Evaluation of improved mulberry genotypes for yield characters and quality through bioassay studies under sub-tropical conditions of Jammu

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate seven improved mulberry genotypes viz., S-146, Tr-10, C-2038, S-1635, G-4, Vishala and Chinese white for growth and yield parameters and bioassay study through silkworm rearing on FC1xFC2 double hybrid during Spring, 2024 under sub-tropical conditions at Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board, CSB Complex, Miran Sahib, Jammu. Based on the analysis of growth and yield parameters of mulberry viz., single leaf area (268.84 cm2), total shoot length per plant (2824 cm), weight of ten fresh leaves (54.94 g) and leaf yield per plant per crop (1.737 kg) were found to be superior in C-2038 mulberry genotype. Whereas, S-146 mulberry genotype found to be superior for number of leaves per meter of shoot length (21), internodal distance (4.8 cm), leaf moisture content (84.88 %) and leaf moisture retention capacity (76.01 %). Based on the analysis of larval and cocoon parameters recorded during bioassay studies viz., ERR per 10000 larva (9555.56 by number and 17.311 kg by weight), single cocoon weight (1.95 g) and single shell weight (0.39 g) were found to be superior in silkworms fed with leaves of C-2038 mulberry genotype. On the other hand, S-1635 recorded maximum mature larval weight (53.55 g) and S-146 recorded maximum pupation rate (95.04 %) and minimum defective cocoon percentage (1.88 %). Whereas, post-cocoon parameters viz., average filament length (1486.60 m), average non-breakable filament length (1129.77 m), denier (2.98), raw silk percentage (41.36 %) were found to be superior in C-2038 genotype followed by S-1635 and S-146 genotypes. Further, three mulberry genotypes viz., C-2038 (59.59), S-1635 (56.58) and S-146 (55.68) recorded >50 average evaluation index (EI) values, whereas remaining mulberry genotypes recorded <50 average EI values. The overall results of the present investigation revealed that C-2038 followed by S-1635 and S-146 mulberry genotypes found to be superior for maximum number of growth and yield characters and also cocoon and post-cocoon parameters under bioassay studies. These genotypes can be used in mulberry improvement programmes and can be popularized for commercial cultivation and silkworm rearing at farmers’ field condition under sub-tropical conditions of North-West India.