The Department of Sericulture Crop Improvement came into existence since the commencement of the College of Sericulture i.e. 9 February 2014 with the mandate of undergraduate teaching. Genetic and breeding have important role in increase of domesticated plant and animal production level. The silkworms have also been domesticated by man to obtain fabulous silk. Most of the breeding programmes are aimed towards improved quality and quantity of the produce. The Department of sericulture Crop Improvements deals with how to improve the host plants and silkworms to get benefit to the students and farmers by adopting genetic and breeding programmes. Genetics and breeding of host plants which aims to improve yield, disease-resistance and quality of nutrition in products for silkworms.
The silkworm offers an excellent material for breeding and genetic research by virtue of having innumerable visual and conspicuous traits, high fertility rate, and availability of several breeds in a year could be raised at will through the manipulation of environmental requirements, shorter life cycle and capacity of males to mates several times. Application of Biotechnology provides new opportunity with better promise in sericulture. The major goal of application of biotechnology to sericulture includes cloning of silk fibroin gene, transfer of genes conferring sturdiness, micro-injection of DNA into eggs, cloning of silkworm hormones. Today, the recombinant DNA technology is a powerful tool which can augment the traditional strategies by improving tool and cutting down the time. Genetic engineering is another potential tool that can be used for silkworm genetic improvement. Thus concerted efforts are to be made to integrate conventional breeding with advanced technological development in silkworm for better sustainability and profitability of the silk industry in India.
