Kashmir researchers develop India’s first temperate-climate mulberry variety

The Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSR&TI) in Pampore, Kashmir, has developed India’s first mulberry variety specifically designed for commercial cultivation in temperate and cooler climates. Named CPP-01 (PPR-1), the variety was formally dedicated to the nation by Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh during the 77th Foundation Day of the Central Silk Board in Bengaluru.

This new variety aims to resolve long-standing challenges in North Indian sericulture, particularly regarding vegetative propagation and post-winter sprouting. Unlike the widely used Goshoerami variety introduced from Japan in the 1970s, which suffers from poor rooting and delayed sprouting, CPP-01 (PPR-1) boasts a rooting success rate of over 90 per cent through stem cuttings.

Additional benefits include early sprouting following winter dormancy, improved leaf yield, and high nutritional quality for silkworm rearing. The variety is suitable for both high-bush and tree-type cultivation systems, making it a significant advancement for the silk production industry in Jammu and Kashmir and other temperate regions.