CURRENT STATUS OF BACTERIAL DISEASES OF MULBERRY PLANTS, CROP LOSS AND CROP PROTECTION

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) primarily feeds on leaves of mulberry (Morus alba) plants as their main source for nutrition which is regarded as the basis of sericulture industry. Bacteria, fungi, virus, nematodes comprise the pest of mulberry. Among the bacterial diseases, bacterial blight (Pseudomonas mori), bacterial rot (Bacterium moricolum), bacterial wilt (Pseudomonas solanacearum), soft root rot (Erwinia carotovora), Leaf scorch (fastidious xylem inhabiting bacteria) are very common. These diseases not only reduce the leaf yield but also according to recent biochemical studies nutritional parameters are altered to a great extent. Feeding on such leaves hampers the cocoon yield and silk quality; to control these various diseases synthetic chemicals are more favoured for instant results over the ecofriendly application of biological methods. This review article focuses on current status of different bacterial diseases of mulberry plants, crop loss in terms of yield and biochemical parameters and different control measures adopted to manage this problem in the sericulture industry.