Sucking pest and their management in mulberry (<em>Morus alba</em>): A review

Abstract

Mulberry (Morus spp.) is regarded as a native of Himalayas and is cultivated in more than 32 countries in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the world. Mulberry being the sole food plant of mulberry silkworms, the quality, productivity and profitability in commercial sericulture depends on the yield of mulberry. Mulberry crop is considered as only food for the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. which is commercially exploited. It is a perennial, evergreen, luxuriant crop cultivated in all types of soils, both under rainfed and irrigated conditions. The crop is prone to depredation of diverse organisms, because of its fast growth and green foliage throughout the year, in varying proportions either for space, food or both. So far, over 300 insect and non-insect species of pests are known to infest mulberry in varying intensities during different stages of the crop and seasons. The maximum leaf yield potential of mulberry is yet to be trapped under irrigated conditions which are low for various reasons. Of these, improper nutrient management practice, decline in soil fertility status and delayed irrigation (due to failure of rains or canal water) and imbalanced nutrition and non-adaptability of prime production practices and insect pest are major constraints for low leaf productivity. Among the production constraints, sucking pest occurrence has become major problem in mulberry garden cultivation. The pests which are infesting mulberry are categorized into sap suckers, defoliators and root feeders. The sucking pest includes mealy bug, trips, spiralling whitefly, leaf hoppers, jassids and scale insects which cause damage to mulberry crop. Most of the sap sucking insects, such as adult leaf hoppers, aphids or thrips causes minimal direct tissue destruction. These insects use a specialized mouth part, the style, to locate, penetrate and drain sap from the phloem sieve elements of the plants vascular tissue. Majority of the sericulture farmers throughout the country have opined that mulberry (Morus spp.) is very much prone to sucking pest. Now a day’s majority of the mulberry cultivars and sericulture farmers have been approaching scientists and extension agencies for efficient control measures of sucking pest of mulberry especially thrips under such condition management of thrips through the eco-friendly approach and giving the crop condition in the parcel basis to the farmers is necessary to increase the mulberry leaf yield. Hence, the review.