SILK FIBER - TEXTILE BASICS

Silk is continuous protein filament extruded by silk worm. It possesses all the desirable properties of a
textile fibre. It is solidified protein produced by certain caterpillars which will encase themselves in the
form of cocoon.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SILK FIBER

The silk industry can be mainly classified into mulberry and non-mulberry. The non-mulberry silk
industry consists of TASSAR, ERI and MUGA silks. Out of these four varieties the mulberry silk industry
accounts for 80% of nations total production.

SILK PRODUCING COUNTRIES IN THE PLANET

Major silk producing countries in the world today are: Japan, China, Soviet Union, India, Italy, South
Korea, Turkey, Iran, Brazil, Spain, France, Sicily, Syria and Austria.

SERICULTURE - LIFE CYCLE OF SILK WORM

There are four stages in the life cycle of a silk worm:
1. Egg
2. Caterpillar
3. Chrysalis or Pupa
4. Moth