Mulberry (Genus Morus L.) is the exclusive food source of silkworm Bombyx mori L. Improvement in the production of silk is mainly due to the improvement in yielding ability and quality of leaf produced. This could be achieved by cultivating mulberry varieties by adopting suitable cultivation practices and plant protection methods which favors the expression of full potential of a given variety. Among these, usage of high yielding varieties is the cheapest and long lasting method for increasing productivity. This is more so in perennial crops like mulberry.

Due to the horizontal expansion of sericulture in traditional and non traditional states, it has become necessary to develop mulberry varieties suitable to different agro-climatic zones, soil conditions, different levels of inputs etc., to make sericulture sustainable under varied situations.

Development of high yielding mulberry varieties with quality leaves suitable to different agro-climatic zones of India especially for southern states.

1. Developing mulberry varieties for productive areas: Full potential of a variety is found only when favourable conditions are provided. In productive areas, mulberry is facing a stiff competition with other agricultural crops. Until and unless a high production level is ensured, the farmers have the tendency to switch over to other cash crops. Hence, constant efforts are on to develop high yielding mulberry varieties which are responsive to irrigation and fertilizer. The contribution of high productive mulberry varieties and improved cultivation package made vertical expansion possible for the production of high cocoon yield.
2. Developing mulberry varieties for tolerance to water stress under semi-arid condition: In Karnataka, more than 48% of the cultivable area is under rain fed water stress condition. Though significant improvement has been achieved through the development of superior mulberry varieties for irrigated condition, developing high yielding varieties for water stress condition which affects plant survival and growth is limited. Developing high yielding mulberry varieties under such condition is considered to be the priority.
3. Breeding mulberry varieties suitable under fertilizer and irrigation constraints: Due to continuous depletion of ground water source, the area which is considered as irrigated may turn to semi-irrigated. Similarly, mulberry cultivation especially in South India suffers from the low use of manure and fertilizers. There by the yield of a high yielding variety reduces drastically. In such scenario, there is a need to develop such a genotype which will produce reasonably higher leaf yield under irrigation and fertilizer constraint and should have the capacity to yield more when such constraints are reduced.
4. Developing mulberry varieties for disease resistance with special reference to Root-rot and Root-knot diseases: Root rot and root knot are the major soil borne diseases limiting the growth and development of mulberry and affecting foliage quality and productivity. Various control measures recommended have low acceptability among sericulturists due to additional costs involved. Evolving varieties tolerant to these diseases is taken up on priority.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS:

In line with the objectives, so far 16 diploids and 7 tetraploids of mulberry varieties developed at this institute have been submitted for registration with CSGRC, Hosur.

Mulberry varieties [S36 & V1] for irrigated condition		Mulberry varieties [S13 & S34] suitable for soil moisture stress condition

Variety for resource constraint conditions: RC1	Variety for Alkaline soil conditions: AR12	Variety for inter-cultivation in coconut gardens: Sahana

Muberry breeding: Development of superior mulberry varieties suitable for optimal (irrigation and inputs), soil moisture stress, alkalinity, salinity, shade and under low input conditions of irrigation and fertilizers and related mulberry improvement programs.

1. Advanced generation breeding (second generation) for the development of mulberry varieties suitable to sub-optimal irrigated condition (Phase-I) (Inter-disciplinary)
2. Development of superior mulberry varieties suitable for moisture stress environments (Phase-I).
3. Development of superior triploids through polyploidy breeding for high yield and adaptability.
4. Development of superior mulberry varieties by exploitation of hybrid vigor based on molecular marker diversity of parental lines.
5. Development of disease resistant and productive mulberry genotypes with special reference to root-rot and root-knot diseases suitable for seri-zones of south India.

• Training on mulberry Breeding and cultivation technologies.
• Guiding for Ph.D degree.
• Maintenance of breeders stock of varieties and supply of seed material.
• Maintenance of weather station and providing information

1. 'Glass House' with “ Greenhouse”
2. Meteorological station for weather data on temperatures, humidity, rainfall, wind direction and velocity.
3. Leaf area meters, Moisture Balance.
4. Microscopes- stereo, binocular with photographic unit.
5. UV Spectrophotometer.
6. Power tiller etc., for inter cultivation activities.

One hundred and Seventy seven(177).

Significant achievements:

The Mulberry Breeding and Genetics section has contributed to improvement in yield and quality of mulberry and to horizontal expansion of mulberry through developing high yielding varieties and varieties that are suitable to specific situations such as soil moisture stress, alkalinity, shade and resource constraints.

The most important varieties are S-36 with leaf yield potential of 45 MT /ha/year and most desired for rearing young age silkworms, V-1 with a leaf yield potential of 60 MT /ha/year, G-4 with a leaf yield potential of 60 MT/ ha /year and suitable for late age silkworm rearing and G-2 evolved exclusively for rearing young age silkworms, with a yield potential of 32-35 MT of chawki leaf / ha/ year.

Among varieties suited for soil moisture stress conditions are S-13 which has a leaf yield potential of 10-12 MT/ ha/ yr. suitable for red loamy soils and S-34 with a leaf yield potential of around 10-12 MT/ha/yr. suitable for black soils.

In adition the laboratory has developed a variety AR-12 for alkaline soils that yields up to 25 MT/ha/yr., Sahana a shade tolerant variety for intercropping in coconut plantations, RC-1 and RC-2 most suited for cultivation under low input conditions of fertilizers and irrigation.

Please contact Scientists Concerned.