1997 Volume 66 Issue 2 Pages 71-80
Eight mulberry genotypes were screened for drought resistance potential by withholding water. Based on leaf yield, nutrient analyses (total soluble proteins, sugars, free amino acids, total lipids and sterols) and such drought resistant characters as stomatal frequency, cuticle thickness, epicuticular wax content, chlorophyll stability index, as well as water-related parameters (leaf water potential, relative water content, water loss and moisture retention capacity), the following mulberry genotypes are recommended for rain-fed conditions in the following hierarchy, S-13>S-34>BC2-59>MR-2>S-14>Tr-4>Kosen>M-5. S-13 and S-34 were found to maintain higher leaf water potential, nutrients and osmotins under stress conditions, producing higher leaf yield, and these genotypes are recommended for plantation in hot and arid conditions. Over production of osmotins such as proline or glycine betaine by two to three-fold is indicative of a positive and significant correlation to injury due to stress as these two osmotins were found to increase in both water deficit-susceptible and resistant mulberry genotypes.
