3. SILK – THE QUEEN OF FIBRES
• Shimmering – Satiny – Sleek-
Sensuous
Yes, that is “SILK”, a unique product of
plant-animal interface.
• Is an inimitable natural fibre
synonymous with splendour, sibilant
with lusture and spectacular in vision.
• Silk being natural fibre breaths and
conducts moisture away from the body.
Due to its hygroscopic nature it
absorbs about 30% moisture of its
weight and this makes the wear more
comfortable. It is even resilent and
quickly recovers its original state after
being deformed.
4. WHAT IS SILK?
• The native cocoon fibre is composed of two proteins, namely the
fibrion and the sericin. The Sericin is the glue substance which
ensheats the two fibrion filaments, coming out from two silk
glands.
• By cooking in warm water during reeling sericin is dissolved and
thereby facilitates the separation of silk fibre.
Fibroin is the protein case of silk filament and spider webs. It is
stretchable protein.
5. Molecular Structure
Amino Acid Composition of silk protein of
Bombyx mori L.
Amino Acid Cocoon Fibre
Post silk gland fibroin
Sericin
Whole
Whole
Large
sub-unit
Small
sub-unit
Glycerine 43.7 42.9 49.4 10.00 13.5
Alanine 28.8 30.00 29.8 16.9 6.0
Serine 11.9 12.2 11.3 7.9 33.4
Tyrosine 5.1 4.8 4.6 3.4 2.6
Valine 2.2 2.5 2.0 7.4 2.8
Aspartic Acid 1.3 1.9 0.65 15.4 16.7
Glutanic Acid 1.0 1.4 0.70 8.4 4.4
Threonine 0.90 0.92 0.45 2.8 0.53
Pheylalamine 0.61 0.67 0.39 2.7 0.53
Methionine - - - 0.37 0.04
Isoleucine 0.71 0.61 0.14 7.3 0.72
Leucine 0.51 0.55 0.09 7.2 1.1
Proline 0.31 0.45 0.31 3.0 0.68
Arginine 0.46 0.51 0.18 3.8 3.1
Histidine 0.16 0.19 0.09 1.6 3.3
Lysine 0.31 0.38 0.06 1.5 0.15
Ceysteine - - - 1.6 -
a) Date expressed as mol % b) Lucas et al (1960)
c) Shimira et al (1982) d) Komatsu (1975)
6. ORIGIN OF SILK – LEGENDS WOVEN
TOGHETHER
• Silk, the mystical fibre, has a fascinating
history legends woven together. It was
discovered in China more than 4500 years
ago. Silk was known and produced in
India from pre-vedic times. India was on
the fabled silk Road, which stretched
6000 miles across the heart land of Asia
from China to Mediterranean, Indian
Carvans laden with luxury goods like
spices and Indigo traded for silk from
China. For centuries China has been
producing silk, keeping it a closely
guarded secret Legends say that it was
smuggled into India by Buddhist monks
who carried the eggs of silkworms and
seeds of mulberry tree in hollow bamboo
canes.
7.
8. • There are many indigenous
varieties of wild silk moths,
found in different countries. The
production and promotions, lies
with one species, the blind
flightless moth, Bomybx mori L.
The original wild ancestor of this
domesticated species is believed
to be Bombyx mandarina Moore,
a silk moth living on white
mulberry tree and unique to
China.
9. Commercially Exploited Sericigenous Insects of
the World and their Food Plants
Scientific Name Common Name Origin Primary food plants
1. Bombyx mori Mulberry silkworm China Morus alba
M. indica
M.multicaulis
M.bombycis
2. Antheraea mylitta Tropical tasar silkworm India Shorea robusta
Terminalia tomentosa
T.arjuna
3. Antheraea proylei
4. Antheraea frithi
5. Antheraea compta
6. Antheraea pernyi
7. Antheraea yamamai
Oak tasar silkworm
Oak tasar silkworm
Oak tasar silkworm
Oak tasar silkworm
Oak tasar silkworm
India
India
India
China
Japan
Quercus incana
Q.serrata
Q.himalayana
Q.tricophora
Q.semicarpifolia
Q. grifithi
Q.dealbata
Q. dendata
Q.acutissima
8. Antheraea assama Muga silkworm India Litsaea polyantha
Machilus bombycina
Litsaea citrate
9. Philosamia ricini Eri silkworm India Ricinus communis
Maninot utilisma
Evodea fragrance
10. GLOBAL SILK SCENARIO
• Silk being a magical natural fibre has fascination of the
people through the ages, nearly 50 countries in the
world are engaged in sericulture, but perceptible
production is attained by a few of them viz., China,
India, Japan, Brazil, CIS, Thailand, Vietnam and South
Korea.
• China ranked first with the production figures of
102560 tons followed by India and Brazil 16400 and
1563 tons(2006-07) respectively. In the early phase of
this century (in 30’s), Japan was ruling the world silk
market by producing 70% of the world’s total
production. But from mid 70’s the Japanese silk
production started declining and the Chinese silk
production increased steadily to bridge the gap.
Recently two tropical countries viz., Brazil and Vietnam
could increase their production significantly. The entire
quantity of silk produced in Brazil and Vietnam is of
superior quality bivoltine and thus they are able to
compete with China in the international market.
11. Total production 124160 MT
World Silk Production
(Mulberry & Non-Mulberry)
1500
1563
102560
16400
China
India
Brazil
Uzbekastan
Korea
Japan
Vietnam
Thailand
12. • India is the second largest producer of
silk after China with a production of
about 16,400 MT (2006-07) providing
gainful employment to 6 million people.
13. • India presently is also the largest importer of silk and is also
the highest consumer of silk in the world.
• The raw silk production of silk, which although has increased
from 886MT in 1951-52 to 16400 MT (2006-07) with annual
growth of 5.6% does not suffice the requirements of 26000 MT.
• In India, 98% of mulberry silk produced is of multivoltine origin
and the supply of the WARP grade silk 42% of the total demand,
which can be had from bivoltines is imported from China.
14. RAW SILK PRODUCTION
DURING 2006-07 (MT)
Year Mulberry Vanya Grand
total
Biv. Cross
breed
Total Tasar Eri Muga Total
2006-07 1100 15425 16525 350 1485 115 1950 18475
15. GROWTH OF SILK INDUSTRY DURING
XTH 5 YEAR ACTION PLAN
Mulberry raw Silk production In India during last5 Xth 5 years Plan
14617
13970
14620
15445
16400
12500
13000
13500
14000
14500
15000
15500
16000
16500
17000
2002-03 2003-04 2004-2005 2005-06 2006-07
Years
Production
(MT)
Series1
16. INDIAN SILK INDUSTRY – AT A GLANCE
PARTICULARS Figures
Employment 58,00,000
Production of
spun silk yarn (Tons)
Noil yarn (Tons)
500
250
Number of reeling units
Filature/cottagebasin
Charka
Multiend (Basins)
26,631
28,014
201
Number of sericulture villages 53,814
Number of sericulture families 7,96,685
Number of handlooms 2,58,000
Number of power looms 29,340
Number of modern jacquard looms 500
•In India silk yarn production was stagnant upto 1975, but increased steadily in
1980’s and the production nearly doubled within 5 years. The mulberry silk
production has touched 16400 MT during 2006-2007. The mulberry area has
steadily increased from a very low area of 8300 hectares in 1960 to 1.70 hectares
in 1980. The area presently has increased to 171959 hectares.
17. State Wise Raw silk production (2006-07)
State Mulberry Vanya raw silk (Non-mulberry)
(MT)
Area (ha) Raw silk (MT) Tasar Eri Muga
Karnataka 97647 7883 - - -
Andhra Pradesh 42458 5526 15.50 14.00 -
Tamil Nadu 10043 1125 - - -
West Bengal 14569 1598 27.00 8.00 0.20
Jammu & Kashmir 4000 102 1.00 - -
Assam 2500 11 - 740.00 107.00
Chattisgarh 365 4.03 110.00 3.10 -
Jarkhand 100 1.00 120.00 0.20 -
Kerala 1341 14.00 - 10.00 -
Orrisa 213 2.10 35.00 4.10 -
Manipur 5914 70.0 3.00 374.00 0.20
Meghalay 918 1.25 - 202.00 5.80
Bihar 408 4.00 11.00 1.30 -
Others 11417 183.62 17.5 128.3 1.8
Total 191893 16525 350.00 1485.00 115.0
18. EXPORT OF SILK
• The silk export in India which was not
existing in early 60’s steadily
increased in 1980 (Rs. 531 crores).
In 1985, the export earning more to
1,590 crores and during 2005-2006, it
stood at 3000.00 crores.
19.
20.
21. DIVERSITY OF SILK PRODUCING
INSECTS
• Sericulture has two
ramifications viz., mulberry and
non-mulberry. Under mulberry
only one variety of silk
represented by Bombyx mori is
grown commercially while as
non-mulberry embraces Muga,
Tasar (Tropical and Temperate)
and Eri Silk worms.
• Mulberry silkworm (Bombyx
mori L.)
Mulberry silkworm as known is
monophagous feeding
exclusively on Morus alba,
whereas non-mulberry
silkworms has wide range of
hosts as depicted on following
slides.
22. • Tasar Silkworm:
Tropical Tasar(Antheraea mylitta
D.)
Tasar culture is practised in the
states of Central India (Bihar,
Orissa and M.P.). The primary
food plants being Terminalia
arjuna, Terminalia tomestosa
and Shorea robusta.
Temperate Tasar (Oak Tasar)
(Antheraea proylei J.)
Oak trees (Quercus sp.) are
available in sub-Himalayan
range from North-East to North-
West. The common Oak species
are Quercus serrata, Q. incana
and Q. semicarfolia. In J&K, the
primary food plants of Oak Tasar
worms are Q. incana and Q.
himalayana. A. proylei is
synthesized hybrid of A.roylei
(India) and A. pernyi (China).
23. • Muga Silkworm (Antheraea
assama W.)
It is endemic to Assam
produces the much famed
golden yellow silk of the
world. It feeds on the leaves
of Machilus bombycina (Som)
and Listea polyantha (Soalu).
Muga silkworm is
semidomesticated in that
larvae are reared outdoors on
the food plants while cocoon
spinning and other activities
are carried in doors. It
survives under high rain fall
and high humidity and about
3500 – 3575 hectares of
plants are available in the
farmers field.
24. • Eri Silkworm
(Philosomia ricini)
It is reared indoors on
the castor food plants
(Ricinus communis) as
a tradition by the tribals
of North-East. The Eri
producing states are
North East, Assam,
Meghalaya, Nagaland,
Manipur, Mizoram,
Bihar and orissa.
Ericulture has also
been started in the
states of West Bengal.
Eri silk serves as an
alternative to wool.
26. SERI – BIODIVERSITY - INDIA’s STRENGTH
• India is the only country in the world where five known type of commercial silks is
still found in wild / semi – domesticated conditions. Hence the country has the proud
position as far as its conservations for future utilization etc. Distribution of these silk
producing fauna and their respective host plants is enumerated as under:
• Central Silk Board realizing the importance of proper conservation of genetic
resources of silkworm and their host plants has established as CSGRC (central
Sericulture Germplasm Resource Centre) to serve as National repository for
collection, characterization and documentation of mulberry and silkworm Germplasm
with a net work of satellite stations in different agro climates. The temperate mulberry
Germplasm and the univoltine / bivoltines (bombyx mori L.) are maintained at CSR &
TI, Pampore Kashmir- J&K.
MULBERRY
Mulberry, a perennial deciduous
plant is reported to have originated
in China, the primary centre of plant
origin (Vavilov, 1951). Mulberry is
supposed to be native of Indo –
Chinese area and distributed in the
low sub – Himalayas up to an
elevation of 2100 m. Brandis (1906)
and Horker (1885) reported 04
species viz. M.indica,
M.alba,M.laviegata and M.serrata,
occurring in India
27.
28. PRESENT STATUS OF MULBERRY
GERMPLASM AT CSGRC HOSUR
S.No. Name of the state State code No. of accessions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Andaman and Nicobar
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
Himachal Pradesh
Jammu and Kashmir
Karnataka
Kerala
Manipur
Meghalaya
Maharastra
Madhya Pradesh
Punjab
Rajisthan
Skikim
Tamil Nadu
Utter Pradesh
West Bengal
A&N
ARU
ASM
HPR
J&K
KAR
KER
MAN
MEG
MHA
MPR
PUN
RAJ
SKM
TNU
UPR
WBL
2
5
5
1
1
30
48
4
21
1
11
1
5
1
20
44
43
TOTAL 243
For temperate region, CSR&TI, Pampore is maintaining
Mulberry Germplasm of 67 varieties besides 33 purely of
temperate origin at Manasbal
30. COUNTRY WISE STATUS OF SILKWORM
(Bombyx mori) GENETIC RESOURCES
Sl.No. Country Multivoltine Bivoltine Total
1. Japan 30 1542 1572
2. China 20 580 600
3. India 150 48 630
4. Russia - 500 500
5. Brazil 10 65 75
6. France - 53 53
7. S.Korea 5 281 286
8. N.Korea 6 300 306
9. Italy - 50 50
10. Iran - 30 30
Total 221 3881 4102
31. AUTHORISED MULBERRY VARIETIES
FOR VARIOUS ZONES/REGIONS
Name of the variety authorised Region / Zone
V1
S1635
DD
Karnataka (North), Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Maharashtra
(Irrigated, high temperature, black soils)
V1
S1635
S36
DD
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala
(Irrigated red soils)
S1635
S1
S799
Central India
(Irrigated conditions)
S1635
S1
S146
West Bengal, U.P., Bihar, Assam
(Rainfed conditions)
Tr-10
BC259
S146
Hilly eastern area
(Rainfed conditions)
S146
Chinese White
Goshoerami
North Western Jammu, H.P.
Rainfed conditions, Temperate areas)
32. DETAILS OF AUTHORIZED /
COMMERCIAL SILKWORM HYBRIDS
Hybrid Voltinism Target area / season Developed
Year of
authorization
SH6 x NB4D2 Bi x Bi Spring season CSR&TI, Pampore 1997
SH6 x KA Bi x Bi Spring season CSR&TI, Pampore 1997
YS3 x SF19 Bi x Bi Spring season CSR&TI, Pampore 1997
Pam101 x NB4D2 Bi x Bi Early Autumn CSR&TI, Pampore 1997
Pam111 x SF19 Bi x Bi Early Autumn CSR&TI, Pampore 1997
BL23 x NB4D2 Multi x Bi All Seasons CSR&TI, Mysore 1997
BL2 x NB4D2 Multi x Bi All Seasons CSR&TI, Mysore 1997
CSR2 x CSR4 Bi x Bi Favourable seasons
(Aug. – Feb.)
CSR&TI, Mysore 1997
CSR2 x CSR5 -do- -do- -do- -do-
CSR3 x CSR6 -do- -do- -do- 1999
CSR12 x CSR6 -do- -do- -do- -do-
CSR16 x CSR17 -do- -do- -do- -do-
CSR18 x CSR19 -do- For all seasons -do- -do-
KSO1 x SP2 -do- -do- KSSRDI, Bangalore -do-
PM x NB4D2 Multi x Bi For all seasons (Rainfed
as well as irrigated areas)
- -
Dun 6 x Dun22 Bi x Bi Spring/autumn CSR&TI, Pampore 2005
34. The present demand of mulberry silk in India is
about 28000 MT, out of which, 16,400 MT get
produced indigenously, 98% of which comes
from multivoltines. There is a tremendous
demand for the warp grade silk (about 42%),
preferred from power looms, comes from the
bivoltines. The gap of supply is filled by imports
from the Chine.
35. Introduction of productive hybrids
Combi-
nation
Yield/10000 larvae
SCW
(g)
SSW (g) Shell (%)
Filament
length (m)
By wt.
(kg)
By.
No.
CSR2 X
CSR4
19.874 9500 2.12 0.46 21.70 1021
CSR2 X
CSR5
18.568 9350 1.94 0.42 21.65 1024
CP1B x JP1B 19.679 9591 2.00 0.42 20.97 975
CS6 x
Pam101
18.670 9633 1.92 0.41 21.49 926
RSJ3 x RSJ1 17.330 9058 1.87 0.42 22.15 817
RSJ14 x
RSJ11
19.320 9479 1.83 0.47 25.79 1234
Dun6 x
Dun22
20.960 9580 2.19 0.55 25.31 1125
Dun6 x
Dun21
20.390 9580 2.13 0.52 24.53 1145
SH6 X
NB4D2
17.110 9800 1.78 0.34 19.10 854
36. Improvement in Silkcontent in Bivoltine Hybrids
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
Yakweix J122,
Haulakx J112,
Chang Naung x
J122(1979-1990)
SH6 x NB4D2,
KA x
NB4D2(1991-
1994)
Pam101 x
NB4D2, Pam111
x SF19(1995-
1998)
CSR2 x CSR4,
CS6 x Pam101,
Dun6 x Dun
22(1999-2005)
ShellRatio
37. LEAF YIELD OF DIFFERRENT MULBERRY VARIETIES UNDER
DIFFERRENT AGRO CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
TROPICAL
Variety Mysore
Local
K 2 S 36 S 54 S 13 V1
Leaf yield
/hec/yr.
(irrigated)
25,000
kg
30-
35,000
kg
40-
42,000
kg
46,000
kg
- 60,000
kg
Leaf yield
/hec/yr.
(rain fed)
8,000
kg
12,000
kg
- - - -
Leaf yield
/hec/yr.
(semi-
irrigated)
- - - - 18,000
kg
-
41. Variety S 1635 BC259 TR 10 S 146 S 1
Leaf yield
/hec/yr.
(irrigated)
20-
25,000
kg
20-
25,000
kg
25-30,000
kg
30-35,000
kg
20-25,000
kg
Leaf yield
/hec/yr.
(rain fed)
10-
14,000
kg
10-
14,000 kg
10-14,000
kg
12-14,000
kg
10-12,000
kg
SUB -TROPICAL
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
S1635 BC2 59 TR10 S146 S1
42. LEAF YIELD OF DIFFERRENT MULBERRY VARIETIES
UNDER TEMPERATE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
Variety KNG Ichinose Goshoerami Kairyoroso Rokokyoso China
white
Leaf yield /hec/
yr.(rain fed)
20,000
kg
19,000
kg
25,000 kg 19,000 kg 17,000 kg 19,100 kg
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
K
N
G
I
C
H
I
N
O
C
E
G
O
S
H
O
E
R
A
M
I
K
A
I
R
Y
O
R
O
S
O
R
O
K
O
K
U
Y
A
S
O
C
H
I
N
A
W
H
I
T
E
F
43.
44.
45. Intercropping:
Crops having good
economic value are used
for intercropping with
mulberry. To make the
sericulture more
economical at farmers’
level and to increase per
capita income of farmer
from a unit area of land.
Intercropping is
practiced with legumes,
pulses, cereals, coconut,
saffron and coffee.
Recently intercropping
with aromatic/medicinal
plants have also been
introduced.
46. IPM:
Integrated Management
practices to control
major pest and disease
problems are developed
for tropical, sub-tropical
and temperate areas,
keeping in view the
limitations in use of
pesticides/fungicides in
seri-ecosystem
management practices
have also been
developed for control of
silkworm cocoon pest
and silkworm diseases.
47. –INM: Different schedules of fertilizer
application are followed to get the
quality leaf. 300: 120: 120 kg /ha/yr.
N:P:K is applied for shoot harvest and
280:120:120 kg/ha/yr. N:P:K for leaf
harvest is practiced. Likewise 20 MT
FYM is applied per hectare per year to
the mulberry farm.
The use of biofertilsers in mulberry
cultivation is becoming a viable
alternative. The use of Azotobactor,
Azospirillium, phosphobacterium and
VA-mycorrhiza in mulberry cultivation
has reduced 50% dependency on
nitrogenous fertilizers. This is an eco-
friendly technology which besides
helping in faster growth of mulberry
also maintains the healthy soil status.
48. • Vermicomposting: Use of earthworms are
versatile natural bioreactor for rapid
conversion of organic wastes into value
added manure. The earthworm feed on the
wastes of organic origin and produce
vermicastes, which is rich in N, P and K,
micronutrients, enzymes and vitamins.
Application of vermiculture in recycling of
sericultural waste has tremendous potential,
in view of availability of sericulture wastes of
about 4.6 million tones/ha, taking an average
leaf mass of 20 MT/yr /ha @ 60 kg of rearing
wastes from 100 kg of leaf fed to the
silkworms. The availability at this rate will
be 15 tonnes/ha/yr., equivalent to 280 – 300
kg(N), 90 – 100 kg(P) and 150 – 200 kg (K).
Vermicompost excels FYM in terms of content
of NPK and other minerals.
• Earthworm species: Eudrilus euginae,
Perionyx excavatus.
50. • Bed Disinfectants: There are some bed
disinfectants used in silkworm rearing
to stop the spread of pathogens within
the rearing bed. These bed
disinfectants are dusted over the
silkworm body and their bed with the
help of muslin cloth or electric duster.
The bed disinfectants commonly used
are listed below:
• Resham Keet Oushad (RKO)
• Vijetha
• Resham Jyothi
• Sanjeevni
• Suraksha
• Labex
• Ankush
51. • Mounting: Various mountages
are used to spin the cocoons such
as (1) Rotary mountages, (2)
Bottle brush mountage, (3) Plastic
mountages, (4) Chandrika. In
J&K various locally available
materials are used as mountages,
which include Mustard hay, grass
mountages, pinus leaves and
paddy grass, etc.
52.
53.
54. MECHANIZATION IN
SERICULTURE
• The impact of mechanization is being felt now
in Indian sericulture. Various kinds of tools
and machines are gaining popularity among
farmers. This paper presents various
technologies and machines along with their
tecno-economic impact on sericulture in
India.
55. MECHANIZATION IN
MULBERRY CULTIVATION
• Land preparation for mulberry plantation:
Once established a new mulberry
plantation lasts for 25-30 years.
Establishment of a new mulberry garden
requires deep ploughing, harrowing,
pit/trench making. The land should be
thoroughly prepared. For land preparation,
tractor operated implements such as disc
and mould-board ploughs which are not
only the faster and economical means of
land preparation but also better than
bullocks from quality of work and tilth
created.
56. • Mulberry cutting preparation.
• Self propelled Boom sprayer:
For spraying of insecticides and
growth promoters.
• Shoot harvesting machine.
57. MECHANIZATION IN
SILKWORM REARING
• Silkworm rearing requires timeliness
and large number of work force at
times for feeding of silkworms, bed
cleaning, picking of mature worms
and placing them in mountages for
spinning and harvesting of cocoons.
Mechanization has increased the
efficacy of workers and timeliness in
operations and reduced costs
involved.
58. • Mulberry leaf chopping machine
for young age silkworms.
• Duster : For dusting of chemical
powders for prevention and
control of diseases.
• Flame gun: For disinfections of
silkworm rearing rooms and
rearing appliances.
• Low cost sprayer: For effective
disinfections
• Silkworm Separator: For picking
up of mature silkworms
• Cocoon Deflossing machine
• Tray washer
• cocoon cutting machine
59. BY PRODUCTS FROM SERICULTURE
• Utilization of silkworm for other purposes that
textiles is gaining ground in medical, cosmetics,
food, beverages and other new areas, adding
high value of silk productions. Though these
may not enhance quantum of production, they
may render diversification of the activity.
• Silkworm as a bio-material: The silk fibroin
exhibits good bio-compatibility in vitro and in
vivo comparable with other used bio-materials.
The unique prosperities of this material and the
possibility to obtain films, gels, sponges and
fibres led to lot of researches during the last ten
years. In order to explore the utility of this
material for applications in bio-medical field.
Use can be, in as matris of cell growth and
tissue engineering (electrospun fibres, porous
3D structures, hydrogels, compost or blended
threads.
60. • Fibroin “Biopolymer” is very promising to
develop innovative bio-material for clinical
hi-tech applications.
• Silkworm as a bio-reactor: Silkworm larvae
serve as hosts for producing proteins of
interest. Silk glands can be used as a
manufactory of foreign proteins. Example:
Fibrous proteins like procollagen-III or
Globular are successfully produced in silk
glands of silkworm Bombyx mori.
61. Sericin – A Bio-molecule of value:
• Sericin considered as an
undesirable componant
of silk, was shown by
the scientists to be a
viable bio-molecule
useful in cosmetic
industry, as a coating
material, nutrient,
coagulant, anti-oxidant
etc. Sericin (18 amino
acids) content in
mulberry silkworm
cocoon may vary
between 17-36%.
62. Besides, the other by-products from
mulberry/silkworm can be
enumerated as under:
• Mulberry Roots: Mulberry roots have
been reported to possess
antihelmintic and astringent
properties. Root juice of Morus nigra
is administrated to diabetic patients
as decoctious which has the capacity
of to reduce blood sugar and
agglutination of blood.
63. • Mulberry Leaf: In Japan, tea is
prepared from the powder of
mulberry leaves which is
consumed by some people as a
traditional healthy diet. Now the
mulberry leaf derived tea
“Kuwacha (R)” has been
commercialized is available at
Hoshina co. ltd. Saitama Japan.
• Mulberry leaf is also used as
fodder for cattle, poultry and in
pisciculture. In China and India
the left over leaf is fed to cattle to
increase the milk yield.
64. Mulberry Fruit: The fruits after
fermentation may be used for
affording intoxicating beverages. The
fruit juice is also used for reducing
high fever as febrifuge.
65. • Extraction of pupal oil: Pupa waste, which
includes the pupal oil and powder, is of great
importance and can be utilized in a number of
ways. Linseed oil (75%) mixed with pupal oil
(25%) can be used for preparation of paints and
varnishes.
• Silkworm pupa as food resource for human
nutrition: silkworm pupa are rich in water
soluble proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids
and vitamin C, besides crude proteins and is
considered useful for human consumption.
• Medicinal wines from silk moths: In China the
male silkworm moths are used for preparation
of moth wine, especially by Shaanxi Sericultural
Technology station, China. The product is used
to treat impotence, abnormal menstruation and
menopause.
66. SILK MARK – A NEW INITIATIVE
For generic promotions of
silk and for protecting
consumers against spurious
silk, the Silk Mark
Association of India (SMOI),
Central Silk Board has
introduced the “SILK MARK”
label. This is a quality
assurance label affixed only
on pure and natural silk
products, sold by authorized
users of the label.
Nearly 300 members have
been registered (118 being
silk manufactures, 104 silk
exporters and 78 retailers)
