - Foliar spray of 0.2
per cent Bavistin/Karathane (Dinocap 30 per cent EC)
• iii. Leaf rust (Cerotelium fici) - Adoption of wider spacing and
avoiding delay in harvesting of leaves. Also, foliar spray of 0.2
per cent Kavach (Chlorothalonil 75 per cent WP)
• iv. Bacterial blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. mori /
Xanthomonas campestris pv. mori) - Step-up pruning (30 cm
above the ground) during rainy season in high rainfall areas.
Also spray 0.2 per cent Streptomycin or Dithane M-45
(Mancozeb 75 per cent WP) within safe period of 2-3 days.

6. SERICULTURAL MACHINERIES/ PRODUCTS:
Mulberry Pruning Machine :
• This machine can prune one acre of mulberry garden in
five hours.
Machine for preparation of Cuttings :
• It facilitates quick preparation of cuttings (around 2000
cuttings per hour).
Cocoon Deflossing Machine :
• The machine can defloss 50 - 60 kg cocoons per hour.
Shoot crushing Machine :
• This device is efficient in cutting and crushing 250 - 300
kg shoots per hour.
Powder Duster :
• It aids the application of chemical dusts such as RKO and
Vijetha over silkworms without any drift loss.

7. •Machine for chopping of mulberry leaves :
This motor-driven machine cuts around 40 kg leaves per hour.
•Multipurpose Pump/Sprayer :
Fitted with a steel pump and 15 metre hose, the sprayer
discharges around 250 litres of disinfectant per hour.
•Hand deflossing machine :
It can defloss about 15 kg cocoons per hour

8. Silkworm Diseases and Pest Control
Pebrine:
 Pebrine is caused by a protozoan called Nosema bombycis. In
the initial stages the larvae appears to be healthy, but when
observed under a microscope we can see oval, shinning
spores of Nosema.
 Microscopic smears are to be prepared by crushing the
abdominal region of the mother moth in 2ml, 0.6% Potassium
carbonate solution. Similarly, smears can be prepared from
dead and unequal larvae, layings, facial matter and also from
the rearing room dust. The smears should be subjected to
microscopic examination and if pebrine spores are detected,
the crop should be destroyed followed by disinfection.

9. Muscardine and Aspergillosis:
 This is a fungal disease caused by Beauveria bassiana and
Aspergillus flavus, A. oryze and A. tameri. Fungal disease in
silkworms is caused mainly through cross infection.
 High temperature and humidity required during chawki stage
is also highly congenial for fungal spores to multiply.
Therefore,chawki stage is also highly congenial for fungal
spores to multiply. Therefore, care should be taken in
observing the worms frequently.
 Dusting of 1-2%Dithane M45 in Kaolin or Captan in claked
lime on silkworm body immediately after every moult and on
the 4th day of fifth instar @ 3-5 g/sq.ft.Old news paper or
paraffin paper is covered for 30 min.Feeding should be given
afterwards.

11. Salient Features of the Technology
The silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) is a monophagous and highly
domesticated insect. The qualitative and quantitative
requirements of the feed for silkworms differ at different
stages of larval period. It is generally established that the
young age silkworms require mulberry leaf of higher
succulence, moisture and nutrient contents, the late age
worms feed on coarser leaf with less moisture content. The
quality of leaf used for young worms is of greater relevance in
view of the influence of chawki rearing on the late age
silkworms and ultimately the success of cocoon crop. Hence,
production of succulent and nutritious leaf attains greater
significance in establishment of the CRCs. On the other hand,
growth of chawki mulberry plants should be monitored in
such a way as to reduce the coarseness and rate of
maturation of mulberry leaf thereby avoiding wastage of the
biomass produced from such mulberry gardens.

12. Keeping in view the delicacy of young age silkworms and their
contribution towards the success of cocoon crop, the said
technology has been developed at the KSSRDI with suitable
cultural practices such as spacing, manuring, irrigation,
leaf harvest schedules apart from selection of suitable
superior mulberry variety and pruning schedule, for
establishment and maintenance of exclusive chawki mulberry
gardens, a wholesome package for economization of the
chawki leaf production.
By adopting this technology, about 10,000 kg chawki
mulberry leaf/0.4 ha (one acre) can be obtained. The leaves
are nutritious with about 76-78% leaf-water content, 24-
25% soluble proteins and 9-12% soluble sugars which are
very crucial for the healthy growth of the young silkworms.
The climatic conditions prevailing in different parts of
Karnataka state are found suitable for raising chawki
mulberry gardens.

13. • Soil : Exclusive chawki mulberry gardens can be raised in
flat and elevated places with red loam, red sandy loam
and red clay loam, with a pH range of 6.5-7.5. Gravelly
and coarse sandy soils and soils with shallow top soil are
not suitable.
• Mulberry varieties : S36, M5, ’Viswa’ and V1 mulberry
varieties are most suitable for chawki mulberry gardens.
• Planting season : Establishment of plantations during
June-August period in moderate climatic zones and
September-October period in heavy rainfall areas can be
followed. About 120 days old saplings can be used for
planting.
• Plant spacing : The plant spacing of 60 x 60 cm can be
adopted.

14. • Pruning : Annual basal cut at 30 cm above the ground,
preferably during the onset of the monsoon. Following
the 1st base cut and 3 leaf harvests, at an interval of 15
days, 1st middle pruning at 60 cm above the ground
has to be done. Followed this, 3 leaf harvests can be
made. Again, the same sequence may be
followed. Totally 2 base cuts and 2 middle cuts done
yearly. After about 20 days of each pruning, weak
branches can be removed.
• Irrigation : In light sandy loam soils, irrigation at 7-8
days interval may be necessary while in heavy clay
loam soils, irrigation at 8-10 days interval may be found
adequate. It has been estimated that 1.5 to 2 acre
inches of water per irrigation is required. To save
irrigation water micro irrigation system can be suitably
adopted.

15. • Leaf harvesting and preservation : The leaves to
be harvested will be from below the largest
glossy leaf which is yellowish green in color. The
cardinal point is shoot tips should not be
removed during any leaf harvest. From the
glossy leaf, about 3 leaves during the 1st (1-3)
and about 3 leaves (4-6) during 2nd instar can be
harvested. Usually in cool hours (morning and
evening) leaf harvest has to be done. The
harvested chawki leaves should be preserved in
cool and clean (hygienic) placers in order to
preserve their succulence.
• Plant protection :
• Diseases : Powdery mildew, Leaf spot, Leaf rust,
Stem canker, Root-rot and Nematode.

16. • Pests : Thrips, Mites, Jassids, Tukra and Leaf
roller.
• Generally for control of fungal diseases
spraying of 0.2% Bavistin (Carbendazim) with
15 days safe period and for control of
nematode infestation, soil application of
Furadon 3G at 6-7 kg/0.4 ha with 45 days of
safe period and for control of pests, spraying
of 0.1% Metasystax can be employed.
• But, plant protection measures can be taken
only after 2 base cuts and 2 middle cuts and
15-18 days before leaf harvest for brushing.

17. Advantages over Alternative Technologies
• By the adoption of annual pruning schedule
of 4 prunings and 12 leaf harvests, higher leaf
yield of about 10,000 kg/0.4 ha/yr can be
obtained and 60,000 dfls can be brushed/year,
at the rate of 15 kg chawki mulberry leaf/100
dfls.
• Increase in number of harvests and
maintenance of vigor of the plants may
suitably adjusted by adoption of yearly 4
prunings and 12 leaf harvests schedule

18. • This schedule can be easily practiced by private CRCs/large
scale sericulturists.
• Good quality chawki leaves for every harvest could be
produced at an interval of 15 days. The leaves will be rich in
leaf-water content and nutrients and when fed to young
silkworms, their growth will be best.
• If a chawki mulberry garden or a plot is divided into two
plots/units and the recommended package of practices
followed, yearly 24 chawki leaf harvests can be obtained to
facilitate regular brushings once in 15 days at CRCs.
• The advantage of this package is, other than obtaining
suitable leaf for chawki rearing, chawki leaf can be produced
throughout the year continuously coinciding with the
brushing programmes.
• Conducting late age silkworm rearings with good chawki
reared worms will lead to good cocoon production.