The Sericulture Wing of the Punjab Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries Department has developed a new variety of the mulberry plant that is capable of producing fruit twice a year. Although shorter than the common mulberry tree, this new local variety, made by grafting the Japanese hybrid plants imported from China, is able to produce juicer fruits and can be easily grown in pots at home or in open lawns.
Furthermore, experiments are being carried out in collaboration with experts from Government College University (GCU) Lahore, to use the mulberry plant to produce sugar substitutes for diabetic patients; in addition to existing usages such as production of green tea powder and fodder for silk worms.
According to Department of Sericulture Deputy Director Mohammad Farooq Bhatti, the new mulberry plant is able to yield fruit within a year’s time as compared to other varieties which can take about 10 years or more to reach maturity and begin bearing fruit.
“However, if you plant it in February, it will start yielding fruit in February or March of next year. After bearing fruit once, the tree can be cultivated again by grafting, so by monsoon season the leaves will grow out and the tree will be ready to bear fruit once again,” Bhatti told tribune.com.pk.
“The tree produces about 260 pounds of oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide at the same rate. It usually bears about 40 to 80 kilograms of fruit and can be easily planted in average one to 1.5 foot pots at homes or on roofs,” he added.
