EVALUATION OF IMPROVED MULBERRY VARIETIES AT DIFFERENT ALTITUDES IN NAGALAND

Evaluation of seven mulberry varieties was carried out both at higher altitude as well as at foot hill of Nagaland. Results demonstrated that the mulberry variety S 1635 produced maximum leaf yield (19.50 t/ha/ yr) followed by TR 4 (17.74 t/ha/ yr) at foot hill whereas maximum leaf yield (16.71t/ha/yr) was produced by TRIO followed by BC259 (16.09 t/ha/ yr) at higher altitude. Minimum leaf yields both at foot hill (12.32 t/ha/ yr) and higher altitude (11.60 t/ha/ yr) were for S 1 709. Bioassay revealed maximum cocoon yield both by weight (16.52 kg) and number (8739.67) in S1635 at foot hill and BC259 by weight (15.13 kg) and number (8674.00) at higher altitude. Varieties, SlN5, Tr4 and BC259, Tr10 revealed better performance in terms of leaf yield and cocoon yield both at foot hill and higher altitude, respectively in Nagaland.