Effects of High Temperature Stress on Physiological and Yield Parameters of Mulberry Varieties

Abstract

High temperature causes alteration in physiological and yield parameters of mulberry plant. The present study was conducted to examine the tolerance/ susceptibility of five popularly cultivated mulberry varieties viz., V1, G2, G4, MR2 and S36 exposed to high temperature stress. The varieties were maintained in Open Top Chambers (OTCs) at 40 ºC for two weeks. It is found that the variety V1 was tolerant to high temperature stress followed by MR2 and S36. After 14 days of high temperature stress, significant differences were observed among the varieties for leaf yield per plant under control and stress conditions compared to control and 7th day after stress. The variety G2 and G4 recorded highest reduction in Total Dry Matter Accumulation (TDMA) (55.60% and 55.96%) at 14th day after stress. Whereas, the lowest reduction percent of TDMA was recorded in V1 (23.06%) followed by MR2 (30.80%) and S36 (36.76%) compared over its control values at 14th day after stress.