Sericulture is the cultivation of silk through silkworm rearing, involving various silkworm species such as mulberry, tasar, and eri. India ranks second globally in sericulture, providing significant employment and economic benefits, especially in rural areas. The industry faces challenges from diseases affecting silkworms but is supported by government initiatives and research institutions.

1. R.Priyanka
B.Sc Biochemistry
& Biotechnology

2. Sericulture is the cultivation of silk through rearing
of silkworm.
It is an agro based industry.
It involves the raising of food plants for silkworm,
rearing of silkworm for production of cocoons, reeling
and spinning of cocoon for production of yarn etc.
For value added benefits such as processing and
weaving.

3. SILKWORM – Bombyx mori

4. a. Mulberry silkworm
b. Tasar silkworm
c. Muga silkworm
d. Eri silkworm
e. Oak silkworm
f. Giant silkworm

6. This was taken as drowry by married princess during olg
age in Tibet.
Slowly it passed on to China and finally to India.
Now India plays a major part in sericulture leading 2nd
position for silk

7. CATERPILLAR

8. 1. TASAR – Old and Traditional silk ;
Rural areas
2. ERI - Eastern parts of India
3. MULBERRY - Non traditional silk
4. MUGA – Golden yellow silk

9. MULBERRY LEAVES

11. COCOON

13. •High employment potential
•Provides vibrancy to village economies
•Low gestation and high returns
•Women friendly occupation
•Ideal program for weaker sections of society
•Eco-friendly activity

14. HOUSE HOLD WORK

15. Mainly in textile industry for
manufacturing garments
Bags, telephone cable insulations, dyeing
& screen printing

16. •Pebrene – caused by protozoan; larvae become pale
yellow, size reduces & no yield
•Grasserie – skin of larvae rough & saliva becomes
thick
•Flacherie – indigestion occurs & worm becomes thin,
inactive & regenerates
•Muscardine –due to fungi; mortality occurs due to
heavy rain & unhygienic

17. Leads 2nd position in world
Exporting 1/7th of silk products to foreign
countries
Govt. of India constituted ‘Central Silk Board’
to protect interest of silk industry

18. Research institutes
i. Central sericulture research
institute, West Bengal
ii. Sericulture research institute,
Mysore

19.  In vitro culture of embryo
 Tissue culture media- Grace’s
medium
 Cell line production
 Nutrition production