POST-INFECTIONAL BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL-CHANGES IN MULBERRY

Healthy growth and development of silkworm is largely dependent on the quality of mulberry leaves fed. Many diseases of mulberry are known to alter the biochemical composition and physiological processes in the host. Although the work done on these aspects is meagre, the findings support the fact that if silkworms are fed with diseased leaves which are obviously nutritionally inferior, it leads to prolonged larval duration and deterioration of cocoon characters. Many of the biochemical contents such as proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, polyphenols, mineral contents, etc., analysed in the diseased leaves showed either increase or decrease, compared to healthy leaves. However, certain components remained unaltered. The enzymes-acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, catalase, indoleacetic acid phosphatase, peroxidase and chlorophyllase showed significant increase in their activity due to pathogenesis. The photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, carotenoids, stomatal conductance and Hill reaction were found to be adversely affected by the foliar pathogens.