Sericulture is the science of rearing silkworms for silk production. There are three main branches of sericulture: mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing from egg to larval stage, and silk reeling and weaving from cocoon onwards. Silk is a natural protein fiber secreted by silkworms in the form of a long thread that makes up their cocoon, which protects the pupa inside. Silk is composed of two proteins, fibroin and sericin, and has properties such as being crystalline, homogenous in structure, hygroscopic, light in weight, the strongest and longest of natural fibers, soft and lustrous, takes dyes well, is elastic and has high tensile

1. Sericulture
The word SERICULTURE originated from two French words, “Seris” meaning silk and
“Culture” which means rearing. So Sericulture is a science which deals with various aspects
of silkworms. It’s an agro based cottage industry, the end product of which is silk. The silk
are of different types like Mulberry silk is also called Mori silk whereas, Non mulberry silk is
called Vanya silk.
There are three main branches of Sericulture are:
1. Moriculture (Mulberry cultivation): This constitute of mainly Host plant cultivation
which is mainly an Agronomic aspects.
2. Silkworm rearing: This constitute of rearing of silkworms. It has two branches,
Grainage technology (egg production) and Silkworm rearing (larval stage
management).
3. Silk Reeling and weaving: This branch is mainly the Industrial aspects, and its scope
is from cocoon onwards.
Silk
It is a natural protein fiber secreted by silkworms. It is in form a thread of about 400-1500 m
long, spun into a cocoon “shell”. The shell also provides protection to pupa inside. It has two
proteins Fibroin and Sericin, where Fibroin forms the inner core comprising 75% of silk.
Sericin forms the outer gum comprising 25% of silk. These silk proteins are synthesized by
silk glands present in silkworms. Besides proteins, silk has small residues of fat, resin,
minerals and waxy materials. Silk is also called “Queen of Textiles”.
Properties of silk:
1. Silk is crystalline.
2. Homogenous in structure.
3. Hygroscopic in nature.
4. Light in weight.
5. Longest and strongest of all natural fibers.
6. Soft, lustrous and hygienic.
7. Excellent affinity for dyes-takes colors.
8. Does not catch fine easily/quickly as nylon or wool.
9. It is elastic and has elongation of 20%.
10. Has high tensile strength breaking strength is 4g per denier.