Variation in Photosynthetic Rates and Biomass Productivity among Four Mulberry Cultivars

Abstract

Among four mulberry (Morus alba L.) cultivars (K-2, MR-2, BC2-59, and S-13), highest net photosynthetic rate (PN) was observed in BC2-59 while the lowest rates were recorded with K-2. Significant differences among the four cultivars were found in leaf area, biomass production, activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and sucrose phosphate synthase, and glucose and sucrose contents. The PN and the activities of photosynthetic enzymes in the four cultivars were significantly correlated with the growth and biomass production measured as leaf yield, total shoot mass, and aerial plant biomass.