Leaf production and quality of mulberry in relation to season and harvest time

Abstract

The amount and quality of mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves have remarkable influence on the development of the silkworm and they are, therefore, influenced by factors as the age of the leaves, season and genetic characters of the cultivar. The production and the nutritional quality of leaves of five mulberry cultivars were evaluated under different seasons of the year and harvest times, having in view the indication of cultivars for the area of Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. Leaves of cultivars 'Miura', 'Korin', 'Calabresa', 'FM86' and 'FM Shima-Miura' were harvested in spring, summer and autumn, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after pruning (DAP) and evaluated through leaf mass production, crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Best productions were verified in 'FM Shima-Miura', mainly at 75 DAP for spring and summer and at 90 DAP for autumn. For summer, the harvest made at 60, 75 and 90 DAP resulted in highest productions. Harvest times that resulted in largest CP levels were 45 and 60 DAP and in smallest NDF level was 60 DAP, respectively. It was possible to reunite high PB levels, low NDF levels and relatively high leaf mass productions only at the harvest time of 75 DAP.