Beneficial Insects

1. Course In-Charge
Mr.S.Srinivasnaik
Assistant Professor
Department of Entomology
LECTURE No.8
Planting under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Pests &
diseases in mulberry & their management
ENTO 332 (1+1):Management of Beneficial Insects

2. Moriculture
Botanical description of mulberry plant
Mulbery botanical name : Morus Spp
Family : Moraceae
Genus : Morus
Mulberry belongs to genus Morus having more than 68 species.
M. alba is native of Indo-Himalayan region and is a perennial
tree.
White mulberry - Morus alba
Indian mulberry - M. indica
Black mulberry - M. nigra
Red mulberry - M. rubra
Russian - M. tartarica
Creamy - M Serata

3.  Majority of the species occur in Asia, especially in China (24 species)
and Japan (19 species).
 It is not present in Australia, poorly represented in Africa, Europe and
Middle East.
 The important characteristic feature of the mulberry of the family
moraceae long idioblasts which is nothing but the
enlarged epidermial cells in the leaf.
 Idioblasts are long cells present in the upper epidermis of the leaf
which contain a cystolith of non-crystiline lime.
 Mulberry is a fast growing deciduous woody perennial plant. It has a
deep root system.
 The leaves are simple alternate, stipulate, petiolate, entire or lobed
and serrated. Number of lobes varies from 1 to 5.
 Plants are generally dioecious. Inflorescence is Catkin with pendent or
drooping penduncle bearing unisexual flowers.
 Inflorescence is always auxillary and male catkins are usually longer
than the female catkins.

4.  Inflorescence is Catkin with pendent or drooping penduncle bearing unisexual flowers.

5. simple alternate, stipulate, petiolate, entire or
lobed and serrated

6. Mulberry is unique in possessing both lobed and unlobed leaves
on the same twig (heterophylly).
Male flowers are loosely arranged and after shedding pollen the
inflorescence dries and falls off.
Number of parianths (sepals), lobes are 4. Number of stamens are
4 and implexed in bud.
Female inflorescence is usually short and the flowers are very
compactly arranged.
Number of parianth lobes are 4 and persistent. Ovary is one-celled
and stigma is bifid.
The chief pollinating agent is wind. Fruit is a sorosis and the color
of the fruit is mainly violet black.

7. Most of the species of genus Morus and cultivated varieties are
diploid having 28 chromosomes.
However, triploids (2n = (3x)=42) are also extensively cultivated for
their adaptability, vigorous growth and quality of leaves.
Composition of mulberry leaves:
Moisture - 75-82%
Crude fibre - 9-11%
Crude protein - 24-56%
Ash (minerals) - 7-8%
Crude fat - 3-4%
Carbohydrate - 12-20% and also rich in vitamins.

8. Colour of the bark of the stem varies from green, grey to
pink or brown with no. of lenticels which are important
for classification purpose.

9. The fruits are edible and contain:
Water - 85%
Proteins - 0.7%
Fat - 0.4%
Carbohydrates - 12.2%
Fibre - 0.8%
Minerals - 0.4%
Fruit is a sorosis and the color
of the fruit is mainly violet
black.

10. Establishment of Mulberry garden
The scientist of CSB and State Boards have identified specific
varieties for different conditions.
Type of plantation: The plantation could be of the tree, middling
or bush type.
Variety – V-1 ((Victory) has highest yield potential which is newly
evolved variety (67 MT/ha)
Tree plantation: S-1301, S-36, S-523, TR-4, Ber-C-776, S-41, S-30,
TR-8.
Bush type: Kanva-2, Local.
Type of Soil:
Alluvial soils : S-1, S-1635, S-799.
Saline or alkaline : C-776, S-1
Laterite soils : C-776, C-763

11. Availability of water :
Heavy rainfall areas : S-1, C-763, S-795
Irrigated areas : S-54, S-41, S-36, S-30
Rainfed : S-61, S-34, S-24, S-14, S-13
Drought tolerant : S-13, 14, 34, C-763, 776
S. No Situation Varieties recommended
1. Irrigated Kanva-2, S36, RFS 135, RFS 175, V1
2. Rainfed S13, S34, AR11, Anantha
3. Alkaline with pH up to 9.5 AR 12
4. Intercrop in coconut enzyme
5. Moisture stress and low input RC-1
6. Fertile soils with low input RC-2
7. Exclusively for chawki worms G-2
8. Exclusively for late age worms G-4

12. Soil :
 Mulberry is a deep rooted, perennial, hardy crop.
 The quality of soil of mulberry garden influence not only the
leaf yield, but also leaf quality, which in turn influences the
growth and development of silkworm, subsequently the
quantity and quality of cocoon production.
 The soil should be deep, fertile, well drained, clayey loam to
loamy in nature, friable, porous with good moisture holding
capacity.
 The pH of the soil should be around 6.2 to 6.8.
 Saline and alkaline soils are not preferred and need
improvement through the use of soil amendments like gypsum,
sulphur or green manuring etc.

13. Climate :
 Mulberry comes up well above 600-700 MSL.
 It can be grown in areas with rainfall of 600 mm to 2500 mm.
 Mean temperature of 24-280C, relative humidity of 65-80% are
ideal for growth of mulberry.
 It can be grown with sunshine hours of 5.0-10.2 hrs/day in
temperate conditions and 9.0-13.0 hrs/day under tropics.
Land preparation:
 Mulberry being a perennial, land is prepared initially.
 The field is levelled first. It is ploughed deeply initially using
mould-board plough, upto a depth of 12”-15”.
 Weeds and gravels are removed.
 A basal dose of organic manure at the rate of 10 tonnes/ha for
rain-fed and 20 tonnes/ha for irrigated land as added.
 The manure is incorporated by repeated ploughings.

14. Planting season and direction:
 Planting must be done in a season favourable for the growth of
seedlings.
 It must be avoided in winter and summer.
 In India, the recommended planting season is the beginning of
the monsoon period (July – August).
 Avoid planting in the middle of the rainy season which may
result in the rotting of cuttings.

15. The inter – plant and inter – row distance recommended for
tropical areas and 2’x2’ for irrigated crop.
In Southern States, where intense mulberry cultivation is
practiced is 1’x1.5’, 2’x1’, 2’x2’ and 3’x3’.
However, now it is felt that, close spacing, while increasing the
yield initially, is not desirable in the long run because it favours
quick spread of diseases and pests.
Fast depletion of the soil fertility, difficulty in weeding and the
quality of the leaf suffers due to competition for nutrients
between plants.
It is now felt through slightly wider spacing is desirable.

16. Planting system:The major
systems of planting followed for
mulberry in India are the following:
1. Pit system: This system is followed for rainfed crop,
instead of ploughing the entire field, pits of
standard size (40x40x40 cm.) are dug with
an inter-plant and inter-row distance of
90x90m cm(3’x3’) for bush type,
180 x 90 cm (6’x3’) for high bush type
and 270x270 cm (9’x9’) for tree plantation.
Equal quanities of organic manure, red soil and sand
are placed in each pit after mixing and a cutting or
sapling is planted. It is watered initially daily till
rooting takes place. For hedge, roadside plantation,
adopt pit size of 45x45x45 cm.

18. 1. Row system: This system is followed for irrigated
crop throughout Southern India. Ridges and
furrows are made with distance between the ridges
is 45-60 cm and between plants is 45-60 cm.
Generally the crop is grown as a bush.

19. 1. Kolar system: This is similar to
the row system except that the
distance between the plants is
very much less. The spacing
between rows is 30-45 cm and
between plant is 10-15 cm.
This is followed in

20. 1. Strip system: this very close system
of cultivation is practiced in West
Bengal, where crop is grown in
strips. Each strip has either two
rows (Dothaki) or three row
(Thethaki). Each strip is separated
from the adjacent strip by a wide
distance so that harvesting and
inter-cultivation can be done usin
small tractors or other machines.
Within the strip, plants are planted
a distance of 15 cm between row
and between plants within the ro

21. 1. Angular system (Triangular system): This new
system of cultivation developed for the slopes of
Nilgiris. The distance between the plants is similar
to the pit system, i.e. 90 cm. but the plants in
adjacent rows are planted in such a way that they
form a triangle. This system allow more number of
plants per unit area, better soil and moisture
conservation, efficient cultural operations,
increased leaf production, better supervision and

23. Planting material: Two methods of
propagation practiced for mulberry
cultivations are:
1) Seedling propagation,
2) Vegetative propagation and
3) Micro propagation (through
biotechnology) - Tissue culture.

24. 1. Seeding propagation: Seeding propagation is
rarely practiced by commercial rearers because the
quality of the variety cannot be maintained as
mulberry is – harmally a wind cross pollinated
plant. This method involves long gestation period
before leaves can be harvested for silkworm
rearing. However, this is the normal method of
propagation in research centres where breeding
studies are carried out to produce varied
population for selection and hybridization.
The seeds are extracted from ripe fruits during March-
April. There is no dormancy period for the seeds, so
freshly collected seeds are sown for high
germination percentage. They can be stored for not
more than 3 months.

25. 1. Vegetative propagation: This is the most
popular method used for commercial
production. Its chief advantages are the
following;
a) The desired hereditary characters can
be maintained throughout.
b) Large no. of plants can be raised
quickly and economically.
c) Pest and disease free plants can be
raised.
d) Plants adapted to specific localities can
be grown.

26. The vegetative propagation methods
falls under three main categories: 1) 1
Cutting, 2) Grafting and 3) Layering.

27. Cutting

28. 1) Cutting: This is the most popular method of cultivation in South India.
Shoots of proper maturity and thickness with active, well developed
buds are chosen for preparing cuttings.
The tips of very tender branches and bases of over-mature branches
are rejected.
Pencil-thick branches (10 -12 mm dia) from 8-10 month-old plants of
the desired variety are used for preparing cuttings.
The branches cut into 18-20 cms (7-8”) long cuttings with a minimum of
three internodes with 3 well developed buds are used for irrigated
plantations and with 5-6 internodes for rainfed plantations.
Care should be taken that the ends are cut cleanly with sharp knife with
no splits or peelingsin the barks.
The cuttings are placed in the nursery beds with about 2.5 cm of the
cutting with one node projecting above the ground.

29. The cuttings are watered daily and in ten days, roots develop from buds
in the internode below the soil and leaves from the bud above the soil
(
Rooting can be induced by the use of root hormones and growth
regulators like IAA, IBA, NAA, 2.4-D or commercial products like
rootone, seradix etc.
The cuttings may be planted directly in the fields or may be grown
in a nursery and then transplanted. In the later case, after 2-3
months, they are transplanted to the fields.

31. Layering.

32. Micro propagation (through biotechnology) - Tissue culture.

34. Irrigation methods :
Judicious use of water for maximum production is
important. During dry period, irrigation
should be given at 7 to 15 days interval depending
upon soil condition and water holding
capacity.
Loamy sols – Once in 10 days
Clayey soils – Once in 15 days

35. Furrow method :
_ Field is laid into ridges and furrows.
_ Only one irrigation channel for every two rows of
mulberry.
_ Evaporation from soil surface is less.
_ More efficient from the point of economy in water use.
_ Furrow serves as drainage channel during heavy rains and
avoids water stagnation

36. Basin method :
_ Suitable for tree plantation.
Overhead/Sprinkler method :
_ Practiced in undulating lands where lower and high
bushes are cultivated.
_ Most efficient in economizing water use.

37. Flat bed method :
_ Field is divided into rectangular bed with bunds all around and channels on sides.
_ Bed size varies from 3.5 x 2.0 m to 4.0 x 6.0 m.
_ Irrigation quicker but more labour required to make beds.

38. Micro irrigation by drip :
_ More efficient in economizing water use.

41. Manure/fertilizer Row system Pit system
FYM (t/ha)
Irrigated
Rainfed
20
10
20
10
NPK (kg/ha)
Irrigated
Rainfed
---
300::120:120
---
300::120:120
100.50.50
Fertilizer schedule 5 splits 6 splits

42. In two equal splits, i.e. first dose in August
at 6 to 8 weeks after application of FYM
and second dose in late November during
NE monsoon rains.
Phase Time Row system Pit system
I 1st leaf harvest 60-60-60 60-60-60
II 2nd 60-60-60 40-00-00
III 3rd 60-60-60 40-00-00
IV 4th 60-60-60 60-60-60
V 5th 60-60-60 40-00-00
VI 6th 60-60-60 40-00-00
60-60-60
Total 300:120:120 280-120-120
Fertiliser Schedule: (NPK Kg/ha)

43. Pruning :
 Certain branches of mulberry are periodically cut to
give a proper shape and size to the
 plant, in order to increase the leaf yield and its feeding
value. This is known as pruning.
Pruning objectives:
 To maintain a convenient height, shape and size of the
plant.
 To induce more vegetative growth
 To synchronize leaf production with leaf requirement
 To extend leaf production period.
 To remove dead and defunct wood.
 To expose plant for better sunlight and aeration
 To make cultural operations easier.

44. Types of Pruning :
 Based on the height of the plant from ground level where it is
cut, there are 3 types of pruning.
a. Low cut pruning :
 It is widely practiced in Japan. Plant is cut at a level less than
0.5 m above ground level.
b. Medium cut pruning :
 Plant is cut at a height of 0.5 to 1.5 m above ground level.
 Large number of branches grows, but only 3-4 on the upper
part are retained.
c. High cut pruning :
 Plant is cut at a height of more than 1.5 m above ground level.
 Leaf quality is poor with low moisture. Harvesting difficult due
to more height. Less
 damage due to floods, but more susceptible to pests, diseases
and winds.

45. Precautions to be taken while pruning :
 The cut should be clean without any cracks.
 The bark around the cut should be intact without any peels.
 Cut ends should be washed with lime to prevent entry of
pathogens.
 Application of fungicides, wax coating to cut ends should be
done.
 During pruning, the injured region is susceptible to infection,
leading to rotting and formation of dry and dead branches.
 Pruning also affects photosynthesis and hence the plant
growth.
 When the shoots are cut off, sap oozes out of cut ends due to
respiratory and root pressures.
 To avoid excessive oozing of sap, the following pruning
methods are useful.

46. a) Step up Pruning :
 Annual basal pruning is done to obtain first crop.
 For obtaining second crop, primary branches are cut 15
cm from the base.
 To obtain third, fourth and final cops the secondary,
tertiary and tetra branches are cut 10 cm from the base.
 Finally the primary branches are cut to the base and the
process is repeated next year.
b) Step down pruning :
 To obtain first crop, annual basal pruning is done.
 For obtaining second crop, primary branches are cut to
about 60 cm after first harvest.
 To obtain third, fourth and fifth crop, the branch height is
reduced to 45, 30 and 15 cm respectively at each pruning.
 Finally, the branches are cut to the base and the process is
repeated.

47. Training :
Systematic pruning to give a specific shape to mulberry plant is
called training.
1. Fist form of training :
Due to repeated pruning of branches at the same place every
year, the top part of the trunk gradually increases in diameter
without any increase in height. It resembles the shape of a
closed fist when freshly pruned and is called the fist form of
pruning. There can be simple, double or triple fist depending up
on the number of fists allowed to develop.
2. Non fist form training :
The branching of point of shoot increases every year as
branches are cut at a higher level above the branching point. For
both fist and non fist form of training, low, medium and high
end pruning is followed. These are known as Ono style,
Yamagata style and Akita style respectively.

48. Fist Form: Where the branches are cut
at the base at the same height (Fig 2.9).
Since no new branches are allowed to
develop into new stump, it enlarges in
width giving the shape of a fist to the
plant
Non fist form training

49. Leaf harvesting :
 Leaf harvested during afternoon contain less water and more of
carbohydrates due to active photosynthesis and transpiration
taking place in day time and such leaves wither very quickly.
Hence, leaf harvesting in early morning hours is recommended.
a) Leaf picking :
 Leaves are picked individually from main stem with petioles.
At the same time, terminal buds are nipped off so that lateral
shoots develop rapidly. It requires more labour and leaves
 wither quickly.
b) Branch cutting (Batchi system in Kashmir) :
 The entire branch is harvested and used to feed worms after
third moult directly. It requires less labour and leaves retain
succulence for longer period.
c) Whole shoot harvest :
 The branches are cut to ground level by bottom pruning. The
entire shoot is fed to leaves. Shoots are harvested at 10-12
weeks interval and 5-6 harvests are made per year

50. a) Leaf picking

51. Selection of nursery site:
l .Site should be flat and elevated
2.Avoid low lying and submersible areas
3.Sandy loams to clay loams with light textured, good drainage
with 6.5-7.5 pH and 3’ soil depth is ideal for establishing nursery
4.Site should be free from nematode and termite infestation.
5.Adequate irrigation facility as irrigation is the most important
component of nursery activity
Land preparation :
 The land should be tilled properly before planting to bring the
soil to fine tilth. Land should be free from weeds and stubbles
and leveled properly.
 FYM is to be incorporated @ 10 and 20 t/ ha for rainfed and
irrigated crops, respectively as basal dose.

52. Preparation of nursery bed:
1.Select 800 sq.m. area of red loamy soil near water source for raising
saplings for planting one hectare of main field.
2.Plough the land at least two times. Dig to depth of 30-40 cm and
pulverize the soil
If soil is heavy clay, add some sand and mix
If soil is sandy, add tank silt or FYM and mix.
Apply 15kg FYM per bed, mix well with soil
3.Apply 15 kg of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) per 15mtX1.5 mt bed @ 20
t/ha and mix well with the soil.
4.Raised nursery beds of 4m x 1.5m or 3m x 1m size and 10 cm height
can be prepared . The length may be of convenient size depending upon
the slope, irrigation source, etc.
5.Irrigate 15 days prior to planting of cuttings to allow all weeds to
germinate.
 Remove weeds by light hoeing just before planting the cuttings.
 Provide a drainage channel
 Avoid shady area.

53. Selection of material for seed cuttings
 Stock plant from where cuttings are obtained should be true to type
and free from pests and diseases
 Collect seed cuttings from exclusive seed gardens of 6-8 months
growth after pruning
Pre-treatment of cuttings
 Mix one kilogram of Azospirillum culture in 40 liters of water.
 Keep the bottom end of the cuttings for 30 minutes in it before
planting. Azospirillum is applied for inducement of early rooting.
Plating in nursery bed:
1. Plant the cuttings in rows with a spacing of 15cm
2. Keep a spacing of 10cm between plants with in row
3. Push full length of cutting into soil by keep only one bed exposed above
the soil
4. Irrigate the beds periodically
5. After about 5-6 weeks, observe the buds sprouting
6. Then apply fertilizer N,P,K@25:25:25/kg ha
7. Plant the saplings after 80-90 days

54. Nursery planting
Apply VAM @ 100 g/m2 of nursery area.
Irrigate the nursery bed. Plant the cuttings in the
nursery as quickly as possible at 15 cm x 7 cm or
20cm x 10cm spacing at an angle of 45o.
Ensure exposure of one active bud in each
cutting.

55. Nursery management

56. Nursery management
 Irrigate the nursery once in three days.
 Sprouting starts after 10.12 days of planting. Root initiation
starts around 30 days after planting and root system develops
after 70-80 days of planting.
 Allow only one shoot to develop from each cutting
 Weeding to be done two times; first at 35-40 days after
planting and second after 60 days of planting
 After weeding, apply 100 g of urea/m2 between 55 and 60
days after planting atthe time of weeding.
 Dust one kg of any one of the following chemicals around the
nursery bed to avoid termite attack.
1. malathion 5 D
2. quinalphos 1.5 D
To avoid root rot and collar rot, drench the soil with
carbendazim 50 WP (2 g/l) orapply Trichodermaviride 0.5 g/m2
using rose can.

62. REFERENCES:
•Abrol, D.P.2010. Bees and Bee keeping in India. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana. Pp450
•David, B.V and Kumara Swami, T. 2016. Elements of Economic Entomology, Popular Book
Depot, Madras. Pp536
•Ganga, G and Sulochana Chetty, J. 2008. An introduction to sericulture. Oxford and IBH
Publishing Co.Pvt.Ltd., New Delhi. Pp160
•Gautam, R.D.2008. Biological Pest Suppression
•Ghorai, N. 1995. Lac culture in India. International Books & Periodicals Supply Service.
•Jolly, M.S. 1987. Appropriate sericulture techniques . International center for training and
research in tropical sericulture, Mysore. Pp209
•Krishnaswami, S., Narasimma, M.N., Suryanarayan, S.K and Kumararaj,S. 1995. Silkworm
Rearing. Sericulture Manual 2. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co.Pvt.Ltd., New Delhi. Pp150
•Mishra, R.C.1995. Honeybees and their management in India. ICAR, New Delhi.
•Patnaik, R.K.2008. Mulberry Cultivation
•Rangaswami, G., Narasimhanna, M.N., Kasiviswanatham, K., Sastry, C.R and Jolly, M.S. 1995.
Mulberry Cultivation. Sericulture Manual 2. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co.Pvt.Ltd.,New Delhi.
Pp150
•Sailesh Chattopadhyay. 2011. Introduction to lac and lac culture. Tech. Bulletin.FBTI:01/2011
•Abrol, D.P.2010. Bees and Bee keeping in India. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana. Pp450
•David, B.V and Kumara Swami, T. 2016. Elements of Economic Entomology, Popular Book
Depot, Madras. Pp536
•Ganga, G and Sulochana Chetty, J. 2008. An introduction to sericulture. Oxford and IBH
Publishing Co.Pvt.Ltd., New Delhi. Pp160
•Gautam, R.D.2008. Biological Pest Suppression

63. MARKS ALLOTMENT
1. Mid semester Examination : 50M
2. Final Practical Examination : 25M
3. Class Work : 25M
Record: 10M
Observation Notes: 5M
Attendance: 3M
Discipline and attentive and answering: 2M
Internal Tests: 5M
4. Assignment : 25M
Power Point Presentation:10M
Model preparation:5M
Photo frame/Laminations :5M
Internal Write ups:5M

64. “Strive hard to make farming profitable and sustainable for the prosperous Nation”