Breeding report of a new table mulberry cultivar Zimei No.2

Abstract: Zimei No.2, a new table mulberry cultivar, was selected from wild mulberry resources in 2009 and was approved by the Approval Committee for Improved Varieties of Forest Tree of HenanProvince in March, 2020. The young tree growth vigour of Zimei No.2 is strong with upright branches.The color of annual branch is gray with short internode and more lenticels, and perennial branch is brown in color. The average length of annual branch is 214.1 cm and the internode length is 5.6 cm. The leaf is emerald green in color and oval with no pubescence and the leaf apices is short caudate and the base is roundness or truncate. The length and width of leave is 19.9 cm and 13.9 cm, respectively. There is no male flower, and the female flower and new leaf begin to come out at the same time. It’s easy to form lateral flower buds on new shoots, the flower bud rate is 99.3% and the percentage of setting fruit is 92.8%. Usually 4-8 fruits come out of every flower bud, and average 5.6 fruits per flower bud. Zimei No.2 can bear fruits next year after planted, with the yield more than 41 250 kg·hm^-2 in the 3rd year af- ter planting. The fruit shape of Zimei No.2 mulberry is long and cylindrical with attract appearance, the ripening fruit is black in color and the average fruit weigh is 4.55 g, and the maximum fruit weigh is 5.36 g. It has pleasant sweet with a little sour taste, the soluble solid content is about 11.2% and the total acid content is about 3.6%. It is also rich in nutrients, including 7.1% reducing sugar, 15.4 g·kg ^-1 total amino acid, 1.72 g · kg^{- 1} cornflower pigment, 0.15 mg · g^-1 vitamin C. Its juice productivity is nearly 77.90% and the edible rate can reach up to 98.81%. In Jiaozuo, Zimei No.2 mulberry starts germinating in mid-March, the early blossom date is in late March, the full blossom date is in early April, and the flowering period is approximately 9 days. The fruit matures while it turns black in early May, the fruit  development period is about 45 days, and the harvest period is about 40 days. The leaf begins to fall off and enters dormant period in mid- November, and the tree vegetative growth period lasts about 220 days. Zimei No.2 mulberry is a new table cultivar which exhibits strong suitability to undesirable cir-cumstances and is highly and stably productive with high quality fruits. It is suitable to be cultivated in Henan province and the surrounding provinces and cities.