Harvest index and biological yield as selection criteria for mulberry (Moru5 spp.)

Abstract

Mulberry (Morus spp.) is generally a diploid, belongs to the genus Morus of the family Moraceae. It is a fast growing deciduous plant and perennial in nature. It can be grown successfully both under temperate/tropical and irrigated/rain fed conditions. The success of cocoon crop production depends mainly on the utilization of quality leaves in required quantity. The productivity of a crop is determined by its genetic make up and its response to agricultural inputs beside the environment to which it is growing. Dry matter accumulation in plant depends on the photosynthetic surface and the rate of net assimilation. In mulberry, where the economic product is leaf, the uptake of nitrogen from soil is high and responses to application of nutrients have been reported. It appears that a number ef physiological and biochemical process of nitrogen metabolism which precede plant maturity may be used as selection criteria for Enhanced N-metabolism [1].