Grainage Technology

GRAINAGE
TECHNOLOGY
What is Grainage Technology?
■ Grainage technology is the establishment of healthy silkworm eggs for
production and reduces mortality.
Procedure of Grainage are:
1.Selection
2.storage
3.preservation of seed cocoons
■ Silk worms eggs (layings) are called seeds and they are two types.
1.Reproductive seeds
2.Industrial or commercial seeds.
■ The purpose of the production of reproductive seeds is for maintaining the racial
purity.
■ Laboratory9 eggs are produced in mass in special oganizations called
grainages to be supplied to the rearers.
■ Industrial seeds supplied are generally hybrids (72 Races ).
■ Grainages are mostly government-owned or licensed private rearers and
supply disease-free layings (DFL).
Location of a grainage must be:
■ It must be in cooler areas of the locality for bivoltine rearing.
■ It must be situated in the centre of the sericulturally active area.
■ Facilities.
■ 1. Accommodating cocoons/Pupae of different strains
2. Coupling & oviposition Incubation
3.Incubation
4.Laboratory
5. Egg processing.
6.Cold storage
7.Dormitory
8.Office
Grainage Equiprents.
■ Cocoon Preservation Rack.
Cocoon preservation racks are made of wood or
steel or bamboo and are portable.
These are used for keeping the trays
containing cocoons and pupae of different races and
sexes.
■ Cocoon Preservation Tray .
1.Bamboo Trays.
2.Wooden/PVC Tray.
Trays are used to Preserve Cocoons.
■ AntWell.
■ The legs of the cocoon preservation stands rest on
■ the center of the block an water is poured into the
groove to stop the ants.
■ Grainage Tray-Plywood Bottom.
Used to egg laying.
■ Grainage Tray –Wire Mesh Bottom.
Used to pairing.
■ Table and Stool.
For moth examination.
■ Cellule.
To provide total darkness during pairing & egg laying.
■ Moth Crushing set.
For individual moth examination.
■ Mortar and Pestle.
For mass moth examination.
■ Loose Egg Container.
1.Layering and 2. Loose eggs.
■ Light microscope /compound Microscope.
■ Hygrometer.
It is used in recoding atmospheric humidity.
■ Dry and Wet bulb thermometer.
■ Cocoon CuttingMachine.
The bivoltine moth emergence percentage
will be reduced due to hard shell.
■ Cocoon Deflossing Machine.
It is used to defloss the seed cocoons in
Grainages.During preparation of hybrids.Both
sexes of required component breeds should be
preserved separately to avoid selfing
or inbreeding.
■ Basin Stand.
This is used for disinfection of hands while entering
the grainage.
■ Refrigerator.
To preserve small amount of cocoons for the purpose of
synchronization of moth emergence.
Grainage Activities.
■ Procurement of seed cocoons.
The seed cocoons are packed loosely in perforated boxes or bamboo baskets
in small quantities and are transported during cooler hours of the day.
■ Preliminary Examination/Selection and sorting of cocoons.
In selection only sound and uniform cocoons conforming to the characteristics
of the race are selected and defective cocoons etc., are rejected.
■ Pupa Test.
The midgut oozes out as rd brown body from the cut portion.
This midgut is collected and crushed with few drops of potassium
hydroxide in a moth crushing set.’The fluid is taken on the slide
and examine under the microscope with 600 X magnification.
■ Preservation of seed cocoons.
The cocoons are preserved in single layer in well
ventilated rooms under natural light and dark conditions.
Exhaust fans in cocoon preservation and emergence
rooms are essential to expel foul gases and dust.
■ Synchronization of Moth Emergence.
Moths of the component races are made to emerge on the same day, so
that male and female moths are readily available for hybridization. This is
referred to as synchronization.
In case of synchronizating batches are not available; emergence of the
earlier batches can be delayed by refrigerating the cocoons at 5-10°C.
Such refrigeration should be limited to 3 days for females and 7 days for males.
The moths may also be refrigerated at 5°C up to l0 days in case of
males and 2-3 days in case of females.
■ Coupling and Decoupling.
As soon as the moths emerged they start to get pair.The female
moths are spread in a tray and the male moths of the desirable hybrid
component are evenly distributed over the females. In about 15 minutes, the
male and female moths pair.
After the required period of coupling, the pairs are separated.
In case of preparation of loose eggs, a unit number of
female moths are allowed to lay eggs on starched
paper or cloth, with in a wooden or plastic frame.
The number of moths vary from 30-200 according
To the health of the batch and convenience.
■ Mother moth examination
■ 1.Individual Mother Moth Examination
■ 2.Sample Testing
3.Mass examination
■ Surface Disinfection of Eggs.
After mother moth examination, the egg sheets or loose eggs in a
container are dipped in 2% formalin solution.
1. This helps in eliminating surface contamination.
2.Formalin increases the adhesive capacity of eggs to
the egg sheets.
■ Artificial Hatching.
■ Multi Voltines never undergoes diapause, but uni and Bi
Voltines undergo diapause or hibernation.
Cold treatment is nothing but refrigeration depending on schedule
i.e., Hibernation Schedule .
Hydrochlorination is hydrochloric acid treatment.
1. Cold acid treatment – HC1 1.1 sp.gr.60-90 min at 24°C
2. Hot acid treatment –HCl 1.075 sp.gr. 5-6 min at 46.1°C
Then was the eggs in running water to remove acid traces and
dry under shade.
Now the eggs are ready for Incubation.

Grainage Technology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Grainage Technology

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Grainage Technology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

GRAINAGE

You might also like