NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF MULBERRY (MORUS SPP.) GENOTYPES THROUGH SILKWORM GROWTH STUDIES

Evolution of new mulberry (Morus spp.) genotypes for high productivity and quality has received greater attention in the field of moriculture in recent years. The total number of mulberry varieties/genotypes preserved in the germplasm all over the world though exceeds 1000, only 10% of this are being cultivated and are being exploited commercially and popular varieties constitute only 1% of the total. This is because of the various stages of the testing during the evolution of a mulberry variety and is exploited commercially only if found superior not only in yield but also in the quality which is an important aspect as far as cocoon production is concerned. Quality evaluation can be done at two stages viz. in young larval stage and in later larval stages. As the total quantity of consumption of mulberry leaf is 80% in V instar, quality testing in later ages attains greater importance. The present study is taken up to evaluate the mulberry genotypes for nutritional quality in the V stadium of silkworm larvae based on the increase in larval body weight and selection of genotypes considering their quality.