Moraceae (Morus)

Protocol Information for:

Label_title:
Morus (rubra)

Family Names:

Family Scientific Name:
Moraceae

Family Common Name:
Mulberry Family

Scientific Names:

Genus:
Morus

Species:
rubra

Scientific Classification:

Scientific SubSpecies:

Species Authority:
L.

Scientific SubAuthority:

Authors:

Gregory Hoss

Common Synonym:

Genus:

Species:

Synonym Classification:

Synonym SubSpecies:

Species Authority:

Synonym SubAuthority:

Other Information:

Common Name:
Red mulberry

Species Code:
MORRUB

Ecotype:
Louisiana

General Distribution:
Red mulberry is found throughout the eastern and central United States.

Known Invasiveness:

Propagation Goal:
plants

Propagation Method:
seed

Product Type:
Bareroot (field grown)

Stock Type:
1+0

Grow Time:
8 Months

Target Specifications:
Height: 12 in
Caliper:0.12 to 0.25 in
Root System: Root system must balance top growth.

Propagation Collection:
Seeds are purchased from Louisiana. Fruits are dark red to dark black at maturity.

Propagation Processing/Propagule Characteristics:
We clean seeds from fruits with a Dyb-Vig.There are 39,570 seeds per kilogram (17,950 seeds per pound) (Banner and Stein 2004).
Seeds are dried to less than 10% seed moisture content prior to storage.
There are 792,000 seeds per kilogram (360 seeds per pound) (Read and Barnes 1974).We store our seeds in sealed plastic bags inside sealed plastic tubs in a cooler at 36 F.

Pre-Planting Propagule Treatments:
We cold, moist stratify seeds in 1:1 (v:v) sawdust to seeds in a cooler at 36 F for 3 months.
We plant seeds in late April using a Love seeder set at 3rd gear at 11.5 setting into prepared field beds.

Growing Area Preparation / Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Soils: Our field soils are silty clay loams.
The spring before planting, we amend the soils with 700 lbs/acre of 1N:3 P205:5K20, grow a soybean cover crop, and fumigate in the fall. We use Roundup Ready soybeans so we can control weeds by using glycosate herbicide without harming the cover crop. During early August, we disk under the cover crop and disk the soils several times during the next 6 weeks to obtain a smooth soil surface. Soils are fumigated in late September. Field Bed Preparation: We mark out and form beds as needed. Beds are prepared with a rototiller/seedbed former and are typically 4 to 6 inches high and 4 ft wide. Fields are cultivated for weeds as needed throughout the growing season.
Irrigation: We use overhead irrigation with two inch pvc pipe that can be moved from field to field each year. Our principle water source is from 3 on-site wells and is very good quality water.

Establishment Phase:
We sow seeds at least .25 inches deep to protect them from deer, rodents and birds. Seeds are covered and irrigated when soils appear to be drying out on warm days. We apply old sawdust and hydromulch after sowing.

Length of Establishment Phase:
1 month after emergence in the spring

Active Growth Phase:
Year 1: Fertilization: We apply ammonium sulfate 21-0-0-24 with a mechanical spreader. We put on the first application the last week of May and to only those 1+0 seedlings that have been germinated for at least 5 or 6 weeks. We put down our last application during the last week of July. We apply fertilizer at the rate of 125 lbs/acre. Frequency of application depends on the species and how they look that season. We irrigate for at least 45 minutes following all fertilizer applications. This insures that foliage will not burn and incorporates fertilizer into the root zone.
ROOT PRUNING PROCEDURES: Seedlings are root pruned during June. Pruning depth is at least 10 inches for 2+ 0 stock. Irrigate heavily for 2 to 3 days prior to pruning to saturate the root zone. Set pruning blade to slightly wrench seedlings as they are pruned. Check pruning depth frequently and adjust as needed. Irrigate for a minimum of 2 hours following root pruning to settle soil back around roots. This step is critical to eliminate post root pruning mortality. Irrigate field heavily for 2 to 3 days to further settle the soil.
TOP PRUNING PROCEDURES: We top prune only to keep seedlings from being damaged by the mechanical lifter. Our clients prefer seedlings that have not been severely shoot pruned.

Length of Active Growth Phase:
4-5 months

Hardening Phase:
Hardening begins during August. No fertilizer is applied after August. Irrigation frequency and duration is shortened and applied only when needed.

Length of Hardening Phase:
3 months

Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:
Lifting window is from late November to April, depending on species. We try to obtain a large a root mass as possible. We try to lift when the majority of leaves have dropped. Seedlings are hand lifted after the seedling beds have been undercut at an average depth of 10 or 12 inches using a lifter. Lifted nursery stock is immediately stored in cooler until graded and bundled. The majority of species are graded, bundled and shipped during February.

Length of Storage:
3 months

Guidelines for Outplanting / Performance on Typical Sites:

Other Comments:

References:
Read RA and Barnes RL. 1974.Seeds of the Woody Plants of the United States.US Department of Agriculture. Forest Service. Agricultural Handbook 654.544-547.

Citation:
Hoss, Gregory. 2005. Propagation protocol for production of Bareroot (field grown) Morus rubra L. plants 1+0; George O. White State Forest Nursery Licking, Missouri. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/19). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.

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