An Introduction to Sericulture

 

Mulberry and Non-Mulberry Sericulture

Sericulture is the cultivation of silkworms to produce silk. It can be broadly classified into two types based on the species of silkworms and their host plants:

✅ 1. Mulberry Sericulture

It involves the rearing of Bombyx mori, a domesticated silkworm species. These silkworms exclusively feed on mulberry leaves (Morus alba).  It Produces Mulberry silk, which is the finest and most widely used silk in the world.  Mulberry sericulture is practiced extensively in countries like India, China, Japan, and Korea.

✅ 2. Non-Mulberry Sericulture

It includes the rearing of wild silkworms, which feed on non-mulberry host plants. The major non-mulberry silks are:

• Tasar Silk:

1. Produced by Antheraea mylitta
2. Feeds on trees like Asan and Arjun
3. Found in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh

• Muga Silk:

1. Produced by Antheraea assamensis
2. Feeds on Som and Soalu leaves
3. Exclusively found in Assam
4. Known for its golden-yellow luster

• Eri Silk:

1. Produced by Philosamia ricini
2. Feeds on castor, kesseru, and payam plants
3. Found in Assam and Meghalaya
4. Known for its soft, warm texture (also called "Ahimsa silk" as the cocoon is not boiled)

Origin, History and Distribution

Origin: Sericulture originated in China around 2700 BCE, credited to Empress Leizu, who discovered silk when a cocoon fell into her tea.

Historical Spread: From China, silk-making knowledge spread via the Silk Route to countries like India, Korea, Japan, and Europe.

In India: India is the second-largest producer of silk globally. All four types of silk (Mulberry, Tasar, Muga, and Eri) are produced here.

Modern Distribution: Practiced in tropical and temperate countries. Major silk-producing Indian states: Karnataka, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh.

 

 Varieties of Silk

Silk Type	Source Silkworm	Characteristics	Region
Mulberry	Bombyx mori	Smooth, shiny, fine white or cream silk	All over India
Tasar	Antheraea mylitta	Coarse texture, coppery color	Central India
Muga	Antheraea assamensis	Rich golden-yellow silk, very durable	Assam only
Eri	Philosamia ricini	Soft, wooly texture; warm and durable	Northeast India

Types of Silkworms

Silkworm Species	Silk Type	Host Plants	Region
Bombyx mori	Mulberry	Mulberry leaves	Pan India
Antheraea mylitta	Tasar	Arjun, Asan	Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand
Antheraea assamensis	Muga	Som, Soalu	Assam
Philosamia ricini	Eri	Castor, Kesseru	Assam, Meghalaya

Each of these silkworms has a distinct life cycle, habitat, and method of rearing.

Propagation of Host Plants

To rear silkworms successfully, host plants must be propagated and maintained carefully. Common propagation methods include:

Cutting: A part of the plant (usually a stem with nodes) is cut and planted directly into the soil to develop roots.

Layering: A low branch of the host plant is bent to the ground and covered with soil.

Roots form while it is still attached to the parent plant. Later it is cut and transplanted.

These methods ensure a continuous supply of fresh leaves for feeding silkworms.