Integration of Nanotechnology for Sustainable Sericulture

Abstract

Sericulture is an important agro-based sector that creates the environmentally friendly silk material that sustains rural livelihoods. Recent developments in nanotechnology, especially the use of metal nano-particles, have shown great promise for enhancing sericulture in a number of areas. The distinct physicochemical characteristics of metal nano-particles, including copper, iron oxide, titanium dioxide, gold, silver, and zinc, increase nutritional absorption, improves mulberry development by improving nutrient uptake and crop output, boosts silkworm health by inhibiting bacterial, fungal, and viral infections and confer antimicrobial resistance against infections. Their integration has demonstrated significant advantages in silk fibre modification by enhancing tensile strength, antibacterial qualities. Additionally, by controlling silk protein production through molecular pathways, result in an increase in feed efficiency and extending the shelf life of mulberry leaves. The use of nano-sensors and nano-seed coatings enhances precision sericulture even more by tracking environmental conditions, identifying infections, and enhancing the seed viability. All these developments show that nanotechnology helps in sustainable sericulture by improving output, silk quality and resistance to disease.