Improvement of Mulberry plant by induced mutagenesis

Abstract

Morus is an important genus of the family Moraceae and distributed widely in India. Utilization of mulberry in Sericulture depends on its potential gene pool and establish gene bank. Methods of physical and chemical mutagenesis like gamma rays irradiation and EMS (Ethyl methane sulphonate) treatment respectively have been used to induce mutation. After study and exploration of three accessions of Morus indica L. (V1, S 36, S1635) were established in the field at Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri- 413 722, Dist. Ahmednagar and studied for field performance, characterization, biochemical analysis and evaluation. Morphological characteristics showed non-significant range of variation among the three accessions. Analysis of 14 morphological variances in one generation and yield related traits were explored. Thus, the diversity among the accession through morphological and biochemical analysis may contribute in identifying mulberry accessions with respect to different biogeochemical and geographic diversity in mulberry crop improvement program through mutagenesis to incorporate specific characters. Since, mulberry is a highly heterozygous plant; there is great scope to introduce variability through conventional breeding methods. Inducing mutation artificially might also be beneficial either to create variability or rectify the defects if any in the well-adopted genotype cultivars. Existing varieties like V1, S 36, and S1635 are high yielding varieties as compared to other irrigated mulberry varieties.