Effective Diversified Uses of Tapioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) and Borkesseru (Ailanthus excelsa Roxb.): The Promising Secondary Host Plants of Eri Silkworm

Abstract

Eri culture is an age old traditional activity associated with the socio-economic life of the rural population of the country. Eri silkworm (Samia ricini Donovan) is a multivoltine silkworm which is polyphagous in nature. It feeds on number of primary, secondary and tertiary host plants. Tapioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) and borkesseru (Ailanthus excelsa Roxb.) are regarded as the secondary host plants of eri silkworm and these plants species have enormous potentialities due to having certain properties for utilization in multiple purposes.  Besides utilization as a host plant for silkworm rearing, the various parts of the plants can be exploited commercially. The plant parts can be used for human consumption, industrial as well as medicinal purposes. Moreover, they can also be utilized as a fodder, pesticides, fuel etc. Huge potentialities of product diversification of these plants will give a new dimension to eri industry. Hence, popularization of diversified uses of tapioca and borkesseru is very necessary to uplift the rural economy of the country. This review mainly focuses on the importance of tapioca and borkesseru not only as host plants of eri silkworm but also its utility in numerous purposes.