Effect of Micronutrients on the Biochemical Contents of Mulberry (Morus alba L. Moraceae) Leaves

Grace Marin¹, Paulraj Blessy¹, Helan Mary¹, Subramanian Arivoli² and Samuel Tennyson^3*

¹Department of Zoology, Scott Christian College, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India

²Department of Zoology, Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

³Department of Zoology, Madras Christian College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Corresponding Author E-mail: samtennyson@gmail.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.10.3.06

Abstract:

The biochemical contents of mulberry leaf play a vital role in the field of moriculture and sericulture. Qualitative and quantitative production of silk depends upon the quality of mulberry leaves consumed by silkworm. The present study deals with the effect of micronutrients on the biochemical contents of the mulberry leaves. Field experiments were conducted with 12 treatments including a control (T₀ to T₁₁). Each treatment replicated thrice was supplemented with the desired quantity of micronutrients, viz., zinc, copper and iron in the form of their respective sulphates, either in single or in combination. The biochemical contents of the mulberry leaves viz., leaf moisture, leaf moisture retention, chlorophyll, carbohydrate, protein, amino acid and nitrogen were analysed. At the 45^th and 60^th day of mulberry leaf pruning, maximum leaf moisture content was recorded in T₈ (CuSO₄ 10Kg/ha + ZnSO₄ 10Kg/ha + FeSO₄ 20Kg/ha) which increased by 10.30% and 12.39% over control, and maximum leaf moisture retention percentage in T₈ which increased by 29.32% and 11.02% over control respectively. Maximum chlorophyll ‘a’, ‘b’ and total chlorophyll content was recorded in T₈, T₇ (CuSO₄ 5Kg/ha + ZnSO₄ 5Kg/ha + FeSO₄ 10Kg/ha) and T₈ with an increase of 18.42%, 48.71% and 21.87% over control, respectively at the 45^th day of pruning, and in T₈, T₈ and T₉ (CuSO₄ 15Kg/ha + ZnSO₄ 15Kg/ha + FeSO₄ 30Kg/ha) with an increase of 29.05%, 18.52% and 26.25% over control, respectively at the 60^th day of pruning. Maximum carbohydrate and protein content were noted in T₁₀ (CuSO₄ 20Kg/ha + ZnSO₄ 20Kg/ha + FeSO₄ 40Kg/ha) and T₉ with an increase of 22.25% and 60.56%, respectively over control at the 45^th day of pruning and in T₉ and T₈ with an increase of 24.99% and 70.69% over control at the 60^th day of pruning, respectively. Free amino acid and nitrogen content was observed maximum in T₈ and T₉ with an increase of 112.76% and 30.81% over control at the 45^th day of pruning; and in T₄ (CuSO₄ 5Kg/ha + ZnSO₄ 5Kg/ha) and T₁₀ with an increase of 123.21% and 11.93% over control at the 60^th day of pruning, respectively. The findings of the present study emphasized that supplementation of micronutrients was found to enhance the biochemical contents of the mulberry leaves.

Keywords:

Amino Acid; Carbohydrate; Chlorophyll; Leaf Moisture; Micronutrients; Morus alba; Nitrogen; Protein

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