This comprehensive work is an in-depth exploration of silk production, covering historical perspectives, technological advancements, and sustainability concerns. It offers detailed insight into mulberry and non-mulberry silk production processes, including biological, genetic, and environmental aspects. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, scientists, industry professionals, and educators interested in sericulture and its various applications.
The book opens with a historical overview of silk, emphasizing its cultural and industrial significance. It critically reviews silk production processes, providing insights into silkworm biology and life cycles, mulberry cultivation, and sericulture practices. The focus extends to innovations in mulberry and non-mulberry silk production, including genetic improvements, sustainable practices, and technological advances. Comparative studies between silk typesespecially mulberry and non-mulberryoffer a deeper understanding of their properties and applications. The work also examines spider silk and its potential uses across various industries.
1 Thread of Gold - The Silk: An Introduction to Silk and Sericulture.- 2
Indian Silk: Origin, Properties and Notable Handicrafts.- 3 Advancements in
Mulberry Silk Improvements- Genetic Improvements and Beyond.- 4 Mulberry Silk
Sericulture: Historical Perspectives and Modern Practices.- 5 Non-Mulberry
Silks: Diversity, Origins, and Production Techniques.- 6 Silk Yarn and Its
Quality Evaluation.- 7 Advances in Extraction and Characterization of Silk
Proteins for Future Uses.- 8 Potential of Silkworm Pupae as a Nutritious Food
Source for Humans.- 9 Spider Silk Structure Properties and Applications: An
Introduction.- 10 Unravelling the Mysteries of Spider Silk: A Path to
Biomedical Breakthroughs.- 11 Sustainability Aspects of Silk Production:
Environmental Concerns and Solutions.- 12 Beyond the Loom: A Sustainable
Prospect for Silk Manufacturing.- 13 From Cocoon to Community: The Social
Impact of Silk.
Dr. Dhiraj Kumar, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology at Hansraj College, University of Delhi, and serves as Teacher In-Charge for the Departments of Zoology and Life Sciences. He is also the Coordinator of the Centre for Skill Development and Seri-technology at Hansraj College. A postdoctoral fellow from Soochow University, China, he previously worked as a Dr. D.S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellow and as an Assistant Professor at G.G. Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur. Dr. Kumar has authored 40 peer-reviewed articles, edited six books, contributed seven book chapters, three international proceedings, and holds a patent. He is a reviewer for several SCI journals, a member of multiple scientific bodies, and a recipient of several prestigious awards, including a Research Excellence Award. His research focuses on molecular biology, metagenomics, gut microbiome interactions, biomaterials, biomedicines, and natural products.
Dr. Mohammad Shahid, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, India. He has held positions at several prestigious institutions, including Jamia Millia Islamia (India), Soochow University and Henan University (China), University of Glasgow (UK), and others. He earned his Masters in Chemistry from Shibli National College, Azamgarh (2006), and his Ph.D. from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi (2014). Dr. Shahid has received multiple fellowships, including UGC, China Postdoctoral, EU Marie Curie, and Dr. D.S. Kothari Fellowships. He has authored over 50 scientific publications (~4,500 citations, h-index 27) and edited/authored several books with international publishers.
