Tree mulberry germplasm and utilization of genetic resources

Mulberry trees grow in the wild like any other trees through ages of culturing and by natural or artificial selection, were transformed from a wild state into numerous cultivated varieties. Basically, mulberry is a perennial tree and used for silkworm rearing as per the convenience to maintain as bush, high bush and even dwarf trees. In order to increase out put of silk cocoon, international research and exchange of technical information on available mulberry genetic resources and its utilization is imperative. The mulberry trees grown from tropical to temperate regions in many countries of the world predominantly in Eastern, Southern and South Eastern Asia, Southern Europe, Southern North America, North Western South America and some parts of Africa. The wide distribution of mulberry indicates its adaptability and genetic plasticity to various environment:;. Mulberry is supposed to be native of Indo-Chinese border area and distributed in the northern and southern lower slopes of Sub-Himalayan region up to the elevation of 3300m. Most of the Indian varieties belong to M indica and M laevigata are available in wild and cultivated forms whereas M serrata is confined to North Western Himalayan region as wild isolated trees. Due to change in present global silk production and marketing scenario, the utilization of mulberry is being focused on diversified field. The different countries of the world are already involved in multipurpose use of mulberry. In India mulberry is cultivated for sericulture and phase wise multipurpose uses are also tried for maximum exploitation of mulberry genetic resources. This paper deals with new strategies to handle mulberry for exploitation of its tree habit and proper utilization.