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Mulberry variety V-1 (Victory-1) Photo: Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions · source ↗

Mulberry variety V-1 (Victory-1)

V-1, also called Victory-1, is the dominant irrigated mulberry variety in South Indian sericulture. It was developed at the Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI) Mysore under the Central Silk Board and released in 1997. V-1 replaced the older S-36 variety as the standard recommendation for irrigated mulberry gardens in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and remains the leaf base for the great majority of bivoltine silkworm rearings in the region.

Key features

  • Release: 1997, CSRTI Mysore (Central Silk Board)
  • Parentage: S-30 x Berhampore C-776 (selected hybrid)
  • Leaf type: Thick, broad, glossy, dark green, unlobed and heart-shaped, with a slightly cordate base
  • Leaf yield: 60,000-65,000 kg of leaf per hectare per year under full irrigation and recommended package; about 35-40% higher than S-36
  • Rooting: Excellent — over 90% rooting success with mature woody stem cuttings, the highest among recommended varieties
  • Moisture content of leaf: 70-75%, high enough to sustain bivoltine silkworm growth without supplementary leaf wetting
  • Drought tolerance: Moderate; performs best under assured irrigation, not recommended as the primary variety for rainfed gardens

Cultivation

V-1 is propagated almost entirely by 22-23 cm woody stem cuttings carrying 3-4 buds, planted in paired-row systems (90 x 90 cm or 150 + 90 x 60 cm) suitable for whole-shoot harvest (Whole Shoot Feeding). The recommended fertiliser dose for established gardens is 300:120:120 kg NPK per hectare per year split across five harvest cycles, with 20 tonnes of FYM at garden establishment and one full recharge every two years. Irrigation is provided by drip or rain-gun systems at 10-day intervals in summer and as needed during monsoon. Harvest of leaf or whole shoot follows a 60-70 day cycle, giving 5-6 crops per year aligned with successive silkworm rearings (Mulberry Cultivation Sericulture).

Pests and diseases

V-1 is moderately tolerant to leaf rust (Cerotelium fici) and leaf spot (Cercospora moricola) but susceptible to powdery mildew under cool, humid conditions. It is highly susceptible to mulberry tukra mealybug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus) (Mulberry Tukra Mealybug), the single most damaging pest in commercial gardens. Routine bordeaux mixture spray, removal of pruning debris and biological control with Cryptolaemus montrouzieri are part of the standard package.

Usage and adoption

V-1 supports the leaf demand of bivoltine hybrid CSR2 x CSR4 rearings (Bivoltine Silkworm, CSR Bivoltine Races CSR2 CSR4) across Anantapur, Sri Sathya Sai, Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh) and the Ramanagara, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Mandya districts of Karnataka. It is the recommended variety for the Hindupur-Madakasira sericulture belt (Anantapur Hindupur Sericulture Belt) where almost all newly planted gardens since 2005 have been V-1. Subsidies under the Central Silk Board Silk Samagra programme include V-1 planting material at Sericulture Department nurseries.

See also: Mulberry Cultivation Sericulture, Bivoltine Silkworm, CSR Bivoltine Races CSR2 CSR4, Mulberry Tukra Mealybug, Whole Shoot Feeding.

Sources

  1. V-1 Mulberry. Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Mysore.
  2. Improved Mulberry Varieties for Sericulture. Central Silk Board.
  3. Package of Practices for Mulberry. Karnataka State Sericulture Department.