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CHSE Odisha Vocational Sericulture study materials
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CHSE Odisha Vocational Sericulture practice questions

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Question 1Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

Which moth is the primary producer of mulberry silk used in Indian sericulture?

  1. Attacus atlas
  2. Antheraea assamensis
  3. Bombyx mori Correct answer.
  4. Philosamia ricini

Explanation

Bombyx mori, the domesticated mulberry silkworm, is reared on mulberry leaves and produces the bulk of commercial silk. The other species listed are non-mulberry silkworms producing tasar or eri silk.

Question 2Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

The silk filament is secreted by which pair of glands in the silkworm larva?

  1. Salivary glands
  2. Malpighian tubules
  3. Gastric caeca
  4. Silk glands Correct answer.

Explanation

Silk is produced in the paired silk glands, which are modified labial (salivary) glands running along the body of the larva. The secretion is stored as fibroin and sericin and extruded through the spinneret.

Question 3Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

Which of the following is the correct sequence of stages in the life cycle of a mulberry silkworm?

  1. Egg, pupa, larva, adult
  2. Egg, larva, pupa, adult Correct answer.
  3. Pupa, larva, egg, adult
  4. Larva, egg, pupa, adult

Explanation

The mulberry silkworm is holometabolous: it passes through egg, larva (the feeding and silk-spinning stage), pupa inside the cocoon, and adult moth. Only the larval stage feeds on mulberry leaves and spins silk.

Question 4Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

In silk reeling, the gummy protein that binds the two fibroin filaments of a cocoon together is:

  1. Chitin
  2. Sericin Correct answer.
  3. Keratin
  4. Collagen

Explanation

Sericin is the water-soluble gum that cements the twin fibroin brins into a single bave. Reeling begins with cocoon cooking to soften sericin so the filament can unwind.

Question 5Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

Which silk variety is famously produced in Assam and prized for its natural golden colour?

  1. Eri silk
  2. Mulberry silk
  3. Tasar silk
  4. Muga silk Correct answer.

Explanation

Muga silk comes from Antheraea assamensis reared in Assam and has a distinctive natural golden lustre. Eri and tasar are other non-mulberry silks but lack this golden colour.

Question 6Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

The practice of rearing silkworms for commercial silk production is known as:

  1. Horticulture
  2. Apiculture
  3. Pisciculture
  4. Sericulture Correct answer.

Explanation

Sericulture is the rearing of silkworms and the production of raw silk, including mulberry cultivation and cocoon handling. The other terms refer to beekeeping, fish farming and garden crop cultivation respectively.

Question 7Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

Cocoon cooking before reeling is done mainly to:

  1. Soften sericin so filaments unwind freely Correct answer.
  2. Kill the pupa inside the cocoon
  3. Increase the weight of the cocoon
  4. Dry the cocoon completely

Explanation

Cooking in hot water softens the sericin gum so that the bave can be unwound from the cocoon without breaking. Stifling, a separate step, is what kills the pupa.

Question 8Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

A farmer wants to rear silkworms that feed on castor leaves rather than mulberry. Which silkworm is most suitable?

  1. Antheraea mylitta
  2. Philosamia ricini Correct answer.
  3. Bombyx mori
  4. Antheraea assamensis

Explanation

Philosamia ricini, the eri silkworm, is a polyphagous non-mulberry species commonly reared on castor leaves. Bombyx mori is a mulberry specialist, while the tasar and muga species feed mainly on oak, terminalia or som plants.

Question 9Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

Which of these is the standard unit used to express the fineness of raw silk yarn?

  1. Gram per litre
  2. Denier Correct answer.
  3. Tex per hectare
  4. Counts per inch

Explanation

Denier expresses the linear density of silk, defined as grams per 9000 metres of filament. Lower denier indicates finer silk, and it is the conventional measure in silk trade.

Question 10Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

Chawki rearing in sericulture refers to the rearing of silkworm larvae during which period?

  1. The adult moth stage after emergence
  2. The pupal stage inside the cocoon
  3. The early larval stages up to the second or third instar Correct answer.
  4. The final instar before spinning

Explanation

Chawki rearing is the careful tending of young larvae, usually through the first two or three instars, in controlled conditions. Healthy chawki rearing improves survival and uniformity of later stages.

Question 11Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

Disease caused by a protozoan parasite in silkworms, transmitted through contaminated mulberry leaves, is:

  1. Pebrine Correct answer.
  2. Flacherie
  3. Muscardine
  4. Grasserie

Explanation

Pebrine is caused by the microsporidian Nosema bombycis and spreads through contaminated leaves and eggs. It is the most serious protozoan disease of silkworms and is controlled by mother-moth examination.

Question 12Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

Stifling of cocoons is carried out primarily to:

  1. Bleach the silk filament
  2. Separate the two fibroin brins
  3. Kill the pupa and prevent moth emergence Correct answer.
  4. Loosen the sericin layer

Explanation

Stifling uses hot air, steam or sun drying to kill the pupa so that it does not emerge as a moth and cut the continuous filament. This preserves reelable filament length and quality.

Question 13Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

Which of the following is a multivoltine characteristic of some silkworm races?

  1. Spinning only during winter
  2. Producing only one generation per year
  3. Feeding exclusively on non-mulberry leaves
  4. Producing several generations per year Correct answer.

Explanation

Voltinism refers to the number of generations per year; multivoltine races complete several generations annually and are common in tropical rearing. Univoltine races, by contrast, produce a single generation per year.

Question 14Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

A reeling unit finds cocoons floating during cooking while others sink. Which explanation is most consistent with sound cocoon technology?

  1. Floating cocoons have thicker shells and always reel better
  2. Floating indicates the pupa is still alive and must be stifled again
  3. Floating cocoons are usually defective or have loose shells and should be rejected Correct answer.
  4. Floating cocoons contain double filaments and are preferred

Explanation

In cooking tests, sound cocoons generally sink while defective ones with thin or perforated shells float. Such floaters give poor filament length and are rejected to protect reeling efficiency.

Question 15Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

Which practice best reduces the spread of pebrine in a grainage?

  1. Mother-moth examination and disposal of infected eggs Correct answer.
  2. Increasing rearing room humidity
  3. Feeding wet leaves to larvae
  4. Reusing rearing trays without cleaning

Explanation

Pebrine is transmitted transovarially, so examining mother moths and discarding infected egg lots breaks the cycle. Clean rearing and hygienic leaf handling further reduce contamination.

Question 16Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

The term 'bave' in silk technology denotes:

  1. The mulberry leaf consumed by a larva
  2. The waste silk obtained after reeling
  3. The twin fibroin filament cemented by sericin as extruded from the spinneret Correct answer.
  4. The pupal case left after moth emergence

Explanation

A bave is the composite filament consisting of two fibroin brins glued together by sericin. Reeling unwinds a bave from each cocoon and combines several baves into a raw silk thread.

Question 17Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

Which combination of factors most directly determines the yield of reelable silk from a cocoon lot?

  1. Leaf colour and rearing shed height
  2. Filament length, shell weight and reelability Correct answer.
  3. Moth wing span and antenna length
  4. Number of eggs laid and their colour

Explanation

Reelable yield depends on filament length, shell ratio and reelability, which together determine how much continuous silk can be unwound. These traits are assessed during cocoon testing before reeling.

Question 18Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

An entrepreneur plans a silk enterprise and must decide between reeling and spinning. Which statement correctly distinguishes the two processes?

  1. Both processes use only pierced and waste cocoons
  2. Reeling twists short fibres; spinning unwinds continuous filament
  3. Both processes unwind continuous filament from cocoons
  4. Reeling unwinds continuous filament; spinning twists discontinuous fibres Correct answer.

Explanation

Reeling draws off the continuous bave from intact cocoons to form raw silk, whereas spinning converts discontinuous waste or pierced cocoon fibres into yarn. The choice depends on cocoon quality and available waste material.

Question 19Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

A rearer reports larvae becoming sluggish with swollen bodies and milky white fluid discharging from the skin. Which disease is most consistent with these signs?

  1. Muscardine
  2. Pebrine
  3. Flacherie
  4. Grasserie Correct answer.

Explanation

Grasserie, caused by a nucleopolyhedrovirus, produces swollen, shiny larvae that rupture and release milky white fluid. This symptom pattern distinguishes it from pebrine, flacherie and muscardine.

Question 20Introduction to Sericulture and Silk Industry

Why is the multivoltine race often crossed with a bivoltine race in Indian silkworm breeding programmes?

  1. To eliminate the need for mulberry leaves during rearing
  2. To combine hardiness and tolerance of tropical conditions with higher silk quality and yield Correct answer.
  3. To reduce the number of larval moults to one
  4. To make all offspring univoltine and dormant

Explanation

Multivoltine races are hardy and suited to tropical conditions, while bivoltine races yield better silk quality and quantity. Crossing them aims to combine these complementary traits in hybrids.

Question 21Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Which soil pH range is generally considered most suitable for establishing a mulberry plantation?

  1. 8.0 to 8.5
  2. 6.2 to 6.8 Correct answer.
  3. 4.0 to 4.5
  4. 9.0 to 9.5

Explanation

Mulberry grows best in soils that are slightly acidic to nearly neutral, with pH around 6.2 to 6.8, because nutrient availability and root activity are optimal there. Strongly acidic or strongly alkaline soils reduce nutrient uptake and root health.

Question 22Mulberry Cultivation and Management

For raising a mulberry nursery, which planting material is normally used for stem cuttings?

  1. Root tips without any bud
  2. Whole green shoots with all leaves intact
  3. Hardwood cuttings of 15 to 20 cm with 3 to 4 buds Correct answer.
  4. Leaf petioles with a single leaf blade

Explanation

Mulberry is commonly propagated through hardwood stem cuttings about 15 to 20 cm long carrying three to four healthy buds. Such cuttings root readily and give uniform planting material.

Question 23Mulberry Cultivation and Management

In mulberry cultivation, what is the main purpose of pruning?

  1. To increase the number of weeds around the bush
  2. To remove old and diseased shoots and encourage vigorous new growth Correct answer.
  3. To make the leaves thicker and less digestible
  4. To stop the plant from producing any new branches

Explanation

Pruning removes unproductive, diseased and overcrowded shoots so that the plant puts energy into fresh, succulent growth. This improves leaf yield and quality for silkworm rearing.

Question 24Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Which irrigation practice is recommended immediately after planting mulberry saplings?

  1. Heavy flooding once every month
  2. Light and frequent watering to keep the root zone moist Correct answer.
  3. Watering only at the base of the stem once a season
  4. No watering until the plants flower

Explanation

Young saplings have shallow, developing roots and need light, frequent irrigation to keep the root zone moist without waterlogging. This helps establishment and early growth.

Question 25Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Which of the following is a commonly grown high-yielding mulberry variety in India?

  1. Co-1
  2. IR-8
  3. S-1 Correct answer.
  4. Pusa Basmati

Explanation

S-1 is a recognized mulberry variety developed for higher leaf yield and is widely used in sericulture. The other names belong to rice crops.

Question 26Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Which type of mulberry leaf is considered most suitable for feeding early-stage silkworm larvae?

  1. Dry fallen leaves collected from the ground
  2. Yellowing leaves with disease spots
  3. Old, thick leaves from the base of the plant
  4. Tender, young leaves from the top portion of the shoot Correct answer.

Explanation

Young silkworms have delicate mouthparts and digestive systems and need tender, nutritious top leaves. Mature and old leaves are fed to later instars.

Question 27Mulberry Cultivation and Management

What is the recommended spacing for planting mulberry under the pit system of cultivation?

  1. About 5 cm x 5 cm
  2. About 90 cm x 90 cm Correct answer.
  3. About 10 m x 10 m
  4. About 2 cm x 2 cm

Explanation

Under the pit system, mulberry is planted at roughly 90 cm x 90 cm so that each plant has adequate space for root and shoot development. Very close or very wide spacing reduces yield or wastes land.

Question 28Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Which practice best describes weeding in a mulberry garden?

  1. Spraying only water on weeds
  2. Removing weeds regularly so that mulberry plants get water, light and nutrients Correct answer.
  3. Allowing weeds to grow to shade the mulberry
  4. Burning the entire garden surface

Explanation

Regular weeding reduces competition for water, nutrients, light and space, which directly improves mulberry growth and leaf yield. Weeds also harbour pests and diseases.

Question 29Mulberry Cultivation and Management

A farmer wants to apply farmyard manure to a mulberry plot before planting. Which method is most appropriate?

  1. Apply manure only to the leaves of the mulberry plant
  2. Place fresh manure on the soil surface after planting
  3. Mix concentrated manure with irrigation water at planting
  4. Spread well-rotted manure and incorporate it into the soil during land preparation Correct answer.

Explanation

Well-rotted farmyard manure should be spread and mixed into the soil during land preparation so that it decomposes and enriches the root zone. Applying fresh manure on the surface or to leaves is not effective and may harm plants.

Question 30Mulberry Cultivation and Management

A mulberry garden shows yellowing of leaves with green veins. Which nutrient deficiency is most likely?

  1. Potassium
  2. Nitrogen
  3. Phosphorus
  4. Iron Correct answer.

Explanation

Interveinal yellowing with green veins is a classic symptom of iron deficiency, especially in alkaline soils. Nitrogen deficiency usually causes uniform yellowing of older leaves.

Question 31Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Which irrigation method is generally preferred for a mulberry garden on undulating land with limited water?

  1. Furrow irrigation with continuous flow
  2. Basin flooding
  3. Drip irrigation Correct answer.
  4. Flood irrigation

Explanation

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone with minimal loss, making it well suited to undulating land and limited water supplies. Flood and basin methods waste water and may cause erosion on slopes.

Question 32Mulberry Cultivation and Management

A grower notices that mulberry leaves from a shaded portion of the garden are thin and pale. What is the best management response?

  1. Harvest the pale leaves for early-instar larvae
  2. Stop all fertilizer application
  3. Prune overcrowded branches to improve light penetration Correct answer.
  4. Apply more irrigation to the shaded area

Explanation

Shading reduces photosynthesis, producing thin and pale leaves. Pruning overcrowded branches improves light penetration and air movement, which restores leaf quality.

Question 33Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Which practice is recommended to reduce soil erosion in a mulberry garden on a slope?

  1. Planting grass strips along the contour Correct answer.
  2. Leaving the soil bare between rows
  3. Ploughing along the slope direction
  4. Removing all vegetation from the slope

Explanation

Contour grass strips slow runoff and trap soil, reducing erosion on sloping mulberry plots. Bare soil and ploughing down the slope accelerate soil loss.

Question 34Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Which type of pruning is carried out in mulberry to maintain a low bush and facilitate easy harvesting?

  1. Root pruning
  2. Leaf pruning only
  3. No pruning at all
  4. Bottom pruning Correct answer.

Explanation

Bottom pruning removes the upper portion of the plant at a low height, encouraging a compact bush that is easy to harvest and manage. It also stimulates fresh shoot growth.

Question 35Mulberry Cultivation and Management

A farmer wants to raise mulberry seedlings for a new plantation. Which step should come first in nursery preparation?

  1. Selecting healthy, disease-free planting material Correct answer.
  2. Constructing a rearing house
  3. Applying pesticide to harvested leaves
  4. Harvesting leaves for silkworm rearing

Explanation

A successful nursery begins with healthy, disease-free planting material, which ensures vigorous and uniform seedlings. Leaf harvesting and rearing-house construction come later in the sericulture cycle.

Question 36Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Which fertilizer practice is most appropriate for a mature mulberry garden to maintain steady leaf production?

  1. Applying only phosphorus every year
  2. Applying no fertilizer after the first year
  3. A single heavy dose of nitrogen at planting only
  4. Split applications of nitrogen with phosphorus and potassium based on soil test Correct answer.

Explanation

Split nitrogen applications combined with phosphorus and potassium, guided by soil testing, supply nutrients steadily through the growing season and maintain leaf yield. A single heavy dose or omission of nutrients leads to losses or deficiencies.

Question 37Mulberry Cultivation and Management

What is the main advantage of using a raised-bed nursery for mulberry cuttings?

  1. Better drainage and reduced risk of waterlogging Correct answer.
  2. Lower light availability
  3. Increased weed growth
  4. Slower rooting of cuttings

Explanation

Raised beds improve drainage and aeration, reducing waterlogging that can rot cuttings. This supports better rooting and healthier nursery stock.

Question 38Mulberry Cultivation and Management

A mulberry plot shows stunted plants with dark green leaves and poor root development. Which soil condition is most likely responsible?

  1. Compacted soil with poor aeration Correct answer.
  2. Well-drained loamy soil
  3. Soil rich in organic matter
  4. Soil with optimum moisture

Explanation

Compacted soil restricts root growth and aeration, leading to stunted plants with poor root development. Loamy, organic-rich and well-drained soils support healthy growth.

Question 39Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Which harvest method is recommended for maintaining the productivity of a mulberry garden over successive crops?

  1. Uprooting the plants after every harvest
  2. Removing all leaves and branches at once repeatedly
  3. Harvesting only the roots
  4. Periodic pruning combined with leaf picking from new shoots Correct answer.

Explanation

Periodic pruning followed by leaf picking from new shoots keeps the plant rejuvenated and sustains productivity. Repeated complete removal of leaves and branches weakens the plant.

Question 40Mulberry Cultivation and Management

A grower wants to control leaf spot disease in a mulberry garden. Which combination of practices is most effective?

  1. Removing infected leaves and using recommended fungicide with good spacing Correct answer.
  2. Irrigating the foliage heavily every evening
  3. Increasing plant density to shade the leaves
  4. Applying excess nitrogen to promote lush growth

Explanation

Leaf spot control relies on sanitation, such as removing infected leaves, combined with recommended fungicides and good spacing for air movement. Dense planting and excess nitrogen increase humidity and susceptibility.

Question 41Mulberry Cultivation and Management

A farmer wants to increase leaf yield per unit area without expanding the plantation. Which combination is most likely to be effective?

  1. Harvesting leaves continuously without any rest period
  2. Removing all shade and applying no nutrients
  3. Balanced fertilization with timely irrigation and pruning Correct answer.
  4. Reducing plant density and stopping irrigation

Explanation

Balanced nutrition, adequate irrigation and timely pruning together promote vigorous shoot growth and higher leaf yield per unit area. Reducing inputs or continuous harvesting without rest depletes the plants.

Question 42Mulberry Cultivation and Management

In mulberry cultivation, which factor most directly determines the frequency of irrigation in a sandy soil?

  1. High clay content
  2. High organic matter content
  3. Low water-holding capacity of sandy soil Correct answer.
  4. Deep root system only

Explanation

Sandy soils have low water-holding capacity, so water drains quickly and irrigation must be more frequent. Soils with high clay or organic matter retain water longer.

Question 43Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Two mulberry plots are managed identically except that plot A receives organic mulch while plot B is left bare. Which outcome is most likely over a season?

  1. Plot B has higher soil moisture and better weed control
  2. Plot A loses more moisture and has more weeds
  3. Both plots behave identically in moisture and weeds
  4. Plot A retains more soil moisture and has fewer weeds Correct answer.

Explanation

Mulching reduces evaporation, conserves soil moisture and suppresses weed growth, so plot A is likely to retain more moisture with fewer weeds. Bare soil loses water faster and allows more weeds.

Question 44Mulberry Cultivation and Management

A mulberry garden shows poor leaf quality despite adequate nitrogen. Soil testing reveals a high pH of about 8.5. Which explanation is most plausible?

  1. High pH always improves leaf quality
  2. High pH increases nitrogen fixation in the soil
  3. High pH reduces availability of micronutrients such as iron and zinc Correct answer.
  4. High pH has no effect on nutrient availability

Explanation

At high pH, micronutrients such as iron and zinc become less available, causing poor leaf quality even when nitrogen is adequate. Correcting pH or applying chelated micronutrients can help.

Question 45Mulberry Cultivation and Management

A grower observes that mulberry plants in a low-lying patch develop yellowing and wilting after heavy rain, while plants on higher ground remain healthy. Which management measure is most appropriate?

  1. Increasing plant density in the low-lying patch
  2. Removing all organic matter from the soil
  3. Improving drainage in the low-lying patch Correct answer.
  4. Applying more irrigation to the low-lying patch

Explanation

Waterlogging in low-lying areas reduces root aeration and causes yellowing and wilting, so improving drainage is the key corrective measure. Adding water or increasing density would worsen the problem.

Question 46Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Which mulberry cultivation practice is carried out immediately after the plants are pruned, to encourage uniform sprouting of new shoots?

  1. Spraying a weedicide over the entire garden
  2. Application of a nitrogenous fertilizer dose followed by light irrigation Correct answer.
  3. Deep ploughing between the rows to expose the roots
  4. Complete removal of all buds on the pruned stems

Explanation

After pruning, mulberry plants need readily available nutrients and moisture to push out new shoots uniformly, so growers apply a nitrogenous fertilizer dose and give light irrigation. This synchronizes sprouting and helps the next leaf harvest. Deep cultivation or weedicide spraying at this stage is not the recommended follow-up practice.

Question 47Mulberry Cultivation and Management

A grower wants to propagate a superior mulberry variety quickly and keep it genetically identical to the parent. Which planting material is most suitable?

  1. Cuttings taken from healthy mature stems of the parent plant Correct answer.
  2. Spores collected from the leaf surface
  3. Seeds collected from the same superior variety
  4. Seedlings raised from a mixed seed lot

Explanation

Cuttings are vegetative propagules, so the new plants carry the same genetic makeup as the parent and the variety is multiplied true to type. Seed propagation involves recombination and gives variable offspring. Mulberry is not propagated through spores.

Question 48Mulberry Cultivation and Management

A farmer plans to raise mulberry on a gentle slope where runoff during the monsoon carries away topsoil. Which layout is most appropriate to conserve soil and moisture?

  1. Planting rows straight down the slope to allow quick drainage
  2. Removing all vegetation from the inter-row spaces
  3. Planting rows across the slope along the contour Correct answer.
  4. Planting in isolated pits with no row alignment

Explanation

Contour planting places rows across the slope, so each row acts as a barrier that slows runoff and traps soil and moisture. This reduces erosion compared with rows running down the slope. Bare inter-row spaces would worsen soil loss.

Question 49Mulberry Cultivation and Management

A mulberry garden is ready for its first leaf harvest, and the grower wants leaves of high quality for young silkworms. Which harvest approach best supports this?

  1. Stripping all leaves from every shoot at one time, including the growing tip
  2. Uprooting whole plants and collecting leaves from them
  3. Harvesting only the oldest basal leaves after they turn yellow
  4. Plucking mature leaves selectively and leaving the young tip leaves on the shoot Correct answer.

Explanation

Selective plucking of mature leaves while retaining the young tip leaves keeps the shoot growing and provides leaf of suitable quality for young silkworms. Complete stripping removes the growing points and sets back the plant. Harvesting yellowed basal leaves gives poor-quality feed.

Question 50Mulberry Cultivation and Management

Two adjacent mulberry plots have the same soil and variety, but plot A is given organic matter and regular shallow inter-cultivation while plot B is left compacted and bare. After two seasons, plot A shows better shoot growth and leaf yield. Which explanation best accounts for this difference?

  1. Shallow inter-cultivation removes the need for any nutrient supply
  2. Bare soil absorbs more sunlight, which directly increases leaf yield
  3. Organic matter and shallow inter-cultivation improve soil structure, aeration and moisture retention, favouring root activity and shoot growth Correct answer.
  4. Organic matter raises soil temperature so much that shoots grow faster

Explanation

Organic matter improves soil structure and water-holding capacity, while shallow inter-cultivation loosens the surface and improves aeration, both of which favour root activity and hence shoot growth and leaf yield. Compacted bare soil restricts root development and reduces yield. The other explanations misattribute the effect to temperature, nutrient replacement, or direct sunlight on bare soil.