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

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 45th and 60th 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 45th 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 60th 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 45th day of pruning and in T9 and T8 with an increase of 24.99% and 70.69% over control at the 60th 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 45th 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 60th 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.