2025, Vol. 5, Issue 1, Part A
Evaluation of mulberry varieties (S-146 bush, S-146 cultivated tree and wild mulberry) for leaf yield and suitability in silkworm (SH6 × NB4D2) rearing at RSRS farm, Jammu
Author(s): Mohd Zahid, Rubia Bukhari, Nitish Singh Pangotra, Anamika Bharti, Suganda Malhotra, Rohini Rana, Shivali Chandan, MK Tayal, Mohd Azam and Anil Dhar
Abstract: The present study evaluates the growth performance of the inbred mulberry variety S-146 (Bush and tree forms) cultivated in the plain regions of Jammu division, along with wild mulberry varieties growing at the Regional Sericultural Research Station (RSRS), Jammu and along roadsides. The study further investigates the impact of feeding these mulberry varieties on the ruling silkworm hybrid of Jammu, SH6 × NB4D2, during the spring season (March-April) of 2015. The primary objective was to assess mulberry leaf yield, nutritional quality and its influence on cocoon production. Growth parameter analysis revealed that wild mulberry trees exhibited a higher number of nodes per shoot (25) and the highest leaf yield per plant (19.44 kg). However, S-146 cultivated trees demonstrated superior shoot production (48.60 shoots/plant), higher leaf weight after dehydration and greater moisture retention (83.68%). The S-146 bush form excelled in leaf breadth (16.11 cm) and internodal distance (6.29 cm). Silkworm rearing trials indicated that S-146 cultivated trees yielded the highest cocoon production per 10,000 larvae (18.44 kg), while S-146 bush produced the highest number of good cocoons per 300 larvae (220.33). The S-146 bush also exhibited the best cocoon quality, including the highest shell weight (0.34 g), shell ratio (18.36%) and pupation percentage (90.88%). Filament length was highest in S-146 cultivated trees (804 m), with S-146 bush recording the best denier (2.62). These findings suggest that both bush and tree forms of S-146 are well-suited for sericulture, with S-146 cultivated trees excelling in cocoon yield and filament length, while S-146 bush demonstrated superior cocoon quality. Despite intermittent rains affecting the rearing season, the results highlight the potential of S-146 as a preferred mulberry variety for silkworm rearing in Jammu’s climatic conditions.
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How to cite this article:
Mohd Zahid, Rubia Bukhari, Nitish Singh Pangotra, Anamika Bharti, Suganda Malhotra, Rohini Rana, Shivali Chandan, MK Tayal, Mohd Azam, Anil Dhar. Evaluation of mulberry varieties (S-146 bush, S-146 cultivated tree and wild mulberry) for leaf yield and suitability in silkworm (SH6 × NB4D2) rearing at RSRS farm, Jammu. Zool Entomol Lett 2025;5(1):22-28.
