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What is Sericulture?
The industry based on agriculture is known as Sericulture. It entails raising silkworms to produce raw silk, which is the yarn made from the cocoons spun by some bug species. Growing food plants to feed the silkworms that spin cocoons and reeling the cocoons to unwind the silk filament for value-added uses like processing and weaving are the main tasks of sericulture.
History of Sericulture
The two distinct proteins that makeup silk are sericin and fibroin. Fibrin is mostly found at the centre of silk fibre and makes up about 80% of the fibre. A layer of sericin, which accounts for the remaining 20% of silk, envelops this core.
Bombyx mori is the most often used and extensively researched commercial species of silkworm despite the existence of several others. Confucian writings state that B. Mori discovered silk manufacture approximately 2700 BC, however, archaeological evidence suggests silk cultivation as early as the Yangshao period (5000–10,000 BCE). It had made its way to ancient Khotan during the first part of the first century AD, and by the year 140 AD, the custom had spread to India.
After that, it reached Europe, the Mediterranean region, and more Asian nations. One of the most significant cottage businesses today is sericulture, which is practised in several nations including China, Japan, India, Korea, Brazil, Russia, Italy, and France. China and India are currently the two largest producers, producing over 90% of all goods.
What is Silk?
People are often curious about products made of silk. Silk, known as the “Queen of Textiles,” conjures up images of comfort, style, elegance, and luxury. Since the Chinese Empress Shilling To found it in her teacup, humanity has adored this glittering fibre of unsurpassed magnificence. Despite facing numerous formidable obstacles from synthetic and natural fibres, it has maintained its position as the unchallenged ruler of textiles for centuries.
Silk’s exquisite properties, such as its natural sheen, innate affinity for dyes and brilliant colours, high absorption, lightweight, resilience, and superb drape, have made it the world’s most enticing and indispensable companion for the evening.
In chemical terms, a caterpillar known as a “silkworm” secretes proteins in a fluid state that makes up silk. These silkworms spin cocoons as a “protective shell” to extend their lives while feeding on the chosen food plants. The life cycle of a silkworm consists of four stages: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and moth. To obtain silk, a continuous filament of significant commercial value used in the weaving of the dream fabric, a man interrupts this life cycle at the cocoon stage.
The creation of jobs, particularly in tribal and forested areas, is the main advantage of sericulture, particularly taser.
Where do we get Silk from?
Asia is the world’s largest producer of silk, accounting for more than 95% of the crop produced worldwide. Although over 40 nations are included on the global silk production map, China and India manufacture the majority of the silk, with Japan, Brazil, and Korea following. The world’s top provider of silk is China. India is both the world’s biggest consumer and the second-largest producer of silk. Its strong cultural traditions have bound the domestic silk market.
Process of Sericulture
The Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, and West Bengal are the primary producers of mulberry silk, whereas Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Orissa, and the northeastern regions are the producers of non-mulberry silk.
After the fourth moult, silkworm larvae feed on mulberry leaves and climb a nearby tree to build their silken cocoons. The continuous filament fibre known as silk comprises two salivary glands in the head of each larva that release fibroin protein and a gum known as sericin that holds the two filaments together.
The sericin is eliminated by immersing the cocoons in hot water, releasing the silk threads and preparing them for reeling. The pupae of silkworms are likewise killed by immersion in hot water.
Thread is created by joining single filaments together. This thread is coiled onto reels after being pulled under tension through several guides. Yarn can be created by plying the strands together. The raw silk is packaged based on quality after drying.
Types of Silk:
Four main commercially significant varieties of silk are produced by various species of silkworms, which eat a variety of food plants.
These are the following:
- Mulberry
- Muga
- Eri
- Oak tasar or tropical tasar
Sericulture: Rearing of Silkworm
The female silk moth lays eggs to start the process of raising silkworms in sericulture. Usually, a single female silk moth yields 300–500 eggs. After that, these eggs—which were placed on a piece of paper or cardboard—were cleaned using a 2% formalin solution.
On a rearing tray, make a feeding bed by scattering chopped mulberry leaves over it. Brushing is the method used to move the hatchlings into this tray. Foam strips are soaked in water and put on the tray to preserve humidity.
At first, the silkworm larvae are quite hungry. Their appetite gradually declines as they become bigger until they reach their active period. The silkworm continues to eat voraciously until its last feeding stage at this point.
When the larvae reach maturity, they start looking for friendly environments in which to pupate. The silkworm’s body shrinks and turns translucent at this point. Now that they are mature larvae, they use the two salivary glands on their heads to secrete saliva, which helps them form a cocoon. When this saliva comes into touch with air, it freezes and turns into silk.
In general, the cocoon spins in two to three days. On the other hand, spinning a cocoon might take up to 4 days for certain types of silkworms.
Reeling of Silk
The larvae metamorphose inside the cocoons to become pupae. The last step in sericulture is the extraction of silk from these cocoons. First, the cocoon is boiled and exposed to steam and dry heat to destroy the pupae inside. We refer to this procedure as stifling.
Nowadays, a procedure known as reeling is used to extract the silk strands from the deceased cocoon. The cocoons can be submerged in boiling water for about fifteen minutes, which causes the silk strands to become less sticky and allows the individual filaments to separate. A system of pulleys and guides helps to twist these filaments into a thread. After that, this silk is boiled again to give it more lustre.
There are about 50 silk filaments in one silk thread. However, one cocoon can yield more than 900 metres of filament. Thus, the silkworm yields raw silk, marking the end of the sericulture process.
FAQs on Sericulture
What do you mean by Sericulture?
The technique of raising silkworms and harvesting silk from them is known as sericulture. In many nations, sericulture is a significant home industry.
Which two proteins are present in silk?
The two proteins that makeup silk are fibroin and sericin. Fibrin is mostly found at the centre of silk fibre and makes up about 80% of the fibre. Twenty per cent of silk is composed of a coating of sericin that envelops this core.
Name some various species of silkworm?
Mulberry silkworm, Tasar silkworm, Muga silkworm, Eri silkworm, Oak silkworm, Giant silkworm.
