Physio-biochemical evaluation of some improved mulberry varieties in the gangetic alluvial soils under irrigated conditions

Ten improved mulberry varieties, viz. V1, C1730, C2016, C2017, Anantha, RFS-175, Thallaghatapura, Vishala, S1 and S1635 were evaluated for physiological and biochemical parameters under irrigated conditions in the alluvial soils of Gangetic plains of West Bengal as per zonal schedule. Leaf area, leaf fresh weight, % moisture content and moisture retention capacity were found to vary significantly among the varieties tested. Moreover, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, physiological water use efficiency, stomatal conductance and biochemical parameters, viz. total chlorophyll, total soluble sugar, nitrate reductase activity, total soluble protein and phenol content also showed significant variation among the tested varieties. Among the varieties S1635 was recorded to have higher leaf area (305.70 cm²), leaf yield (0.520 kg/plant/crop), fresh leaf weight (4.92 g), net photosynthetic rate (14.66 µmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹), nitrate reductase activity (13.25 µmol NO₂⁻ h⁻¹ g⁻¹ fw.), chlorophyll content (2.13 mg g⁻¹ fw.), total soluble sugar (48.44 mg g⁻¹ fw.) and total soluble protein (39.63 mg g⁻¹ fw.) were also higher in S1635 showing its superiority over other tested varieties. The studies suggested that S1635 can be commercially exploited for cultivation under irrigated conditions in the Gangetic alluvial soils of West Bengal.