Biotechnology in mulberry (Morus spp.) crop improvement: Research directions and priorities

Abstract

Mulberry (Morus spp.) is a crop plant of economic importance in sericulture. Mulberry improvement through conventional breeding has substantially contributed to the success of sericulture industry. However, the application of biotechnology in mulberry crop improvement holds a great promise especially in those areas where conventional research has not achieved the desired success. The biotechnological research in genome characterization with isozyme and DNA markers, micropropagation, regeneration from callus, somatic hybridization, in vitro conservation technologies like slow-growth storage and cryopreservation, genetic transformation etc., have contributed to the success in mulberry improvement. Besides discussing the progress achieved so far in mulberry biotechnology, the article also emphasizes the future priorities in this direction both in terms of supportive and strategic research. © 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. All rights reserved.