Principles and Practices of Sericulture is a comprehensive guide that introduces students, researchers, and practitioners to the scientific and practical aspects of silk production, focusing on both mulberry and non-mulberry silkworm rearing systems. Rooted in traditional practices yet aligned with modern sericulture advancements, this book covers the entire silkworm life cycle, mulberry cultivation, and cocoon processing with a balance of theoretical detail and hands-on application.

Beginning with an overview of sericulture's importance and scope, the book explores key topics such as mulberry varieties, host plants, land preparation, pruning, and harvesting practices. It then delves into silkworm biology, including external morphology, silk gland anatomy, and feeding behavior.

Detailed chapters on rearing infrastructure, disinfection, grainage techniques, egg incubation, and moulting management guide readers through the systematic rearing of Bombyx mori L. Additional sections cover mounting, cocoon harvesting and grading, as well as diseases and pest control, making this text a complete resource for maintaining healthy silkworm colonies.

With coverage of silk reeling technology, rearing equipment, and post-harvest operations, the book is ideal for students in agricultural and sericulture programs, extension professionals, and entrepreneurs engaged in silk farming and rural development initiatives

Bhimasen Naik (b.1961) hails from an agri-horticultural family of Western Odisha (Village: Jamtalia, Tehsil: Sundargarh, District: Sundargarh). He obtained B.Sc. (Ag. & A.H.) and M.Sc. (Ag.) in Genetics and Plant Breeding from Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur in 1981 and 1983, respectively, and Ph.D. from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar in1999. He has been awarded ICAR Junior Research Fellowship and CSIR Senior Research Fellowship during his studies. He is a Fellow of the Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding, New Delhi; and life member of the Crop Improvement Society of India, Ludhiana; the Indian Society of Plant Breeders, Coimbatore; the Society for Advancement of Rice Research, Hyderabad; the Indian Society of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad and the Society for Plant Biochemistry & Biotechnology, New Delhi. He joined Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) as Research Assistant at Regional Research Station (later renamed Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station), Semiliguda, Koraput in 1984. Then he worked as Junior Breeder (Assistant Professor) at High Altitude Research Station, OUAT, Pottangi, Koraput (1984-1990); Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor (Senior Scale) at College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar (1990-1998); Training Associate (Horticulture)/Assistant Professor (Senior Scale) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kendrapara (1998-1999); Junior Breeder/Assistant Professor (Senior Scale), Associate Professor and Professor at Regional Research and Technology Transfer Sub-Station (RRTTSS), OUAT, Jashipur, Mayurbhanj (1999-2010); Professor at Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station (RRTTS), OUAT, Chiplima, Sambalpur (2010-2021); Associate Director of Research, RRTTS, OUAT, Chiplima, Sambalpur (2010-2014); and Associate Dean, College of Horticulture, OUAT, Chiplima, Sambalpur (2016-2017). He retired from OUAT service in January 2021. He has worked on breeding and genetics of ginger, turmeric, mungbean, linseed and rice. He has more than 36 years of teaching, research and extension experience at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology. He has 56 research papers published in peer-reviewed national and international journals, 23 abstracts of symposia, 10 books, 1 book chapter (Springer-Nature) and 20 popular articles to his credit. He has guided one M.Sc. (Ag.) and one Ph.D. student. He is associated in the development of six cultivars in ginger (Suruchi), turmeric (Surama, Ranga and Rashmi), linseed (Arpita) and heat tolerant rice (OUAT Kalinga Rice-8: Suryashree); collaborated in the development of three cultivars in rice (Ashutosh, Gobinda and Hasanta) and registered one genetic stock of mungbean (BSN 1, INGR 00011). He is a reviewer of ‘The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences’ and ‘Indian Farming’ of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.

Subhalaxmi Roy (b.1989) obtained her B.Sc. (Ag.) from College of Agriculture, Chiplima under Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in 2012. She has received her M.Sc. (Ag.) in Entomology from BCKV, West Bengal and Ph.D. from Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar in 2014 and 2021 respectively. She successfully qualified NET in Entomology in 2014 conducted by ASRB, New Delhi. She is currently working as Assistant Professor of Entomology at Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar since 2018. During her six years of teaching experience, she has taught 3 UG, 3 PG and 1 Ph.D. courses and still continuing. She has 18 research papers of national and international reputes, 10 abstracts of seminars/symposiums/conferences, 2 books, 3 book chapters, 1 practical manual and 19 popular articles to her credit. She has attended 8 training programmes and 13 seminars/symposiums/conferences. She was awarded Young Researcher Award presented on   4th International conference held at Malla Reddy university, Hyderabad, in 2023. She has guided 4 M.Sc. (Entomology) students for their thesis. She is a life member of Society for Plant Protection and Environment, Society of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics and Indian society of Agriculture and Horticulture Research Development. She is also actively involved in various activities of the current working institution level.

Bijoy Kumar Mishra (b.1955) obtained B.Sc. (Ag.), M.Sc. (Ag.) and Ph.D in Entomology from  Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar in 1976 and 1978 and 1995 respectively. He started his carrier as Senior Research Assistant in OUAT in 1980. Subsequently he worked as Subject Matter Specialist, Assistant Professor, Senior Scientist, Professor (Entomology), Head of the Department (Entomology) and Dean, College of Agriculture, OUAT before superannuating in 2015. Dr. Mishra is having 35 years of experience in teaching, research and extension. He has guided 18 PG and 3 Ph.D. students and has published 112 research papers in journals of national and international repute with 4 practical manual, 2 books and 3 book chapters. He has handled many Govt. Funded projects during his research tenure. He has attended many summer and winter schools and training programme in biological control field during his teaching period.  Besides being a reputed scientist in biological control of crop pests, Dr. Mishra is also having vast knowledge in the field of beneficial insects, host-plant resistance and IPM of crop pests. He is a life member of several societies in the field of Entomology. During his period of teaching, he was involved in various college level activities. He has been selected as an external question setter for the students of B.Sc. (Ag.) and M.Sc. (Ag.) for different SAUs. He has also delivered many radio talks pertaining to his field of specialization benefitting to farmer’s interest. Presently he is working as Professor and Head in Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SOA (Deemed to be university), Bhubaneswar.

1. Introduction to Sericulture
2. Mulberry Varieties
3. Host Plants of Non-Mulberry Silkworms
4. Preparation of Land, Planting Material and Planting of Mulberry
5. Pruning, Harvesting and Storage of Mulberry
6. Mulberry Pests and Diseases
7. Identification of Cocoons of Important Breeds
8. External Morphology of Life Stages of Bombyx mori L. 
9. Study of Silk Glands and Digestive System of Bombyx mori L. 
10. Disinfectants- Rearing Bed and General Disinfectants
11. Grainage Techniques
12. Study of Rearing House Plan and Equipment for Shoot Feeding and Shelf Rearing
13. Methods of Incubation of Silkworm Eggs and Brushing
14. Identification of Silkworm: Settling for Moult, at Moult and out of Moult
15. Bed Cleaning, Feeding and Spacing
16. Identification and Picking of Ripe Silkworms
17. Mounting, and Types of Mountages
18. Cocoon Harvesting and Grading
19. Diseases and Pests of Mulberry Silkworm
20. Study of Reeling Equipment