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In tasar sericulture, it is an established fact that many factors contribute to the growth and development of silkworms for production of quality eggs. In order to produce quality eggs, diapause tasar seed cocoons are preserved in grainage house. These preserved cocoons undergo various biotic and abiotic stresses. The abiotic factors, especially temperature and relative humidity influence moth emergence and egg laying. The silkworm being sensitive to environmental fluctuations and availability of congenial environmental conditions during preservation results in emergence of moths in unseason i.e. unseasonal emergence or erratic emergence and leading to preservation loss which has a direct bearing on egg/seed production. Hence, a study was conducted in the year 2022 at Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh to analyse the Daba TV tasar silk moth emergence pattern and its fecundity. The results revealed that the moths emerged erratically from January to May (2022) and a total number of 670 female moths and 932 male moths have emerged. Due to unsynchronized emergence of male and female moths, the coupling was 23 %. The coupled female moths were selected for oviposition whereas uncoupled moths were directly taken for dissection in order to analyse the mature eggs. In case of coupled female moth the average number of eggs laid on first day (24h), second day (48h) and third day (72h) was 58.60, 17.76 and 10.24 respectively. However, the average number of eggs retained in ovaries was 83.69. Ovulation was found to have a positive relation with fecundity and retention capacity. In case of uncoupled female moths the mature eggs in the ovaries was found to be very minimum (34.45 No.). Also observed that the formation of eggs in the ovaries was not normal and also in few cases no eggs (Nil) were recorded when the average temperature was >43°C with relative humidity <33 % and rainfall <10 mm. This indicated that higher temperature and lower relative humidity were detrimental for formation of eggs in the ovaries and the innate reproductive ability of tasar silk moth was interrupted due to extreme climatic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate effectiveness of Nemahari - a plant based formulation developed for control of root knot disease of mulberry, on-farm trials were conducted in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The data showed significant (P<0.01) decrease in number of root knots, increase in number of leaves per plant and leaf yield due to treatment with Nemahari compared with untreated control in all the three states. The average number of root knots per 50g fresh root ranged between 0.20-5.23 in the treated plants against 3.17-13.73 observed in the untreated control plants. The average number of leaves per treated plants was ranged from 172.80-226.83. However the average number of leaves per plant in the untreated control plants ranged from 149.07-204.80/ plant. Similarly, the average yield/ plant varied between 580.07-822.40g in Nemahari treated plants against 461.50-741.83g in case of untreated control. The maximum disease control and yield increase were 94.78% and 21.73% respectively due to the treatment. However average disease control was 76.07 % and increase in yield was 13.42%. The formulation is therefore found effective in all the places and suitable for control of root knot disease of mulberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of different nutrients (CaCl2, FeSO4, MgCl2, MgSO4, KCl, KNO3, NaCl, NaNO3 & ZnSO4) and fungicides (Bavistin, Kavach, Roko, Trifen, Blitox & Indofil M-45) against the mycelial growth and conidial germination of Alternaria alternata causing leaf blight disease of mulberry was assessed at 1000 and 2000 ppm concentrations. Results revealed that Ferrous sulphate and Blitox (Copper oxychloride 50% WP) at 1000 & 2000 ppm were found effective against A. alternata under in vitro conditions. They were further evaluated individually and in combination for their efficacy against Alternaria leaf blight under field conditions. It was observed that Ferrous sulphate @ 0.2% in two foliar sprays was most effective and reduced the disease severity to an extent of 85.62% besides increasing the leaf yield up to 23.04%, which was significantly higher than that of the recommended method (two foliar sprays of 0.2% Indofil M-45). The present study indicates that, ferrous sulphate @ 0.2% in two foliar sprays can be used for effective management of Alternaria leaf blight disease in mulberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a comparative study of rhizosphere and rhizoplane microflora in both healthy and diseased mulberry (Morus Spp.) gardens. The experiment was conducted in healthy and diseased mulberry gardens infested with root knot, root rot, and root disease complex at four locations in the Mysore district in India. The prevalence of beneficial, harmful, and saprophytic microflora in rhizosphere and rhizoplane habitats and the effective management of soilborne diseases is discussed.

A pilot field experiment was carried out for three years with four fortified vermicomposts prepared out of serifarm residue (VC fortified with rock phosphate, VC fortified with rock phosphate and bioinoculants, VC fortified with poultry manure, VC fortified with poultry manure and bioinoculants) to study their influence on mulberry leaf yield and quality as compared to unfortified farm yard manure (FYM). Pooled data of fifteen crops revealed that application of vermicomposts fortified with rock phosphate and bioinoculants and vermicompost fortified with poultry manure and bioinoculants each @ 10 MT per hectare per year with recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (NPK)' resulted in significant improvement of leaf yield and quality of mulberry as against the use of full recommended dose of unfortified farm yard manure (20 MT/ha/yr) and chemical fertilizers. Chemo assay and microbiological studies also revealed superior quality of fortified vermicomposts over conventional farm yard manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf yield loss in mulberry due to Macrophomina root rot disease was assessed in three different states of south India at field level. The highest leaf yield loss recorded was in V-1 variety (34.74%), whereas the lowest leaf yield loss was in K-2 variety (28.54%). However, the leaf yields losses in other varieties viz., MR-2 (32.90%), S-36 (32.06%), RFS-175 (31.75%) and S-13 (29.0%) recorded were medium. The average leaf yield loss was 31.49% due to root rot disease caused by M. phaseolina in mulberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina were isolated from root rot disease affected mulberry gardens in south India. Pathogenicity trials exhibited that the different isolates (AP-01 to AP-09, KA-01 to KA-09 and TN-01 to TN-09) were found pathogenic to mulberry causing root rot disease. The results revealed that the sprouting percentage was significantly decreased (21.39 - 44.28%), while root rot disease severity was found to be markedly increased (71.0 - 100%). Thus the different isolates viz., AP-01 to AP-09, KA-01 to KA-09 and TN-01 to TN-09 fulfilled the Koch postulates. However, it was evident that the isolates (AP-01 to AP-09, KA-01 to KA-09 and TN-01 to TN-09) have exhibited variation in their virulency and the isolate AP-03 was found to be most virulent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry (Morus sp.) is extensively cultivated for rearing silkworms (Bombyx mori L.) for production of silk. As the mulberry leaf is rich in nutritive value with 22-24% protein, the studies on its use other than silkworm rearing are gaining importance in recent years. To utilize the mulberry leaf for alternative purposes other than silkworm rearing, a study for utilizing mulberry as a poultry feed supplement was conducted at CSRTI, Mysore. Broiler chicks (Breed: COB-400) were raised on four different test rations supplemented with different levels of mulberry leaf powder viz., 0 (control), 5, 10, 15 and 20% and data on initial body weight, final body weight, feed consumption, etc., were recorded. The results revealed that the highest mean body weight after the growth period of six weeks was recorded in 10% supplementation. The highest feed consumption per bird was in control followed by 5, 10, 15 and 20%. The maximum feed conversion ratio at six weeks of growth was in 10%, suggesting that the mulberry leaf powder supplementation at 10% would cut down the cost of poultry feed. This is the first report on this aspect in India, which would benefit the poultry farmer in economizing the cost of meat production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pre-penetration and infection process of Colletotrichum dematium on mulberry leaf was investigated by scanning electron microscope. Conidia produced on germination appressoria directly or at the end of short germ tubes. Appressoria were formed mostly over cuticle, but sometimes over stomata also. At 72 h post-inoculation, an extensive network of sub-cuticular runner hyphae (RH) was produced. The RH were traceable by the cuticular bulgings on leaf surface. The RH emerged to leaf surface through ruptured cuticle to form secondary infection hyphae (SIH). The SIH re-entered the leaf tissue by sending penetration branches through stomata. Conidia were formed singly on short conidiophores from the RH and SIH, at short intervals. The conidia developed on RH were exposed to leaf surface through ruptured cuticle. Some times conidia were released through stomata also. The RH and SIH had thick knots from which hyphal branches and conidia were developed. Definite acervuli were not developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations were carried out to understand the influence of various inoculum levels of the pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina on sprouting and root rot disease incidence of mulberry under pot culture studies. The sprouting percentage drastically reduced with increase in inoculum level in both soil conditions (sterile and non-sterile). In general, it was found that increased inoculum level reduced the sprouting of mulberry cuttings both under sterile and non-sterile soil conditions. Under sterile soil conditions at inoculum level 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0% there was zero sprouting. Similarly, it was recorded that an increase in inoculum level and days after plantation increased the root rot disease incidence of mulberry saplings both under sterile and non-sterile soil conditions. Under sterile soil conditions, the 100% mean disease incidence was recorded at inoculum levels of 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0%, whereas decrease in disease incidence was recorded at inoculum levels of 5.0 (69.19%), 3.0 (27.38%), 1.0 (18.47%) and 0.5% (4.19%). Likewise, under non-sterile soil conditions, the maximum mean disease incidence was at 20% (92.9%) inoculum level followed by 15.0 (83.67%), 10.0 (81.71%), 5.0 (59.14%), 3.0 (21.0%), 1.0 (14.81%) and 0.5% (3.76%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mulberry (Morus alba L.), various individual strains of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and synthetic analogs of naturally occurring plant activators have demonstrated their potential to elicit induced systemic resistance (ISR) against either brown leaf spot (Cercospora moricola) or leaf rust (Cerotelium fici) diseases. However, these biological and chemical elicitors have not been evaluated so far against multiple infections of both these diseases which commonly occur during the post-rainy season. The present study was therefore aimed to assess the capability of PGPR strains and chemical plant activators, as individual and in integration, in elicitation of ISR against multiple infections. Three PGPR strains, Azotobacter chroococcum strain Azc-3, Bacillus megaterium strain Bm-1 and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain Psf-4, and plant activators, acetyl-salicylic acid (ASA), sodium salicylate (NaS) and 4-amino-n-butyric acid (ABA) were selected for the study. Under in vitro tests, all the plant activators up to 2000 ppm concentration exhibited their compatibility with the PGPR strains tested. Upon assaying of elicitors with plant-pathosystem, disease suppression was significantly (p = 0.05) high with integrated application of PGPR strains and plant activators when compared to their individual applications. All the elicitors at individual application varied in their response to multiple infections with the plant age. However, integration of Azc-3 + ASA provided greater suppression to multiple infections of brown leaf spot and leaf rust diseases during the entire growth period of mulberry plants. Thus, this combination of biological and chemical elicitors holds great promise to provide an effective ecofriendly alternative to the toxic chemical fungicides presently recommended for the control of brown leaf spot and leaf rust diseases in mulberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]