Syllabus (ZOOLOGY)

Course Type: SEC-1

Semester: 1

Course Code: BZOOEC01C

Course Title: Sericulture

(L-P-Tu): 2-1-0

Credit: 3

Practical/Theory: Combined

Course Objective:

Learning Outcome: Upon completion of the course, students shall be able to: Learn about the history of sericulture and silk routes. Recognize various species of silk moths in India, both exotic and indigenous races. Be aware about the opportunities and employment in seric

Sericulture

Objective:

The course will make the students aware about the significance of sericulture as a profit-making enterprise. It will help the students to understand the biology of silkworms, its nutritional requirement to secrete quality silk, the techniques of silkworm rearing, reeling of silk and various measures to be taken to maximize the benefits.

Title: Sericulture

Syllabus:

Unit 1: Introduction

1. Sericulture: Definition, history and present status; Silk route
2. Types of silkworms, Distribution and Races
3. Exotic and indigenous races
4. Mulberry and non-mulberry Sericulture

Unit 2: Biology of Silkworm

1. Life cycle of Bombyx mori
2. Structure of silk gland and secretion of silk

Unit 3: Rearing of Silkworms

1. Selection of mulberry variety and establishment of mulberry garden
2. Rearing house and rearing appliances.
3. Disinfectants: Formalin, bleaching powder, RKO
4. Silkworm rearing technology: Early age and Late age rearing
5. Types of mountages.
6. Spinning, harvesting and storage of cocoons

Unit 4: Pests and Diseases

1. Pests of silkworm: Uzi fly, dermestid beetles and vertebrates
2. Pathogenesis of silkworm diseases: Protozoan, viral, fungal and bacterial
3. Control and prevention of pests and diseases

Unit 5: Entrepreneurship in Sericulture

1. Prospectus of Sericulture in India: Sericulture industry in different states, employment, potential in mulberry and non-mulberry sericulture
2. Visit to various sericulture centres.

Practical:

• • Study of the life cycle of different species of silk moths - Bombyx mori,

Philosamia ricini, Antheraea proyli/Antheraea mylitta, Antheraea assamensis and silk secreted by them.

• • Study of the sexual dimorphism in caterpillar, pupae and adults of Bombyx mori.
  • Study of rearing house and different appliances used in rearing of silk worms.
  • Submission of a report on visit to a Sericulture Institute/Sericulture Centres.

Reading References:

• Manual on Sericulture (1976); Food and Agriculture Organisation, Rome
• Ullal, S.R. and Narasimhanna M.N. (1987) Handbook of Practical Sericulture; 3 rd Edition, CSB, Bangalore
• Yonemura, M. and Rama Rao, N. (1951) A Handbook of Sericulture. I. Rearing of silk-worms. Government Branch Press, Mysore.
• Ananthanarayanan, S. K. (2008) Silkworm Rearing. Daya Publishing House
• Aruga, H. (1994). Principles of Sericulture. CRC Press
• Sathe, T. V. and Jadhav, A. (2002) Sericulture and Pest Management. Daya Publishing House Yup-Lian, L. (1991) Silkworm Diseases. Food and Agricultural Organization