what is silk production
Answers
Explanation:
The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity (sericulture).
Answer:
The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity (sericulture).
Explanation:
◉LET'S EXPLORE MORE
✯History of silk:
Around 3500 BC, silk was discovered in China during the reign of emperor Huang-ti. It was considered as one of the most valuable fibre at that time because of its lustre and fine quality. At that time it was only used by the emperors and it was kept secret for hundreds of years. Later on it was spread across the world through trading. The route through which it used to travel was known as the ‘Silk route’.
✯Types:
The different types of silk are produced by different types of silkworms. It can be differentiated on the basis of lustre and texture. Few examples are kosa, tassar, mooga, etc. They are produced by various types of silkmoths. One of the common types is the mulberry silkmoth.
✯Life cycle of Silkmoth:
Silkworms are not actually born as worms rather as larvae and caterpillar hatched from the eggs of silkmoth. In the beginning, the female silk moth lays eggs and then the larvae are hatched out of the eggs and are known as the caterpillars.
◉FURTHER LEARNING
✯What is Sericulture?
Sericulture is the process of cultivating silkworms and extracting silk from them. The caterpillars of the domestic silkmoth (also called ‘Bombyx mori’) are the most commonly used silkworm species in sericulture. Other types of silkworms (such as Eri, Muga, and Tasar) are also cultivated for the production of ‘wild silks’.
✯What is Silk Made up of?
Silk is a fiber made up two different proteins – sericin and fibroin. Approximately 80% of silk fiber is made up of fibroin, which is concentrated at the core. This core is surrounded by a layer of sericin (which makes up the remaining 20% of silk).
✯What is the Process Followed in Sericulture?
For the production of mulberry silk, the sericulture process follows three primary steps.
☆Moriculture
the cultivation of mulberry leaves.
☆Silkworm rearing
promoting the growth of the silkworm.
☆Silk reeling
the extraction of silk filaments from the silkworm cocoons
✯Moriculture
Moriculture refers to the cultivation of mulberry plants, whose leaves are used as silkworm feed. These plants can be grown via three different methods:
- Cultivation from seeds
- Root-grafting
- Stem grafting
The stem grafting method is the most commonly used method for mulberry plantation. Here, cuttings that are approximately 22 centimeters in length, containing at least 3 buds, are extracted from the stem of a mature mulberry plant. These cuttings may be directly planted or first kept in nurseries and then transplanted.
✯Silkworm Rearing
In sericulture, the silkworm rearing process begins with the laying of eggs by the female silk moth. Typically, 300-500 eggs are obtained from one female silk moth. These eggs (laid on a paper/cardboard sheet) are then disinfected with the help of a 2% formalin solution.
A feeding bed is prepared on a rearing tray by sprinkling chopped mulberry leaves onto it. The hatched larvae are transferred into this tray via a process known as brushing. In order to maintain humidity, foam strips are soaked in water and placed on the tray.
The silkworm larvae initially have a good appetite. As they grow, their appetite slowly diminishes until their active stage. At this stage, the silkworm eats enthusiastically until its final feeding stage.
After reaching maturity, the larvae begin searching for hospitable places to begin their pupation. At this stage, the body of the silkworm shrinks and becomes translucent. These mature larvae now wrap themselves in a cocoon by secreting saliva from the two salivary glands on their heads. This saliva solidifies and becomes silk when it comes in contact with air.
✯Silkworm Rearing in Sericulture
Generally, the cocoon is spun in 2-3 days. However, some varieties of silkworm can take up to 4 days to spin their cocoons.
☆Silk Reeling
Inside the cocoons, the larvae undergo metamorphosis and turn into pupae. The harvesting of silk from these cocoons is the final stage of sericulture. First, the pupae inside the cocoon are killed by boiling the cocoon and exposing it to steam and dry heat. This process is called stifling.
Now, the silk filaments are removed from the dead cocoon via a process called reeling. When the cocoons are placed in boiling water for approximately 15 minutes, the adhesion of the silk threads reduces, enabling the separation of individual filaments.
☆Silk Reeling in Sericulture
One thread of silk contains approximately 50 silk filaments. However, over 900 meters of filament can be obtained from a single cocoon. Thus, raw silk is obtained from the silkworm and the sericulture process is completed.