In India, the production to tropical tasar silk remained next to mulberry silk for decades, constituting about 4 per cent of the total silk production. Here is an ever increasing demand for tasar silk owing to its strength, lustre and copper brown colour. The tasar silk production has stagnated and declined in the recent past through the demand is increasing. The important reasons for low production are attributed to traditional method of silkworm rearing on all trees in natural habitat, which exposes the larvae to a number of predators, parasites and diseases apart from natural vagaries. The wild sericigenous insects like tasar silkworms have in due course of time came to stay as semi domestic for the regular efforts and interests that revolved round its economic utility. Age-old craft lived with the age-old practices linked with the culture and tradition of the aboriginals; has not allowed the industry to take a commercial shape and spread. However, due stress on the application of 4 Ms, viz., man, material, machine and management need to be emphasized towards enhancing quality linked production. Considering the overall potentiality of wild silkmoths in India, the technology perfection and its adoption could go a long way in harnessing the available flora for rearing tasar silkworms which in turn can be expected to increase the cocoon productivity. In this book emphasis has been given on the types of cocoon, quality and quantum of cocoon production and introduction of improvised seed technology package. This is expected to help the readers a systematic and scientific way of cultivating the tasar. Discussion has been made as to the significance of tropical tasar culture for sustainable development. Relevant detailed references, illustrations and tables with exhaustive index had an enduring appeal for the sericulturists, biotechnologists, technocrats and students of sericulture background. Contents Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter 2: Silk Scenario; Chapter 3: Taxonomic Profile of Silkworms; Chapter 4: Development and Biometry; Chapter 5: Biometry and Typology; Chapter 6: The Future Scenario.

Raising wild silk meets social and environmental challenges facing the textile industry--the second-largest global polluter--head-on by providing a sustainable occupation that maintains social bonds and a connection with the land.

The term "biodiversity" or "biological diversity" describes the variety of living beings on Earth encompassing microorganisms, plants, animals, and ecosystems, such as coral reefs, forests, and deserts. In fact, it also represents a wealth of biological resources available to us. Today, instead of exploring and preserving its unmapped biodiversity, mankind has gone away from mother nature, conquering the domain through relentless exploitation. This has resulted in an ecological imbalance and thereby has posed serious threat to biodiversity. Declining biodiversity is, therefore, a concern for countless reasons. Biodiversity’s wealth of genetic information can be conserved by storing biological material from endangered species. Cell lines, gametes, and embryos are preserved so that in case a species becomes extinct or there is a need to increase the population of the species, then cloning and artificial reproductive techniques can be used to revive and reproduce the said species. The present volume discusses the biodiversity of specific animal groups, such as cnidarians and fish, as well as potential risks to and methods for conserving some of them. The following important aspects are addressed: 1. The importance of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem balance for sustainability 2. The emerging role of biodiversity as a source of important materials, pharmaceuticals, food, and so on as such or through genetic manipulation to meet the contemporary and future challenges 3. The impact of environment degradation on biodiversity and conservation in a changing environment 4. Conventional and emerging biotechnological techniques to conserve biodiversity The book is intended for academics, scientists, and naturalists working in the fields of biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and biomedical sciences.

This book endows with a lucid exposition and comprehensive analysis of almost all sectors of J&K economy. This book is a collection of some research papers published in various journals and is written in reader-friendly style and is designed to acquaint students, scholars, and other readers about the fundamental aspects of the State economy like agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, power, health, handicraft and so on. In short, this book is designed to provide readers an overview of the Jammu and Kashmir Economy.

Silk has a long history in South Asia, more than 4,000 years. Today sericulture and silk production provide a livelihood to millions of people, not least tribal women. Here India dominates, being the second largest producer of silk in the world after China. The history of mulberry silk is well known and much has been written on its cultivation and production, especially by and for specialists. The scope and purpose of this volume is quite different, however. Aimed at a broader readership, it presents the diversity and complexity of sericulture and silk production across South Asia and Myanmar within a single, richly illustrated book. Significantly, it explores new directions in sericulture, and suggests alternatives to mulberry silk, which is not without environmental and ethical issues. Special attention is paid to Eri silk, similar to soft cotton and regarded as the most world?s comfortable textile. The result is a fascinating exploration of the world of silk in South Asia, a volume that will interest and intrigue silk specialists and general readers alike.