Evaluation of mulberry varieties by initial phenological phases as a tool to increase the productivity of silkworm feeders

Abstract

Relevance. The mulberry gene pool of the RS of Sericulture — branch «The North Caucasus FARC», is located in areas with various mechanical composition of soils. Monitoring and screening of the mulberry gene pool is a priority in the work of the station to preserve the general collection, select varieties for feeding mulberry silkworms in order to improve the feeding base of sericulture.Methods. The research was carried out on mulberry plantations of the Sericulture Station. The object of research: two fodder varieties — Georgia and PS-109, which have a high productivity potential for silkworm rearing. The evaluation of varieties was carried out according to the phenological phases of development, the yield of mulberry leaves and the yield of silk products, statistical data processing — according to the method of O.V. Yanzer, E.Yu. Terentyeva, forage testing on the Caucasus-1 breed — according to the method of A.A. Klimova.Results. A comparative description of the initial vegetation phases of Gruziya and PS-109 varieties growing in areas that differ in the mechanical composition of soils is presented. Different dynamics of leaf development has been established in the same variety from different areas. It is mathematically proved that the uneven development of the mulberry leaf blade from different sites reduces the yield of the leaf of the required quality by 19.6%, silk productivity — by 28.4%. Preliminary assessment of varieties based on the dynamics of the initial phases of mulberry development makes it possible to assess the volume and quality of the sheet in the pre-feeding period and ensure high productivity of mulberry silkworm feeds.